diff --git a/osu.Game/Configuration/OsuConfigManager.cs b/osu.Game/Configuration/OsuConfigManager.cs
index 41f6747b74..6fed5ea5a2 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Configuration/OsuConfigManager.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Configuration/OsuConfigManager.cs
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Configuration
             Set(OsuSetting.ShowInterface, true);
             Set(OsuSetting.ShowProgressGraph, true);
             Set(OsuSetting.ShowHealthDisplayWhenCantFail, true);
+            Set(OsuSetting.FadePlayfieldWhenHealthLow, true);
             Set(OsuSetting.KeyOverlay, false);
             Set(OsuSetting.ScoreMeter, ScoreMeterType.HitErrorBoth);
 
@@ -181,6 +182,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Configuration
         ShowInterface,
         ShowProgressGraph,
         ShowHealthDisplayWhenCantFail,
+        FadePlayfieldWhenHealthLow,
         MouseDisableButtons,
         MouseDisableWheel,
         AudioOffset,
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Settings/Sections/Gameplay/GeneralSettings.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Settings/Sections/Gameplay/GeneralSettings.cs
index 2d2cd42213..4b75910454 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Settings/Sections/Gameplay/GeneralSettings.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Settings/Sections/Gameplay/GeneralSettings.cs
@@ -53,6 +53,12 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Settings.Sections.Gameplay
                     Keywords = new[] { "hp", "bar" }
                 },
                 new SettingsCheckbox
+                {
+                    LabelText = "Fade playfield to red when health is low",
+                    Bindable = config.GetBindable<bool>(OsuSetting.FadePlayfieldWhenHealthLow),
+                    Keywords = new[] { "hp", "low", "playfield", "red" }
+                },
+                new SettingsCheckbox
                 {
                     LabelText = "Always show key overlay",
                     Bindable = config.GetBindable<bool>(OsuSetting.KeyOverlay)
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/HUD/FailingLayer.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/HUD/FailingLayer.cs
index 97d2458674..761178b93d 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/HUD/FailingLayer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/HUD/FailingLayer.cs
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@
 
 using System;
 using osu.Framework.Allocation;
+using osu.Framework.Bindables;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Shapes;
 using osu.Framework.Utils;
+using osu.Game.Configuration;
 using osu.Game.Graphics;
 
 namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play.HUD
@@ -21,6 +23,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play.HUD
 
         private readonly Box box;
 
+        private Bindable<bool> enabled;
+
         /// <summary>
         /// The threshold under which the current player life should be considered low and the layer should start fading in.
         /// </summary>
@@ -37,9 +41,11 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play.HUD
         }
 
         [BackgroundDependencyLoader]
-        private void load(OsuColour color)
+        private void load(OsuColour color, OsuConfigManager config)
         {
             box.Colour = color.Red;
+            enabled = config.GetBindable<bool>(OsuSetting.FadePlayfieldWhenHealthLow);
+            enabled.BindValueChanged(e => this.FadeTo(e.NewValue ? 1 : 0, fade_time, Easing.OutQuint), true);
         }
 
         protected override void Update()