diff --git a/src/dehacked.c b/src/dehacked.c
index 20d23d680..6d6fdf838 100644
--- a/src/dehacked.c
+++ b/src/dehacked.c
@@ -4122,6 +4122,10 @@ static void readmaincfg(MYFILE *f)
 			{
 				maxXtraLife = (UINT8)get_number(word2);
 			}
+			else if (fastcmp(word, "USECONTINUES"))
+			{
+				useContinues = (UINT8)(value || word2[0] == 'T' || word2[0] == 'Y');
+			}
 
 			else if (fastcmp(word, "GAMEDATA"))
 			{
diff --git a/src/doomstat.h b/src/doomstat.h
index 893514b32..aedb120ff 100644
--- a/src/doomstat.h
+++ b/src/doomstat.h
@@ -575,6 +575,8 @@ extern UINT8 creditscutscene;
 
 extern UINT8 use1upSound;
 extern UINT8 maxXtraLife; // Max extra lives from rings
+extern UINT8 useContinues;
+#define continuesInSession (!multiplayer && (useContinues || ultimatemode || !(cursaveslot > 0)))
 
 extern mobj_t *hunt1, *hunt2, *hunt3; // Emerald hunt locations
 
diff --git a/src/f_finale.c b/src/f_finale.c
index 95535a7ea..825f646b0 100644
--- a/src/f_finale.c
+++ b/src/f_finale.c
@@ -3618,7 +3618,7 @@ void F_StartContinue(void)
 {
 	I_Assert(!netgame && !multiplayer);
 
-	if (players[consoleplayer].continues <= 0)
+	if (continuesInSession && players[consoleplayer].continues <= 0)
 	{
 		Command_ExitGame_f();
 		return;
@@ -3725,7 +3725,9 @@ void F_ContinueDrawer(void)
 	}
 
 	// Draw the continue markers! Show continues.
-	if (ncontinues > 10)
+	if (!continuesInSession)
+		;
+	else if (ncontinues > 10)
 	{
 		if (!(continuetime & 1) || continuetime > 17)
 			V_DrawContinueIcon(x, 68, 0, players[consoleplayer].skin, players[consoleplayer].skincolor);
diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index 6dba6045a..92d71fbae 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -219,6 +219,7 @@ UINT8 ammoremovaltics = 2*TICRATE;
 
 UINT8 use1upSound = 0;
 UINT8 maxXtraLife = 2; // Max extra lives from rings
+UINT8 useContinues = 0; // Set to 1 to enable continues outside of no-save scenarioes
 
 UINT8 introtoplay;
 UINT8 creditscutscene;
@@ -3859,7 +3860,8 @@ static void G_DoContinued(void)
 	I_Assert(!netgame && !multiplayer);
 	I_Assert(pl->continues > 0);
 
-	pl->continues--;
+	if (pl->continues)
+		pl->continues--;
 
 	// Reset score
 	pl->score = 0;
diff --git a/src/m_cheat.c b/src/m_cheat.c
index 4a1a4fb58..f6fdb63e9 100644
--- a/src/m_cheat.c
+++ b/src/m_cheat.c
@@ -934,6 +934,12 @@ void Command_Setcontinues_f(void)
 	REQUIRE_NOULTIMATE;
 	REQUIRE_PANDORA;
 
+	if (!continuesInSession)
+	{
+		CONS_Printf(M_GetText("This session does not use continues.\n"));
+		return;
+	}
+
 	if (COM_Argc() > 1)
 	{
 		INT32 numcontinues = atoi(COM_Argv(1));
diff --git a/src/m_menu.c b/src/m_menu.c
index f8240d403..a08b40909 100644
--- a/src/m_menu.c
+++ b/src/m_menu.c
@@ -6724,6 +6724,7 @@ static void M_PandorasBox(INT32 choice)
 	else
 		CV_StealthSetValue(&cv_dummylives, max(players[consoleplayer].lives, 1));
 	CV_StealthSetValue(&cv_dummycontinues, players[consoleplayer].continues);
+	SR_PandorasBox[3].status = (continuesInSession) ? (IT_STRING | IT_CVAR) : (IT_GRAYEDOUT);
 	SR_PandorasBox[6].status = (players[consoleplayer].charflags & SF_SUPER) ? (IT_GRAYEDOUT) : (IT_STRING | IT_CALL);
 	SR_PandorasBox[7].status = (emeralds == ((EMERALD7)*2)-1) ? (IT_GRAYEDOUT) : (IT_STRING | IT_CALL);
 	M_SetupNextMenu(&SR_PandoraDef);
@@ -6740,7 +6741,7 @@ static boolean M_ExitPandorasBox(void)
 	}
 	if (cv_dummylives.value != players[consoleplayer].lives)
 		COM_ImmedExecute(va("setlives %d", cv_dummylives.value));
-	if (cv_dummycontinues.value != players[consoleplayer].continues)
+	if (continuesInSession && cv_dummycontinues.value != players[consoleplayer].continues)
 		COM_ImmedExecute(va("setcontinues %d", cv_dummycontinues.value));
 	return true;
 }
@@ -8251,9 +8252,19 @@ static void M_DrawLoadGameData(void)
 				V_DrawRightAlignedThinString(x + 79, y, V_YELLOWMAP, savegameinfo[savetodraw].levelname);
 		}
 
-		if ((savegameinfo[savetodraw].lives == -42)
-		|| (savegameinfo[savetodraw].lives == -666))
+		if (savegameinfo[savetodraw].lives == -42)
+		{
+			if (!useContinues)
+				V_DrawRightAlignedThinString(x + 80, y+1+60+16, V_GRAYMAP, "00000000");
 			continue;
+		}
+
+		if (savegameinfo[savetodraw].lives == -666)
+		{
+			if (!useContinues)
+				V_DrawRightAlignedThinString(x + 80, y+1+60+16, V_REDMAP, "????????");
+			continue;
+		}
 
 		y += 64;
 
@@ -8270,7 +8281,7 @@ static void M_DrawLoadGameData(void)
 
 		y -= 4;
 
-		// character heads, lives, and continues
+		// character heads, lives, and continues/score
 		{
 			spritedef_t *sprdef;
 			spriteframe_t *sprframe;
@@ -8321,10 +8332,14 @@ skipbot:
 skipsign:
 			y += 16;
 
-			tempx = x + 10;
-			if (savegameinfo[savetodraw].lives != INFLIVES
-			&& savegameinfo[savetodraw].lives > 9)
-				tempx -= 4;
+			tempx = x;
+			if (useContinues)
+			{
+				tempx += 10;
+				if (savegameinfo[savetodraw].lives != INFLIVES
+				&& savegameinfo[savetodraw].lives > 9)
+					tempx -= 4;
+			}
 
 			if (!charskin) // shut up compiler
 				goto skiplife;
@@ -8354,22 +8369,45 @@ skiplife:
 			else
 				V_DrawString(tempx, y, 0, va("%d", savegameinfo[savetodraw].lives));
 
-			tempx = x + 47;
-			if (savegameinfo[savetodraw].continues > 9)
-				tempx -= 4;
-
-			// continues
-			if (savegameinfo[savetodraw].continues > 0)
+			if (!useContinues)
 			{
-				V_DrawSmallScaledPatch(tempx, y, 0, W_CachePatchName("CONTSAVE", PU_PATCH));
-				V_DrawScaledPatch(tempx + 9, y + 2, 0, patch);
-				V_DrawString(tempx + 16, y, 0, va("%d", savegameinfo[savetodraw].continues));
+				INT32 workingscorenum = savegameinfo[savetodraw].continuescore;
+				char workingscorestr[11] = " 000000000\0";
+				SINT8 j = 9;
+				// Change the above two lines if MAXSCORE ever changes from 8 digits long.
+				workingscorestr[0] = '\x86'; // done here instead of in initialiser 'cuz compiler complains
+				if (!workingscorenum)
+					j--; // just so ONE digit is not greyed out
+				else
+				{
+					while (workingscorenum)
+					{
+						workingscorestr[j--] = '0' + (workingscorenum % 10);
+						workingscorenum /= 10;
+					}
+				}
+				workingscorestr[j] = (savegameinfo[savetodraw].continuescore == MAXSCORE) ? '\x83' : '\x80';
+				V_DrawRightAlignedThinString(x + 80, y+1, 0, workingscorestr);
 			}
 			else
 			{
-				V_DrawSmallScaledPatch(tempx, y, 0, W_CachePatchName("CONTNONE", PU_PATCH));
-				V_DrawScaledPatch(tempx + 9, y + 2, 0, W_CachePatchName("STNONEX", PU_PATCH));
-				V_DrawString(tempx + 16, y, V_GRAYMAP, "0");
+				tempx = x + 47;
+				if (savegameinfo[savetodraw].continuescore > 9)
+					tempx -= 4;
+
+				// continues
+				if (savegameinfo[savetodraw].continuescore > 0)
+				{
+					V_DrawSmallScaledPatch(tempx, y, 0, W_CachePatchName("CONTSAVE", PU_PATCH));
+					V_DrawScaledPatch(tempx + 9, y + 2, 0, patch);
+					V_DrawString(tempx + 16, y, 0, va("%d", savegameinfo[savetodraw].continuescore));
+				}
+				else
+				{
+					V_DrawSmallScaledPatch(tempx, y, 0, W_CachePatchName("CONTNONE", PU_PATCH));
+					V_DrawScaledPatch(tempx + 9, y + 2, 0, W_CachePatchName("STNONEX", PU_PATCH));
+					V_DrawString(tempx + 16, y, V_GRAYMAP, "0");
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -8502,9 +8540,11 @@ static void M_ReadSavegameInfo(UINT32 slot)
 	CHECKPOS
 	savegameinfo[slot].lives = READSINT8(save_p); // lives
 	CHECKPOS
-	(void)READINT32(save_p); // Score
+	savegameinfo[slot].continuescore = READINT32(save_p); // score
 	CHECKPOS
-	savegameinfo[slot].continues = READINT32(save_p); // continues
+	fake = READINT32(save_p); // continues
+	if (useContinues)
+		savegameinfo[slot].continuescore = fake;
 
 	// File end marker check
 	CHECKPOS
diff --git a/src/m_menu.h b/src/m_menu.h
index e7270380d..eeda9cc58 100644
--- a/src/m_menu.h
+++ b/src/m_menu.h
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ typedef struct
 	UINT8 numemeralds;
 	UINT8 numgameovers;
 	INT32 lives;
-	INT32 continues;
+	INT32 continuescore;
 	INT32 gamemap;
 } saveinfo_t;
 
diff --git a/src/p_inter.c b/src/p_inter.c
index 67d197375..b568fb359 100644
--- a/src/p_inter.c
+++ b/src/p_inter.c
@@ -633,7 +633,7 @@ void P_TouchSpecialThing(mobj_t *special, mobj_t *toucher, boolean heightcheck)
 
 			if (ALL7EMERALDS(emeralds)) // Got all 7
 			{
-				if (!(netgame || multiplayer))
+				if (continuesInSession)
 				{
 					player->continues += 1;
 					player->gotcontinue = true;
@@ -643,7 +643,10 @@ void P_TouchSpecialThing(mobj_t *special, mobj_t *toucher, boolean heightcheck)
 						S_StartSound(toucher, sfx_chchng);
 				}
 				else
+				{
+					P_GiveCoopLives(player, 1, true); // if continues are disabled, a life is a reasonable substitute
 					S_StartSound(toucher, sfx_chchng);
+				}
 			}
 			else
 			{
diff --git a/src/p_user.c b/src/p_user.c
index 612e31cbc..5ceaa45fb 100644
--- a/src/p_user.c
+++ b/src/p_user.c
@@ -1388,7 +1388,7 @@ void P_AddPlayerScore(player_t *player, UINT32 amount)
 
 					// Continues are worthless in netgames.
 					// If that stops being the case uncomment this.
-/*					if (!ultimatemode && players[i].marescore > 50000
+/*					if (!ultimatemode && continuesInSession && players[i].marescore > 50000
 					&& oldscore < 50000)
 					{
 						players[i].continues += 1;
@@ -1408,7 +1408,7 @@ void P_AddPlayerScore(player_t *player, UINT32 amount)
 			else
 				player->marescore = MAXSCORE;
 
-			if (!ultimatemode && !(netgame || multiplayer) && G_IsSpecialStage(gamemap)
+			if (!ultimatemode && continuesInSession && G_IsSpecialStage(gamemap)
 			&& player->marescore >= 50000 && oldscore < 50000)
 			{
 				player->continues += 1;
@@ -9539,7 +9539,7 @@ static void P_DeathThink(player_t *player)
 	// continue logic
 	if (!(netgame || multiplayer) && player->lives <= 0)
 	{
-		if (player->deadtimer > (3*TICRATE) && (cmd->buttons & BT_USE || cmd->buttons & BT_JUMP) && player->continues > 0)
+		if (player->deadtimer > (3*TICRATE) && (cmd->buttons & BT_USE || cmd->buttons & BT_JUMP) && (!continuesInSession || player->continues > 0))
 			G_UseContinue();
 		else if (player->deadtimer >= gameovertics)
 			G_UseContinue(); // Even if we don't have one this handles ending the game
diff --git a/src/y_inter.c b/src/y_inter.c
index 94a289817..f1764a816 100644
--- a/src/y_inter.c
+++ b/src/y_inter.c
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ dontdrawbg:
 			V_DrawTallNum(BASEVIDWIDTH + xoffset4 - 68, 125+yoffset, 0, data.spec.score);
 
 			// Draw continues!
-			if (!multiplayer /* && (data.spec.continues & 0x80) */) // Always draw outside of netplay
+			if (continuesInSession /* && (data.spec.continues & 0x80) */) // Always draw when continues are a thing
 			{
 				UINT8 continues = data.spec.continues & 0x7F;