With any game, pausing can be pretty essential when it comes to gathering your bearings and working out your next plan of action. With a game like Diablo 4 in particular, there’s a lot to think about each step of the way, so having the ability to pause can be pretty important, but that’s not to say it’s as simple as hitting a key and being free to step away from your screen for a bit. Pausing Diablo has never really been as simple as you’d expect, so, if you’re looking to find a way to pause your game, we’ve got some news for you.
Is it possible to pause Diablo 4?
Unfortunately, there is no way to directly pause the game due to it being an online MMO constantly preoccupied with other players. You won’t be able to stop the game for everyone, so there’s no way to pause your own gameplay since the world will continue outside of your screen. That said, there are a few safe spots you can rest if you need to figure something out or take a moment away from your screen which act as pretty solid idle areas.
Firstly, heading back to the main city in whichever area you’re in will usually result in a safe space to take a breather. Of course, there are still a few enemies lingering depending on where you are, but generally, they are safer than abandoning your character halfway across the map to make a cup of tea. Main towns are signified by small castle icons on your map too, so you’ll know what to look for when it comes to finding a safe space.
Related: When do World Bosses Unlock in Diablo 4? – Answered
In addition to heading back to cities, finding zones like cellars are a good place to go idle for a bit too, but they are far riskier than heading back to a city. Once again, you run the risk of enemies coming in or even disconnecting depending on how long you’re AFK, which is why we would recommend heading back to a city rather than relying on a room like a cellar for your safe space.
But if you’re taking a break to figure out where to go next, our guide to Hope’s Light Stronghold might help you from taking too long a pause break, or our guide to How to Get Crushed Beast Bones in Diablo 4 might pinpoint the necessary location for any materials you’re struggling to get ahold of. Either way, there are a few ways you can work around the lack of a pause function, but it’s best to know you’re in it for the long haul from the second you boot up.
