diff --git a/distribution/openrct2.d.ts b/distribution/openrct2.d.ts
index 3d64a8306f..5205d4dca4 100644
--- a/distribution/openrct2.d.ts
+++ b/distribution/openrct2.d.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 //   /// <reference path="/path/to/openrct2.d.ts" />
 //
 
-export type PluginType = "local" | "remote";
+export type PluginType = "local" | "remote" | intransient;
 
 declare global {
     /**
diff --git a/src/openrct2/scripting/Plugin.cpp b/src/openrct2/scripting/Plugin.cpp
index 1ac86345e8..89afb8f446 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/scripting/Plugin.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/scripting/Plugin.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
 using namespace OpenRCT2::Scripting;
 
-Plugin::Plugin(duk_context* context, const std::string& path)
+Plugin::Plugin(duk_context* context, std::string_view path)
     : _context(context)
     , _path(path)
 {
@@ -73,10 +73,16 @@ void Plugin::Load()
     }
 
     _metadata = GetMetadata(DukValue::take_from_stack(_context));
+    _hasLoaded = true;
 }
 
 void Plugin::Start()
 {
+    if (!_hasLoaded)
+    {
+        throw std::runtime_error("Plugin has not been loaded.");
+    }
+
     const auto& mainFunc = _metadata.Main;
     if (mainFunc.context() == nullptr)
     {
@@ -115,6 +121,12 @@ void Plugin::ThrowIfStopping() const
     }
 }
 
+void Plugin::Unload()
+{
+    _metadata.Main = {};
+    _hasLoaded = false;
+}
+
 void Plugin::LoadCodeFromFile()
 {
     _code = File::ReadAllText(_path);
@@ -174,6 +186,8 @@ PluginType Plugin::ParsePluginType(std::string_view type)
         return PluginType::Local;
     if (type == "remote")
         return PluginType::Remote;
+    if (type == "intransient")
+        return PluginType::Intransient;
     throw std::invalid_argument("Unknown plugin type.");
 }
 
@@ -192,4 +206,9 @@ int32_t Plugin::GetTargetAPIVersion() const
     return 33;
 }
 
+bool Plugin::IsTransient() const
+{
+    return _metadata.Type != PluginType::Intransient;
+}
+
 #endif
diff --git a/src/openrct2/scripting/Plugin.h b/src/openrct2/scripting/Plugin.h
index 6bda824c37..5e150b821c 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/scripting/Plugin.h
+++ b/src/openrct2/scripting/Plugin.h
@@ -33,6 +33,11 @@ namespace OpenRCT2::Scripting
          * modify game state in certain contexts.
          */
         Remote,
+
+        /**
+         * Scripts that run when the game starts and never unload.
+         */
+        Intransient,
     };
 
     struct PluginMetadata
@@ -53,11 +58,12 @@ namespace OpenRCT2::Scripting
         std::string _path;
         PluginMetadata _metadata{};
         std::string _code;
+        bool _hasLoaded{};
         bool _hasStarted{};
         bool _isStopping{};
 
     public:
-        std::string GetPath() const
+        std::string_view GetPath() const
         {
             return _path;
         };
@@ -87,10 +93,15 @@ namespace OpenRCT2::Scripting
             return _isStopping;
         }
 
+        bool IsLoaded() const
+        {
+            return _hasLoaded;
+        }
+
         int32_t GetTargetAPIVersion() const;
 
         Plugin() = default;
-        Plugin(duk_context* context, const std::string& path);
+        Plugin(duk_context* context, std::string_view path);
         Plugin(const Plugin&) = delete;
         Plugin(Plugin&&) = delete;
 
@@ -101,6 +112,9 @@ namespace OpenRCT2::Scripting
         void StopEnd();
 
         void ThrowIfStopping() const;
+        void Unload();
+
+        bool IsTransient() const;
 
     private:
         void LoadCodeFromFile();
diff --git a/src/openrct2/scripting/ScriptEngine.cpp b/src/openrct2/scripting/ScriptEngine.cpp
index 123dd2b89d..6a039c66c9 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/scripting/ScriptEngine.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/scripting/ScriptEngine.cpp
@@ -443,6 +443,149 @@ void ScriptEngine::Initialise()
     ClearParkStorage();
 }
 
+void ScriptEngine::RefreshPlugins()
+{
+    if (!_initialised)
+    {
+        Initialise();
+    }
+
+    // Get a list of removed and added plugin files
+    auto pluginFiles = GetPluginFiles();
+    std::vector<std::string> plugins;
+    std::vector<std::string> removedPlugins;
+    std::vector<std::string> addedPlugins;
+    for (const auto& plugin : _plugins)
+    {
+        plugins.push_back(std::string(plugin->GetPath()));
+    }
+    std::set_difference(
+        plugins.begin(), plugins.end(), pluginFiles.begin(), pluginFiles.end(), std::back_inserter(removedPlugins));
+    std::set_difference(
+        pluginFiles.begin(), pluginFiles.end(), plugins.begin(), plugins.end(), std::back_inserter(addedPlugins));
+
+    // Unregister plugin files that were removed
+    for (const auto& plugin : removedPlugins)
+    {
+        UnregisterPlugin(plugin);
+    }
+
+    // Register plugin files that were added
+    for (const auto& plugin : addedPlugins)
+    {
+        RegisterPlugin(plugin);
+    }
+
+    // Turn on hot reload if not already enabled
+    if (!_hotReloading && gConfigPlugin.enable_hot_reloading && network_get_mode() == NETWORK_MODE_NONE)
+    {
+        SetupHotReloading();
+    }
+
+    // Start any new intransient plugins
+    StartIntransientPlugins();
+}
+
+std::vector<std::string> ScriptEngine::GetPluginFiles() const
+{
+    // Scan for .js files in plugin directory
+    std::vector<std::string> pluginFiles;
+    auto base = _env.GetDirectoryPath(DIRBASE::USER, DIRID::PLUGIN);
+    if (Path::DirectoryExists(base))
+    {
+        auto pattern = Path::Combine(base, "*.js");
+        auto scanner = std::unique_ptr<IFileScanner>(Path::ScanDirectory(pattern, true));
+        while (scanner->Next())
+        {
+            auto path = std::string(scanner->GetPath());
+            if (ShouldLoadScript(path))
+            {
+                pluginFiles.push_back(path);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    return pluginFiles;
+}
+
+bool ScriptEngine::ShouldLoadScript(std::string_view path)
+{
+    // A lot of JavaScript is often found in a node_modules directory tree and is most likely unwanted, so ignore it
+    return path.find("/node_modules/") == std::string_view::npos && path.find("\\node_modules\\") == std::string_view::npos;
+}
+
+void ScriptEngine::UnregisterPlugin(std::string_view path)
+{
+    try
+    {
+        auto pluginIt = std::find_if(_plugins.begin(), _plugins.end(), [path](const std::shared_ptr<Plugin>& plugin) {
+            return plugin->GetPath() == path;
+        });
+        auto& plugin = *pluginIt;
+
+        StopPlugin(plugin);
+        UnloadPlugin(plugin);
+        LogPluginInfo(plugin, "Unregistered");
+
+        _plugins.erase(pluginIt);
+    }
+    catch (const std::exception& e)
+    {
+        _console.WriteLineError(e.what());
+    }
+}
+
+void ScriptEngine::RegisterPlugin(std::string_view path)
+{
+    try
+    {
+        auto plugin = std::make_shared<Plugin>(_context, path);
+
+        // We must load the plugin to get the metadata for it
+        ScriptExecutionInfo::PluginScope scope(_execInfo, plugin, false);
+        plugin->Load();
+
+        // Unload the plugin now, metadata is kept
+        plugin->Unload();
+
+        LogPluginInfo(plugin, "Registered");
+        _plugins.push_back(std::move(plugin));
+    }
+    catch (const std::exception& e)
+    {
+        _console.WriteLineError(e.what());
+    }
+}
+
+void ScriptEngine::StartIntransientPlugins()
+{
+    for (auto& plugin : _plugins)
+    {
+        if (!plugin->HasStarted() && !plugin->IsTransient())
+        {
+            LoadPlugin(plugin);
+            StartPlugin(plugin);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+void ScriptEngine::StopUnloadRegisterAllPlugins()
+{
+    std::vector<std::string> pluginPaths;
+    for (auto& plugin : _plugins)
+    {
+        pluginPaths.push_back(std::string(plugin->GetPath()));
+        StopPlugin(plugin);
+    }
+    for (auto& plugin : _plugins)
+    {
+        UnloadPlugin(plugin);
+    }
+    for (auto& pluginPath : pluginPaths)
+    {
+        UnregisterPlugin(pluginPath);
+    }
+}
+
 void ScriptEngine::LoadPlugins()
 {
     if (!_initialised)
@@ -487,18 +630,19 @@ void ScriptEngine::LoadPlugin(std::shared_ptr<Plugin>& plugin)
 {
     try
     {
-        ScriptExecutionInfo::PluginScope scope(_execInfo, plugin, false);
-        plugin->Load();
-
-        auto metadata = plugin->GetMetadata();
-        if (metadata.MinApiVersion <= OPENRCT2_PLUGIN_API_VERSION)
+        if (!plugin->IsLoaded())
         {
-            LogPluginInfo(plugin, "Loaded");
-            _plugins.push_back(std::move(plugin));
-        }
-        else
-        {
-            LogPluginInfo(plugin, "Requires newer API version: v" + std::to_string(metadata.MinApiVersion));
+            const auto& metadata = plugin->GetMetadata();
+            if (metadata.MinApiVersion <= OPENRCT2_PLUGIN_API_VERSION)
+            {
+                ScriptExecutionInfo::PluginScope scope(_execInfo, plugin, false);
+                plugin->Load();
+                LogPluginInfo(plugin, "Loaded");
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                LogPluginInfo(plugin, "Requires newer API version: v" + std::to_string(metadata.MinApiVersion));
+            }
         }
     }
     catch (const std::exception& e)
@@ -507,6 +651,29 @@ void ScriptEngine::LoadPlugin(std::shared_ptr<Plugin>& plugin)
     }
 }
 
+void ScriptEngine::UnloadPlugin(std::shared_ptr<Plugin>& plugin)
+{
+    plugin->Unload();
+    LogPluginInfo(plugin, "Unloaded");
+}
+
+void ScriptEngine::StartPlugin(std::shared_ptr<Plugin> plugin)
+{
+    if (!plugin->HasStarted() && ShouldStartPlugin(plugin))
+    {
+        ScriptExecutionInfo::PluginScope scope(_execInfo, plugin, false);
+        try
+        {
+            LogPluginInfo(plugin, "Started");
+            plugin->Start();
+        }
+        catch (const std::exception& e)
+        {
+            _console.WriteLineError(e.what());
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 void ScriptEngine::StopPlugin(std::shared_ptr<Plugin> plugin)
 {
     if (plugin->HasStarted())
@@ -526,22 +693,20 @@ void ScriptEngine::StopPlugin(std::shared_ptr<Plugin> plugin)
     }
 }
 
-bool ScriptEngine::ShouldLoadScript(const std::string& path)
-{
-    // A lot of JavaScript is often found in a node_modules directory tree and is most likely unwanted, so ignore it
-    return path.find("/node_modules/") == std::string::npos && path.find("\\node_modules\\") == std::string::npos;
-}
-
 void ScriptEngine::SetupHotReloading()
 {
     try
     {
         auto base = _env.GetDirectoryPath(DIRBASE::USER, DIRID::PLUGIN);
-        _pluginFileWatcher = std::make_unique<FileWatcher>(base);
-        _pluginFileWatcher->OnFileChanged = [this](const std::string& path) {
-            std::lock_guard<std::mutex> guard(_changedPluginFilesMutex);
-            _changedPluginFiles.emplace(path);
-        };
+        if (Path::DirectoryExists(base))
+        {
+            _pluginFileWatcher = std::make_unique<FileWatcher>(base);
+            _pluginFileWatcher->OnFileChanged = [this](const std::string& path) {
+                std::lock_guard<std::mutex> guard(_changedPluginFilesMutex);
+                _changedPluginFiles.emplace(path);
+            };
+            _hotReloading = true;
+        }
     }
     catch (const std::exception& e)
     {
@@ -652,6 +817,7 @@ void ScriptEngine::Tick()
     if (!_initialised)
     {
         Initialise();
+        RefreshPlugins();
     }
 
     if (_pluginsLoaded)
diff --git a/src/openrct2/scripting/ScriptEngine.h b/src/openrct2/scripting/ScriptEngine.h
index 5478e43895..10d3253f74 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/scripting/ScriptEngine.h
+++ b/src/openrct2/scripting/ScriptEngine.h
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ namespace OpenRCT2::Scripting
         IPlatformEnvironment& _env;
         DukContext _context;
         bool _initialised{};
+        bool _hotReloading{};
         bool _pluginsLoaded{};
         bool _pluginsStarted{};
         std::queue<std::tuple<std::promise<void>, std::string>> _evalQueue;
@@ -247,12 +248,20 @@ namespace OpenRCT2::Scripting
 
     private:
         void Initialise();
+        void RefreshPlugins();
+        std::vector<std::string> GetPluginFiles() const;
+        void UnregisterPlugin(std::string_view path);
+        void RegisterPlugin(std::string_view path);
+        void StartIntransientPlugins();
         void StartPlugins();
         void StopPlugins();
         void LoadPlugin(const std::string& path);
         void LoadPlugin(std::shared_ptr<Plugin>& plugin);
+        void UnloadPlugin(std::shared_ptr<Plugin>& plugin);
+        void StartPlugin(std::shared_ptr<Plugin> plugin);
         void StopPlugin(std::shared_ptr<Plugin> plugin);
-        bool ShouldLoadScript(const std::string& path);
+        void StopUnloadRegisterAllPlugins();
+        static bool ShouldLoadScript(std::string_view path);
         bool ShouldStartPlugin(const std::shared_ptr<Plugin>& plugin);
         void SetupHotReloading();
         void AutoReloadPlugins();