diff --git a/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.cpp b/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.cpp
index 47436a8..b03b1d4 100644
--- a/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.cpp
+++ b/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.cpp
@@ -431,6 +431,8 @@ void GameRenderer::renderPlayingState(
     // Pause overlay (skip when visuals are suppressed, e.g., countdown)
     if (!suppressPauseVisuals && game->isPaused() && !showExitConfirmPopup) {
         SDL_SetRenderDrawBlendMode(renderer, SDL_BLENDMODE_BLEND);
+        
+        // Draw blur effect around the grid (keep in logical coordinates)
         for (int i = -4; i <= 4; ++i) {
             float spread = static_cast<float>(std::abs(i));
             Uint8 alpha = Uint8(std::max(8.f, 32.f - spread * 4.f));
@@ -443,14 +445,41 @@ void GameRenderer::renderPlayingState(
             };
             SDL_RenderFillRect(renderer, &blurRect);
         }
-        SDL_SetRenderDrawBlendMode(renderer, SDL_BLENDMODE_BLEND);
+
+        // Switch to window coordinates for the full-screen overlay and text
+        SDL_Rect oldViewport;
+        SDL_GetRenderViewport(renderer, &oldViewport);
+        float oldScaleX, oldScaleY;
+        SDL_GetRenderScale(renderer, &oldScaleX, &oldScaleY);
+
+        SDL_SetRenderViewport(renderer, nullptr);
+        SDL_SetRenderScale(renderer, 1.0f, 1.0f);
+
+        // Draw full screen overlay
         SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(renderer, 0, 0, 0, 180);
-        SDL_FRect pauseOverlay{0, 0, logicalW, logicalH};
+        SDL_FRect pauseOverlay{0, 0, winW, winH};
         SDL_RenderFillRect(renderer, &pauseOverlay);
         
-        pixelFont->draw(renderer, logicalW * 0.5f - 80, logicalH * 0.5f - 20, "PAUSED", 2.0f, {255, 255, 255, 255});
-        pixelFont->draw(renderer, logicalW * 0.5f - 120, logicalH * 0.5f + 30, "Press P to resume", 0.8f, {200, 200, 220, 255});
+        // Draw centered text
+        // Note: We multiply font scale by logicalScale to maintain consistent size
+        // since we reset the renderer scale to 1.0
+        const char* pausedText = "PAUSED";
+        float pausedScale = 2.0f * logicalScale;
+        int pW = 0, pH = 0;
+        pixelFont->measure(pausedText, pausedScale, pW, pH);
+        pixelFont->draw(renderer, (winW - pW) * 0.5f, (winH - pH) * 0.5f - (20 * logicalScale), pausedText, pausedScale, {255, 255, 255, 255});
+        
+        const char* resumeText = "Press P to resume";
+        float resumeScale = 0.8f * logicalScale;
+        int rW = 0, rH = 0;
+        pixelFont->measure(resumeText, resumeScale, rW, rH);
+        pixelFont->draw(renderer, (winW - rW) * 0.5f, (winH - pH) * 0.5f + (40 * logicalScale), resumeText, resumeScale, {200, 200, 220, 255});
+
         SDL_SetRenderDrawBlendMode(renderer, SDL_BLENDMODE_NONE);
+
+        // Restore previous render state
+        SDL_SetRenderViewport(renderer, &oldViewport);
+        SDL_SetRenderScale(renderer, oldScaleX, oldScaleY);
     }
     
     // Exit confirmation popup styled like other retro panels