Quick answer: Unreal Niagara particles continuing to spawn during Pause via TimeDilation = 0? Niagara has its own time source - set Pause When Game Paused on the component.
Pause menu with TimeDilation = 0; gameplay frozen; VFX keep emitting.
Enable Pause When Game Paused
Niagara component setting. Component honors pause state; particles freeze.
Or set system tick
Set Niagara system's Tick Group = During Pause = false. Pauses at the system level.
Pause specific emitters
Per-emitter pause toggle. Some emitters pause; others (e.g., UI cursor) don't.
“Niagara has independent time. Pause needs explicit propagation.”
Document the pause strategy. Niagara, audio, AI: each system needs its own pause handling.