diff --git a/osu.Desktop/Overlays/VersionManager.cs b/osu.Desktop/Overlays/VersionManager.cs
index 9e13003c3f..c46b0e3d12 100644
--- a/osu.Desktop/Overlays/VersionManager.cs
+++ b/osu.Desktop/Overlays/VersionManager.cs
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ namespace osu.Desktop.Overlays
 
                 // only show a notification if we've previously saved a version to the config file (ie. not the first run).
                 if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(lastVersion))
-                    Scheduler.AddDelayed(() => notificationOverlay.Post(new UpdateCompleteNotification(version)), 5000);
+                    notificationOverlay.Post(new UpdateCompleteNotification(version));
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/OsuGame.cs b/osu.Game/OsuGame.cs
index 1dc4c487f3..9c852a189a 100644
--- a/osu.Game/OsuGame.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/OsuGame.cs
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ namespace osu.Game
 
         public float ToolbarOffset => Toolbar.Position.Y + Toolbar.DrawHeight;
 
+        public readonly BindableBool ShowOverlays = new BindableBool();
+
         private OsuScreen screenStack;
 
         private VolumeControl volume;
@@ -280,6 +282,21 @@ namespace osu.Game
             settings.StateChanged += _ => updateScreenOffset();
             notifications.StateChanged += _ => updateScreenOffset();
 
+            notifications.Enabled.BindTo(ShowOverlays);
+
+            ShowOverlays.ValueChanged += visible =>
+            {
+                //central game screen change logic.
+                if (!visible)
+                {
+                    hideAllOverlays();
+                    musicController.State = Visibility.Hidden;
+                    Toolbar.State = Visibility.Hidden;
+                }
+                else
+                    Toolbar.State = Visibility.Visible;
+            };
+
             Cursor.State = Visibility.Hidden;
         }
 
@@ -361,8 +378,6 @@ namespace osu.Game
 
         public bool OnReleased(GlobalAction action) => false;
 
-        public event Action<Screen> ScreenChanged;
-
         private Container mainContent;
 
         private Container overlayContent;
@@ -380,29 +395,6 @@ namespace osu.Game
             notifications.State = Visibility.Hidden;
         }
 
-        private void screenChanged(Screen newScreen)
-        {
-            currentScreen = newScreen as OsuScreen;
-
-            if (currentScreen == null)
-            {
-                Exit();
-                return;
-            }
-
-            //central game screen change logic.
-            if (!currentScreen.ShowOverlays)
-            {
-                hideAllOverlays();
-                musicController.State = Visibility.Hidden;
-                Toolbar.State = Visibility.Hidden;
-            }
-            else
-                Toolbar.State = Visibility.Visible;
-
-            ScreenChanged?.Invoke(newScreen);
-        }
-
         protected override bool OnExiting()
         {
             if (screenStack.ChildScreen == null) return false;
@@ -450,13 +442,12 @@ namespace osu.Game
         {
             newScreen.ModePushed += screenAdded;
             newScreen.Exited += screenRemoved;
-
-            screenChanged(newScreen);
         }
 
         private void screenRemoved(Screen newScreen)
         {
-            screenChanged(newScreen);
+            if (newScreen == null)
+                Exit();
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/NotificationOverlay.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/NotificationOverlay.cs
index f19a80ef47..5744e8c189 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/NotificationOverlay.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/NotificationOverlay.cs
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 // Licensed under the MIT Licence - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ppy/osu/master/LICENCE
 
 using System.Linq;
-using osu.Framework.Allocation;
 using osu.Framework.Extensions.IEnumerableExtensions;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
@@ -11,7 +10,9 @@ using OpenTK.Graphics;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Shapes;
 using osu.Game.Graphics.Containers;
 using System;
+using osu.Framework.Allocation;
 using osu.Framework.Configuration;
+using osu.Framework.Threading;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Overlays
 {
@@ -21,6 +22,11 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays
 
         public const float TRANSITION_LENGTH = 600;
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Whether posted notifications should be processed.
+        /// </summary>
+        public readonly BindableBool Enabled = new BindableBool(true);
+
         private FlowContainer<NotificationSection> sections;
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -28,6 +34,27 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays
         /// </summary>
         public Func<float> GetToolbarHeight;
 
+        public NotificationOverlay()
+        {
+            ScheduledDelegate notificationsEnabler = null;
+            Enabled.ValueChanged += v =>
+            {
+                if (!IsLoaded)
+                {
+                    processingPosts = v;
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                notificationsEnabler?.Cancel();
+
+                if (v)
+                    // we want a slight delay before toggling notifications on to avoid the user becoming overwhelmed.
+                    notificationsEnabler = Scheduler.AddDelayed(() => processingPosts = true, 1000);
+                else
+                    processingPosts = false;
+            };
+        }
+
         [BackgroundDependencyLoader]
         private void load()
         {
@@ -95,7 +122,11 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays
             updateCounts();
         }
 
-        public void Post(Notification notification) => Schedule(() =>
+        private readonly Scheduler postScheduler = new Scheduler();
+
+        private bool processingPosts = true;
+
+        public void Post(Notification notification) => postScheduler.Add(() =>
         {
             ++runningDepth;
             notification.Depth = notification.DisplayOnTop ? runningDepth : -runningDepth;
@@ -112,6 +143,13 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays
             updateCounts();
         });
 
+        protected override void Update()
+        {
+            base.Update();
+            if (processingPosts)
+                postScheduler.Update();
+        }
+
         protected override void PopIn()
         {
             base.PopIn();
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Edit/Editor.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Edit/Editor.cs
index 19d00f3477..76f51d1c33 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Edit/Editor.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Edit/Editor.cs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Edit
     {
         protected override BackgroundScreen CreateBackground() => new BackgroundScreenCustom(@"Backgrounds/bg4");
 
-        public override bool ShowOverlays => false;
+        public override bool ShowOverlaysOnEnter => false;
 
         private readonly Box bottomBackground;
         private readonly Container screenContainer;
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Loader.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Loader.cs
index ec2e8e0cb1..c96194f63d 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Loader.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Loader.cs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens
     {
         private bool showDisclaimer;
 
-        public override bool ShowOverlays => false;
+        public override bool ShowOverlaysOnEnter => false;
 
         public Loader()
         {
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/ButtonSystem.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/ButtonSystem.cs
index ce7856c5a9..c82d90d16c 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/ButtonSystem.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/ButtonSystem.cs
@@ -11,12 +11,12 @@ using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Shapes;
 using osu.Framework.Input;
 using osu.Game.Graphics;
-using osu.Game.Overlays.Toolbar;
 using OpenTK;
 using OpenTK.Graphics;
 using OpenTK.Input;
 using osu.Framework.Audio.Sample;
 using osu.Framework.Audio;
+using osu.Framework.Configuration;
 using osu.Framework.Threading;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Screens.Menu
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Menu
     {
         public event Action<MenuState> StateChanged;
 
+        private readonly BindableBool showOverlays = new BindableBool();
+
         public Action OnEdit;
         public Action OnExit;
         public Action OnDirect;
@@ -34,8 +36,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Menu
         public Action OnChart;
         public Action OnTest;
 
-        private Toolbar toolbar;
-
         private readonly FlowContainerWithOrigin buttonFlow;
 
         //todo: make these non-internal somehow.
@@ -131,9 +131,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Menu
         }
 
         [BackgroundDependencyLoader(true)]
-        private void load(AudioManager audio, OsuGame game = null)
+        private void load(AudioManager audio, OsuGame game)
         {
-            toolbar = game?.Toolbar;
+            if (game != null) showOverlays.BindTo(game.ShowOverlays);
             sampleBack = audio.Sample.Get(@"Menu/button-back-select");
         }
 
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Menu
 
                     logoDelayedAction = Scheduler.AddDelayed(() =>
                     {
-                        toolbar?.Hide();
+                        showOverlays.Value = false;
 
                         logo.ClearTransforms(targetMember: nameof(Position));
                         logo.RelativePositionAxes = Axes.Both;
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Menu
                                 logoTracking = true;
 
                                 logo.Impact();
-                                toolbar?.Show();
+                                showOverlays.Value = true;
                             }, 200);
                             break;
                         default:
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/Disclaimer.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/Disclaimer.cs
index 532ee71b72..d0ad613640 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/Disclaimer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/Disclaimer.cs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Menu
         private readonly SpriteIcon icon;
         private Color4 iconColour;
 
-        public override bool ShowOverlays => false;
+        public override bool ShowOverlaysOnEnter => false;
 
         public override bool HasLocalCursorDisplayed => true;
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/Intro.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/Intro.cs
index d7beb34a2f..a6a1afa320 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/Intro.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/Intro.cs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Menu
 
         public override bool HasLocalCursorDisplayed => true;
 
-        public override bool ShowOverlays => false;
+        public override bool ShowOverlaysOnEnter => false;
 
         protected override BackgroundScreen CreateBackground() => new BackgroundScreenEmpty();
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/MainMenu.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/MainMenu.cs
index 90f68ba9f1..fac0ec1422 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/MainMenu.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Menu/MainMenu.cs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Menu
     {
         private readonly ButtonSystem buttons;
 
-        public override bool ShowOverlays => buttons.State != MenuState.Initial;
+        public override bool ShowOverlaysOnEnter => buttons.State != MenuState.Initial;
 
         private readonly BackgroundScreenDefault background;
         private Screen songSelect;
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/OsuScreen.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/OsuScreen.cs
index 4a27c7f1ea..0013d1a882 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/OsuScreen.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/OsuScreen.cs
@@ -28,7 +28,12 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens
         /// </summary>
         protected virtual BackgroundScreen CreateBackground() => null;
 
-        public virtual bool ShowOverlays => true;
+        protected BindableBool ShowOverlays = new BindableBool();
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Whether overlays should be shown when this screen is entered or resumed.
+        /// </summary>
+        public virtual bool ShowOverlaysOnEnter => true;
 
         protected new OsuGameBase Game => base.Game as OsuGameBase;
 
@@ -70,7 +75,10 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens
             }
 
             if (osuGame != null)
+            {
                 Ruleset.BindTo(osuGame.Ruleset);
+                ShowOverlays.BindTo(osuGame.ShowOverlays);
+            }
 
             sampleExit = audio.Sample.Get(@"UI/screen-back");
         }
@@ -94,6 +102,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens
             base.OnResuming(last);
             logo.AppendAnimatingAction(() => LogoArriving(logo, true), true);
             sampleExit?.Play();
+
+            ShowOverlays.Value = ShowOverlaysOnEnter;
         }
 
         protected override void OnSuspending(Screen next)
@@ -139,6 +149,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens
             logo.AppendAnimatingAction(() => LogoArriving(logo, false), true);
 
             base.OnEntering(last);
+
+            ShowOverlays.Value = ShowOverlaysOnEnter;
         }
 
         protected override bool OnExiting(Screen next)
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/Player.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/Player.cs
index 546bb0dcff..35f39e940f 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/Player.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/Player.cs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play
     {
         protected override BackgroundScreen CreateBackground() => new BackgroundScreenBeatmap(Beatmap);
 
-        public override bool ShowOverlays => false;
+        public override bool ShowOverlaysOnEnter => false;
 
         public override bool HasLocalCursorDisplayed => !pauseContainer.IsPaused && !HasFailed && RulesetContainer.ProvidingUserCursor;
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/PlayerLoader.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/PlayerLoader.cs
index a220dcee0e..15a97096e7 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/PlayerLoader.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/PlayerLoader.cs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play
         private BeatmapMetadataDisplay info;
 
         private bool showOverlays = true;
-        public override bool ShowOverlays => showOverlays;
+        public override bool ShowOverlaysOnEnter => showOverlays;
 
         public override bool AllowBeatmapRulesetChange => false;
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Tournament/Drawings.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Tournament/Drawings.cs
index 3e7ab56c99..fbf24eb609 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Tournament/Drawings.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Tournament/Drawings.cs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Tournament
     {
         private const string results_filename = "drawings_results.txt";
 
-        public override bool ShowOverlays => false;
+        public override bool ShowOverlaysOnEnter => false;
 
         protected override BackgroundScreen CreateBackground() => new BackgroundScreenDefault();