diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index f3d2fe79..8719e9c4 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -882,6 +882,7 @@ $(INSTALLDIR)/radiant.$(EXE): \
 	radiant/gtkmisc.o \
 	radiant/help.o \
 	radiant/image.o \
+	radiant/layerswindow.o \
 	radiant/mainframe.o \
 	radiant/main.o \
 	radiant/map.o \
diff --git a/docs/changelog-custom.txt b/docs/changelog-custom.txt
index 42ac2b5b..527373c7 100644
--- a/docs/changelog-custom.txt
+++ b/docs/changelog-custom.txt
@@ -369,6 +369,9 @@ menus...
 	* Modify->Repeat: saved transforms feedback and individual resets
 	* Modify->Repeat->Reset Transforms (alt + r)
 	* Entity->Reload Entity Definitions
+	* View->Layers Browser (L)
+	* Edit->Expand Selection To Layers (ctrl + q)
+	* shift + q: move-to LayersMenu
 
 misc...
 	* removed note to save before going to preferences, project settings
@@ -1133,6 +1136,7 @@ misc...
 	* build menu.customize: drag and drop items; ctrl + drag = copy
 	* build menu.customize: remove command line item when set empty
 	* build menu.customize.build variables: are editable
+	* layers system (stored in comments of .map file)
 
 
 
diff --git a/include/iscenegraph.h b/include/iscenegraph.h
index 55ea2409..b33cc8b6 100644
--- a/include/iscenegraph.h
+++ b/include/iscenegraph.h
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ const TypeId NODETYPEID_NONE = NODETYPEID_MAX;
 const TypeId INSTANCETYPEID_MAX = 64;
 const TypeId INSTANCETYPEID_NONE = INSTANCETYPEID_MAX;
 
+class Layer;
+
 namespace scene
 {
 /// \brief A unique key to an instance of a node in the scene-graph.
@@ -88,6 +90,8 @@ public:
 	virtual void insert_root( Node& root ) = 0;
 	/// \brief Clears the root-node of the graph.
 	virtual void erase_root() = 0;
+	/// \brief Returns current layer or 0 when no root is inserted.
+	virtual Layer* currentLayer() = 0;
 	/// \brief Traverses all nodes in the graph depth-first, starting from the root node.
 	virtual void traverse( const Walker& walker ) = 0;
 	/// \brief Traverses all nodes in the graph depth-first, starting from 'start'.
diff --git a/include/iscriplib.h b/include/iscriplib.h
index 7ac6b6b8..23f6a7d2 100644
--- a/include/iscriplib.h
+++ b/include/iscriplib.h
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ struct _QERScripLibTable
 	STRING_CONSTANT( Name, "scriptlib" );
 
 	Tokeniser& ( *m_pfnNewScriptTokeniser )( TextInputStream & istream );
+	Tokeniser& ( *m_pfnNewMapTokeniser )( TextInputStream & istream );
 	Tokeniser& ( *m_pfnNewSimpleTokeniser )( TextInputStream & istream );
 	TokenWriter& ( *m_pfnNewSimpleTokenWriter )( TextOutputStream & ostream );
 };
diff --git a/libs/layers.h b/libs/layers.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..78d8198b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libs/layers.h
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+/*
+   Copyright (C) 2001-2006, William Joseph.
+   All Rights Reserved.
+
+   This file is part of GtkRadiant.
+
+   GtkRadiant is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+   the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+   (at your option) any later version.
+
+   GtkRadiant is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+   GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+   along with GtkRadiant; if not, write to the Free Software
+   Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "scenelib.h"
+#include "string/string.h"
+#include <concepts>
+
+
+#define LAYERIDX0 0
+#define LAYERIDXPARENT -1
+
+template <typename F>
+concept LayerFunctor = std::invocable<F, Layer&> && std::is_void_v<std::invoke_result_t<F, Layer&>>;
+
+class Layer
+{
+public:
+	CopiedString m_name;
+	std::list<Layer> m_children;
+	Layer *m_parent; // must be valid besides 0 in the root 'Layers' container
+	int m_color[ 3 ]{}; // 0 0 0 = default gui color
+	int m_parentIndex = LAYERIDXPARENT; // parent index during map loading // -1 parent = root
+	int m_ownIndex = LAYERIDXPARENT; // own index for map writing and operator== set via update_ownIndices()
+	Layer( const char *name, Layer *parent ) : m_name( name ), m_parent( parent ){
+	}
+	Layer( Layer&& ) noexcept = default; // no copy
+	bool operator==( const Layer& other ) const {
+		return m_name == other.m_name
+		    && m_parent->m_ownIndex == const_cast<Layer*>( other.m_parent )->m_ownIndex
+		    && !memcmp( m_color, other.m_color, sizeof( m_color ) )
+		    && m_children == other.m_children;
+	}
+private:
+	void forEach( std::list<Layer>& layers, LayerFunctor auto&& functor ){
+		for( Layer& layer : layers ){
+			functor( layer );
+			forEach( layer.m_children, functor );
+		}
+	}
+public:
+	void forEach( LayerFunctor auto&& functor ){
+		forEach( m_children, functor );
+	}
+
+	using iterator = decltype( m_children )::iterator;
+};
+
+class Layers : public Layer
+{
+public:
+	STRING_CONSTANT( Name, "Layers" );
+	Layer *m_currentLayer;
+	Layers() : Layer( "", nullptr ){
+		m_children.emplace_back( "0", this ); // add default layer
+		m_currentLayer = &m_children.front();
+	}
+	Layers( Layers&& ) noexcept = default; // no copy
+
+	void update_ownIndices(){
+		forEach( [i = 0]( Layer& layer ) mutable { layer.m_ownIndex = i++; } );
+	}
+};
+
+inline Layers* Node_getLayers( scene::Node& node ){
+	return NodeTypeCast<Layers>::cast( node );
+}
diff --git a/libs/maplib.h b/libs/maplib.h
index 32cd5503..45352c64 100644
--- a/libs/maplib.h
+++ b/libs/maplib.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 #include "nameable.h"
 #include "mapfile.h"
+#include "layers.h"
 
 #include "traverselib.h"
 #include "transformlib.h"
@@ -136,6 +137,7 @@ class MapRoot : public scene::Node::Symbiot, public scene::Instantiable, public
 			NodeContainedCast<MapRoot, TransformNode>::install( m_casts );
 			NodeContainedCast<MapRoot, Nameable>::install( m_casts );
 			NodeContainedCast<MapRoot, MapFile>::install( m_casts );
+			NodeContainedCast<MapRoot, Layers>::install( m_casts );
 		}
 		NodeTypeCastTable& get(){
 			return m_casts;
@@ -149,6 +151,7 @@ class MapRoot : public scene::Node::Symbiot, public scene::Instantiable, public
 	typedef SelectableInstance Instance;
 	NameableString m_name;
 	UndoFileChangeTracker m_changeTracker;
+	Layers m_layers;
 public:
 	typedef LazyStatic<TypeCasts> StaticTypeCasts;
 
@@ -164,8 +167,11 @@ public:
 	MapFile& get( NullType<MapFile>){
 		return m_changeTracker;
 	}
+	Layers& get( NullType<Layers>){
+		return m_layers;
+	}
 
-	MapRoot( const char* name ) : m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ), m_name( name ){
+	MapRoot( const char* name ) : m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), nullptr ), m_name( name ){
 		m_node.m_isRoot = true;
 
 		m_traverse.attach( this );
@@ -174,6 +180,7 @@ public:
 	}
 	~MapRoot(){
 	}
+	MapRoot( MapRoot&& ) noexcept = default; // no copy: Layers use m_parent pointer
 	void release(){
 		GlobalUndoSystem().trackerDetach( m_changeTracker );
 
@@ -203,9 +210,9 @@ public:
 		m_instances.erase( child );
 	}
 
-	scene::Node& clone() const {
-		return ( new MapRoot( *this ) )->node();
-	}
+	// scene::Node& clone() const {
+	// 	return ( new MapRoot( *this ) )->node();
+	// }
 
 	scene::Instance* create( const scene::Path& path, scene::Instance* parent ){
 		return new Instance( path, parent );
diff --git a/libs/scenelib.h b/libs/scenelib.h
index 17cb8b5c..1145eb28 100644
--- a/libs/scenelib.h
+++ b/libs/scenelib.h
@@ -146,6 +146,8 @@ class NodeIdentityCast :
 {
 };
 
+class Layer;
+
 namespace scene
 {
 class Node
@@ -156,6 +158,7 @@ public:
 		eHidden = 1 << 0,
 		eFiltered = 1 << 1,
 		eExcluded = 1 << 2,
+		eLayerHidden = 1 << 3,
 	};
 
 	class Symbiot
@@ -175,18 +178,20 @@ private:
 
 public:
 	bool m_isRoot;
+	Layer *m_layer; // nullptr for group entity node; they are not finely manageable and affect children visibility
 
 	bool isRoot(){
 		return m_isRoot;
 	}
 
-	Node( Symbiot* symbiot, void* node, NodeTypeCastTable& casts ) :
+	Node( Symbiot* symbiot, void* node, NodeTypeCastTable& casts, Layer *layer ) :
 		m_state( eVisible ),
 		m_refcount( 0 ),
 		m_symbiot( symbiot ),
 		m_node( node ),
 		m_casts( casts ),
-		m_isRoot( false ){
+		m_isRoot( false ),
+		m_layer( layer ){
 	}
 	~Node(){
 	}
@@ -238,7 +243,7 @@ class NullNode : public Node::Symbiot
 	NodeTypeCastTable m_casts;
 	Node m_node;
 public:
-	NullNode() : m_node( this, 0, m_casts ){
+	NullNode() : m_node( this, 0, m_casts, nullptr ){
 	}
 	void release(){
 		delete this;
@@ -921,6 +926,47 @@ inline bool Entity_isSelected( scene::Instance& entity ){
 }
 
 
+template<class Check>
+bool Traversable_all_of_children( scene::Traversable* traversable, const Check&& check ){
+	class Check_all : public scene::Traversable::Walker
+	{
+		const Check m_check;
+	public:
+		mutable bool m_all = true; // true for empty container
+		Check_all( Check check ) : m_check( check ){
+		}
+		bool pre( scene::Node& node ) const override {
+			if( m_all && !m_check( node ) )
+				m_all = false;
+			return m_all;
+		}
+	} check_all( check );
+
+	traversable->traverse( check_all );
+	return check_all.m_all;
+}
+
+template<class Check>
+bool Traversable_any_of_children( scene::Traversable* traversable, const Check&& check ){
+	class Check_all : public scene::Traversable::Walker
+	{
+		const Check m_check;
+	public:
+		mutable bool m_any = false; // false for empty container
+		Check_all( Check check ) : m_check( check ){
+		}
+		bool pre( scene::Node& node ) const override {
+			if( !m_any && m_check( node ) )
+				m_any = true;
+			return !m_any;
+		}
+	} check_all( check );
+
+	traversable->traverse( check_all );
+	return check_all.m_any;
+}
+
+
 
 class InstanceCounter
 {
diff --git a/libs/script/scripttokeniser.h b/libs/script/scripttokeniser.h
index 4b885c9e..b01cee77 100644
--- a/libs/script/scripttokeniser.h
+++ b/libs/script/scripttokeniser.h
@@ -53,7 +53,10 @@ class ScriptTokeniser final : public Tokeniser
 	bool m_unget;
 	bool m_emit;
 
-	bool m_special;
+	const bool m_special;
+	const bool m_specialComments;
+	const char m_specialCommentSig[4] = "@$&";
+	const char *m_specialCommentRead;
 
 	CharType charType( const char c ){
 		switch ( c )
@@ -144,7 +147,8 @@ class ScriptTokeniser final : public Tokeniser
 			m_emit = true; // emit token
 			break;
 		case eCharSolidus:
-#if 0 //SPoG: ignore comments in the middle of tokens.
+#define MID_TOKEN_COMMENTS 0
+#if MID_TOKEN_COMMENTS //SPoG: ignore comments in the middle of tokens.
 			push( Tokenise( &ScriptTokeniser::tokeniseSolidus ) );
 			break;
 #endif
@@ -200,7 +204,12 @@ class ScriptTokeniser final : public Tokeniser
 			break;
 		case eCharSolidus:
 			pop();
-			push( Tokenise( &ScriptTokeniser::tokeniseComment ) );
+			if( m_specialComments ){
+				push( Tokenise( &ScriptTokeniser::tokeniseCommentSpecialSig ) );
+				m_specialCommentRead = m_specialCommentSig;
+			}
+			else
+				push( Tokenise( &ScriptTokeniser::tokeniseComment ) );
 			break; // dont emit single slash
 		case eCharStar:
 			pop();
@@ -214,13 +223,25 @@ class ScriptTokeniser final : public Tokeniser
 	bool tokeniseComment( char c ){
 		if ( c == '\n' ) {
 			pop();
+#if MID_TOKEN_COMMENTS
 			if ( state() == Tokenise( &ScriptTokeniser::tokeniseToken ) ) {
 				pop();
 				m_emit = true; // emit token immediately preceding comment
 			}
+#endif
 		}
 		return true;
 	}
+	bool tokeniseCommentSpecialSig( char c ){ // test for '//@$&' signature
+		if( *m_specialCommentRead++ == c ){
+			if( *m_specialCommentRead == '\0' ) // match, do tokeniseDefault
+				pop(); // note no MID_TOKEN_COMMENTS support
+			return true;
+		}
+		pop();
+		push( Tokenise( &ScriptTokeniser::tokeniseComment ) );
+		return tokeniseComment( c );
+	}
 	bool tokeniseBlockComment( char c ){
 		if ( c == '*' ) {
 			pop();
@@ -233,10 +254,12 @@ class ScriptTokeniser final : public Tokeniser
 		{
 		case '/':
 			pop();
+#if MID_TOKEN_COMMENTS
 			if ( state() == Tokenise( &ScriptTokeniser::tokeniseToken ) ) {
 				pop();
 				m_emit = true; // emit token immediately preceding comment
 			}
+#endif
 			break; // dont emit comment
 		case '*':
 			break; // no state change
@@ -303,7 +326,7 @@ class ScriptTokeniser final : public Tokeniser
 	}
 
 public:
-	ScriptTokeniser( TextInputStream& istream, bool special ) :
+	ScriptTokeniser( TextInputStream& istream, bool special, bool specialComments ) :
 		m_state( m_stack ),
 		m_istream( istream ),
 		m_scriptline( 1 ),
@@ -311,7 +334,8 @@ public:
 		m_crossline( false ),
 		m_unget( false ),
 		m_emit( false ),
-		m_special( special ){
+		m_special( special ),
+		m_specialComments( specialComments ){
 		m_stack[0] = Tokenise( &ScriptTokeniser::tokeniseDefault );
 		m_eof = !m_istream.readChar( m_current );
 		m_token[MAXTOKEN - 1] = '\0';
@@ -347,9 +371,13 @@ public:
 
 
 inline Tokeniser& NewScriptTokeniser( TextInputStream& istream ){
-	return *( new ScriptTokeniser( istream, true ) );
+	return *( new ScriptTokeniser( istream, true, false ) );
+}
+
+inline Tokeniser& NewMapTokeniser( TextInputStream& istream ){
+	return *( new ScriptTokeniser( istream, false, true ) );
 }
 
 inline Tokeniser& NewSimpleTokeniser( TextInputStream& istream ){
-	return *( new ScriptTokeniser( istream, false ) );
+	return *( new ScriptTokeniser( istream, false, false ) );
 }
diff --git a/libs/stringio.h b/libs/stringio.h
index 7e110024..b26c5e0a 100644
--- a/libs/stringio.h
+++ b/libs/stringio.h
@@ -287,6 +287,21 @@ inline bool Tokeniser_nextTokenIsDigit( Tokeniser& tokeniser ){
 	return std::isdigit( c ) != 0;
 }
 
+inline bool Tokeniser_inlineTokenAvailable( Tokeniser& tokeniser ){
+	const size_t line = tokeniser.getLine();
+	if ( tokeniser.getToken() ) {
+		tokeniser.ungetToken();
+		return line == tokeniser.getLine();
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
+inline void Tokeniser_skipToNextLine( Tokeniser& tokeniser ){
+	const size_t line = tokeniser.getLine();
+	while ( tokeniser.getToken() && line == tokeniser.getLine() ) {}
+	tokeniser.ungetToken();
+}
+
 
 
 
diff --git a/plugins/assmodel/model.cpp b/plugins/assmodel/model.cpp
index b249077d..c74b6559 100644
--- a/plugins/assmodel/model.cpp
+++ b/plugins/assmodel/model.cpp
@@ -634,9 +634,9 @@ class PicoModelNode : public scene::Node::Symbiot, public scene::Instantiable
 public:
 	typedef LazyStatic<TypeCasts> StaticTypeCasts;
 
-	PicoModelNode() : m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ){
+	PicoModelNode() : m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), nullptr ){
 	}
-	PicoModelNode( const AssScene scene ) : m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ), m_picomodel( scene ){
+	PicoModelNode( const AssScene scene ) : m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), nullptr ), m_picomodel( scene ){
 	}
 
 	void release(){
diff --git a/plugins/entity/doom3group.cpp b/plugins/entity/doom3group.cpp
index bc75c95a..4677ec38 100644
--- a/plugins/entity/doom3group.cpp
+++ b/plugins/entity/doom3group.cpp
@@ -657,7 +657,7 @@ public:
 	}
 
 	Doom3GroupNode( EntityClass* eclass ) :
-		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ),
+		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), nullptr ),
 		m_contained( eclass, m_node, InstanceSet::TransformChangedCaller( m_instances ), InstanceSet::BoundsChangedCaller( m_instances ), InstanceSetEvaluateTransform<Doom3GroupInstance>::Caller( m_instances ) ){
 		construct();
 	}
@@ -666,7 +666,7 @@ public:
 		scene::Instantiable( other ),
 		scene::Cloneable( other ),
 		scene::Traversable::Observer( other ),
-		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ),
+		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), nullptr ),
 		m_contained( other.m_contained, m_node, InstanceSet::TransformChangedCaller( m_instances ), InstanceSet::BoundsChangedCaller( m_instances ), InstanceSetEvaluateTransform<Doom3GroupInstance>::Caller( m_instances ) ){
 		construct();
 	}
diff --git a/plugins/entity/eclassmodel.cpp b/plugins/entity/eclassmodel.cpp
index 00dc17c5..dcf697ee 100644
--- a/plugins/entity/eclassmodel.cpp
+++ b/plugins/entity/eclassmodel.cpp
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ public:
 	}
 
 	EclassModelNode( EntityClass* eclass ) :
-		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ),
+		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), GlobalSceneGraph().currentLayer() ),
 		m_contained( eclass, m_node, InstanceSet::TransformChangedCaller( m_instances ), InstanceSetEvaluateTransform<EclassModelInstance>::Caller( m_instances ) ){
 		construct();
 	}
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ public:
 		scene::Instantiable( other ),
 		scene::Cloneable( other ),
 		scene::Traversable::Observer( other ),
-		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ),
+		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), other.m_node.m_layer ),
 		m_contained( other.m_contained, m_node, InstanceSet::TransformChangedCaller( m_instances ), InstanceSetEvaluateTransform<EclassModelInstance>::Caller( m_instances ) ){
 		construct();
 	}
diff --git a/plugins/entity/generic.cpp b/plugins/entity/generic.cpp
index ee9df385..83a1ccbc 100644
--- a/plugins/entity/generic.cpp
+++ b/plugins/entity/generic.cpp
@@ -388,14 +388,14 @@ public:
 	}
 
 	GenericEntityNode( EntityClass* eclass ) :
-		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ),
+		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), GlobalSceneGraph().currentLayer() ),
 		m_contained( eclass, m_node, InstanceSet::TransformChangedCaller( m_instances ), InstanceSetEvaluateTransform<GenericEntityInstance>::Caller( m_instances ) ){
 	}
 	GenericEntityNode( const GenericEntityNode& other ) :
 		scene::Node::Symbiot( other ),
 		scene::Instantiable( other ),
 		scene::Cloneable( other ),
-		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ),
+		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), other.m_node.m_layer ),
 		m_contained( other.m_contained, m_node, InstanceSet::TransformChangedCaller( m_instances ), InstanceSetEvaluateTransform<GenericEntityInstance>::Caller( m_instances ) ){
 	}
 	void release(){
diff --git a/plugins/entity/group.cpp b/plugins/entity/group.cpp
index fe20fd44..0e5aff4f 100644
--- a/plugins/entity/group.cpp
+++ b/plugins/entity/group.cpp
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ public:
 	}
 
 	GroupNode( EntityClass* eclass ) :
-		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ),
+		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), nullptr ),
 		m_contained( eclass, m_node, InstanceSet::TransformChangedCaller( m_instances ), InstanceSetEvaluateTransform<GroupInstance>::Caller( m_instances ) ){
 		construct();
 	}
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ public:
 		scene::Instantiable( other ),
 		scene::Cloneable( other ),
 		scene::Traversable::Observer( other ),
-		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ),
+		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), nullptr ),
 		m_contained( other.m_contained, m_node, InstanceSet::TransformChangedCaller( m_instances ), InstanceSetEvaluateTransform<GroupInstance>::Caller( m_instances ) ){
 		construct();
 	}
diff --git a/plugins/entity/light.cpp b/plugins/entity/light.cpp
index ba534f60..f7d94a25 100644
--- a/plugins/entity/light.cpp
+++ b/plugins/entity/light.cpp
@@ -2044,7 +2044,7 @@ public:
 	}
 
 	LightNode( EntityClass* eclass ) :
-		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ),
+		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), GlobalSceneGraph().currentLayer() ),
 		m_contained( eclass, m_node, InstanceSet::TransformChangedCaller( m_instances ), InstanceSet::BoundsChangedCaller( m_instances ), InstanceSetEvaluateTransform<LightInstance>::Caller( m_instances ) ){
 		construct();
 	}
@@ -2053,7 +2053,7 @@ public:
 		scene::Instantiable( other ),
 		scene::Cloneable( other ),
 		scene::Traversable::Observer( other ),
-		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ),
+		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), other.m_node.m_layer ),
 		m_contained( other.m_contained, m_node, InstanceSet::TransformChangedCaller( m_instances ), InstanceSet::BoundsChangedCaller( m_instances ), InstanceSetEvaluateTransform<LightInstance>::Caller( m_instances ) ){
 		construct();
 	}
diff --git a/plugins/entity/miscmodel.cpp b/plugins/entity/miscmodel.cpp
index a17f95c3..610bc108 100644
--- a/plugins/entity/miscmodel.cpp
+++ b/plugins/entity/miscmodel.cpp
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ public:
 	}
 
 	MiscModelNode( EntityClass* eclass ) :
-		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ),
+		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), GlobalSceneGraph().currentLayer() ),
 		m_contained( eclass, m_node, InstanceSet::TransformChangedCaller( m_instances ), InstanceSetEvaluateTransform<MiscModelInstance>::Caller( m_instances ) ){
 		construct();
 	}
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ public:
 		scene::Instantiable( other ),
 		scene::Cloneable( other ),
 		scene::Traversable::Observer( other ),
-		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ),
+		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), other.m_node.m_layer ),
 		m_contained( other.m_contained, m_node, InstanceSet::TransformChangedCaller( m_instances ), InstanceSetEvaluateTransform<MiscModelInstance>::Caller( m_instances ) ){
 		construct();
 	}
diff --git a/plugins/mapq3/parse.cpp b/plugins/mapq3/parse.cpp
index 82f43bf0..37bd04e9 100644
--- a/plugins/mapq3/parse.cpp
+++ b/plugins/mapq3/parse.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,98 @@
 #include "string/string.h"
 #include "stringio.h"
 #include "eclasslib.h"
+#include "layers.h"
+
+class LayersParser
+{
+	Layers& m_layers;
+	std::vector<Layer::iterator> m_layersVec; // vector to access layers by index
+	int m_currentLayer = LAYERIDX0;
+public:
+	LayersParser( scene::Node& root ) : m_layers( *Node_getLayers( root ) ){
+	}
+	void construct_tree(){
+		{
+			auto& list = m_layers.m_children;
+
+			if( list.size() > 1 ) // something was parsed, remove default inserted layer
+				list.pop_front();
+
+			m_layersVec.reserve( list.size() );
+			for( auto it = list.begin(); it != list.end(); ++it )
+				m_layersVec.push_back( it );
+			// check safety // note possible circular reference is not checked
+			if( std::ranges::find( list, LAYERIDXPARENT, &Layer::m_parentIndex ) == list.cend() ){
+				globalErrorStream() << "No layers in the root\n";
+				list.front().m_parentIndex = LAYERIDXPARENT;
+			}
+		}
+		for( auto it : m_layersVec ){
+			// check safety
+			if( it->m_parentIndex < LAYERIDXPARENT || it->m_parentIndex >= static_cast<int>( m_layersVec.size() ) ){
+				globalErrorStream() << it->m_parentIndex << " parent layer index out of bounds\n";
+				it->m_parentIndex = LAYERIDXPARENT;
+			}
+			if( it->m_parentIndex > LAYERIDXPARENT && m_layersVec[ it->m_parentIndex ] == it ){
+				globalErrorStream() << it->m_parentIndex << " parent layer index self reference\n";
+				it->m_parentIndex = LAYERIDXPARENT;
+			}
+			// link & reference parent
+			Layer& parent = it->m_parentIndex == LAYERIDXPARENT? m_layers : *m_layersVec[ it->m_parentIndex ];
+			parent.m_children.splice( parent.m_children.cend(), m_layers.m_children, it );
+			it->m_parent = &parent;
+		}
+
+		m_layers.m_currentLayer = &m_layers.m_children.front();
+	}
+	bool read_layers( Tokeniser& tokeniser ){
+		for (;; )
+		{
+			tokeniser.nextLine();
+			const char *token;
+			if( !( token = tokeniser.getToken() ) )
+				return false;
+			if( !string_equal( token, "layerdef" ) ){
+				tokeniser.ungetToken();
+				return true;
+			}
+			if( !( token = tokeniser.getToken() ) ){
+				Tokeniser_unexpectedError( tokeniser, token, "#layer-name" );
+				return false;
+			}
+			auto& layer = m_layers.m_children.emplace_back( token, nullptr ); // initially construct plain list
+
+			if( !Tokeniser_getInteger( tokeniser, layer.m_parentIndex )
+			|| !Tokeniser_getInteger( tokeniser, layer.m_color[ 0 ] )
+			|| !Tokeniser_getInteger( tokeniser, layer.m_color[ 1 ] )
+			|| !Tokeniser_getInteger( tokeniser, layer.m_color[ 2 ] ) )
+				return false;
+
+			Tokeniser_skipToNextLine( tokeniser ); // skip possible format extension
+		}
+	}
+	bool read_layer( Tokeniser& tokeniser ){
+		const char *token = tokeniser.getToken();
+		if ( token == nullptr )
+			return false;
+		if( !string_equal( token, "layer" ) ){
+			tokeniser.ungetToken();
+			return true;
+		}
+		if( !Tokeniser_getInteger( tokeniser, m_currentLayer ) ){
+			return false;
+		}
+		else if( m_currentLayer <= LAYERIDXPARENT || m_currentLayer >= static_cast<int>( m_layersVec.size() ) ){
+			globalErrorStream() << m_currentLayer << " primitive layer index out of bounds\n";
+			m_currentLayer = LAYERIDX0;
+		}
+		Tokeniser_skipToNextLine( tokeniser ); // skip possible format extension
+		return true;
+	}
+	Layer* getCurrentLayer(){
+		return m_layersVec[ m_currentLayer ].operator->();
+	}
+};
 
 inline MapImporter* Node_getMapImporter( scene::Node& node ){
 	return NodeTypeCast<MapImporter>::cast( node );
@@ -52,7 +144,7 @@ NodeSmartReference Entity_create( EntityCreator& entityTable, EntityClass* entit
 	return NodeSmartReference( entity );
 }
 
-NodeSmartReference Entity_parseTokens( Tokeniser& tokeniser, EntityCreator& entityTable, const PrimitiveParser& parser, int index ){
+NodeSmartReference Entity_parseTokens( Tokeniser& tokeniser, EntityCreator& entityTable, const PrimitiveParser& parser, int index, LayersParser& layersParser ){
 	NodeSmartReference entity( g_nullNode );
 	KeyValues keyValues;
 	const char* classname = "";
@@ -61,8 +153,8 @@ NodeSmartReference Entity_parseTokens( Tokeniser& tokeniser, EntityCreator& enti
 	while ( 1 )
 	{
 		tokeniser.nextLine();
-		const char* token = tokeniser.getToken();
-		if ( token == 0 ) {
+		const char* token;
+		if ( !layersParser.read_layer( tokeniser ) || !( token = tokeniser.getToken() ) ) {
 			Tokeniser_unexpectedError( tokeniser, token, "#entity-token" );
 			return g_nullNode;
 		}
@@ -86,6 +178,7 @@ NodeSmartReference Entity_parseTokens( Tokeniser& tokeniser, EntityCreator& enti
 				globalErrorStream() << "brush " << count_primitives << ": parse error\n";
 				return g_nullNode;
 			}
+			primitive.get().m_layer = layersParser.getCurrentLayer();
 
 			scene::Traversable* traversable = Node_getTraversable( entity );
 			if ( Node_getEntity( entity )->isContainer() && traversable != 0 ) {
@@ -116,15 +209,23 @@ NodeSmartReference Entity_parseTokens( Tokeniser& tokeniser, EntityCreator& enti
 }
 
 void Map_Read( scene::Node& root, Tokeniser& tokeniser, EntityCreator& entityTable, const PrimitiveParser& parser ){
+	LayersParser layersParser( root );
+	if( !layersParser.read_layers( tokeniser ) ){
+		layersParser.construct_tree(); // contruct anytime to have at least one layer, e.g. when empty .map
+		return;
+	}
+	layersParser.construct_tree();
+
 	int count_entities = 0;
 	for (;; )
 	{
 		tokeniser.nextLine();
-		if ( !tokeniser.getToken() ) { // { or 0
+		if ( !layersParser.read_layer( tokeniser ) || !tokeniser.getToken() ) { // { or 0
 			break;
 		}
+		Layer *entityLayer = layersParser.getCurrentLayer();
 
-		NodeSmartReference entity( Entity_parseTokens( tokeniser, entityTable, parser, count_entities ) );
+		NodeSmartReference entity( Entity_parseTokens( tokeniser, entityTable, parser, count_entities, layersParser ) );
 
 		if ( entity == g_nullNode ) {
 			globalErrorStream() << "entity " << count_entities << ": parse error\n";
@@ -132,6 +233,8 @@ void Map_Read( scene::Node& root, Tokeniser& tokeniser, EntityCreator& entityTab
 		}
 
 		Node_getTraversable( root )->insert( entity );
+		if( !Node_getEntity( entity )->isContainer() )
+			entity.get().m_layer = entityLayer;
 
 		++count_entities;
 	}
diff --git a/plugins/mapq3/plugin.cpp b/plugins/mapq3/plugin.cpp
index 1fdd8344..ff8bd6ba 100644
--- a/plugins/mapq3/plugin.cpp
+++ b/plugins/mapq3/plugin.cpp
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ public:
 		return g_nullNode;
 	}
 	void readGraph( scene::Node& root, TextInputStream& inputStream, EntityCreator& entityTable ) const {
-		Tokeniser& tokeniser = GlobalScripLibModule::getTable().m_pfnNewSimpleTokeniser( inputStream );
+		Tokeniser& tokeniser = GlobalScripLibModule::getTable().m_pfnNewMapTokeniser( inputStream );
 		tokeniser.nextLine();
 		if ( !Tokeniser_parseToken( tokeniser, "Version" ) ) {
 			return;
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ public:
 		return g_nullNode;
 	}
 	void readGraph( scene::Node& root, TextInputStream& inputStream, EntityCreator& entityTable ) const {
-		Tokeniser& tokeniser = GlobalScripLibModule::getTable().m_pfnNewSimpleTokeniser( inputStream );
+		Tokeniser& tokeniser = GlobalScripLibModule::getTable().m_pfnNewMapTokeniser( inputStream );
 		tokeniser.nextLine();
 		if ( !Tokeniser_parseToken( tokeniser, "Version" ) ) {
 			return;
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ public:
 	}
 
 	void readGraph( scene::Node& root, TextInputStream& inputStream, EntityCreator& entityTable ) const {
-		Tokeniser& tokeniser = GlobalScripLibModule::getTable().m_pfnNewSimpleTokeniser( inputStream );
+		Tokeniser& tokeniser = GlobalScripLibModule::getTable().m_pfnNewMapTokeniser( inputStream );
 		m_formatDetected = false;
 		Map_Read( root, tokeniser, entityTable, *this );
 		tokeniser.release();
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ public:
 		return g_nullNode;
 	}
 	void readGraph( scene::Node& root, TextInputStream& inputStream, EntityCreator& entityTable ) const {
-		Tokeniser& tokeniser = GlobalScripLibModule::getTable().m_pfnNewSimpleTokeniser( inputStream );
+		Tokeniser& tokeniser = GlobalScripLibModule::getTable().m_pfnNewMapTokeniser( inputStream );
 		m_formatDetected = false;
 		Map_Read( root, tokeniser, entityTable, *this );
 		tokeniser.release();
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ public:
 		return g_nullNode;
 	}
 	void readGraph( scene::Node& root, TextInputStream& inputStream, EntityCreator& entityTable ) const {
-		Tokeniser& tokeniser = GlobalScripLibModule::getTable().m_pfnNewSimpleTokeniser( inputStream );
+		Tokeniser& tokeniser = GlobalScripLibModule::getTable().m_pfnNewMapTokeniser( inputStream );
 		Map_Read( root, tokeniser, entityTable, *this );
 		tokeniser.release();
 	}
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ public:
 		return g_nullNode;
 	}
 	void readGraph( scene::Node& root, TextInputStream& inputStream, EntityCreator& entityTable ) const {
-		Tokeniser& tokeniser = GlobalScripLibModule::getTable().m_pfnNewSimpleTokeniser( inputStream );
+		Tokeniser& tokeniser = GlobalScripLibModule::getTable().m_pfnNewMapTokeniser( inputStream );
 		m_formatDetected = false;
 		Map_Read( root, tokeniser, entityTable, *this );
 		tokeniser.release();
diff --git a/plugins/mapq3/write.cpp b/plugins/mapq3/write.cpp
index 00d9d401..46d079e8 100644
--- a/plugins/mapq3/write.cpp
+++ b/plugins/mapq3/write.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,31 @@
 #include "ientity.h"
 #include "iscriplib.h"
 #include "scenelib.h"
+#include "layers.h"
+
+void Layers_Write( Layers& layers, TokenWriter& writer ){
+	layers.forEach( [&]( Layer& layer ){
+		writer.writeToken( "//@$&" );
+		writer.writeToken( "layerdef" );
+		writer.writeString( layer.m_name.c_str() );
+		writer.writeInteger( layer.m_parent->m_ownIndex );
+		writer.writeInteger( layer.m_color[ 0 ] );
+		writer.writeInteger( layer.m_color[ 1 ] );
+		writer.writeInteger( layer.m_color[ 2 ] );
+		writer.nextLine();
+	} );
+}
+
+void Layer_Write( const Layer *layer, int& currentLayer, TokenWriter& writer ){
+	if( layer != nullptr && currentLayer != layer->m_ownIndex ){
+		currentLayer = layer->m_ownIndex;
+		writer.writeToken( "//@$&" );
+		writer.writeToken( "layer" );
+		writer.writeInteger( currentLayer );
+		writer.nextLine();
+	}
+}
+
 
 inline MapExporter* Node_getMapExporter( scene::Node& node ){
 	return NodeTypeCast<MapExporter>::cast( node );
@@ -61,9 +86,13 @@ class WriteTokensWalker : public scene::Traversable::Walker
 	mutable Stack<bool> m_stack;
 	TokenWriter& m_writer;
 	bool m_ignorePatches;
+	mutable int m_currentLayer = LAYERIDX0;
 public:
-	WriteTokensWalker( TokenWriter& writer, bool ignorePatches )
-		: m_writer( writer ), m_ignorePatches( ignorePatches ){
+	WriteTokensWalker( TokenWriter& writer, bool ignorePatches, Layers& layers )
+		: m_writer( writer ), m_ignorePatches( ignorePatches )
+	{
+		layers.update_ownIndices();
+		Layers_Write( layers, m_writer );
 	}
 	bool pre( scene::Node& node ) const {
 		m_stack.push( false );
@@ -80,6 +109,8 @@ public:
 			m_writer.writeUnsigned( g_count_entities++ );
 			m_writer.nextLine();
 
+			Layer_Write( node.m_layer, m_currentLayer, m_writer );
+
 			m_writer.writeToken( "{" );
 			m_writer.nextLine();
 			m_stack.top() = true;
@@ -96,6 +127,8 @@ public:
 				m_writer.writeUnsigned( g_count_brushes++ );
 				m_writer.nextLine();
 
+				Layer_Write( node.m_layer, m_currentLayer, m_writer );
+
 				exporter->exportTokens( m_writer );
 			}
 		}
@@ -113,5 +146,5 @@ public:
 
 void Map_Write( scene::Node& root, GraphTraversalFunc traverse, TokenWriter& writer, bool ignorePatches ){
 	g_count_entities = 0;
-	traverse( root, WriteTokensWalker( writer, ignorePatches ) );
+	traverse( root, WriteTokensWalker( writer, ignorePatches, *Node_getLayers( root ) ) );
 }
diff --git a/plugins/md3model/model.h b/plugins/md3model/model.h
index c47af9c2..c44340e2 100644
--- a/plugins/md3model/model.h
+++ b/plugins/md3model/model.h
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ public:
 
 	typedef LazyStatic<TypeCasts> StaticTypeCasts;
 
-	ModelNode() : m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ){
+	ModelNode() : m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), nullptr ){
 	}
 
 	Model& model(){
diff --git a/plugins/model/model.cpp b/plugins/model/model.cpp
index 70c40f78..0b79ca68 100644
--- a/plugins/model/model.cpp
+++ b/plugins/model/model.cpp
@@ -585,9 +585,9 @@ class PicoModelNode : public scene::Node::Symbiot, public scene::Instantiable
 public:
 	typedef LazyStatic<TypeCasts> StaticTypeCasts;
 
-	PicoModelNode() : m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ){
+	PicoModelNode() : m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), nullptr ){
 	}
-	PicoModelNode( picoModel_t* model ) : m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ), m_picomodel( model ){
+	PicoModelNode( picoModel_t* model ) : m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), nullptr ), m_picomodel( model ){
 	}
 
 	void release(){
diff --git a/radiant/brushnode.h b/radiant/brushnode.h
index 2973f583..58a6acd9 100644
--- a/radiant/brushnode.h
+++ b/radiant/brushnode.h
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ public:
 	}
 
 	BrushNode() :
-		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ),
+		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), GlobalSceneGraph().currentLayer() ),
 		m_brush( m_node, InstanceSetEvaluateTransform<BrushInstance>::Caller( m_instances ), InstanceSet::BoundsChangedCaller( m_instances ) ),
 		m_mapImporter( m_brush ),
 		m_mapExporter( m_brush ),
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ public:
 		scene::Node::Symbiot( other ),
 		scene::Instantiable( other ),
 		scene::Cloneable( other ),
-		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ),
+		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), other.m_node.m_layer ),
 		m_brush( other.m_brush, m_node, InstanceSetEvaluateTransform<BrushInstance>::Caller( m_instances ), InstanceSet::BoundsChangedCaller( m_instances ) ),
 		m_mapImporter( m_brush ),
 		m_mapExporter( m_brush ),
diff --git a/radiant/csg.cpp b/radiant/csg.cpp
index a47bd91d..04e111dc 100644
--- a/radiant/csg.cpp
+++ b/radiant/csg.cpp
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ public:
 				for( Brush* b : out ) {
 					b->removeEmptyFaces();
 					if( b->hasContributingFaces() ) {
-						NodeSmartReference node( ( new BrushNode() )->node() );
+						NodeSmartReference node( GlobalBrushCreator().createBrush() );
 						Node_getBrush( node )->copy( *b );
 						Node_getTraversable( path.parent() )->insert( node );
 						//path.push( makeReference( node.get() ) );
@@ -690,7 +690,7 @@ public:
 						++m_after;
 						brush->removeEmptyFaces();
 						if ( !brush->empty() ) {
-							NodeSmartReference node( ( new BrushNode() )->node() );
+							NodeSmartReference node( GlobalBrushCreator().createBrush() );
 							Node_getBrush( node )->copy( *brush );
 							delete brush;
 							Node_getTraversable( path.parent() )->insert( node );
@@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ public:
 					// the plane intersects this brush
 					m_gj = true;
 					if ( m_split ) {
-						NodeSmartReference node( ( new BrushNode() )->node() );
+						NodeSmartReference node( GlobalBrushCreator().createBrush() );
 						Brush* fragment = Node_getBrush( node );
 						fragment->copy( *brush );
 						fragment->addPlane( m_points[0], m_points[2], m_points[1], m_shader, m_projection );
@@ -960,7 +960,7 @@ void CSG_Merge(){
 
 	UndoableCommand undo( "brushMerge" );
 
-	NodeSmartReference node( ( new BrushNode() )->node() );
+	NodeSmartReference node( GlobalBrushCreator().createBrush() );
 	Brush* brush = Node_getBrush( node );
 	// if the new brush would not be convex
 	if ( !Brush_merge( *brush, selected_brushes, true ) ) {
@@ -1166,7 +1166,7 @@ void CSG_WrapMerge( const ClipperPoints& clipperPoints ){
 		return;
 	}
 
-	NodeSmartReference node( ( new BrushNode() )->node() );
+	NodeSmartReference node( GlobalBrushCreator().createBrush() );
 	Brush* brush = GlobalSelectionSystem().countSelected() > 0? Node_getBrush( GlobalSelectionSystem().ultimateSelected().path().top() ) : 0;
 	const bool oldbrush = brush && primit;
 	if( oldbrush )
diff --git a/radiant/layerswindow.cpp b/radiant/layerswindow.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..28774d70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/radiant/layerswindow.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,537 @@
+/*
+   Copyright (C) 1999-2006 Id Software, Inc. and contributors.
+   For a list of contributors, see the accompanying CONTRIBUTORS file.
+
+   This file is part of GtkRadiant.
+
+   GtkRadiant is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+   the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+   (at your option) any later version.
+
+   GtkRadiant is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+   GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+   along with GtkRadiant; if not, write to the Free Software
+   Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
+ */
+
+#include "layerswindow.h"
+
+#include "layers.h"
+#include <QApplication>
+#include <QTreeWidget>
+#include <QHeaderView>
+#include <QDropEvent>
+#include <QMimeData>
+#include <QIcon>
+#include <QMenu>
+#include <QInputDialog>
+#include <QTimer>
+#include "map.h"
+#include "ientity.h"
+#include "generic/callback.h"
+#include "signal/signal.h"
+#include "gtkutil/image.h"
+#include "gtkmisc.h"
+#include "windowobservers.h"
+
+/*
+	?todo operator[] range check // checked during loading
+	layer color
+	restrict " in the name, empty name
+	'move to layer' context menu on keybind
+? tree 'move to layer' menu
+	def line format extensible
+? extensibility with new root keywords
+	handle paste, clone, map import
+	new layer = make current
+	hide recursively
+	always nullptr layer for group ents node
+	hide/show group entity nodes automatically
+	don't select hidden nodes
+	non locked 0 layer //may be confusing for user when falling back to default layer in operations, it's implicitly 1st in the list//?write 0 layer for future
+? feedback which layers are selected //highlight tree items
+? feedback items count in a layer
+? undo
+button to add a layer
+buttons to hide/show all layers
+*/
+
+class LayerAssignVisitor : public SelectionSystem::Visitor
+{
+	Layer *m_layer;
+public:
+	LayerAssignVisitor( Layer *layer ) : m_layer( layer ){
+	}
+	void visit( scene::Instance& instance ) const override {
+		scene::Node& node = instance.path().top().get();
+		if( Entity *entity; !( ( entity = Node_getEntity( node ) ) && entity->isContainer() ) )
+			node.m_layer = m_layer;
+	}
+};
+
+class LayerCollectVisitor : public SelectionSystem::Visitor
+{
+	std::vector<Layer*>& m_layers;
+public:
+	LayerCollectVisitor( std::vector<Layer*>& layers ) : m_layers( layers ){
+	}
+	void visit( scene::Instance& instance ) const override {
+		Layer *layer = instance.path().top().get().m_layer;
+		if( layer != nullptr && std::ranges::find( m_layers, layer ) == m_layers.cend() )
+			m_layers.push_back( layer );
+	}
+};
+
+class LayerHideWalker : public scene::Graph::Walker
+{
+	const std::vector<Layer*>& m_layers;
+public:
+	LayerHideWalker( const std::vector<Layer*>& layers ) : m_layers( layers ){
+	}
+	bool pre( const scene::Path& path, scene::Instance& instance ) const override {
+		scene::Node& node = path.top().get();
+		if( std::ranges::find( m_layers, node.m_layer ) != m_layers.cend() ){
+			node.enable( scene::Node::eLayerHidden );
+			if( Selectable* selectable = Instance_getSelectable( instance ) )
+				selectable->setSelected( false );
+		}
+		return true;
+	}
+	void post( const scene::Path& path, scene::Instance& instance ) const override {
+		scene::Node& node = path.top().get();
+		if( Node_isEntity( node ) ) // hide group entity labels, when their content is entirely hidden
+			if( scene::Traversable* traversable = Node_getTraversable( node ) )
+				if( Traversable_all_of_children( traversable, []( const scene::Node& node ){ return node.excluded( scene::Node::eLayerHidden ); } ) )
+					node.enable( scene::Node::eLayerHidden );
+	}
+};
+class LayerShowWalker : public scene::Graph::Walker
+{
+	const std::vector<Layer*>& m_layers;
+public:
+	LayerShowWalker( const std::vector<Layer*>& layers ) : m_layers( layers ){
+	}
+	bool pre( const scene::Path& path, scene::Instance& instance ) const override {
+		scene::Node& node = path.top().get();
+		if( std::ranges::find( m_layers, node.m_layer ) != m_layers.cend() ){
+			node.disable( scene::Node::eLayerHidden );
+		}
+		return true;
+	}
+	void post( const scene::Path& path, scene::Instance& instance ) const override {
+		scene::Node& node = path.top().get();
+		if( Node_isEntity( node ) ) // unhide group entity labels, when their content is partially visible
+			if( scene::Traversable* traversable = Node_getTraversable( node ) )
+				if( Traversable_any_of_children( traversable, []( const scene::Node& node ){ return !node.excluded( scene::Node::eLayerHidden ); } ) )
+					node.disable( scene::Node::eLayerHidden );
+	}
+};
+
+class LayerSelectWalker : public scene::Graph::Walker
+{
+	const std::vector<Layer*>& m_layers;
+	const bool m_select;
+public:
+	LayerSelectWalker( const std::vector<Layer*>& layers, bool select ) : m_layers( layers ), m_select( select ){
+	}
+	bool pre( const scene::Path& path, scene::Instance& instance ) const override {
+		scene::Node& node = path.top().get();
+		if( node.visible() && std::ranges::find( m_layers, node.m_layer ) != m_layers.cend() ){
+			Instance_setSelected( instance, m_select );
+		}
+		return true;
+	}
+};
+
+class LayerDeletetWalker : public scene::Graph::Walker
+{
+	const std::vector<Layer*>& m_layers;
+	Layer *m_currentLayer;
+public:
+	LayerDeletetWalker( const std::vector<Layer*>& layers, Layer *currentLayer ) : m_layers( layers ), m_currentLayer( currentLayer ){
+	}
+	bool pre( const scene::Path& path, scene::Instance& instance ) const override {
+		scene::Node& node = path.top().get();
+		if( std::ranges::find( m_layers, node.m_layer ) != m_layers.cend() ){
+			node.m_layer = m_currentLayer;
+		}
+		return true;
+	}
+};
+
+
+
+class LayersBrowser
+{
+public:
+	QTreeWidget *m_tree = nullptr;
+	QMenu *m_movetoMenu = nullptr;
+	QIcon m_iconSelect;
+	QIcon m_iconSelectAdd;
+	QIcon m_iconSelectDeselect;
+	QIcon m_iconSelectMove;
+	QIcon m_iconVisibleOn;
+	QIcon m_iconVisibleOff;
+};
+
+LayersBrowser g_lbro;
+
+
+namespace Column
+{
+enum
+{
+	name,
+	current,
+	select,
+	visible,
+};
+};
+
+template<class Functor>
+	requires( std::invocable<Functor, QTreeWidgetItem*> && std::is_void_v<std::invoke_result_t<Functor, QTreeWidgetItem*>> )
+void items_iterate_recursively( QTreeWidgetItem *item, Functor&& functor ){
+	functor( item );
+	for( int i = 0; i < item->childCount(); ++i )
+		items_iterate_recursively( item->child( i ), functor );
+}
+
+Layer::iterator item_getLayerIterator( QTreeWidgetItem *item ){
+	static_assert( sizeof( Layer::iterator ) == sizeof( size_t ) );
+	size_t layer = item->data( Column::name, Qt::ItemDataRole::UserRole ).value<size_t>();
+	return *reinterpret_cast<Layer::iterator*>( &layer );
+}
+Layer* item_getLayer( QTreeWidgetItem *item ){
+	return item_getLayerIterator( item ).operator->();
+}
+std::vector<Layer*> item_getLayers( QTreeWidgetItem *item ){
+	std::vector<Layer*> layers;
+	items_iterate_recursively( item, [&]( QTreeWidgetItem *item ){ layers.push_back( item_getLayer( item ) ); } );
+	return layers;
+}
+std::vector<Layer::iterator> item_getLayersIterators( QTreeWidgetItem *item ){
+	std::vector<Layer::iterator> layers;
+	items_iterate_recursively( item, [&]( QTreeWidgetItem *item ){ layers.push_back( item_getLayerIterator( item ) ); } );
+	return layers;
+}
+
+void item_setCurrent( QTreeWidgetItem *item ){
+	for( QTreeWidgetItemIterator it( item->treeWidget() ); *it; ++it )
+		( *it )->setCheckState( Column::current, Qt::CheckState::Unchecked );
+
+	item->setCheckState( Column::current, Qt::CheckState::Checked );
+	Node_getLayers( GlobalSceneGraph().root() )->m_currentLayer = item_getLayer( item );
+}
+
+void item_setIcons( QTreeWidgetItem *item ){
+	item->setIcon( Column::select, g_lbro.m_iconSelect );
+	item->setIcon( Column::visible, item->data( Column::visible, Qt::ItemDataRole::UserRole ).toBool()? g_lbro.m_iconVisibleOn : g_lbro.m_iconVisibleOff );
+}
+
+void item_setColor( QTreeWidgetItem *item, const int ( &color )[ 3 ] ){
+	if( color[ 0 ] == 0 && color[ 1 ] == 0 && color[ 2 ] == 0 )
+		item->setBackground( Column::current, {} );
+	else
+		item->setBackground( Column::current, QColor( color[ 0 ], color[ 1 ], color[ 2 ] ) );
+}
+
+void item_construct( QTreeWidgetItem *item, Layer::iterator layer ){
+	item->setText( Column::name, layer->m_name.c_str() );
+	item->setData( Column::name, Qt::ItemDataRole::UserRole, QVariant::fromValue( *reinterpret_cast<size_t*>( &layer ) ) ); // Q_DECLARE_METATYPE( Layer* ) = crash during drag and drop
+	item->setData( Column::visible, Qt::ItemDataRole::UserRole, true ); // save toggle state
+	item->setToolTip( Column::current, "Set current layer" );
+	item->setToolTip( Column::select, "CLICK = Select\nCTRL = multiple\nALT = deselect\nSHIFT = Move to layer" );
+	item->setToolTip( Column::visible, "Toggle visibility" );
+	item_setIcons( item );
+	item_setColor( item, layer->m_color );
+	item->setCheckState( Column::current, Qt::CheckState::Unchecked ); // make checkable
+}
+
+void insert_children( QTreeWidgetItem *parentItem, std::list<Layer>& children ){
+	for( auto layer = children.begin(); layer != children.end(); ++layer )
+	{
+		auto *item = new QTreeWidgetItem( parentItem );
+		item_construct( item, layer );
+		insert_children( item, layer->m_children );
+	}
+}
+
+void LayersBrowser_constructTree( QTreeWidget *tree ){
+	if( Map_Valid( g_map ) ){
+		Layers& layers = *Node_getLayers( GlobalSceneGraph().root() );
+		tree->clear();
+		insert_children( tree->invisibleRootItem(), layers.m_children );
+		tree->topLevelItem( LAYERIDX0 )->setCheckState( Column::current, Qt::CheckState::Checked );
+		tree->expandAll();
+	}
+}
+
+
+class QTreeWidget_layers : public QTreeWidget, public WindowObserver
+{
+protected:
+	bool m_drop = false;
+	void rowsInserted( const QModelIndex& parent, int start, int end ) override {
+		if( std::exchange( m_drop, false ) ){ // insertion source is drop
+			QTreeWidgetItem *parentItem = parent.isValid()? this->itemFromIndex( parent ) : this->invisibleRootItem();
+			QTreeWidgetItem *item = parentItem->child( start );
+			Layer *parentLayer = parent.isValid()? item_getLayer( parentItem ) : Node_getLayers( GlobalSceneGraph().root() );
+			Layer::iterator layer = item_getLayerIterator( item );
+			auto& srcList = layer->m_parent->m_children;
+			// move to the end of list 1st, so that resulting 'start' index can be used correctly, when moving inside a list farther
+			srcList.splice( srcList.cend(), srcList, layer );
+			parentLayer->m_children.splice( std::next( parentLayer->m_children.cbegin(), start ), srcList, layer );
+			layer->m_parent = parentLayer;
+		}
+		QTreeWidget::rowsInserted( parent, start, end );
+		expandAll();
+	}
+	// bool positionAboveItem0( const QPoint& pos ) const {
+	// 	const QModelIndex index = indexAt( pos );
+	// 	return index.row() == LAYERIDX0
+	// 		&& !index.parent().isValid() // in the root
+	// 		&& pos.y() < visualRect( index ).center().y();
+	// }
+	void dragMoveEvent( QDragMoveEvent* event ) override {
+		// if( positionAboveItem0( event->pos() ) ){
+		// 	event->ignore();
+		// 	return;
+		// }
+
+		QTreeWidget::dragMoveEvent( event );
+	}
+	void dropEvent( QDropEvent* event ) override {
+		// if( positionAboveItem0( event->pos() ) ){
+		// 	event->ignore();
+		// 	return;
+		// }
+		ASSERT_MESSAGE( !m_drop, "dropEvent() without rowsInserted()" );
+		m_drop = true;
+		QTreeWidget::dropEvent( event );
+	}
+private:
+	ModifierFlags m_modifiers;
+	void set_select_icons(){
+		if( this->isVisible() ){
+			QIcon& icon = m_modifiers == c_modifierControl? g_lbro.m_iconSelectAdd
+			            : m_modifiers == c_modifierAlt?     g_lbro.m_iconSelectDeselect
+			            : m_modifiers == c_modifierShift?   g_lbro.m_iconSelectMove
+			            :                                   g_lbro.m_iconSelect;
+			for( QTreeWidgetItemIterator it( this ); *it; ++it )
+				( *it )->setIcon( Column::select, icon );
+		}
+	}
+public:
+	void release() override {};
+	void onSizeChanged( int width, int height ) override {};
+	void onMouseDown( const WindowVector& position, ButtonIdentifier button, ModifierFlags modifiers ) override {};
+	void onMouseUp( const WindowVector& position, ButtonIdentifier button, ModifierFlags modifiers ) override {};
+	void onMouseMotion( const WindowVector& position, ModifierFlags modifiers ) override {};
+	void onModifierDown( ModifierFlags modifier ) override {
+		m_modifiers = bitfield_enable( m_modifiers, modifier );
+		set_select_icons();
+	}
+	void onModifierUp( ModifierFlags modifier ) override {
+		m_modifiers = bitfield_disable( m_modifiers, modifier );
+		set_select_icons();
+	}
+};
+
+
+void context_menu( const QPoint& pos ){
+	auto *menu = new QMenu( g_lbro.m_tree );
+	menu->setAttribute( Qt::WA_DeleteOnClose );
+
+	QTreeWidgetItem *item = g_lbro.m_tree->itemAt( pos );
+	Layer *layer = item? item_getLayer( item ) : nullptr;
+	Layers& layers = *Node_getLayers( GlobalSceneGraph().root() );
+
+	menu->addAction( "Move Selection to This Layer", [&](){
+		GlobalSelectionSystem().foreachSelected( LayerAssignVisitor( layer ) );
+	} )->setDisabled( item == nullptr );
+
+	menu->addAction( g_lbro.m_iconSelectAdd, "New Layer", [&](){
+		bool ok;
+		QString text = QInputDialog::getText( g_lbro.m_tree, "Layer Name", "Enter layer name:", QLineEdit::EchoMode::Normal,
+		                                      "UnnamedpLayer", &ok );
+		text.remove( '"' ); // remove token bounds symbol
+		if( ok && !text.isEmpty() ){
+			QTreeWidgetItem *parentItem = item? item : g_lbro.m_tree->invisibleRootItem();
+			Layer *parentLayer = layer? layer : &layers;
+
+			parentLayer->m_children.emplace_back( text.toLatin1().constData(), parentLayer );
+			auto *newItem = new QTreeWidgetItem( parentItem );
+			item_construct( newItem, --parentLayer->m_children.end() );
+			item_setCurrent( newItem );
+		}
+	} );
+
+	int layersCount = 0;
+	layers.forEach( [&]( Layer& ){ ++layersCount; } );
+
+	menu->addAction( QApplication::style()->standardIcon( QStyle::SP_DialogCloseButton ), "Delete", [&](){
+		auto dels = item_getLayers( item );
+		auto it = item_getLayerIterator( item );
+
+		GlobalSceneGraph().traverse( LayerDeletetWalker( dels, layers.m_currentLayer ) );
+		it->m_parent->m_children.erase( it );
+		delete item;
+
+		if( std::ranges::find( dels, layers.m_currentLayer ) != dels.cend() ){
+			item_setCurrent( g_lbro.m_tree->topLevelItem( LAYERIDX0 ) );
+		}
+	} )->setDisabled( item == nullptr || layersCount < 2 );
+
+	menu->addAction( "Rename", [&](){
+		bool ok;
+		QString text = QInputDialog::getText( g_lbro.m_tree, "Layer Name", "Enter layer name:", QLineEdit::EchoMode::Normal,
+		                                      item->text( Column::name ), &ok );
+		text.remove( '"' ); // remove token bounds symbol
+		if( ok && !text.isEmpty() ){
+			item->setText( Column::name, text );
+			layer->m_name = text.toLatin1().constData();
+		}
+	} )->setDisabled( item == nullptr );
+
+	menu->addAction( "Color", [&](){
+		Vector3 color( layer->m_color[ 0 ] / 255.f, layer->m_color[ 1 ] / 255.f, layer->m_color[ 2 ] / 255.f );
+		if( color_dialog( g_lbro.m_tree, color ) ){
+			layer->m_color[ 0 ] = color[ 0 ] * 255;
+			layer->m_color[ 1 ] = color[ 1 ] * 255;
+			layer->m_color[ 2 ] = color[ 2 ] * 255;
+			item_setColor( item, layer->m_color );
+		}
+	} )->setDisabled( item == nullptr );
+
+	menu->exec( g_lbro.m_tree->mapToGlobal( pos ) );
+}
+
+void context_moveto_menu(){
+	if( !g_lbro.m_movetoMenu->isVisible() ){
+		g_lbro.m_movetoMenu->clear();
+
+		Node_getLayers( GlobalSceneGraph().root() )->forEach( []( Layer& layer ){
+			g_lbro.m_movetoMenu->addAction( QString( "-> " ) + layer.m_name.c_str(), [layer = &layer](){
+				GlobalSelectionSystem().foreachSelected( LayerAssignVisitor( layer ) );
+			} )->setDisabled( GlobalSelectionSystem().countSelected() == 0 );
+		} );
+
+		g_lbro.m_movetoMenu->exec( QCursor::pos() );
+	}
+}
+
+void itemClicked( QTreeWidgetItem *item, int column ){
+	if( item != nullptr ){
+		if( column == Column::select ){
+			const Qt::KeyboardModifiers kb = QApplication::keyboardModifiers();
+			if( kb == Qt::KeyboardModifier::NoModifier || kb == Qt::KeyboardModifier::ControlModifier || kb == Qt::KeyboardModifier::AltModifier ){
+				if( kb != Qt::KeyboardModifier::ControlModifier && kb != Qt::KeyboardModifier::AltModifier)
+					GlobalSelectionSystem().setSelectedAll( false );
+				GlobalSceneGraph().traverse( LayerSelectWalker( item_getLayers( item ), kb != Qt::KeyboardModifier::AltModifier ) );
+			}
+			else if( kb == Qt::KeyboardModifier::ShiftModifier ){
+				GlobalSelectionSystem().foreachSelected( LayerAssignVisitor( item_getLayer( item ) ) );
+			}
+		}
+		else if( column == Column::visible ){
+			const bool visible = item->data( Column::visible, Qt::ItemDataRole::UserRole ).toBool();
+			items_iterate_recursively( item, [&]( QTreeWidgetItem *item ){
+				item->setData( Column::visible, Qt::ItemDataRole::UserRole, !visible );
+				item_setIcons( item );
+			} );
+
+			if( visible ){
+				GlobalSceneGraph().traverse( LayerHideWalker( item_getLayers( item ) ) );
+				/* not hiding worldspawn node so that newly created brushes are visible */
+				if( scene::Node* w = Map_FindWorldspawn( g_map ) )
+					w->disable( scene::Node::eLayerHidden );
+				if( GlobalSelectionSystem().countSelectedComponents() != 0 )
+					GlobalSelectionSystem().setSelectedAllComponents( false );
+			}
+			else{
+				GlobalSceneGraph().traverse( LayerShowWalker( item_getLayers( item ) ) );
+			}
+			SceneChangeNotify();
+		}
+		else if( column == Column::current ){
+			item_setCurrent( item );
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+class QWidget* LayersBrowser_constructWindow( QWidget* toplevel ){
+	auto *tree = new QTreeWidget_layers;
+	g_lbro.m_tree = tree;
+
+	tree->setColumnCount( 4 );
+	tree->setUniformRowHeights( true ); // optimization
+	tree->setHorizontalScrollBarPolicy( Qt::ScrollBarPolicy::ScrollBarAlwaysOff );
+	tree->header()->setStretchLastSection( false ); // non greedy column sizing //makes it greedy for name section here
+	tree->header()->setSectionResizeMode( QHeaderView::ResizeMode::ResizeToContents );
+	tree->header()->setSectionResizeMode( Column::name, QHeaderView::ResizeMode::Stretch );
+	tree->setHeaderHidden( true );
+	tree->setAutoScroll( true );
+	tree->setAlternatingRowColors( true );
+	const int iconSize = tree->style()->pixelMetric( QStyle::PixelMetric::PM_SmallIconSize, nullptr, tree ) * 1.3;
+	tree->setIconSize( QSize( iconSize, iconSize) );
+	// tree->setStyleSheet( "QTreeWidget::item { border-bottom: 1px solid gray; }" );
+	tree->setDragDropMode( QAbstractItemView::DragDropMode::InternalMove );
+
+	tree->setContextMenuPolicy( Qt::ContextMenuPolicy::CustomContextMenu );
+	QObject::connect( tree, &QTreeWidget::customContextMenuRequested, context_menu );
+
+	tree->header()->swapSections( Column::current, Column::name ); // display current indicator 1st, tree second
+
+	QObject::connect( tree, &QTreeWidget::itemClicked, itemClicked );
+	QObject::connect( tree, &QTreeWidget::itemDoubleClicked, itemClicked ); // workaround fast clicks being not registered
+
+	// Connect to itemCollapsed signal to prevent collapsing
+    QObject::connect( tree, &QTreeWidget::itemCollapsed, []( QTreeWidgetItem *item ){ item->setExpanded( true ); });
+
+	g_lbro.m_movetoMenu = new QMenu( tree );
+
+	g_lbro.m_iconSelect = new_local_icon( "check_mark.png" );
+	g_lbro.m_iconSelectAdd = new_local_icon( "plus.png" );
+	g_lbro.m_iconSelectDeselect = new_local_icon( "minus.png" );
+	g_lbro.m_iconSelectMove = new_local_icon( "arrow_right.png" );
+	g_lbro.m_iconVisibleOn = new_local_icon( "eye_opened.png" );
+	g_lbro.m_iconVisibleOff = new_local_icon( "eye_closed.png" );
+
+	GlobalWindowObservers_add( tree ); // track modifiers for Column::select icons toggle
+	Map_addValidCallback( g_map, PointerCaller<QTreeWidget, void(), LayersBrowser_constructTree>( g_lbro.m_tree ) );
+
+	return g_lbro.m_tree;
+}
+
+void LayersBrowser_destroyWindow(){
+	g_lbro.m_tree = nullptr;
+}
+
+
+void Scene_ExpandSelectionToLayers(){
+	std::vector<Layer*> layers;
+	GlobalSelectionSystem().foreachSelected( LayerCollectVisitor( layers ) );
+	for( size_t i = 0, end = layers.size(); i < end; ++i ){ // vector may be changed during loop
+		layers[ i ]->forEach( [&]( Layer& layer ){
+			if( std::ranges::find( layers, &layer ) == layers.cend() )
+				layers.push_back( &layer );
+		} );
+	}
+	GlobalSceneGraph().traverse( LayerSelectWalker( layers, true ) );
+}
+
+#include "commands.h"
+void Layers_registerCommands(){
+	GlobalCommands_insert( "ExpandSelectionToLayers", makeCallbackF( Scene_ExpandSelectionToLayers ), QKeySequence( "Ctrl+Q" ) );
+	GlobalCommands_insert( "LayersMenu", makeCallbackF( context_moveto_menu ), QKeySequence( "Shift+Q" ) );
+}
+
+void Layers_registerShortcuts(){
+	command_connect_accelerator( "LayersMenu" );
+}
+
diff --git a/radiant/layerswindow.h b/radiant/layerswindow.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..60a608e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/radiant/layerswindow.h
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/*
+   Copyright (C) 1999-2006 Id Software, Inc. and contributors.
+   For a list of contributors, see the accompanying CONTRIBUTORS file.
+
+   This file is part of GtkRadiant.
+
+   GtkRadiant is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+   the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+   (at your option) any later version.
+
+   GtkRadiant is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+   but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+   MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+   GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+   You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+   along with GtkRadiant; if not, write to the Free Software
+   Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+
+class QWidget* LayersBrowser_constructWindow( QWidget* toplevel );
+void LayersBrowser_destroyWindow();
+
+void Layers_registerCommands();
+void Layers_registerShortcuts();
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/radiant/mainframe.cpp b/radiant/mainframe.cpp
index 0ba89f0b..134f9a01 100644
--- a/radiant/mainframe.cpp
+++ b/radiant/mainframe.cpp
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@
 #include "textures.h"
 #include "texwindow.h"
 #include "modelwindow.h"
+#include "layerswindow.h"
 #include "url.h"
 #include "xywindow.h"
 #include "windowobservers.h"
@@ -727,6 +728,12 @@ void ModelBrowser_ToggleShow(){
 	GroupDialog_showPage( g_page_models );
 }
 
+QWidget* g_page_layers;
+
+void LayersBrowser_ToggleShow(){
+	GroupDialog_showPage( g_page_layers);
+}
+
 
 static class EverySecondTimer
 {
@@ -924,6 +931,7 @@ void create_edit_menu( QMenuBar *menubar ){
 	create_menu_item_with_mnemonic( menu, "Select Textured", "SelectTextured" );
 	create_menu_item_with_mnemonic( menu, "&Expand Selection To Primitives", "ExpandSelectionToPrimitives" );
 	create_menu_item_with_mnemonic( menu, "&Expand Selection To Entities", "ExpandSelectionToEntities" );
+	create_menu_item_with_mnemonic( menu, "&Expand Selection To Layers", "ExpandSelectionToLayers" );
 	create_menu_item_with_mnemonic( menu, "Select Connected Entities", "SelectConnectedEntities" );
 
 	menu->addSeparator();
@@ -951,8 +959,9 @@ void create_view_menu( QMenuBar *menubar, MainFrame::EViewStyle style ){
 	}
 	create_menu_item_with_mnemonic( menu, "Model Browser", "ToggleModelBrowser" );
 	create_menu_item_with_mnemonic( menu, "Entity Inspector", "ToggleEntityInspector" );
+	create_menu_item_with_mnemonic( menu, "Layers Browser", "ToggleLayersBrowser" );
 	create_menu_item_with_mnemonic( menu, "&Surface Inspector", "SurfaceInspector" );
-	create_menu_item_with_mnemonic( menu, "Entity List", "EntityList" );
+	create_menu_item_with_mnemonic( menu, "Entity List", "ToggleEntityList" );
 
 	menu->addSeparator();
 	{
@@ -1322,6 +1331,7 @@ void register_shortcuts(){
 	TexBro_registerShortcuts();
 	Misc_registerShortcuts();
 	Entity_registerShortcuts();
+	Layers_registerShortcuts();
 }
 
 void File_constructToolbar( QToolBar* toolbar ){
@@ -1693,6 +1703,8 @@ void MainFrame::Create(){
 
 	g_page_models = GroupDialog_addPage( "Models", ModelBrowser_constructWindow( GroupDialog_getWindow() ), RawStringExportCaller( "Models" ) );
 
+	g_page_layers = GroupDialog_addPage( "Layers", LayersBrowser_constructWindow( GroupDialog_getWindow() ), RawStringExportCaller( "Layers" ) );
+
 	window->show();
 
 	if ( CurrentStyle() == eRegular || CurrentStyle() == eRegularLeft ) {
@@ -1841,6 +1853,9 @@ void MainFrame::Create(){
 		m_hSplit->setStretchFactor( 1, 2222 );
 		m_hSplit->setStretchFactor( 2, 0 );
 	}
+	else{ // floating group dialog
+		GlobalWindowObservers_connectTopLevel( GroupDialog_getWindow() ); // for layers browser icons toggle
+	}
 
 	EntityList_constructWindow( window );
 	PreferencesDialog_constructWindow( window );
@@ -1888,6 +1903,7 @@ void MainFrame::Shutdown(){
 	delete std::exchange( m_pXZWnd, nullptr );
 
 	ModelBrowser_destroyWindow();
+	LayersBrowser_destroyWindow();
 	TextureBrowser_destroyWindow();
 
 	DeleteCamWnd( m_pCamWnd );
@@ -2055,9 +2071,11 @@ void MainFrame_Construct(){
 	GlobalCommands_insert( "ToggleConsole", makeCallbackF( Console_ToggleShow ), QKeySequence( "O" ) );
 	GlobalCommands_insert( "ToggleEntityInspector", makeCallbackF( EntityInspector_ToggleShow ), QKeySequence( "N" ) );
 	GlobalCommands_insert( "ToggleModelBrowser", makeCallbackF( ModelBrowser_ToggleShow ), QKeySequence( "/" ) );
-	GlobalCommands_insert( "EntityList", makeCallbackF( EntityList_toggleShown ), QKeySequence( "L" ) );
+	GlobalCommands_insert( "ToggleLayersBrowser", makeCallbackF( LayersBrowser_ToggleShow ), QKeySequence( "L" ) );
+	GlobalCommands_insert( "ToggleEntityList", makeCallbackF( EntityList_toggleShown ), QKeySequence( "Shift+L" ) );
 
 	Select_registerCommands();
+	Layers_registerCommands();
 
 	Tools_registerCommands();
 
diff --git a/radiant/map.cpp b/radiant/map.cpp
index c043a161..cb7c8553 100644
--- a/radiant/map.cpp
+++ b/radiant/map.cpp
@@ -564,6 +564,46 @@ scene::Node& Map_FindOrInsertWorldspawn( Map& map ){
 }
 
 
+// assigns layers to ones from the other layers set of the same size
+class LayersMergeWalker : public scene::Traversable::Walker
+{
+	std::vector<Layer *> m_layersVec;
+public:
+	LayersMergeWalker( Layers *currentLayers ){
+		currentLayers->forEach( [this]( Layer& layer ){ m_layersVec.push_back( &layer ); } );
+	}
+	bool pre( scene::Node& node ) const {
+		if( node.m_layer != nullptr )
+			node.m_layer = m_layersVec[ node.m_layer->m_ownIndex ];
+		return true;
+	}
+};
+
+class LayersAssignWalker : public scene::Traversable::Walker
+{
+	Layer *m_current;
+public:
+	LayersAssignWalker( Layer *current ) : m_current( current ){
+	}
+	bool pre( scene::Node& node ) const {
+		if( Entity *entity; !( ( entity = Node_getEntity( node ) ) && entity->isContainer() ) )
+			node.m_layer = m_current;
+		return true;
+	}
+};
+
+void Map_mergeLayers( scene::Node& newRoot, Layers *newLayers ){
+	Layers *currLayers = Node_getLayers( GlobalSceneGraph().root() );
+	newLayers->update_ownIndices();
+	currLayers->update_ownIndices();
+	if( newLayers->m_children == currLayers->m_children ){ // merge, likely same map copypaste or just one layer in total
+		Node_getTraversable( newRoot )->traverse( LayersMergeWalker( currLayers ) );
+	}
+	else{ // set current
+		Node_getTraversable( newRoot )->traverse( LayersAssignWalker( GlobalSceneGraph().currentLayer() ) );
+	}
+}
+
 class MapMergeAll : public scene::Traversable::Walker
 {
 	mutable scene::Path m_path;
@@ -631,6 +671,7 @@ class BasicContainer : public scene::Node::Symbiot
 	public:
 		TypeCasts(){
 			NodeContainedCast<BasicContainer, scene::Traversable>::install( m_casts );
+			NodeContainedCast<BasicContainer, Layers>::install( m_casts );
 		}
 		NodeTypeCastTable& get(){
 			return m_casts;
@@ -639,6 +680,7 @@ class BasicContainer : public scene::Node::Symbiot
 
 	scene::Node m_node;
 	TraversableNodeSet m_traverse;
+	Layers m_layers;
 public:
 
 	typedef LazyStatic<TypeCasts> StaticTypeCasts;
@@ -646,8 +688,11 @@ public:
 	scene::Traversable& get( NullType<scene::Traversable>){
 		return m_traverse;
 	}
+	Layers& get( NullType<Layers>){
+		return m_layers;
+	}
 
-	BasicContainer() : m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ){
+	BasicContainer() : m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), nullptr ){
 	}
 	void release(){
 		delete this;
@@ -703,6 +748,7 @@ void Map_ImportSelected( TextInputStream& in, const MapFormat& format ){
 		Node_getTraversable( node )->traverse( Convert_Brushes( BrushType_getTexdefType( GlobalBrushCreator().getFormat() ), BrushType_getTexdefType( brush_type ) ) );
 		GlobalBrushCreator().toggleFormat( brush_type );
 	}
+	Map_mergeLayers( node, Node_getLayers( node ) );
 	Map_gatherNamespaced( node );
 	Map_mergeClonedNames();
 	MergeMap( node );
@@ -1167,11 +1213,17 @@ void Map_Traverse_Region( scene::Node& root, const scene::Traversable::Walker& w
 }
 
 
+inline void swap_layers( Layers *from, Layers *to ){
+	std::swap( from->m_children, to->m_children );
+	to->forEach( [&]( Layer& layer ){ if( layer.m_parent == from ) layer.m_parent = to; } );
+}
+
 void Map_RenameAbsolute( const char* absolute ){
 	Resource* resource = GlobalReferenceCache().capture( absolute );
 	NodeSmartReference clone( NewMapRoot( path_make_relative( absolute, GlobalFileSystem().findRoot( absolute ) ) ) );
 	resource->setNode( clone.get_pointer() );
 
+	swap_layers( Node_getLayers( GlobalSceneGraph().root() ), Node_getLayers( clone ) );
 	{
 		//ScopeTimer timer( "clone subgraph" );
 		Node_getTraversable( GlobalSceneGraph().root() )->traverse( CloneAll( clone ) );
@@ -1523,6 +1575,7 @@ bool Map_ImportFile( const char* filename ){
 		}
 		NodeSmartReference clone( NewMapRoot( "" ) );
 		Node_getTraversable( *resource->getNode() )->traverse( CloneAll( clone ) );
+		Map_mergeLayers( clone, Node_getLayers( *resource->getNode() ) );
 		resource->flush(); /* wipe map from cache to not spoil namespace */
 		GlobalReferenceCache().release( filename );
 		Map_gatherNamespaced( clone );
@@ -1575,6 +1628,7 @@ tryDecompile:
 		}
 		NodeSmartReference clone( NewMapRoot( "" ) );
 		Node_getTraversable( *resource->getNode() )->traverse( CloneAll( clone ) );
+		Map_mergeLayers( clone, Node_getLayers( *resource->getNode() ) );
 		resource->flush(); /* wipe map from cache to not spoil namespace */
 		GlobalReferenceCache().release( filename );
 		Map_gatherNamespaced( clone );
diff --git a/radiant/modelwindow.cpp b/radiant/modelwindow.cpp
index 9efe3025..2c035d3e 100644
--- a/radiant/modelwindow.cpp
+++ b/radiant/modelwindow.cpp
@@ -116,6 +116,10 @@ public:
 
 		root.DecRef();
 	}
+	class Layer* currentLayer(){
+		ASSERT_MESSAGE( 0, "Reached unreachable: currentLayer()" );
+		return nullptr;
+	}
 	void boundsChanged(){
 		ASSERT_MESSAGE( 0, "Reached unreachable: boundsChanged()" );
 	}
@@ -303,7 +307,7 @@ public:
 		return m_transform;
 	}
 
-	ModelGraphRoot() : m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ){
+	ModelGraphRoot() : m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), nullptr ){
 		m_node.m_isRoot = true;
 
 		m_traverse.attach( this );
@@ -392,14 +396,14 @@ public:
 	}
 
 	ModelNode() :
-		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ){
+		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), nullptr ){
 		construct();
 	}
 	ModelNode( const ModelNode& other ) :
 		scene::Node::Symbiot( other ),
 		scene::Instantiable( other ),
 		scene::Traversable::Observer( other ),
-		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ){
+		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), nullptr ){
 		construct();
 	}
 	~ModelNode(){
diff --git a/radiant/nullmodel.cpp b/radiant/nullmodel.cpp
index 14c7ce04..e18a0d13 100644
--- a/radiant/nullmodel.cpp
+++ b/radiant/nullmodel.cpp
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ public:
 
 	typedef LazyStatic<TypeCasts> StaticTypeCasts;
 
-	NullModelNode() : m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ){
+	NullModelNode() : m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), nullptr ){
 		m_node.m_isRoot = true;
 	}
 
diff --git a/radiant/parse.cpp b/radiant/parse.cpp
index 36e3485f..aae260dc 100644
--- a/radiant/parse.cpp
+++ b/radiant/parse.cpp
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ public:
 
 	ScriptLibraryAPI(){
 		m_scriptlibrary.m_pfnNewScriptTokeniser = &NewScriptTokeniser;
+		m_scriptlibrary.m_pfnNewMapTokeniser = &NewMapTokeniser;
 		m_scriptlibrary.m_pfnNewSimpleTokeniser = &NewSimpleTokeniser;
 		m_scriptlibrary.m_pfnNewSimpleTokenWriter = &NewSimpleTokenWriter;
 	}
diff --git a/radiant/patch.h b/radiant/patch.h
index 5979fa0b..32af2a8f 100644
--- a/radiant/patch.h
+++ b/radiant/patch.h
@@ -1756,7 +1756,7 @@ public:
 	}
 
 	PatchNode( bool patchDef3 = false ) :
-		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ),
+		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), GlobalSceneGraph().currentLayer() ),
 		m_patch( m_node, InstanceSetEvaluateTransform<PatchInstance>::Caller( m_instances ), InstanceSet::BoundsChangedCaller( m_instances ) ),
 		m_importMap( m_patch ),
 		m_exportMap( m_patch ){
@@ -1766,7 +1766,7 @@ public:
 		scene::Node::Symbiot( other ),
 		scene::Instantiable( other ),
 		scene::Cloneable( other ),
-		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get() ),
+		m_node( this, this, StaticTypeCasts::instance().get(), other.m_node.m_layer ),
 		m_patch( other.m_patch, m_node, InstanceSetEvaluateTransform<PatchInstance>::Caller( m_instances ), InstanceSet::BoundsChangedCaller( m_instances ) ),
 		m_importMap( m_patch ),
 		m_exportMap( m_patch ){
diff --git a/radiant/scenegraph.cpp b/radiant/scenegraph.cpp
index 27f84c1a..f3c148e3 100644
--- a/radiant/scenegraph.cpp
+++ b/radiant/scenegraph.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "scenelib.h"
 #include "instancelib.h"
 #include "treemodel.h"
+#include "layers.h"
 
 template<std::size_t SIZE>
 class TypeIdMap
@@ -63,6 +64,8 @@ class CompiledGraph final : public scene::Graph, public scene::Instantiable::Obs
 	Signal0 m_boundsChanged;
 	scene::Path m_rootpath;
 	Signal0 m_sceneChangedCallbacks;
+	Layer *m_currentLayer0 = nullptr;
+	Layer **m_currentLayer = &m_currentLayer0;
 
 	TypeIdMap<NODETYPEID_MAX> m_nodeTypeIds;
 	TypeIdMap<INSTANCETYPEID_MAX> m_instanceTypeIds;
@@ -94,6 +97,8 @@ public:
 		Node_traverseSubgraph( root, InstanceSubgraphWalker( this, scene::Path(), 0 ) );
 
 		m_rootpath.push( makeReference( root ) );
+
+		m_currentLayer = &Node_getLayers( root )->m_currentLayer;
 	}
 	void erase_root(){
 		//globalOutputStream() << "erase_root\n";
@@ -107,6 +112,11 @@ public:
 		Node_traverseSubgraph( root, UninstanceSubgraphWalker( this, scene::Path() ) );
 
 		root.DecRef();
+
+		m_currentLayer = &m_currentLayer0;
+	}
+	Layer* currentLayer(){
+		return *m_currentLayer;
 	}
 	void boundsChanged(){
 		m_boundsChanged();
diff --git a/radiant/select.cpp b/radiant/select.cpp
index 4a65dd54..27ae2146 100644
--- a/radiant/select.cpp
+++ b/radiant/select.cpp
@@ -941,26 +941,6 @@ void Select_FitTexture( float horizontal, float vertical, bool only_dimension ){
 #include "commands.h"
 #include "dialog.h"
 
-template<class Check>
-bool Traversable_all_of_children( scene::Traversable* traversable, const Check&& check ){
-	class Check_all : public scene::Traversable::Walker
-	{
-		const Check m_check;
-	public:
-		mutable bool m_all = true; // true for empty container
-		Check_all( Check check ) : m_check( check ){
-		}
-		bool pre( scene::Node& node ) const override {
-			if( !m_check( node ) )
-				m_all = false;
-			return m_all;
-		}
-	} check_all( check );
-
-	traversable->traverse( check_all );
-	return check_all.m_all;
-}
-
 inline void hide_node( scene::Node& node, bool hide ){
 	hide
 	? node.enable( scene::Node::eHidden )
diff --git a/radiant/texwindow.cpp b/radiant/texwindow.cpp
index 4ef10eaa..85dba4b5 100644
--- a/radiant/texwindow.cpp
+++ b/radiant/texwindow.cpp
@@ -1401,7 +1401,7 @@ protected:
 		}
 	}
 	bool editorEvent( QEvent *event, QAbstractItemModel *model, const QStyleOptionViewItem &option, const QModelIndex &index ) override {
-		/* let's do some infamous juggling to track user unduced CheckState change */
+		/* let's do some infamous juggling to track user induced CheckState change */
 		if( event->type() == QEvent::MouseButtonRelease || event->type() == QEvent::KeyPress ){
 			if( const QVariant value = index.data( Qt::ItemDataRole::CheckStateRole ); value.isValid() ){
 				const bool ret = QItemDelegate::editorEvent( event, model, option, index );
diff --git a/setup/data/tools/bitmaps/arrow_right.png b/setup/data/tools/bitmaps/arrow_right.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b06f1b2a
Binary files /dev/null and b/setup/data/tools/bitmaps/arrow_right.png differ
diff --git a/setup/data/tools/bitmaps/check_mark.png b/setup/data/tools/bitmaps/check_mark.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8fc45acd
Binary files /dev/null and b/setup/data/tools/bitmaps/check_mark.png differ
diff --git a/setup/data/tools/bitmaps/eye_closed.png b/setup/data/tools/bitmaps/eye_closed.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..23e9df42
Binary files /dev/null and b/setup/data/tools/bitmaps/eye_closed.png differ
diff --git a/setup/data/tools/bitmaps/eye_opened.png b/setup/data/tools/bitmaps/eye_opened.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dca8be67
Binary files /dev/null and b/setup/data/tools/bitmaps/eye_opened.png differ
diff --git a/setup/data/tools/bitmaps/minus.png b/setup/data/tools/bitmaps/minus.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d08c0176
Binary files /dev/null and b/setup/data/tools/bitmaps/minus.png differ
diff --git a/setup/data/tools/bitmaps/plus.png b/setup/data/tools/bitmaps/plus.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9ba75524
Binary files /dev/null and b/setup/data/tools/bitmaps/plus.png differ