diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Gameplay/TestSceneOverlayActivation.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Gameplay/TestSceneOverlayActivation.cs
index 4fa4c00981..b308f3d7d8 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Gameplay/TestSceneOverlayActivation.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Gameplay/TestSceneOverlayActivation.cs
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 
 using System.Linq;
 using NUnit.Framework;
-using osu.Framework.Bindables;
 using osu.Game.Overlays;
 using osu.Game.Rulesets;
 
@@ -66,7 +65,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.Gameplay
         protected class OverlayTestPlayer : TestPlayer
         {
             public new OverlayActivation OverlayActivationMode => base.OverlayActivationMode.Value;
-            public new Bindable<bool> LocalUserPlaying => base.LocalUserPlaying;
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Multiplayer/TestSceneGameplayChatDisplay.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Multiplayer/TestSceneGameplayChatDisplay.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..eadfc9b279
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Multiplayer/TestSceneGameplayChatDisplay.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+// Copyright (c) ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>. Licensed under the MIT Licence.
+// See the LICENCE file in the repository root for full licence text.
+
+using System.Linq;
+using Moq;
+using NUnit.Framework;
+using osu.Framework.Allocation;
+using osu.Framework.Bindables;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics.UserInterface;
+using osu.Framework.Testing;
+using osu.Game.Screens.OnlinePlay.Multiplayer;
+using osu.Game.Screens.Play;
+using osuTK.Input;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.Multiplayer
+{
+    public class TestSceneGameplayChatDisplay : MultiplayerTestScene
+    {
+        private GameplayChatDisplay chatDisplay;
+
+        [Cached(typeof(ILocalUserPlayInfo))]
+        private ILocalUserPlayInfo localUserInfo;
+
+        private readonly Bindable<bool> localUserPlaying = new Bindable<bool>();
+
+        private TextBox textBox => chatDisplay.ChildrenOfType<TextBox>().First();
+
+        public TestSceneGameplayChatDisplay()
+        {
+            var mockLocalUserInfo = new Mock<ILocalUserPlayInfo>();
+            mockLocalUserInfo.SetupGet(i => i.IsPlaying).Returns(localUserPlaying);
+
+            localUserInfo = mockLocalUserInfo.Object;
+        }
+
+        [SetUpSteps]
+        public override void SetUpSteps()
+        {
+            base.SetUpSteps();
+
+            AddStep("load chat display", () => Child = chatDisplay = new GameplayChatDisplay
+            {
+                Anchor = Anchor.Centre,
+                Origin = Anchor.Centre,
+                Width = 0.5f,
+            });
+
+            AddStep("expand", () => chatDisplay.Expanded.Value = true);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestCantClickWhenPlaying()
+        {
+            setLocalUserPlaying(true);
+
+            AddStep("attempt focus chat", () =>
+            {
+                InputManager.MoveMouseTo(textBox);
+                InputManager.Click(MouseButton.Left);
+            });
+
+            assertChatFocused(false);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestFocusDroppedWhenPlaying()
+        {
+            assertChatFocused(false);
+
+            AddStep("focus chat", () =>
+            {
+                InputManager.MoveMouseTo(textBox);
+                InputManager.Click(MouseButton.Left);
+            });
+
+            setLocalUserPlaying(true);
+            assertChatFocused(false);
+
+            // should still stay non-focused even after entering a new break section.
+            setLocalUserPlaying(false);
+            assertChatFocused(false);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestFocusOnTabKeyWhenExpanded()
+        {
+            setLocalUserPlaying(true);
+
+            assertChatFocused(false);
+            AddStep("press tab", () => InputManager.Key(Key.Tab));
+            assertChatFocused(true);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestFocusOnTabKeyWhenNotExpanded()
+        {
+            AddStep("set not expanded", () => chatDisplay.Expanded.Value = false);
+            AddUntilStep("is not visible", () => !chatDisplay.IsPresent);
+
+            AddStep("press tab", () => InputManager.Key(Key.Tab));
+            assertChatFocused(true);
+            AddUntilStep("is visible", () => chatDisplay.IsPresent);
+
+            AddStep("press enter", () => InputManager.Key(Key.Enter));
+            assertChatFocused(false);
+            AddUntilStep("is not visible", () => !chatDisplay.IsPresent);
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestFocusToggleViaAction()
+        {
+            AddStep("set not expanded", () => chatDisplay.Expanded.Value = false);
+            AddUntilStep("is not visible", () => !chatDisplay.IsPresent);
+
+            AddStep("press tab", () => InputManager.Key(Key.Tab));
+            assertChatFocused(true);
+            AddUntilStep("is visible", () => chatDisplay.IsPresent);
+
+            AddStep("press tab", () => InputManager.Key(Key.Tab));
+            assertChatFocused(false);
+            AddUntilStep("is not visible", () => !chatDisplay.IsPresent);
+        }
+
+        private void assertChatFocused(bool isFocused) =>
+            AddAssert($"chat {(isFocused ? "focused" : "not focused")}", () => textBox.HasFocus == isFocused);
+
+        private void setLocalUserPlaying(bool playing) =>
+            AddStep($"local user {(playing ? "playing" : "not playing")}", () => localUserPlaying.Value = playing);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Multiplayer/TestSceneMultiplayerPlayer.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Multiplayer/TestSceneMultiplayerPlayer.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..80da7a7e5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/Multiplayer/TestSceneMultiplayerPlayer.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+// Copyright (c) ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>. Licensed under the MIT Licence.
+// See the LICENCE file in the repository root for full licence text.
+
+using System.Linq;
+using NUnit.Framework;
+using osu.Framework.Testing;
+using osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu;
+using osu.Game.Screens.OnlinePlay.Multiplayer;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Tests.Visual.Multiplayer
+{
+    public class TestSceneMultiplayerPlayer : MultiplayerTestScene
+    {
+        private MultiplayerPlayer player;
+
+        [SetUpSteps]
+        public override void SetUpSteps()
+        {
+            base.SetUpSteps();
+
+            AddStep("set beatmap", () =>
+            {
+                Beatmap.Value = CreateWorkingBeatmap(new OsuRuleset().RulesetInfo);
+            });
+
+            AddStep("initialise gameplay", () =>
+            {
+                Stack.Push(player = new MultiplayerPlayer(Client.CurrentMatchPlayingItem.Value, Client.Room?.Users.ToArray()));
+            });
+        }
+
+        [Test]
+        public void TestGameplay()
+        {
+            AddUntilStep("wait for gameplay start", () => player.LocalUserPlaying.Value);
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/FocusedTextBox.cs b/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/FocusedTextBox.cs
index 06a40e7245..ed9f0710b0 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/FocusedTextBox.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Graphics/UserInterface/FocusedTextBox.cs
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics.UserInterface
             Scheduler.Add(() => GetContainingInputManager().ChangeFocus(this), false);
         }
 
+        public new void KillFocus() => base.KillFocus();
+
         public bool HoldFocus
         {
             get => allowImmediateFocus && focus;
diff --git a/osu.Game/Input/Bindings/GlobalActionContainer.cs b/osu.Game/Input/Bindings/GlobalActionContainer.cs
index d3cc90ef99..0176a00e9d 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Input/Bindings/GlobalActionContainer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Input/Bindings/GlobalActionContainer.cs
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Input.Bindings
             new KeyBinding(InputKey.Left, GlobalAction.SeekReplayBackward),
             new KeyBinding(InputKey.Right, GlobalAction.SeekReplayForward),
             new KeyBinding(InputKey.Control, GlobalAction.HoldForHUD),
+            new KeyBinding(InputKey.Tab, GlobalAction.ToggleChatFocus),
         };
 
         public IEnumerable<KeyBinding> SongSelectKeyBindings => new[]
@@ -280,5 +281,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Input.Bindings
 
         [Description("Seek replay backward")]
         SeekReplayBackward,
+
+        [Description("Toggle chat focus")]
+        ToggleChatFocus
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Online/Chat/StandAloneChatDisplay.cs b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/StandAloneChatDisplay.cs
index 8b0caddbc6..6ed2055e65 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Online/Chat/StandAloneChatDisplay.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Online/Chat/StandAloneChatDisplay.cs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ using osu.Framework.Graphics;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Containers;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.Shapes;
 using osu.Framework.Graphics.UserInterface;
+using osu.Framework.Input.Events;
 using osu.Game.Graphics;
 using osu.Game.Graphics.UserInterface;
 using osu.Game.Overlays.Chat;
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
     {
         public readonly Bindable<Channel> Channel = new Bindable<Channel>();
 
-        private readonly FocusedTextBox textbox;
+        protected readonly ChatTextBox Textbox;
 
         protected ChannelManager ChannelManager;
 
@@ -30,6 +31,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
 
         private readonly bool postingTextbox;
 
+        protected readonly Box Background;
+
         private const float textbox_height = 30;
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -44,7 +47,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
 
             InternalChildren = new Drawable[]
             {
-                new Box
+                Background = new Box
                 {
                     Colour = Color4.Black,
                     Alpha = 0.8f,
@@ -54,7 +57,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
 
             if (postingTextbox)
             {
-                AddInternal(textbox = new FocusedTextBox
+                AddInternal(Textbox = new ChatTextBox
                 {
                     RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.X,
                     Height = textbox_height,
@@ -65,7 +68,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
                     Origin = Anchor.BottomLeft,
                 });
 
-                textbox.OnCommit += postMessage;
+                Textbox.OnCommit += postMessage;
             }
 
             Channel.BindValueChanged(channelChanged);
@@ -82,7 +85,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
 
         private void postMessage(TextBox sender, bool newtext)
         {
-            var text = textbox.Text.Trim();
+            var text = Textbox.Text.Trim();
 
             if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(text))
                 return;
@@ -92,7 +95,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
             else
                 ChannelManager?.PostMessage(text, target: Channel.Value);
 
-            textbox.Text = string.Empty;
+            Textbox.Text = string.Empty;
         }
 
         protected virtual ChatLine CreateMessage(Message message) => new StandAloneMessage(message);
@@ -110,6 +113,25 @@ namespace osu.Game.Online.Chat
             AddInternal(drawableChannel);
         }
 
+        public class ChatTextBox : FocusedTextBox
+        {
+            protected override void LoadComplete()
+            {
+                base.LoadComplete();
+
+                BackgroundUnfocused = new Color4(10, 10, 10, 10);
+                BackgroundFocused = new Color4(10, 10, 10, 255);
+            }
+
+            protected override void OnFocusLost(FocusLostEvent e)
+            {
+                base.OnFocusLost(e);
+                FocusLost?.Invoke();
+            }
+
+            public Action FocusLost;
+        }
+
         public class StandAloneDrawableChannel : DrawableChannel
         {
             public Func<Message, ChatLine> CreateChatLineAction;
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/OnlinePlay/Match/Components/MatchChatDisplay.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/OnlinePlay/Match/Components/MatchChatDisplay.cs
index a96d64cb5d..5f960c1b5c 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/OnlinePlay/Match/Components/MatchChatDisplay.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/OnlinePlay/Match/Components/MatchChatDisplay.cs
@@ -19,9 +19,12 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.OnlinePlay.Match.Components
         [Resolved(CanBeNull = true)]
         private ChannelManager channelManager { get; set; }
 
-        public MatchChatDisplay()
+        private readonly bool leaveChannelOnDispose;
+
+        public MatchChatDisplay(bool leaveChannelOnDispose = true)
             : base(true)
         {
+            this.leaveChannelOnDispose = leaveChannelOnDispose;
         }
 
         protected override void LoadComplete()
@@ -42,7 +45,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.OnlinePlay.Match.Components
         protected override void Dispose(bool isDisposing)
         {
             base.Dispose(isDisposing);
-            channelManager?.LeaveChannel(Channel.Value);
+
+            if (leaveChannelOnDispose)
+                channelManager?.LeaveChannel(Channel.Value);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/OnlinePlay/Multiplayer/GameplayChatDisplay.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/OnlinePlay/Multiplayer/GameplayChatDisplay.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e2f135d436
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/OnlinePlay/Multiplayer/GameplayChatDisplay.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+// Copyright (c) ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>. Licensed under the MIT Licence.
+// See the LICENCE file in the repository root for full licence text.
+
+using osu.Framework.Allocation;
+using osu.Framework.Bindables;
+using osu.Framework.Graphics;
+using osu.Framework.Input.Bindings;
+using osu.Game.Input.Bindings;
+using osu.Game.Screens.OnlinePlay.Match.Components;
+using osu.Game.Screens.Play;
+
+namespace osu.Game.Screens.OnlinePlay.Multiplayer
+{
+    public class GameplayChatDisplay : MatchChatDisplay, IKeyBindingHandler<GlobalAction>
+    {
+        [Resolved]
+        private ILocalUserPlayInfo localUserInfo { get; set; }
+
+        private IBindable<bool> localUserPlaying = new Bindable<bool>();
+
+        public override bool PropagatePositionalInputSubTree => !localUserPlaying.Value;
+
+        public Bindable<bool> Expanded = new Bindable<bool>();
+
+        private readonly Bindable<bool> expandedFromTextboxFocus = new Bindable<bool>();
+
+        private const float height = 100;
+
+        public override bool PropagateNonPositionalInputSubTree => true;
+
+        public GameplayChatDisplay()
+            : base(leaveChannelOnDispose: false)
+        {
+            RelativeSizeAxes = Axes.X;
+
+            Background.Alpha = 0.2f;
+
+            Textbox.FocusLost = () => expandedFromTextboxFocus.Value = false;
+        }
+
+        protected override void LoadComplete()
+        {
+            base.LoadComplete();
+
+            localUserPlaying = localUserInfo.IsPlaying.GetBoundCopy();
+            localUserPlaying.BindValueChanged(playing =>
+            {
+                // for now let's never hold focus. this avoid misdirected gameplay keys entering chat.
+                // note that this is done within this callback as it triggers an un-focus as well.
+                Textbox.HoldFocus = false;
+
+                // only hold focus (after sending a message) during breaks
+                Textbox.ReleaseFocusOnCommit = playing.NewValue;
+            }, true);
+
+            Expanded.BindValueChanged(_ => updateExpandedState(), true);
+            expandedFromTextboxFocus.BindValueChanged(focus =>
+            {
+                if (focus.NewValue)
+                    updateExpandedState();
+                else
+                {
+                    // on finishing typing a message there should be a brief delay before hiding.
+                    using (BeginDelayedSequence(600))
+                        updateExpandedState();
+                }
+            }, true);
+        }
+
+        public bool OnPressed(GlobalAction action)
+        {
+            switch (action)
+            {
+                case GlobalAction.ToggleChatFocus:
+                    if (Textbox.HasFocus)
+                    {
+                        Schedule(() => Textbox.KillFocus());
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        expandedFromTextboxFocus.Value = true;
+
+                        // schedule required to ensure the textbox has become present from above bindable update.
+                        Schedule(() => Textbox.TakeFocus());
+                    }
+
+                    return true;
+            }
+
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        public void OnReleased(GlobalAction action)
+        {
+        }
+
+        private void updateExpandedState()
+        {
+            if (Expanded.Value || expandedFromTextboxFocus.Value)
+            {
+                this.FadeIn(300, Easing.OutQuint);
+                this.ResizeHeightTo(height, 500, Easing.OutQuint);
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                this.FadeOut(300, Easing.OutQuint);
+                this.ResizeHeightTo(0, 500, Easing.OutQuint);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/OnlinePlay/Multiplayer/MultiplayerPlayer.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/OnlinePlay/Multiplayer/MultiplayerPlayer.cs
index ca1a3710ab..24657943d7 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/OnlinePlay/Multiplayer/MultiplayerPlayer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/OnlinePlay/Multiplayer/MultiplayerPlayer.cs
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.OnlinePlay.Multiplayer
             {
                 AutoSizeAxes = Axes.Both,
                 Direction = FillDirection.Vertical,
+                Spacing = new Vector2(5)
             });
 
             // todo: this should be implemented via a custom HUD implementation, and correctly masked to the main content area.
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.OnlinePlay.Multiplayer
 
                 ((IBindable<bool>)leaderboard.Expanded).BindTo(HUDOverlay.ShowHud);
 
-                leaderboardFlow.Add(l);
+                leaderboardFlow.Insert(0, l);
 
                 if (leaderboard.TeamScores.Count >= 2)
                 {
@@ -87,10 +88,15 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.OnlinePlay.Multiplayer
                         Team1Score = { BindTarget = leaderboard.TeamScores.First().Value },
                         Team2Score = { BindTarget = leaderboard.TeamScores.Last().Value },
                         Expanded = { BindTarget = HUDOverlay.ShowHud },
-                    }, leaderboardFlow.Add);
+                    }, scoreDisplay => leaderboardFlow.Insert(1, scoreDisplay));
                 }
             });
 
+            LoadComponentAsync(new GameplayChatDisplay
+            {
+                Expanded = { BindTarget = HUDOverlay.ShowHud },
+            }, chat => leaderboardFlow.Insert(2, chat));
+
             HUDOverlay.Add(loadingDisplay = new LoadingLayer(true) { Depth = float.MaxValue });
         }
 
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/Player.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/Player.cs
index 5461c6ac6c..59c7abb299 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/Player.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/Player.cs
@@ -75,7 +75,9 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play
 
         private readonly Bindable<bool> storyboardReplacesBackground = new Bindable<bool>();
 
-        protected readonly Bindable<bool> LocalUserPlaying = new Bindable<bool>();
+        public IBindable<bool> LocalUserPlaying => localUserPlaying;
+
+        private readonly Bindable<bool> localUserPlaying = new Bindable<bool>();
 
         public int RestartCount;
 
@@ -442,7 +444,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play
         {
             bool inGameplay = !DrawableRuleset.HasReplayLoaded.Value && !DrawableRuleset.IsPaused.Value && !breakTracker.IsBreakTime.Value;
             OverlayActivationMode.Value = inGameplay ? OverlayActivation.Disabled : OverlayActivation.UserTriggered;
-            LocalUserPlaying.Value = inGameplay;
+            localUserPlaying.Value = inGameplay;
         }
 
         private void updateSampleDisabledState()