diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 5a736416f..d26a38f8a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -53,6 +53,11 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/).
 
 ### Added
 
+- New updates to `ex.coroutine(...)`
+  * New `ex.CoroutineInstance` is returned (still awaitable)
+  * Control coroutine autostart with `ex.coroutine(function*(){...}, {autostart: false})`
+  * `.start()` and `.cancel()` coroutines
+  * Nested coroutines!
 - Excalibur will now clean up WebGL textures that have not been drawn in a while, which improves stability for long game sessions
   * If a graphic is drawn again it will be reloaded into the GPU seamlessly
 - You can now query for colliders on the physics world
diff --git a/src/engine/Context.ts b/src/engine/Context.ts
index 55c0a8d8c..3ead8c1d2 100644
--- a/src/engine/Context.ts
+++ b/src/engine/Context.ts
@@ -24,8 +24,15 @@ export interface Context<TValue> {
 export function createContext<TValue>() {
   const ctx: Context<TValue> = {
     scope: (value, cb) => {
+      const old = ctx.value;
       ctx.value = value;
-      return cb();
+      try {
+        return cb();
+      } catch (e) {
+        throw e;
+      } finally {
+        ctx.value = old;
+      }
     },
     value: undefined
   };
diff --git a/src/engine/Util/Coroutine.ts b/src/engine/Util/Coroutine.ts
index 8a21498ea..777a47db1 100644
--- a/src/engine/Util/Coroutine.ts
+++ b/src/engine/Util/Coroutine.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
+import { createContext, useContext } from '../Context';
 import { Engine } from '../Engine';
 import { ScheduledCallbackTiming } from './Clock';
-export type CoroutineGenerator = () => Generator<number | Promise<any> | undefined, void, number>;
+import { Logger } from './Log';
+export type CoroutineGenerator = () => Generator<any | number | Promise<any> | undefined, void, number>;
+
+const InsideCoroutineContext = createContext<boolean>();
 
 const generatorFunctionDeclaration = /^\s*(?:function)?\*/;
 /**
@@ -21,10 +25,24 @@ function isCoroutineGenerator(x: any): x is CoroutineGenerator {
 
 export interface CoroutineOptions {
   timing?: ScheduledCallbackTiming;
+  autostart?: boolean;
+}
+
+type Thenable = PromiseLike<void>['then'];
+
+export interface CoroutineInstance extends PromiseLike<void> {
+  isRunning(): boolean;
+  isComplete(): boolean;
+  done: Promise<void>;
+  generator: Generator<CoroutineInstance | number | Promise<any> | undefined, void, number>;
+  start: () => CoroutineInstance;
+  cancel: () => void;
+  then: Thenable;
+  [Symbol.iterator]: () => Generator<CoroutineInstance | number | Promise<any> | undefined, void, number>;
 }
 
 /**
- * Excalibur coroutine helper, returns a promise when complete. Coroutines run before frame update.
+ * Excalibur coroutine helper, returns a [[CoroutineInstance]] which is promise-like when complete. Coroutines run before frame update by default.
  *
  * Each coroutine yield is 1 excalibur frame. Coroutines get passed the elapsed time our of yield. Coroutines
  * run internally on the excalibur clock.
@@ -36,7 +54,12 @@ export interface CoroutineOptions {
  * @param coroutineGenerator coroutine generator function
  * @param {CoroutineOptions} options optionally schedule coroutine pre/post update
  */
-export function coroutine(thisArg: any, engine: Engine, coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator, options?: CoroutineOptions): Promise<void>;
+export function coroutine(
+  thisArg: any,
+  engine: Engine,
+  coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator,
+  options?: CoroutineOptions
+): CoroutineInstance;
 /**
  * Excalibur coroutine helper, returns a promise when complete. Coroutines run before frame update.
  *
@@ -49,7 +72,7 @@ export function coroutine(thisArg: any, engine: Engine, coroutineGenerator: Coro
  * @param coroutineGenerator coroutine generator function
  * @param {CoroutineOptions} options optionally schedule coroutine pre/post update
  */
-export function coroutine(engine: Engine, coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator, options?: CoroutineOptions): Promise<void>;
+export function coroutine(engine: Engine, coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator, options?: CoroutineOptions): CoroutineInstance;
 /**
  * Excalibur coroutine helper, returns a promise when complete. Coroutines run before frame update.
  *
@@ -61,7 +84,7 @@ export function coroutine(engine: Engine, coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator
  * @param coroutineGenerator coroutine generator function
  * @param {CoroutineOptions} options optionally schedule coroutine pre/post update
  */
-export function coroutine(coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator, options?: CoroutineOptions): Promise<void>;
+export function coroutine(coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator, options?: CoroutineOptions): CoroutineInstance;
 /**
  * Excalibur coroutine helper, returns a promise when complete. Coroutines run before frame update.
  *
@@ -74,31 +97,32 @@ export function coroutine(coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator, options?: Coro
  * @param coroutineGenerator coroutine generator function
  * @param {CoroutineOptions} options optionally schedule coroutine pre/post update
  */
-export function coroutine(thisArg: any, coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator, options?: CoroutineOptions): Promise<void>;
+export function coroutine(thisArg: any, coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator, options?: CoroutineOptions): CoroutineInstance;
 /**
  *
  */
-export function coroutine(...args: any[]): Promise<void> {
+export function coroutine(...args: any[]): CoroutineInstance {
+  const logger = Logger.getInstance();
   let coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator;
   let thisArg: any;
   let options: CoroutineOptions | undefined;
   let passedEngine: Engine | undefined;
 
-  // coroutine(coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator, options?: CoroutineOptions): Promise<void>;
+  // coroutine(coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator, options?: CoroutineOptions): CoroutineInstance;
   if (isCoroutineGenerator(args[0])) {
     thisArg = globalThis;
     coroutineGenerator = args[0];
     options = args[1];
   }
 
-  // coroutine(thisArg: any, coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator, options?: CoroutineOptions): Promise<void>;
+  // coroutine(thisArg: any, coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator, options?: CoroutineOptions): CoroutineInstance;
   if (isCoroutineGenerator(args[1])) {
     thisArg = args[0];
     coroutineGenerator = args[1];
     options = args[2];
   }
 
-  // coroutine(thisArg: any, engine: Engine, coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator, options?: CoroutineOptions): Promise<void>;
+  // coroutine(thisArg: any, engine: Engine, coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator, options?: CoroutineOptions): CoroutineInstance;
   if (args[1] instanceof Engine) {
     thisArg = args[0];
     passedEngine = args[1];
@@ -106,7 +130,7 @@ export function coroutine(...args: any[]): Promise<void> {
     options = args[3];
   }
 
-  // coroutine(engine: Engine, coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator, options?: CoroutineOptions): Promise<void>;
+  // coroutine(engine: Engine, coroutineGenerator: CoroutineGenerator, options?: CoroutineOptions): CoroutineInstance;
   if (args[0] instanceof Engine) {
     thisArg = globalThis;
     passedEngine = args[0];
@@ -114,7 +138,9 @@ export function coroutine(...args: any[]): Promise<void> {
     options = args[2];
   }
 
+  const inside = useContext(InsideCoroutineContext);
   const schedule = options?.timing;
+  const autostart = inside ? false : options?.autostart ?? true;
   let engine: Engine;
   try {
     engine = passedEngine ?? Engine.useEngine();
@@ -124,14 +150,26 @@ export function coroutine(...args: any[]): Promise<void> {
         'Pass an engine parameter to ex.coroutine(engine, function * {...})'
     );
   }
-  const generatorFcn = coroutineGenerator.bind(thisArg);
-  return new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
-    const generator = generatorFcn();
-    const loop = (elapsedMs: number) => {
+
+  let started = false;
+  let completed = false;
+  let cancelled = false;
+  const generatorFcn = coroutineGenerator.bind(thisArg) as CoroutineGenerator;
+  const generator = generatorFcn();
+  let loop: (elapsedMs: number) => void;
+  const complete = new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
+    loop = (elapsedMs: number) => {
       try {
-        const { done, value } = generator.next(elapsedMs);
-        if (done) {
+        if (cancelled) {
+          completed = true;
           resolve();
+          return;
+        }
+        const { done, value } = InsideCoroutineContext.scope(true, () => generator.next(elapsedMs));
+        if (done || cancelled) {
+          completed = true;
+          resolve();
+          return;
         }
 
         if (value instanceof Promise) {
@@ -148,8 +186,46 @@ export function coroutine(...args: any[]): Promise<void> {
         }
       } catch (e) {
         reject(e);
+        return;
       }
     };
-    loop(engine.clock.elapsed()); // run first frame immediately
+    if (autostart) {
+      started = true;
+      loop(engine.clock.elapsed()); // run first frame immediately
+    }
   });
+
+  const co: CoroutineInstance = {
+    isRunning: () => {
+      return started && !cancelled && !completed;
+    },
+    isComplete: () => {
+      return completed;
+    },
+    cancel: () => {
+      cancelled = true;
+    },
+    start: () => {
+      if (!started) {
+        started = true;
+        loop(engine.clock.elapsed());
+      } else {
+        logger.warn(
+          '.start() was called on a coroutine that was already started, this is probably a bug:\n',
+          Function.prototype.toString.call(generatorFcn)
+        );
+      }
+      return co;
+    },
+    generator,
+    done: complete,
+    then: complete.then.bind(complete),
+    [Symbol.iterator]: () => {
+      // TODO warn if a coroutine is already running
+      // TODO warn if a coroutine is cancelled
+      return generator;
+    }
+  };
+
+  return co;
 }
diff --git a/src/spec/CoroutineSpec.ts b/src/spec/CoroutineSpec.ts
index 9fbf9c425..16a1191c1 100644
--- a/src/spec/CoroutineSpec.ts
+++ b/src/spec/CoroutineSpec.ts
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ describe('A Coroutine', () => {
         const elapsed = yield ex.Util.delay(1000, clock);
         expect(elapsed).toBe(1);
         yield;
-        throw Error('error');
+        throw Error('error here');
       });
       // wait 200 ms
       clock.step(1000);
@@ -240,8 +240,139 @@ describe('A Coroutine', () => {
 
       // 1 more yield
       clock.step(100);
-      await expectAsync(result).toBeRejectedWithError('error');
+      await expectAsync(result).toBeRejectedWithError('error here');
       engine.dispose();
     });
   });
+
+  it('can stop coroutines', async () => {
+    const engine = TestUtils.engine({ width: 100, height: 100 });
+    await engine.scope(async () => {
+      const clock = engine.clock as ex.TestClock;
+      clock.start();
+      const result = ex.coroutine(function* () {
+        yield 100;
+        yield 100;
+        yield 100;
+        throw Error('should not error');
+      });
+
+      expect(result.isRunning()).toBe(true);
+      clock.step(100);
+      clock.step(100);
+      result.cancel();
+      expect(result.isRunning()).toBe(false);
+      clock.step(100);
+      expect(result.isRunning()).toBe(false);
+      engine.dispose();
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('can start coroutines', async () => {
+    const engine = TestUtils.engine({ width: 100, height: 100 });
+    const logger = ex.Logger.getInstance();
+    spyOn(logger, 'warn');
+    await engine.scope(async () => {
+      const clock = engine.clock as ex.TestClock;
+      clock.start();
+      const result = ex.coroutine(
+        function* () {
+          yield 100;
+          yield 100;
+          yield 100;
+        },
+        { autostart: false }
+      );
+
+      expect(result.isRunning()).toBe(false);
+      clock.step(100);
+      result.start();
+      result.start();
+      expect(logger.warn).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      clock.step(100);
+      clock.step(100);
+      expect(result.isRunning()).toBe(true);
+      clock.step(100);
+      expect(result.isRunning()).toBe(false);
+      expect(result.isComplete()).toBe(true);
+      engine.dispose();
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('can have nested coroutines', async () => {
+    const engine = TestUtils.engine({ width: 100, height: 100 });
+    await engine.scope(async () => {
+      const clock = engine.clock as ex.TestClock;
+      clock.start();
+      const result = ex.coroutine(function* () {
+        yield 100;
+        yield* ex.coroutine(function* () {
+          const elapsed = yield 99;
+          expect(elapsed).toBe(99);
+        });
+        yield 100;
+      });
+
+      clock.step(100);
+      clock.step(99);
+      clock.step(100);
+
+      expect(result.isRunning()).toBe(false);
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('can iterate over coroutines', async () => {
+    const engine = TestUtils.engine({ width: 100, height: 100 });
+    await engine.scope(async () => {
+      const clock = engine.clock as ex.TestClock;
+      clock.start();
+      const result = ex.coroutine(
+        function* () {
+          yield 100;
+          yield 200;
+          yield 300;
+          yield* ex.coroutine(function* () {
+            yield;
+            yield 400;
+          });
+        },
+        { autostart: false }
+      );
+
+      expect(result.generator.next().value).toBe(100);
+      expect(result.generator.next().value).toBe(200);
+      expect(result.generator.next().value).toBe(300);
+      expect(result.generator.next().value).toBe(400);
+
+      expect(result.isRunning()).toBe(false);
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('can iterate over coroutines', async () => {
+    const engine = TestUtils.engine({ width: 100, height: 100 });
+    await engine.scope(async () => {
+      const clock = engine.clock as ex.TestClock;
+      clock.start();
+      const result = ex.coroutine(
+        function* () {
+          yield 100;
+          yield 200;
+          yield 300;
+          yield* ex.coroutine(function* () {
+            yield;
+            yield 400;
+          });
+        },
+        { autostart: false }
+      );
+
+      let i = 0;
+      const results = [100, 200, 300, 400];
+      for (const val of result) {
+        expect(val).toBe(results[i++]);
+      }
+
+      expect(result.isRunning()).toBe(false);
+    });
+  });
 });