diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.cpp b/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.cpp
index a5be080c5..a1bb4d10f 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.cpp
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ static constexpr int COVER_ART_HEIGHT = 512;
 static constexpr int COVER_ART_SPACING = 32;
 static constexpr int MIN_COVER_CACHE_SIZE = 256;
 
-static void resizeAndPadImage(QImage* image, int expected_width, int expected_height)
+static void resizeAndPadImage(QImage* image, int expected_width, int expected_height, bool fill_with_top_left)
 {
   const qreal dpr = image->devicePixelRatio();
   const int dpr_expected_width = static_cast<int>(static_cast<qreal>(expected_width) * dpr);
@@ -59,10 +59,15 @@ static void resizeAndPadImage(QImage* image, int expected_width, int expected_he
   if (image->width() == dpr_expected_width && image->height() == dpr_expected_height)
     return;
 
-  if (image->width() > image->height())
+  if ((static_cast<float>(image->width()) / static_cast<float>(image->height())) >=
+      (static_cast<float>(dpr_expected_width) / static_cast<float>(dpr_expected_height)))
+  {
     *image = image->scaledToWidth(dpr_expected_width, Qt::SmoothTransformation);
+  }
   else
+  {
     *image = image->scaledToHeight(dpr_expected_height, Qt::SmoothTransformation);
+  }
 
   if (image->width() == dpr_expected_width && image->height() == dpr_expected_height)
     return;
@@ -70,14 +75,20 @@ static void resizeAndPadImage(QImage* image, int expected_width, int expected_he
   // QPainter works in unscaled coordinates.
   int xoffs = 0;
   int yoffs = 0;
-  if (image->width() < dpr_expected_width)
-    xoffs = static_cast<int>(static_cast<qreal>((dpr_expected_width - image->width()) / 2) / dpr);
-  if (image->height() < dpr_expected_height)
-    yoffs = static_cast<int>(static_cast<qreal>((dpr_expected_height - image->height()) / 2) / dpr);
+  const int image_width = image->width();
+  const int image_height = image->height();
+  if (image_width < dpr_expected_width)
+    xoffs = static_cast<int>(static_cast<qreal>((dpr_expected_width - image_width) / 2) / dpr);
+  if (image_height < dpr_expected_height)
+    yoffs = static_cast<int>(static_cast<qreal>((dpr_expected_height - image_height) / 2) / dpr);
 
   QImage padded_image(dpr_expected_width, dpr_expected_height, QImage::Format_ARGB32);
   padded_image.setDevicePixelRatio(dpr);
-  padded_image.fill(Qt::transparent);
+  if (fill_with_top_left)
+    padded_image.fill(image->pixel(0, 0));
+  else
+    padded_image.fill(Qt::transparent);
+
   QPainter painter;
   if (painter.begin(&padded_image))
   {
@@ -89,67 +100,6 @@ static void resizeAndPadImage(QImage* image, int expected_width, int expected_he
   *image = std::move(padded_image);
 }
 
-GameListCoverLoader::GameListCoverLoader(const GameList::Entry* ge, const QImage& placeholder_image, int width,
-                                         int height, float scale)
-  : QObject(nullptr), m_path(ge->path), m_serial(ge->serial), m_title(ge->title),
-    m_placeholder_image(placeholder_image), m_width(width), m_height(height), m_scale(scale),
-    m_dpr(qApp->devicePixelRatio())
-{
-}
-
-GameListCoverLoader::~GameListCoverLoader() = default;
-
-void GameListCoverLoader::loadOrGenerateCover()
-{
-  QPixmap image;
-  const std::string cover_path(GameList::GetCoverImagePath(m_path, m_serial, m_title));
-  if (!cover_path.empty())
-  {
-    m_image.load(QString::fromStdString(cover_path));
-    if (!m_image.isNull())
-    {
-      m_image.setDevicePixelRatio(m_dpr);
-      resizeAndPadImage(&m_image, m_width, m_height);
-    }
-  }
-
-  if (m_image.isNull())
-    createPlaceholderImage();
-
-  // Have to pass through the UI thread, because the thread pool isn't a QThread...
-  // Can't create pixmaps on the worker thread, have to create it on the UI thread.
-  QtHost::RunOnUIThread([this]() {
-    if (!m_image.isNull())
-      emit coverLoaded(m_path, m_image, m_scale);
-    else
-      emit coverLoaded(m_path, m_image, m_scale);
-    delete this;
-  });
-}
-
-void GameListCoverLoader::createPlaceholderImage()
-{
-  m_image = m_placeholder_image.copy();
-  if (m_image.isNull())
-    return;
-
-  resizeAndPadImage(&m_image, m_width, m_height);
-
-  QPainter painter;
-  if (painter.begin(&m_image))
-  {
-    QFont font;
-    font.setPointSize(std::max(static_cast<int>(32.0f * m_scale), 1));
-    painter.setFont(font);
-    painter.setPen(Qt::white);
-
-    const QRect text_rc(0, 0, static_cast<int>(static_cast<float>(m_width)),
-                        static_cast<int>(static_cast<float>(m_height)));
-    painter.drawText(text_rc, Qt::AlignCenter | Qt::TextWordWrap, QString::fromStdString(m_title));
-    painter.end();
-  }
-}
-
 std::optional<GameListModel::Column> GameListModel::getColumnIdForName(std::string_view name)
 {
   for (int column = 0; column < Column_Count; column++)
@@ -208,7 +158,7 @@ void GameListModel::setCoverScale(float scale)
   if (loading_image.load(QStringLiteral("%1/images/placeholder.png").arg(QtHost::GetResourcesBasePath())))
   {
     loading_image.setDevicePixelRatio(dpr);
-    resizeAndPadImage(&loading_image, getCoverArtWidth(), getCoverArtHeight());
+    resizeAndPadImage(&loading_image, getCoverArtWidth(), getCoverArtHeight(), false);
   }
   else
   {
@@ -222,7 +172,7 @@ void GameListModel::setCoverScale(float scale)
   if (m_placeholder_image.load(QStringLiteral("%1/images/cover-placeholder.png").arg(QtHost::GetResourcesBasePath())))
   {
     m_placeholder_image.setDevicePixelRatio(dpr);
-    resizeAndPadImage(&m_placeholder_image, getCoverArtWidth(), getCoverArtHeight());
+    resizeAndPadImage(&m_placeholder_image, getCoverArtWidth(), getCoverArtHeight(), false);
   }
   else
   {
@@ -258,11 +208,57 @@ void GameListModel::reloadThemeSpecificImages()
 
 void GameListModel::loadOrGenerateCover(const GameList::Entry* ge)
 {
-  // NOTE: Must get connected before queuing, because otherwise you risk a race.
-  GameListCoverLoader* loader =
-    new GameListCoverLoader(ge, m_placeholder_image, getCoverArtWidth(), getCoverArtHeight(), m_cover_scale);
-  connect(loader, &GameListCoverLoader::coverLoaded, this, &GameListModel::coverLoaded);
-  System::QueueAsyncTask([loader]() { loader->loadOrGenerateCover(); });
+  QtAsyncTask::create(this, [path = ge->path, serial = ge->serial, title = ge->title,
+                             placeholder_image = m_placeholder_image, list = this, width = getCoverArtWidth(),
+                             height = getCoverArtHeight(), scale = m_cover_scale,
+                             dpr = qApp->devicePixelRatio()]() mutable {
+    QImage image;
+    loadOrGenerateCover(image, placeholder_image, width, height, scale, dpr, path, serial, title);
+    return [path = std::move(path), image = std::move(image), list, scale]() { list->coverLoaded(path, image, scale); };
+  });
+}
+
+void GameListModel::createPlaceholderImage(QImage& image, const QImage& placeholder_image, int width, int height,
+                                           float scale, const std::string& title)
+{
+  image = placeholder_image.copy();
+  if (image.isNull())
+    return;
+
+  resizeAndPadImage(&image, width, height, false);
+
+  QPainter painter;
+  if (painter.begin(&image))
+  {
+    QFont font;
+    font.setPointSize(std::max(static_cast<int>(32.0f * scale), 1));
+    painter.setFont(font);
+    painter.setPen(Qt::white);
+
+    const QRect text_rc(0, 0, static_cast<int>(static_cast<float>(width)),
+                        static_cast<int>(static_cast<float>(height)));
+    painter.drawText(text_rc, Qt::AlignCenter | Qt::TextWordWrap, QString::fromStdString(title));
+    painter.end();
+  }
+}
+
+void GameListModel::loadOrGenerateCover(QImage& image, const QImage& placeholder_image, int width, int height,
+                                        float scale, float dpr, const std::string& path, const std::string& serial,
+                                        const std::string& title)
+{
+  const std::string cover_path(GameList::GetCoverImagePath(path, serial, title));
+  if (!cover_path.empty())
+  {
+    image.load(QString::fromStdString(cover_path));
+    if (!image.isNull())
+    {
+      image.setDevicePixelRatio(dpr);
+      resizeAndPadImage(&image, width, height, false);
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (image.isNull())
+    createPlaceholderImage(image, placeholder_image, width, height, scale, title);
 }
 
 void GameListModel::coverLoaded(const std::string& path, const QImage& image, float scale)
@@ -1229,6 +1225,7 @@ void GameListWidget::initialize()
 
   updateToolbar();
   resizeTableViewColumnsToFit();
+  updateBackground(true);
 }
 
 bool GameListWidget::isShowingGameList() const
@@ -1292,6 +1289,42 @@ void GameListWidget::reloadThemeSpecificImages()
   m_model->reloadThemeSpecificImages();
 }
 
+void GameListWidget::updateBackground(bool reload_image)
+{
+  std::string path = Host::GetBaseStringSettingValue("UI", "GameListBackgroundPath");
+  if (!Path::IsAbsolute(path))
+    path = Path::Combine(EmuFolders::DataRoot, path);
+
+  if (reload_image)
+  {
+    m_background_image = QImage();
+    if (!path.empty() && m_background_image.load(path.c_str()))
+      m_background_image.setDevicePixelRatio(devicePixelRatio());
+  }
+
+  if (m_background_image.isNull())
+  {
+    m_ui.stack->setPalette(palette());
+    m_table_view->setAlternatingRowColors(true);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  QtAsyncTask::create(this, [image = m_background_image, this, widget_width = m_ui.stack->width(),
+                             widget_height = m_ui.stack->height()]() mutable {
+    resizeAndPadImage(&image, widget_width, widget_height, true);
+    return [image = std::move(image), this, widget_width, widget_height]() {
+      // check for dimensions change
+      if (widget_width != m_ui.stack->width() || widget_height != m_ui.stack->height())
+        return;
+
+      QPalette new_palette(m_ui.stack->palette());
+      new_palette.setBrush(QPalette::Base, QPixmap::fromImage(image));
+      m_ui.stack->setPalette(new_palette);
+      m_table_view->setAlternatingRowColors(false);
+    };
+  });
+}
+
 void GameListWidget::onRefreshProgress(const QString& status, int current, int total, float time)
 {
   // Avoid spamming the UI on very short refresh (e.g. game exit).
@@ -1579,6 +1612,7 @@ void GameListWidget::resizeEvent(QResizeEvent* event)
 {
   QWidget::resizeEvent(event);
   resizeTableViewColumnsToFit();
+  updateBackground(false);
 }
 
 void GameListWidget::resizeTableViewColumnsToFit()
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.h b/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.h
index ee444141b..8a186e7c7 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.h
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/gamelistwidget.h
@@ -104,7 +104,6 @@ Q_SIGNALS:
   void coverScaleChanged();
 
 private Q_SLOTS:
-  void coverLoaded(const std::string& path, const QImage& image, float scale);
   void rowsChanged(const QList<int>& rows);
 
 private:
@@ -115,6 +114,13 @@ private:
   void setColumnDisplayNames();
   void loadOrGenerateCover(const GameList::Entry* ge);
   void invalidateCoverForPath(const std::string& path);
+  void coverLoaded(const std::string& path, const QImage& image, float scale);
+
+  static void loadOrGenerateCover(QImage& image, const QImage& placeholder_image, int width, int height, float scale,
+                                  float dpr, const std::string& path, const std::string& serial,
+                                  const std::string& title);
+  static void createPlaceholderImage(QImage& image, const QImage& placeholder_image, int width, int height, float scale,
+                                     const std::string& title);
 
   const QPixmap& getIconPixmapForEntry(const GameList::Entry* ge) const;
   const QPixmap& getFlagPixmapForEntry(const GameList::Entry* ge) const;
@@ -146,35 +152,6 @@ private:
   mutable LRUCache<std::string, QPixmap> m_memcard_pixmap_cache;
 };
 
-class GameListCoverLoader : public QObject
-{
-  Q_OBJECT
-
-public:
-  GameListCoverLoader(const GameList::Entry* ge, const QImage& placeholder_image, int width, int height, float scale);
-  ~GameListCoverLoader();
-
-public:
-  void loadOrGenerateCover();
-
-Q_SIGNALS:
-  void coverLoaded(const std::string& path, const QImage& image, float scale);
-
-private:
-  void createPlaceholderImage();
-
-  std::string m_path;
-  std::string m_serial;
-  std::string m_title;
-  QImage m_placeholder_image;
-  int m_width;
-  int m_height;
-  float m_scale;
-  float m_dpr;
-
-  QImage m_image;
-};
-
 class GameListGridListView : public QListView
 {
   Q_OBJECT
@@ -208,6 +185,7 @@ public:
   void refreshModel();
   void cancelRefresh();
   void reloadThemeSpecificImages();
+  void updateBackground(bool reload_image);
 
   bool isShowingGameList() const;
   bool isShowingGameGrid() const;
@@ -277,4 +255,6 @@ private:
   Ui::EmptyGameListWidget m_empty_ui;
 
   GameListRefreshThread* m_refresh_thread = nullptr;
+
+  QImage m_background_image;
 };
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.cpp b/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.cpp
index 3d66a8244..5be9dbcc3 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ static constexpr char DISC_IMAGE_FILTER[] = QT_TRANSLATE_NOOP(
   "*.PBP);;PlayStation Executables (*.cpe *.elf *.exe *.psexe *.ps-exe, *.psx);;Portable Sound Format Files (*.psf "
   "*.minipsf);;Playlists (*.m3u);;PSX GPU Dumps (*.psxgpu *.psxgpu.zst *.psxgpu.xz)");
 
+static constexpr char IMAGE_FILTER[] = QT_TRANSLATE_NOOP("MainWindow", "Images (*.jpg *.jpeg *.png *.webp)");
+
 MainWindow* g_main_window = nullptr;
 
 // UI thread VM validity.
@@ -1556,8 +1558,8 @@ void MainWindow::onGameListEntryContextMenuRequested(const QPoint& point)
 
 void MainWindow::setGameListEntryCoverImage(const GameList::Entry* entry)
 {
-  const QString filename = QDir::toNativeSeparators(QFileDialog::getOpenFileName(
-    this, tr("Select Cover Image"), QString(), tr("All Cover Image Types (*.jpg *.jpeg *.png *.webp)")));
+  const QString filename =
+    QDir::toNativeSeparators(QFileDialog::getOpenFileName(this, tr("Select Cover Image"), QString(), tr(IMAGE_FILTER)));
   if (filename.isEmpty())
     return;
 
@@ -2130,6 +2132,10 @@ void MainWindow::connectSignals()
   connect(m_ui.actionGridViewZoomOut, &QAction::triggered, this, &MainWindow::onViewGameGridZoomOutActionTriggered);
   connect(m_ui.actionGridViewRefreshCovers, &QAction::triggered, m_game_list_widget,
           &GameListWidget::refreshGridCovers);
+  connect(m_ui.actionChangeGameListBackground, &QAction::triggered, this,
+          &MainWindow::onViewChangeGameListBackgroundTriggered);
+  connect(m_ui.actionClearGameListBackground, &QAction::triggered, this,
+          &MainWindow::onViewClearGameListBackgroundTriggered);
 
   connect(g_emu_thread, &EmuThread::settingsResetToDefault, this, &MainWindow::onSettingsResetToDefault,
           Qt::QueuedConnection);
@@ -2414,6 +2420,26 @@ void MainWindow::doControllerSettings(
     dlg->setCategory(category);
 }
 
+void MainWindow::onViewChangeGameListBackgroundTriggered()
+{
+  const QString path = QDir::toNativeSeparators(
+    QFileDialog::getOpenFileName(this, tr("Select Background Image"), QString(), tr(IMAGE_FILTER)));
+  if (path.isEmpty())
+    return;
+
+  std::string relative_path = Path::MakeRelative(QDir::toNativeSeparators(path).toStdString(), EmuFolders::DataRoot);
+  Host::SetBaseStringSettingValue("UI", "GameListBackgroundPath", relative_path.c_str());
+  Host::CommitBaseSettingChanges();
+  m_game_list_widget->updateBackground(true);
+}
+
+void MainWindow::onViewClearGameListBackgroundTriggered()
+{
+  Host::DeleteBaseSettingValue("UI", "GameListBackgroundPath");
+  Host::CommitBaseSettingChanges();
+  m_game_list_widget->updateBackground(true);
+}
+
 void MainWindow::onSettingsTriggeredFromToolbar()
 {
   if (s_system_valid)
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.h b/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.h
index 987db0405..0a2f4f489 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.h
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.h
@@ -264,6 +264,8 @@ private:
   void doSettings(const char* category = nullptr);
   void openGamePropertiesForCurrentGame(const char* category = nullptr);
   void doControllerSettings(ControllerSettingsWindow::Category category = ControllerSettingsWindow::Category::Count);
+  void onViewChangeGameListBackgroundTriggered();
+  void onViewClearGameListBackgroundTriggered();
 
   std::string getDeviceDiscPath(const QString& title);
   void setGameListEntryCoverImage(const GameList::Entry* entry);
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.ui b/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.ui
index f116e55a8..49e7e4014 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.ui
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.ui
@@ -219,6 +219,9 @@
     <addaction name="actionGridViewZoomIn"/>
     <addaction name="actionGridViewZoomOut"/>
     <addaction name="actionGridViewRefreshCovers"/>
+    <addaction name="separator"/>
+    <addaction name="actionChangeGameListBackground"/>
+    <addaction name="actionClearGameListBackground"/>
    </widget>
    <widget class="QMenu" name="menu_Tools">
     <property name="title">
@@ -980,6 +983,16 @@
     <string>Controller Presets</string>
    </property>
   </action>
+  <action name="actionChangeGameListBackground">
+   <property name="text">
+    <string>Change List Background...</string>
+   </property>
+  </action>
+  <action name="actionClearGameListBackground">
+   <property name="text">
+    <string>Clear List Background</string>
+   </property>
+  </action>
  </widget>
  <resources>
   <include location="resources/duckstation-qt.qrc"/>
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/qthost.cpp b/src/duckstation-qt/qthost.cpp
index d3fccbf37..63bb57093 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/qthost.cpp
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/qthost.cpp
@@ -1428,6 +1428,27 @@ void QtHost::RunOnUIThread(const std::function<void()>& func, bool block /*= fal
                             Q_ARG(const std::function<void()>&, func));
 }
 
+QtAsyncTask::QtAsyncTask(WorkCallback callback)
+{
+  m_callback = std::move(callback);
+}
+
+QtAsyncTask::~QtAsyncTask() = default;
+
+void QtAsyncTask::create(QObject* owner, WorkCallback callback)
+{
+  // NOTE: Must get connected before queuing, because otherwise you risk a race.
+  QtAsyncTask* task = new QtAsyncTask(std::move(callback));
+  connect(task, &QtAsyncTask::completed, owner, [task]() { std::get<CompletionCallback>(task->m_callback)(); });
+  System::QueueAsyncTask([task]() {
+    task->m_callback = std::get<WorkCallback>(task->m_callback)();
+    QtHost::RunOnUIThread([task]() {
+      emit task->completed(task);
+      delete task;
+    });
+  });
+}
+
 void Host::RefreshGameListAsync(bool invalidate_cache)
 {
   QMetaObject::invokeMethod(g_main_window, "refreshGameList", Qt::QueuedConnection, Q_ARG(bool, invalidate_cache));
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/qthost.h b/src/duckstation-qt/qthost.h
index 1f661150f..a4ba8ecec 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/qthost.h
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/qthost.h
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <utility>
 #include <vector>
+#include <variant>
 
 class QActionGroup;
 class QEventLoop;
@@ -306,6 +307,27 @@ private:
   QStringList m_vibration_motors;
 };
 
+class QtAsyncTask : public QObject
+{
+  Q_OBJECT
+
+public:
+  using CompletionCallback = std::function<void()>;
+  using WorkCallback = std::function<CompletionCallback()>;
+
+  ~QtAsyncTask();
+
+  static void create(QObject* owner, WorkCallback callback);
+
+Q_SIGNALS:
+  void completed(QtAsyncTask* self);
+
+private:
+  QtAsyncTask(WorkCallback callback);
+
+  std::variant<WorkCallback, CompletionCallback> m_callback;
+};
+
 extern EmuThread* g_emu_thread;
 
 namespace QtHost {