diff --git a/data/raw/keybindings.json b/data/raw/keybindings.json
index e45dd777ad115..3dbe89e52bf99 100644
--- a/data/raw/keybindings.json
+++ b/data/raw/keybindings.json
@@ -1396,6 +1396,12 @@
     "name": "Toggle category selection mode",
     "bindings": [ { "input_method": "keyboard", "key": "TAB" } ]
   },
+  {
+    "type": "keybinding",
+    "id": "VIEW_CATEGORY_MODE",
+    "name": "Toggle inventory view to show item categories",
+    "bindings": [ { "input_method": "keyboard", "key": ";" } ]
+  },
   {
     "type": "keybinding",
     "id": "INVENTORY_FILTER",
diff --git a/src/inventory_ui.cpp b/src/inventory_ui.cpp
index 75ef08df59080..1fc9001082bd2 100644
--- a/src/inventory_ui.cpp
+++ b/src/inventory_ui.cpp
@@ -1256,6 +1256,10 @@ void inventory_selector::add_character_items( Character &character )
             }
         }
     }
+    // this is a little trick; we want the default behavior for contained items to be in own_inv_column
+    // and this function iterates over all the entries after we added them to the inventory selector
+    // to put them in the right place
+    toggle_categorize_contained();
 }
 
 void inventory_selector::add_map_items( const tripoint &target )
@@ -1758,6 +1762,7 @@ inventory_selector::inventory_selector( player &u, const inventory_selector_pres
     ctxt.register_action( "HOME", to_translation( "Home" ) );
     ctxt.register_action( "END", to_translation( "End" ) );
     ctxt.register_action( "HELP_KEYBINDINGS" );
+    ctxt.register_action( "VIEW_CATEGORY_MODE" );
     ctxt.register_action( "ANY_INPUT" ); // For invlets
     ctxt.register_action( "INVENTORY_FILTER" );
 
@@ -1803,6 +1808,8 @@ void inventory_selector::on_input( const inventory_input &input )
         toggle_active_column( scroll_direction::BACKWARD );
     } else if( input.action == "RIGHT" ) {
         toggle_active_column( scroll_direction::FORWARD );
+    } else if( input.action == "VIEW_CATEGORY_MODE" ) {
+        toggle_categorize_contained();
     } else {
         for( auto &elem : columns ) {
             elem->on_input( input );
@@ -1877,6 +1884,51 @@ bool inventory_selector::is_overflown( size_t client_width ) const
     return get_columns_occupancy_ratio( client_width ) > 1.0;
 }
 
+void inventory_selector::toggle_categorize_contained()
+{
+    const auto return_true = []( const inventory_entry & ) {
+        return true;
+    };
+    const auto return_item = []( const inventory_entry & entry ) {
+        return entry.is_item();
+    };
+    if( own_inv_column.empty() ) {
+        inventory_column replacement_column;
+        for( inventory_entry *entry : own_gear_column.get_entries( return_item ) ) {
+            if( entry->any_item().where() == item_location::type::container ) {
+                add_entry( own_inv_column, std::move( entry->locations ) );
+            } else {
+                replacement_column.add_entry( *entry );
+            }
+        }
+        own_gear_column.clear();
+        for( inventory_entry *entry : replacement_column.get_entries( return_true ) ) {
+            own_gear_column.add_entry( *entry );
+        }
+        own_inv_column.set_indent_entries_override( false );
+    } else {
+        for( inventory_entry *entry : own_inv_column.get_entries( return_item ) ) {
+            // all item entries in own_inv_column are always contained items
+            item_location parent = entry->any_item().parent_item();
+            while( parent.where() == item_location::type::container ) {
+                parent = parent.parent_item();
+            }
+
+            if( parent.get_item() == &u.weapon ) {
+                add_entry( own_gear_column, std::move( entry->locations ),
+                           &item_category_id( "WEAPON_HELD" ).obj() );
+            } else {
+                add_entry( own_gear_column, std::move( entry->locations ),
+                           &item_category_id( "ITEMS_WORN" ).obj() );
+            }
+        }
+        own_inv_column.clear();
+    }
+
+    resize_window( std::max( { get_layout_width() + 6, get_header_min_width() } ),
+                   get_layout_height() + get_header_height() );
+}
+
 void inventory_selector::toggle_active_column( scroll_direction dir )
 {
     if( columns.empty() ) {
diff --git a/src/inventory_ui.h b/src/inventory_ui.h
index 132091e590c81..f51ebeb48eaa9 100644
--- a/src/inventory_ui.h
+++ b/src/inventory_ui.h
@@ -336,9 +336,17 @@ class inventory_column
 
         // whether or not to indent contained entries
         bool indent_entries() const {
-            return preset.indent_entries();
+            if( indent_entries_override ) {
+                return *indent_entries_override;
+            } else {
+                return preset.indent_entries();
+            }
         };
 
+        void set_indent_entries_override( bool entry_override ) {
+            indent_entries_override = entry_override;
+        }
+
     protected:
         struct entry_cell_cache_t {
             bool assigned = false;
@@ -409,6 +417,7 @@ class inventory_column
         std::vector<cell_t> cells;
         mutable std::vector<entry_cell_cache_t> entries_cell_cache;
 
+        cata::optional<bool> indent_entries_override = cata::nullopt;
         /** @return Number of visible cells */
         size_t visible_cells() const;
 };
@@ -592,6 +601,7 @@ class inventory_selector
             return get_column( active_column_index );
         }
 
+        void toggle_categorize_contained();
         void set_active_column( size_t index );
 
     protected: