diff --git a/include/scrimmage/viewer/Updater.h b/include/scrimmage/viewer/Updater.h
index ea870ba22d..f552b0ae9c 100644
--- a/include/scrimmage/viewer/Updater.h
+++ b/include/scrimmage/viewer/Updater.h
@@ -322,6 +322,7 @@ class Updater : public vtkCommand {
 
     scrimmage_proto::SimInfo sim_info_;
 
+    vtkSmartPointer<vtkTextActor> playpause_actor_;
     vtkSmartPointer<vtkTextActor> time_actor_;
     vtkSmartPointer<vtkTextActor> warp_actor_;
     vtkSmartPointer<vtkTextActor> heading_actor_;
diff --git a/src/proto/scrimmage/proto/Visual.proto b/src/proto/scrimmage/proto/Visual.proto
index b9bb56b205..9b88560954 100644
--- a/src/proto/scrimmage/proto/Visual.proto
+++ b/src/proto/scrimmage/proto/Visual.proto
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ message SimInfo {
         double desired_warp = 2;
         double actual_warp = 3;
         bool shutting_down = 4;
+        bool sim_paused = 5;
 }
 
 message ContactVisual {
diff --git a/src/simcontrol/SimControl.cpp b/src/simcontrol/SimControl.cpp
index fdf03f7347..c5a55c9077 100644
--- a/src/simcontrol/SimControl.cpp
+++ b/src/simcontrol/SimControl.cpp
@@ -606,6 +606,11 @@ bool SimControl::run_single_step(const int& loop_number) {
         info.set_desired_warp(this->time_warp());
         info.set_actual_warp(this->actual_time_warp());
         info.set_shutting_down(false);
+        if(paused()){
+            info.set_sim_paused(true);
+        } else {
+            info.set_sim_paused(false);
+        }
         outgoing_interface_->send_sim_info(info);
         if (paused()) {
             std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(1));
diff --git a/src/viewer/Updater.cpp b/src/viewer/Updater.cpp
index 3c16d167b3..e2460ec07a 100644
--- a/src/viewer/Updater.cpp
+++ b/src/viewer/Updater.cpp
@@ -690,6 +690,16 @@ bool Updater::update_text_display() {
     ss << std::setprecision(num_digits) << std::fixed << frame_time_ << " s";
     time_actor_->SetInput(ss.str().c_str());
 
+    // Update play and pause indicator text value and position based on window size
+    int *win_size = rwi_->GetRenderWindow()->GetSize();
+    playpause_actor_->SetPosition(win_size[0] - 100, 10);
+
+    if(sim_info_.sim_paused()){
+        playpause_actor_->SetInput("Paused");
+    } else {
+        playpause_actor_->SetInput("Playing");
+    }
+
     // Update the time warp
     std::stringstream stream_warp;
     stream_warp << std::fixed << std::setprecision(2) << sim_info_.desired_warp();
@@ -1657,6 +1667,7 @@ void Updater::create_text_display() {
     alt_actor_->GetTextProperty()->SetFontSize(24);
     alt_actor_->GetTextProperty()->SetColor(1.0, 1.0, 1.0);
     renderer_->AddActor2D(alt_actor_);
+    text_y += text_y_spacing;
 
     // Add the help menu
     // NOTE: this requires two vtkTextActor's because you can't
@@ -1694,6 +1705,13 @@ void Updater::create_text_display() {
     fps_actor_->GetTextProperty()->SetFontSize(24);
     fps_actor_->GetTextProperty()->SetColor(1.0, 1.0, 1.0);
     renderer_->AddActor2D(fps_actor_);
+
+    // Add the play and pause display
+    playpause_actor_ = vtkSmartPointer<vtkTextActor>::New();
+    playpause_actor_->SetInput(" ");
+    playpause_actor_->GetTextProperty()->SetFontSize(24);
+    playpause_actor_->GetTextProperty()->SetColor(1.0, 1.0, 1.0);
+    renderer_->AddActor2D(playpause_actor_);
 }
 
 void Updater::enable_fps() {