backend/cmd/backend/main.go

@@ -485,6 +485,17 @@ func (a *userEntitlementAdapter) GetMaxRegisteredRaceNames(ctx context.Context,
 	return snap.MaxRegisteredRaceNames, nil
 }
 
+func (a *userEntitlementAdapter) IsPaid(ctx context.Context, userID uuid.UUID) (bool, error) {
+	if a == nil || a.svc == nil {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	snap, err := a.svc.GetEntitlementSnapshot(ctx, userID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	return snap.IsPaid, nil
+}
+
 // runtimeGatewayAdapter implements `lobby.RuntimeGateway` by
 // delegating to `*runtime.Service`. The svc pointer is patched after
 // the services are constructed — runtime depends on lobby

backend/internal/lobby/deps.go

@@ -9,14 +9,21 @@ import (
 
 // EntitlementProvider is the read-only view the lobby needs over the
 // user-domain entitlement snapshot. The canonical implementation is
-// `*user.Service` exposing `GetEntitlement(ctx, userID)`; tests substitute
-// a fake.
+// `*user.Service` exposing `GetEntitlementSnapshot(ctx, userID)`; tests
+// substitute a fake.
 //
-// `MaxRegisteredRaceNames` is the only field consumed by when
-// the caller attempts to register a `pending_registration` row the lobby
-// counts already-`registered` rows for that user against this limit.
+// `GetMaxRegisteredRaceNames` is consumed at race-name registration time
+// — when the caller attempts to register a `pending_registration` row the
+// lobby counts already-`registered` rows for that user against this limit.
+//
+// `IsPaid` is consumed by the user-facing private-game creation gate at
+// the HTTP handler level (`POST /api/v1/user/lobby/games`): free-tier
+// callers are rejected with `403 forbidden` before the lobby Service is
+// invoked. Admin-driven public-game creation
+// (`POST /api/v1/admin/games`) bypasses the gate.
 type EntitlementProvider interface {
 	GetMaxRegisteredRaceNames(ctx context.Context, userID uuid.UUID) (int32, error)
+	IsPaid(ctx context.Context, userID uuid.UUID) (bool, error)
 }
 
 // RuntimeGateway is the outbound surface the lobby uses to ask the runtime

backend/internal/lobby/lobby.go

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 package lobby
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"crypto/rand"
 	"encoding/hex"
 	"errors"
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ import (
 
 	"galaxy/backend/internal/config"
 
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
 	"github.com/jackc/pgx/v5/pgconn"
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
 )
@@ -207,6 +209,17 @@ func (s *Service) Config() config.LobbyConfig {
 	return s.deps.Config
 }
 
+// IsPaid reports whether userID currently sits on a paid tier. Thin
+// pass-through over EntitlementProvider used by the HTTP handler that
+// fronts user-driven private-game creation; admin-driven public-game
+// creation does not consult this gate.
+func (s *Service) IsPaid(ctx context.Context, userID uuid.UUID) (bool, error) {
+	if s == nil || s.deps.Entitlement == nil {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("lobby: entitlement provider not configured")
+	}
+	return s.deps.Entitlement.IsPaid(ctx, userID)
+}
+
 // generateInviteCode produces an `inviteCodeBytes`-byte hex code used
 // for code-based invites. The function uses `crypto/rand`; a failure to
 // read entropy is propagated to the caller.

backend/internal/lobby/lobby_e2e_test.go

@@ -103,6 +103,10 @@ func (s stubEntitlement) GetMaxRegisteredRaceNames(_ context.Context, _ uuid.UUI
 	return s.max, nil
 }
 
+func (s stubEntitlement) IsPaid(_ context.Context, _ uuid.UUID) (bool, error) {
+	return true, nil
+}
+
 func newServiceForTest(t *testing.T, db *sql.DB, now func() time.Time, max int32) *lobby.Service {
 	t.Helper()
 	store := lobby.NewStore(db)

backend/internal/server/handlers_user_lobby_games.go

@@ -86,6 +86,15 @@ func (h *UserLobbyGamesHandlers) Create() gin.HandlerFunc {
 			return
 		}
 		ctx := c.Request.Context()
+		paid, err := h.svc.IsPaid(ctx, userID)
+		if err != nil {
+			respondLobbyError(c, h.logger, "user lobby games create", ctx, err)
+			return
+		}
+		if !paid {
+			httperr.Abort(c, http.StatusForbidden, httperr.CodeForbidden, "creating private games requires a paid subscription")
+			return
+		}
 		owner := userID
 		game, err := h.svc.CreateGame(ctx, lobby.CreateGameInput{
 			OwnerUserID: &owner,

backend/openapi.yaml

@@ -265,7 +265,12 @@ paths:
       summary: Create a new private lobby game owned by the caller
       description: |
         Always emits a `private` game owned by `X-User-ID`. Public games
-        are created via `POST /api/v1/admin/games`.
+        are created via `POST /api/v1/admin/games`. The endpoint is
+        gated by the caller's paid tier: free-tier accounts receive
+        `403 forbidden` (code `forbidden`) and no `draft` row is
+        created. The tier is read through
+        `EntitlementProvider.IsPaid(userID)` from the user-domain
+        service.
       security:
         - UserHeader: []
       parameters:
@@ -285,6 +290,8 @@ paths:
                 $ref: "#/components/schemas/LobbyGameDetail"
         "400":
           $ref: "#/components/responses/InvalidRequestError"
+        "403":
+          $ref: "#/components/responses/ForbiddenError"
         "501":
           $ref: "#/components/responses/NotImplementedError"
         "500":

docs/ARCHITECTURE.md

@@ -142,7 +142,9 @@ because they cross domain boundaries:
 - **Public lobby games are admin-created** through
   `POST /api/v1/admin/games`. The user-facing
   `POST /api/v1/user/lobby/games` always emits `private` games owned by
-  `X-User-ID`. Public games carry `owner_user_id IS NULL`; the partial
+  `X-User-ID`, and is gated by `EntitlementProvider.IsPaid` — free-tier
+  callers receive `403 forbidden` before the lobby service is invoked.
+  Public games carry `owner_user_id IS NULL`; the partial
   index on `(owner_user_id) WHERE visibility = 'private'` keeps the
   private-owner lookup efficient.
 - **Authenticated lobby commands** flow through the gateway envelope

docs/FUNCTIONAL.md

@@ -363,6 +363,18 @@ records the new game with `owner_user_id` set to the caller and
 visibility `private`, in state `draft`, with the request body's
 configuration as initial values.
 
+The user surface is gated by the caller's paid tier. Backend reads
+`EntitlementProvider.IsPaid(userID)` before invoking the lobby
+service; free-tier callers are rejected with HTTP
+`403 forbidden` (canonical error code `forbidden`) and no `draft`
+row is created. The matching UI affordances — the `private games`
+sidebar sub-panel and its `create new game` button — are hidden from
+free-tier sessions in the lobby shell; the
+`VITE_GALAXY_DEV_AFFORDANCES` build flag overrides the UI gate so the
+owner can exercise both branches from a single test account in DEV
+bundles. Admin-driven public-game creation
+([Section 10](#10-administration)) bypasses the tier gate.
+
 Public games are created exclusively through the admin surface
 ([Section 10](#10-administration)). The user surface never produces a public game; this
 asymmetry is enforced in backend, not at the route level.

docs/FUNCTIONAL_ru.md

@@ -377,6 +377,18 @@ cancelled достижим из любого pre-finished-состояния.
 visibility `private`, в состоянии `draft`, с конфигурацией из
 тела запроса в качестве начальных значений.
 
+User-surface гейтится платным тарифом вызывающего. Backend читает
+`EntitlementProvider.IsPaid(userID)` перед вызовом lobby-сервиса;
+free-tier-вызовы отклоняются с HTTP `403 forbidden`
+(канонический код ошибки `forbidden`), и `draft`-запись не
+создаётся. Соответствующие UI-аффордансы — подраздел
+`private games` в сайдбаре и кнопка `create new game` внутри него —
+скрыты в lobby-shell для free-tier-сессий; build-флаг
+`VITE_GALAXY_DEV_AFFORDANCES` переопределяет UI-гейт, чтобы owner
+мог в DEV-сборке проверять обе ветки с одного тестового аккаунта.
+Admin-создание public-игр ([Раздел 10](#10-администрирование))
+обходит тир-гейт.
+
 Public-игры создаются исключительно через admin-surface
 ([Раздел 10](#10-администрирование)). User-surface никогда не
 производит public-игру; асимметрия enforced в backend, не на

integration/admin_global_games_view_test.go

@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ func TestAdminGlobalGamesView(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Two users; user A creates a private game.
 	a := testenv.RegisterSession(t, plat, "ownerA@example.com")
+	testenv.PromoteToPaid(t, ctx, admin, plat, a)
 	b := testenv.RegisterSession(t, plat, "ownerB@example.com")
 	aID, err := a.LookupUserID(ctx, plat)
 	if err != nil {

integration/engine_command_proxy_test.go

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ func TestEngineCommandProxy(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	owner := testenv.RegisterSession(t, plat, "owner+cmd@example.com")
+	testenv.PromoteToPaid(t, ctx, admin, plat, owner)
 	ownerID, err := owner.LookupUserID(ctx, plat)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("resolve owner: %v", err)

integration/lobby_flow_test.go

@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ func TestLobbyFlow_PrivateGameInviteRedeem(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	owner := testenv.RegisterSession(t, plat, "owner+lobby@example.com")
+	testenv.PromoteToPaid(t, ctx, admin, plat, owner)
 	invitee := testenv.RegisterSession(t, plat, "invitee+lobby@example.com")
 	ownerID, err := owner.LookupUserID(ctx, plat)
 	if err != nil {

integration/lobby_free_tier_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+package integration_test
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"net/http"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"galaxy/integration/testenv"
+)
+
+// TestLobbyFlow_FreeUserCreateGameForbidden asserts the F8-04b backend
+// tier gate: a freshly registered (free-tier) account is rejected with
+// `403 forbidden` when it tries to create a private game through the
+// user-facing surface. The matching paid sibling
+// `TestLobbyFlow_PrivateGameInviteRedeem` covers the success path with
+// `testenv.PromoteToPaid`.
+func TestLobbyFlow_FreeUserCreateGameForbidden(t *testing.T) {
+	plat := testenv.Bootstrap(t, testenv.BootstrapOptions{})
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 60*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	owner := testenv.RegisterSession(t, plat, "owner+free@example.com")
+	ownerID, err := owner.LookupUserID(ctx, plat)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("resolve owner: %v", err)
+	}
+	ownerHTTP := testenv.NewBackendUserClient(plat.Backend.HTTPURL, ownerID)
+
+	gameBody := map[string]any{
+		"game_name":             "Free Tier Game",
+		"visibility":            "private",
+		"min_players":           2,
+		"max_players":           4,
+		"start_gap_hours":       1,
+		"start_gap_players":     2,
+		"enrollment_ends_at":    time.Now().Add(24 * time.Hour).UTC().Format(time.RFC3339),
+		"turn_schedule":         "0 * * * *",
+		"target_engine_version": "v1.0.0",
+	}
+	raw, resp, err := ownerHTTP.Do(ctx, http.MethodPost, "/api/v1/user/lobby/games", gameBody)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("create private game: %v", err)
+	}
+	if resp.StatusCode != http.StatusForbidden {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 403 forbidden, got status=%d body=%s", resp.StatusCode, string(raw))
+	}
+	var envelope struct {
+		Error struct {
+			Code    string `json:"code"`
+			Message string `json:"message"`
+		} `json:"error"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &envelope); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("decode error envelope: %v body=%s", err, string(raw))
+	}
+	if envelope.Error.Code != "forbidden" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected code=forbidden, got %q body=%s", envelope.Error.Code, string(raw))
+	}
+}

integration/lobby_my_games_test.go

@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ func TestLobbyMyGamesList(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	owner := testenv.RegisterSession(t, plat, "owner+mygames@example.com")
+	testenv.PromoteToPaid(t, ctx, admin, plat, owner)
 	pilot := testenv.RegisterSession(t, plat, "pilot+mygames@example.com")
 	ownerID, err := owner.LookupUserID(ctx, plat)
 	if err != nil {

integration/lobby_open_enrollment_test.go

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ func TestLobbyOpenEnrollment(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	owner := testenv.RegisterSession(t, plat, "owner+enroll@example.com")
+	testenv.PromoteToPaid(t, ctx, admin, plat, owner)
 	other := testenv.RegisterSession(t, plat, "other+enroll@example.com")
 	ownerID, err := owner.LookupUserID(ctx, plat)
 	if err != nil {

integration/notification_flow_test.go

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ func TestNotificationFlow_LobbyInvite(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	inviter := testenv.RegisterSession(t, plat, "inviter@example.com")
+	testenv.PromoteToPaid(t, ctx, admin, plat, inviter)
 	invitee := testenv.RegisterSession(t, plat, "invitee@example.com")
 	inviterUser, err := inviter.LookupUserID(ctx, plat)
 	if err != nil {

integration/runtime_lifecycle_test.go

@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ func TestRuntimeLifecycle(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	owner := testenv.RegisterSession(t, plat, "owner+runtime@example.com")
+	testenv.PromoteToPaid(t, ctx, admin, plat, owner)
 	ownerID, err := owner.LookupUserID(ctx, plat)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("resolve owner: %v", err)

integration/testenv/session.go

@@ -92,6 +92,35 @@ func (s *Session) DialAuthenticated(ctx context.Context, plat *Platform) (*Signe
 	return DialGateway(ctx, plat.Gateway.GRPCAddr, s.DeviceSessionID, s.Private, plat.Gateway.ResponseSignerPublic)
 }
 
+// PromoteToPaid applies a permanent paid entitlement to the user
+// behind sess via the backend admin surface, so subsequent lobby
+// commands gated by `EntitlementProvider.IsPaid` (notably
+// `POST /api/v1/user/lobby/games`) succeed. Helper for integration
+// scenarios that create games end-to-end; the default
+// `RegisterSession` leaves the user on the free tier.
+func PromoteToPaid(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, admin *BackendAdminClient, plat *Platform, sess *Session) {
+	t.Helper()
+	if sess == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("PromoteToPaid: nil session")
+	}
+	userID, err := sess.LookupUserID(ctx, plat)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("PromoteToPaid: lookup user_id: %v", err)
+	}
+	body := map[string]any{
+		"tier":   "permanent",
+		"source": "integration_test",
+		"actor":  map[string]any{"type": "admin", "id": "integration"},
+	}
+	raw, resp, err := admin.Do(ctx, http.MethodPost, "/api/v1/admin/users/"+userID+"/entitlements", body)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("PromoteToPaid: %v", err)
+	}
+	if resp.StatusCode/100 != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("PromoteToPaid: status=%d body=%s", resp.StatusCode, string(raw))
+	}
+}
+
 // LookupUserID resolves the user_id for s via backend's internal
 // session lookup. Returns an empty string if the session is unknown.
 func (s *Session) LookupUserID(ctx context.Context, plat *Platform) (string, error) {

ui/docs/lobby.md

@@ -3,30 +3,40 @@
 The lobby is the first authenticated view; the user lands here after
 the email-code login completes (see
 [`docs/auth-flow.md`](auth-flow.md)). This doc captures the shared
-shell, the Overview sections, the profile sub-screen, and the
+shell, the four `games` sub-panels, the profile sub-screen, the
+DEV-only synthetic-reports loader, the paid-tier gate, and the
 defaults baked into the create-game form.
 
 ## Shell
 
-Lobby and profile share a single chrome implemented in
-`lib/screens/lobby-shell.svelte`. The chrome mirrors the project
-site's VitePress layout: a left page-list sidebar (Overview /
-Profile), a top identity strip on the right, and the page content in
-the right-hand column. The shell uses `var(--font-mono)` so the
-post-login pages adopt the "nerdy" type stack that the public site
-already uses.
+Lobby pages, profile, and the synthetic-reports loader share a single
+chrome implemented in `lib/screens/lobby-shell.svelte`. The chrome
+mirrors the project site's VitePress layout: a two-level left sidebar,
+a top identity strip on the right, and the page content in the
+right-hand column. The shell uses `var(--font-mono)` so the post-login
+pages adopt the "nerdy" type stack that the public site already uses.
+
+Top-level sidebar items:
+
+| Item                   | Visibility                                                                                                          |
+| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `games`                | always; renders a submenu (see below)                                                                               |
+| `profile`              | always                                                                                                              |
+| `synthetic test reports` | only when `VITE_GALAXY_DEV_AFFORDANCES === "true"` (DEV / dev-deploy bundles); stripped from prod by Vite          |
 
 The identity strip reads the caller's account from
 `lib/account-store.svelte.ts` — a session-wide cache that fetches
 `user.account.get` once on first access and is written through after
-every Profile save. Both `lobby-screen.svelte` and
-`profile-screen.svelte` populate the same cache through
-`account.ensure(client)`, so switching Overview ⇄ Profile never
-re-issues `user.account.get` and the strip never flashes the
+every Profile save. Every sub-screen populates the same cache through
+`account.ensure(client)`, so navigating between panels never re-issues
+`user.account.get` and the strip never flashes the
 `lobby.account_loading` placeholder mid-navigation. The cache is
 cleared by `session.signOut("user")` / `signOut("revoked")` so a
 different user signing in on the same browser does not briefly see
-the previous identity.
+the previous identity. The matching lobby-data cache
+(`lib/lobby-data.svelte.ts`) is cleared in the same path so the
+public-games / invitations / applications snapshots do not leak across
+sessions.
 
 The strip falls back to `display_name` → immutable `user_name` →
 `lobby.account_loading` while the first `ensure(...)` resolves. It
@@ -36,27 +46,134 @@ switches the top-level screen to `profile`
 lobby-loaded signal. The logout button sits next to it
 (`session.signOut("user")`).
 
-The sidebar always renders both pages; clicking the active page is a
-no-op. The shell collapses to a horizontal scrolling strip below
-640px.
+Clicking the active item is a no-op (mirrors the F8-02 idiom from
+issue #45). The sidebar collapses to a horizontal scrolling strip
+below 640px; the `games` item then renders as a dropdown labeled
+`games · {active-sub} ▾` (see [Mobile layout](#mobile-layout)).
 
-## Overview sections
+## Games panels
 
-The Overview page renders one column of sections, top to bottom.
-Cards inside each section take the full available width.
+The `games` parent expands into a submenu in the canonical order
+below. Visibility predicates are evaluated per-render so the submenu
+contents follow the lobby-data store and the account tier:
 
-| Section              | Empty state           | Source                     | Action                                                    |
-| -------------------- | --------------------- | -------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
-| `create new game`    | (always visible)      | —                          | Opens the create screen (`appScreen.go("lobby-create")`)  |
-| `my games`           | `no games yet`        | `lobby.my.games.list`      | Click → enters the game on the map view (`activeView.reset()` + `appScreen.go("game", { gameId })`) |
-| `pending invitations`| `no invitations`      | `lobby.my.invites.list`    | Accept (`lobby.invite.redeem`) / Decline (`lobby.invite.decline`) |
-| `my applications`    | `no applications`     | `lobby.my.applications.list` | Status badge (`pending` / `approved` / `rejected`)      |
-| `public games`       | `no public games`     | `lobby.public.games.list`  | Submit application via inline race-name form (`lobby.application.submit`) |
+| Sub-panel       | Source                                                          | Visibility                                                                                                       |
+| --------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| `active-past`   | `lobby.my.games.list`                                           | Visible only when the list is non-empty. Empty → the sub-panel is hidden entirely (no empty card surfaces).      |
+| `recruitment`   | `lobby.public.games.list` ⨝ `lobby.my.applications.list`        | Always visible. Public games where the caller is **not** the owner; each card surfaces the caller's application status as a chip (`pending` / `approved` / `rejected` / `unknown`) when there is one. Stale `pending`/`approved` applications on closed games render as standalone "applied" cards; stale `rejected`/`unknown` ones are hidden. |
+| `invitations`   | `lobby.my.invites.list` (status=`pending`)                      | Always visible.                                                                                                  |
+| `private games` | `lobby.my.games.list` filtered by `owner_user_id === me` ∧ `game_type === "private"` | Paid tier only (`account.entitlement.is_paid === true`). `VITE_GALAXY_DEV_AFFORDANCES` overrides for DEV bundles. |
+
+Clicking the `games` parent without choosing a sub-panel resolves to
+the first visible sub-panel in the canonical order (e.g. with no
+games yet it lands on `recruitment`).
+
+### `recruitment` — inline application form
+
+`Submit application` on a recruitment card toggles an inline
+race-name form on the same card. The form is rendered when the caller
+either has no application for that game **or** the latest application
+status is `rejected` (so the caller can try again). On
+`pending` / `approved` the form is hidden — a single-line "your
+application is awaiting approval" / "your application was accepted"
+note replaces it. On submit:
+
+1. The page calls `submitApplication(client, gameId, raceName)` from
+   `src/api/lobby.ts`.
+2. The wrapper builds an `ApplicationSubmitRequest` FlatBuffers
+   payload, posts it through `GalaxyClient.executeCommand`, decodes
+   the `ApplicationSubmitResponse`, and returns an
+   `ApplicationSummary`.
+3. The lobby-data store prepends the new application and the inline
+   form collapses. The public-games snapshot is unchanged.
+4. Status starts as `pending`. When the owner approves, backend
+   creates a membership and the next refresh surfaces the game in
+   `active-past` (with the membership) — the recruitment card stops
+   showing the form because the application is `approved`.
+
+### `private games` — create-game entry point
+
+The right-hand corner of the `private games` panel hosts the
+`create new game` button (`data-testid="lobby-create-button"`). It
+opens the `lobby-create` top-level screen. When the panel is hidden
+(free tier, no DEV override) the button is not in the DOM and the
+underlying `lobby.game.create` is rejected with `403 forbidden` by
+backend regardless of UI state — see [Tier gate](#tier-gate).
+
+### Invite lifecycle (invitations)
+
+A pending invite arrives in `invitations` either when the inviter
+targets the user by id (`invited_user_id` is set) or when the user
+redeems a code-based invite from somewhere outside the lobby. The
+user can accept (`lobby.invite.redeem`) or decline
+(`lobby.invite.decline`):
+
+- **Accept** — the invite card disappears, the lobby-data store
+  refreshes `lobby.my.games.list`, and the freshly-joined game
+  appears in `active-past`.
+- **Decline** — the invite card disappears. No membership is created.
+
+## Mobile layout
+
+The sidebar collapses to a horizontal scrolling strip below 640px
+(the breakpoint set by `lobby-shell.svelte`). On mobile the `games`
+item is replaced by a single `games · {active-sub} ▾` button. Tapping
+the button opens a popover (`role="listbox"`) listing every
+**visible** games sub-panel; tapping a sub-panel selects it and
+closes the popover. Tapping outside or pressing `Escape` closes the
+popover without changing the active page. Re-tapping the active
+sub-panel inside the popover is a no-op — the same idiom as the F8-02
+turn-navigator fix in issue #45.
+
+Hidden sub-panels (e.g. `active-past` when the player has no games,
+`private games` on free tier without the DEV override) do not appear
+in the popover, mirroring the desktop submenu.
+
+## Tier gate
+
+`lobby.game.create` is gated by the paid tier:
+
+- **UI**: the `private games` sub-panel and the `create new game`
+  button are hidden from the sidebar / panel chrome when
+  `account.entitlement.is_paid !== true`. `VITE_GALAXY_DEV_AFFORDANCES
+  === "true"` flips both back on so the owner can exercise paid-only
+  flows from a free-tier test account.
+- **Backend**: `POST /api/v1/user/lobby/games` checks
+  `EntitlementProvider.IsPaid(ctx, userID)` before invoking
+  `lobby.Service.CreateGame`. Free callers receive
+  `403 {"error":{"code":"forbidden","message":"creating private games requires a paid subscription"}}`.
+  The `lobby-create` screen catches the `forbidden` `LobbyError` and
+  renders an inline message (`lobby.create.error.forbidden`); no
+  redirect, no toast.
+
+Admin-driven public-game creation
+(`POST /api/v1/admin/games`) bypasses the gate.
+
+Known limitation: the `account` cache is not invalidated when an
+admin upgrades the user mid-session — the user has to log out and
+back in to see `private games` appear. The matching follow-up is out
+of scope for this change; the cache pattern lives in
+`account-store.svelte.ts::ensure`.
+
+## Synthetic reports (DEV)
+
+`lib/screens/synthetic-reports-screen.svelte` lifts the old Overview
+dev-loader into its own top-level screen, surfaced only when
+`VITE_GALAXY_DEV_AFFORDANCES === "true"`. Reports are JSON files
+produced offline by the Go CLI in `tools/local-dev/legacy-report/`;
+loading one opens the map view against a synthetic snapshot.
+See `ui/docs/testing.md#synthetic-reports` for the workflow.
+
+The flag is statically evaluated by Vite, so prod bundles strip the
+whole screen out of the tree and the matching `synthetic-reports`
+AppScreen literal becomes unreachable; the shell's $effect re-routes
+a stale snapshot pointing at it to the first visible games sub-panel
+without surfacing an error.
 
 ## Profile sub-screen
 
 `lib/screens/profile-screen.svelte` is a top-level `AppScreen` (peer of
-`lobby` and `lobby-create`). The browser Back stack treats it the
+`games-*` / `lobby-create`). The browser Back stack treats it the
 same as the create screen — pushing a fresh history entry on entry,
 falling back to lobby on Back/Forward (see
 [`navigation.md`](navigation.md)).
@@ -78,7 +195,8 @@ conditionally on which fields actually changed, then **stays on the
 profile** and surfaces a transient `profile-saved-notice` line
 (`data-testid="profile-saved-notice"`). Editing any field clears the
 notice. Only the explicit `cancel` button navigates back to the lobby
-(`appScreen.go("lobby")`). When the saved `preferred_language` is one
+(`appScreen.go("lobby")`, which the shell resolves to the first
+visible games sub-panel). When the saved `preferred_language` is one
 the UI also ships translations for, the active i18n locale switches
 in-place so the rest of the session matches the new preference. The
 write-through is also pushed into the shared `account` store so the
@@ -91,42 +209,6 @@ payload to load the matching `user.games.report` for the map view
 without an additional gateway call. See
 [`game-state.md`](game-state.md) for the consumer's view.
 
-## Application lifecycle
-
-`Submit application` on a public-game card toggles an inline race-name
-form on the same card (no overlay/modal infrastructure yet — the
-in-game shell that introduces overlays lands later). On submit:
-
-1. The page calls `submitApplication(client, gameId, raceName)` from
-   `src/api/lobby.ts`.
-2. The wrapper builds an `ApplicationSubmitRequest` FlatBuffers
-   payload, posts it through `GalaxyClient.executeCommand`, decodes
-   the `ApplicationSubmitResponse`, and returns an
-   `ApplicationSummary` plain object.
-3. The lobby page prepends the new application to the
-   `my applications` list and collapses the inline form. The page
-   does not refresh the public-games list — backend semantics are
-   that the public game still exists and is still in
-   `enrollment_open`.
-4. Status starts as `pending`. When the owner approves, backend
-   creates a membership and the next refresh of `lobby.my.games.list`
-   surfaces the game in `my games`. When the owner rejects, the
-   application stays terminal in `my applications` with status
-   `rejected`.
-
-## Invite lifecycle
-
-A pending invite arrives in `pending invitations` either when the
-inviter targets the user by id (`invited_user_id` is set) or when the
-user redeems a code-based invite from somewhere outside the lobby.
-The user can accept (`lobby.invite.redeem`) or decline
-(`lobby.invite.decline`):
-
-- **Accept** — the invite card disappears, the page refreshes
-  `my games`, and the freshly-joined game appears there.
-- **Decline** — the invite card disappears. No membership is
-  created.
-
 ## Create-game form
 
 The form posts `lobby.game.create` through the gateway with
@@ -145,19 +227,24 @@ public game (FUNCTIONAL.md §3.3). Fields:
 | `start_gap_players`   | Advanced toggle  | `2`     |                                                        |
 | `target_engine_version` | Advanced toggle | `v1`   | Falls back to `v1` if blank                           |
 
-On success the create screen returns to the lobby
-(`appScreen.go("lobby")`) and the new game shows up in `my games`
-once the lobby's onMount has had a chance to refresh the list (the
-lobby screen remounts on return, so its onMount re-fires).
+On success the create screen navigates to the `games-private-games`
+sub-panel so the freshly-created game shows up immediately (the
+lobby-data store refreshes on the next sub-panel mount). On failure
+the gateway error is rendered inline below the form via
+`lobby-create-error`; `forbidden` from the backend tier gate is
+translated to `lobby.create.error.forbidden` (paid-tier message)
+instead of the generic operation-forbidden text.
 
 ## Errors
 
 Lobby errors raised by the gateway carry a canonical code
 (`invalid_request`, `subject_not_found`, `forbidden`, `conflict`,
 `internal_error`). The `LobbyError` thrown by `lobby.ts` exposes the
-code; the page maps it to the matching `lobby.error.<code>` i18n key
+code; each page maps it to the matching `lobby.error.<code>` i18n key
 and falls back to the gateway-supplied message via
-`lobby.error.unknown` for any unknown code.
+`lobby.error.unknown` for any unknown code. The `lobby-create` screen
+overrides `forbidden` to the dedicated paid-tier message
+(`lobby.create.error.forbidden`).
 
 ## Why FlatBuffers on the TS side
 
@@ -172,5 +259,6 @@ schema. The TS integration ships:
   binding drift in CI.
 
 `user.account.get` decodes through the generated `AccountResponse`
-table, so the lobby greeting works against a real local stack as well
-as the mocked Playwright fixtures.
+table — the lobby greeting works against a real local stack as well
+as the mocked Playwright fixtures, and the entitlement projection
+(`account.entitlement.is_paid`) lights up the paid-tier sub-panels.

ui/docs/navigation.md

@@ -17,10 +17,25 @@ for the whole session. The only other routes are the dev/test-only
 `/__debug/*` surfaces. What the URL used to encode now lives in two
 rune singletons in `src/lib/app-nav.svelte.ts`:
 
-- **`appScreen`** — the top-level screen
-  (`login` / `lobby` / `lobby-create` / `profile` / `game`) plus the
-  active `gameId`. It replaces the old `goto`-based redirects and the
-  `[id]` route param.
+- **`appScreen`** — the top-level screen plus the active `gameId`. The
+  literal values are:
+  - `login` — anonymous entry point
+  - `lobby` — historical alias; the dispatcher renders a tiny resolver
+    that immediately navigates to the first visible games sub-panel
+    (kept for snapshots persisted before the F8-04b split)
+  - `lobby-create` — create-game form
+  - `profile` — profile editor
+  - `game` — in-game shell (drives `activeView`, see below)
+  - `games-active-past`, `games-recruitment`, `games-invitations`,
+    `games-private-games` — the four lobby sub-panels (F8-04b)
+  - `synthetic-reports` — DEV-only legacy-report loader, gated by
+    `VITE_GALAXY_DEV_AFFORDANCES === "true"`
+
+  It replaces the old `goto`-based redirects and the `[id]` route
+  param. Sanitize on session-restore allows every literal above, but
+  the lobby shell's $effect re-routes a restored
+  `games-private-games` (free tier) or `synthetic-reports` (prod
+  bundle) to the first visible games sub-panel silently — no toast.
 - **`activeView`** — the in-game view (`map` / `table` / `report` /
   `battle` / `mail` / `designer-science`) plus the sub-parameters the
   old route segments carried (`tableEntity`, `battleId`, `turn`,
@@ -30,16 +45,40 @@ A single-route dispatcher (`src/routes/+page.svelte`) chooses what to
 render: it gates on `session.status` (anonymous → login, authenticated
 → the `appScreen.screen`), and for the authenticated tree mounts the
 matching screen component from `src/lib/screens/`
-(`login-screen.svelte`, `lobby-screen.svelte`,
-`lobby-create-screen.svelte`, `profile-screen.svelte`) or, for
-`screen === "game"`, the in-game shell
-`src/lib/game/game-shell.svelte`. Lobby and profile share a
-post-login chrome (sidebar + identity strip) implemented in
-`lib/screens/lobby-shell.svelte`; see [`lobby.md`](lobby.md). The game shell in turn renders
-the active view from `activeView` (see below). Navigation is
+(`login-screen.svelte`, `lobby-screen.svelte` resolver,
+`lobby-create-screen.svelte`, `profile-screen.svelte`,
+`games-active-past-screen.svelte`, `games-recruitment-screen.svelte`,
+`games-invitations-screen.svelte`,
+`games-private-games-screen.svelte`,
+`synthetic-reports-screen.svelte`) or, for `screen === "game"`, the
+in-game shell `src/lib/game/game-shell.svelte`. Every authenticated
+non-game screen wraps its body in
+`lib/screens/lobby-shell.svelte`, which renders the two-level sidebar
++ identity strip; see [`lobby.md`](lobby.md). The game shell in turn
+renders the active view from `activeView` (see below). Navigation is
 `appScreen.go(screen, { gameId })` and `activeView.select(view,
 params)` — never `goto`.
 
+### Lobby submenu
+
+The lobby shell renders the `games` parent as an always-expanded
+submenu on desktop (>640px) whenever the active screen is one of the
+`games-*` literals. The submenu order is canonical
+(`active-past` → `recruitment` → `invitations` → `private-games`), and
+visibility is computed per-render from the
+`account.entitlement.is_paid` flag, `lobbyData.myGames.length`, and
+the build-time `VITE_GALAXY_DEV_AFFORDANCES` flag — see the
+[Games panels](lobby.md#games-panels) table for the rules.
+
+On mobile (≤640px) the sidebar collapses to a horizontal strip
+(F8-04). The `games` entry then renders as a single
+`games · {active-sub} ▾` button; tapping it opens a popover
+(`role="listbox"`) of every visible sub-panel. Tapping a sub-panel
+selects it and closes the popover; tapping outside or pressing
+`Escape` closes it without changing the active page; re-tapping the
+active sub-panel inside the popover is a no-op (the same idiom as the
+F8-02 turn-navigator fix).
+
 ### Active-view dispatch
 
 The client renders **one active view at a time**. The game shell

ui/frontend/src/api/account.ts

@@ -40,6 +40,16 @@ export interface Account {
 	preferredLanguage: string;
 	timeZone: string;
 	declaredCountry: string;
+	entitlement: AccountEntitlement;
+}
+
+// AccountEntitlement is the narrow view of the FBS EntitlementSnapshot
+// the UI currently consumes. `isPaid` gates lobby affordances tied to
+// the paid tier (F8-04b: private-games subpage + create-game button).
+// Other snapshot fields (plan code, expiry timestamps) are intentionally
+// omitted until a feature needs them.
+export interface AccountEntitlement {
+	isPaid: boolean;
 }
 
 export async function getMyAccount(client: GalaxyClient): Promise<Account> {
@@ -119,7 +129,12 @@ function decodeAccountResponse(payload: Uint8Array): Account {
 	return decodeAccountView(view);
 }
 
-function decodeAccountView(view: AccountView): Account {
+// Exported for unit tests that build a synthetic AccountView via the
+// FBS bindings and assert the resulting Account shape. Runtime callers
+// reach the same decode path through `getMyAccount` / `updateMyProfile`
+// / `updateMySettings`.
+export function decodeAccountView(view: AccountView): Account {
+	const entitlement = view.entitlement();
 	return {
 		userId: view.userId() ?? "",
 		email: view.email() ?? "",
@@ -128,5 +143,8 @@ function decodeAccountView(view: AccountView): Account {
 		preferredLanguage: view.preferredLanguage() ?? "",
 		timeZone: view.timeZone() ?? "",
 		declaredCountry: view.declaredCountry() ?? "",
+		entitlement: {
+			isPaid: entitlement?.isPaid() ?? false,
+		},
 	};
 }

ui/frontend/src/app.d.ts

@@ -7,7 +7,17 @@ declare global {
 		// (and active game) live in `page.state` so browser Back/Forward
 		// move between screens while the address bar stays at /game/.
 		interface PageState {
-			screen?: "login" | "lobby" | "lobby-create" | "profile" | "game";
+			screen?:
+				| "login"
+				| "lobby"
+				| "lobby-create"
+				| "profile"
+				| "game"
+				| "games-active-past"
+				| "games-recruitment"
+				| "games-invitations"
+				| "games-private-games"
+				| "synthetic-reports";
 			gameId?: string | null;
 		}
 	}

ui/frontend/src/lib/app-nav.svelte.ts

@@ -22,7 +22,43 @@
 
 import { pushState, replaceState } from "$app/navigation";
 
-export type AppScreen = "login" | "lobby" | "lobby-create" | "profile" | "game";
+// Top-level app-shell screens. The lobby is split into per-page screens
+// (F8-04b): `lobby` is the bare alias the shell resolves to the first
+// visible games sub-page; the explicit `games-*` literals point at one
+// of the four lobby sub-panels; `synthetic-reports` is the DEV-only
+// reports screen (build-time gated via VITE_GALAXY_DEV_AFFORDANCES).
+// `lobby-create` and `profile` remain as separate top-level screens.
+export type AppScreen =
+	| "login"
+	| "lobby"
+	| "lobby-create"
+	| "profile"
+	| "game"
+	| "games-active-past"
+	| "games-recruitment"
+	| "games-invitations"
+	| "games-private-games"
+	| "synthetic-reports";
+
+// LOBBY_SUB_SCREENS lists the AppScreen literals that the sidebar
+// renders as members of the `games` submenu. The order is the canonical
+// "first-visible" order: when the user clicks the `games` header (or
+// the screen state is the bare `lobby` alias) the shell picks the
+// first entry whose visibility predicate holds.
+export const LOBBY_SUB_SCREENS: readonly AppScreen[] = [
+	"games-active-past",
+	"games-recruitment",
+	"games-invitations",
+	"games-private-games",
+];
+
+// isLobbySubScreen returns true when screen identifies one of the
+// `games-*` sub-panels — useful for the sidebar to highlight the
+// `games` parent and to decide whether the desktop submenu should be
+// rendered expanded.
+export function isLobbySubScreen(screen: AppScreen): boolean {
+	return LOBBY_SUB_SCREENS.includes(screen);
+}
 
 export type GameView =
 	| "map"
@@ -53,6 +89,11 @@ const APP_SCREENS: readonly AppScreen[] = [
 	"lobby-create",
 	"profile",
 	"game",
+	"games-active-past",
+	"games-recruitment",
+	"games-invitations",
+	"games-private-games",
+	"synthetic-reports",
 ];
 const GAME_VIEWS: readonly GameView[] = [
 	"map",

ui/frontend/src/lib/i18n/locales/en.ts

@@ -55,16 +55,31 @@ const en = {
 	"lobby.nav.aria_label": "lobby pages",
 	"lobby.nav.overview": "Overview",
 	"lobby.nav.profile": "Profile",
+	"lobby.nav.games": "games",
+	"lobby.nav.games.active_past": "active & past",
+	"lobby.nav.games.recruitment": "recruitment",
+	"lobby.nav.games.invitations": "invitations",
+	"lobby.nav.games.private_games": "private games",
+	"lobby.nav.games.aria_label": "games sections",
+	"lobby.nav.games.mobile_toggle": "games · {label}",
+	"lobby.nav.synthetic_reports": "Synthetic test reports",
 	"lobby.section.my_games": "my games",
 	"lobby.section.invitations": "pending invitations",
 	"lobby.section.applications": "my applications",
 	"lobby.section.public_games": "public games",
+	"lobby.section.recruitment": "open recruitment",
+	"lobby.section.private_games": "my private games",
 	"lobby.section.create": "create a game",
 	"lobby.create_button": "create new game",
 	"lobby.my_games.empty": "no games yet",
 	"lobby.invitations.empty": "no invitations",
 	"lobby.applications.empty": "no applications",
 	"lobby.public_games.empty": "no public games",
+	"lobby.games.active_past.empty": "no active or past games",
+	"lobby.games.private_games.empty": "no private games yet",
+	"lobby.recruitment.empty": "no open recruitment",
+	"lobby.recruitment.applied_pending": "your application is awaiting approval",
+	"lobby.recruitment.applied_approved": "your application was accepted",
 	"lobby.invitation.accept": "accept",
 	"lobby.invitation.decline": "decline",
 	"lobby.application.submit": "submit application",
@@ -96,6 +111,8 @@ const en = {
 	"lobby.create.game_name_required": "game name must not be empty",
 	"lobby.create.turn_schedule_required": "turn schedule must not be empty",
 	"lobby.create.enrollment_ends_at_required": "enrollment end time must be set",
+	"lobby.create.error.forbidden":
+		"Game creation is available only on a paid plan.",
 	"lobby.error.invalid_request": "request is invalid",
 	"lobby.error.subject_not_found": "not found",
 	"lobby.error.forbidden": "operation is forbidden",

ui/frontend/src/lib/i18n/locales/ru.ts

@@ -56,16 +56,31 @@ const ru: Record<keyof typeof en, string> = {
 	"lobby.nav.aria_label": "разделы лобби",
 	"lobby.nav.overview": "Обзор",
 	"lobby.nav.profile": "Профиль",
+	"lobby.nav.games": "партии",
+	"lobby.nav.games.active_past": "активные и прошедшие",
+	"lobby.nav.games.recruitment": "набор",
+	"lobby.nav.games.invitations": "приглашения",
+	"lobby.nav.games.private_games": "приватные партии",
+	"lobby.nav.games.aria_label": "подразделы партий",
+	"lobby.nav.games.mobile_toggle": "партии · {label}",
+	"lobby.nav.synthetic_reports": "Synthetic-отчёты",
 	"lobby.section.my_games": "мои игры",
 	"lobby.section.invitations": "ожидающие приглашения",
 	"lobby.section.applications": "мои заявки",
 	"lobby.section.public_games": "публичные игры",
+	"lobby.section.recruitment": "открытый набор",
+	"lobby.section.private_games": "мои приватные партии",
 	"lobby.section.create": "создать игру",
 	"lobby.create_button": "создать новую игру",
 	"lobby.my_games.empty": "пока нет игр",
 	"lobby.invitations.empty": "приглашений нет",
 	"lobby.applications.empty": "заявок нет",
 	"lobby.public_games.empty": "публичных игр нет",
+	"lobby.games.active_past.empty": "нет активных или прошедших партий",
+	"lobby.games.private_games.empty": "у вас нет собственных партий",
+	"lobby.recruitment.empty": "набор в партии ещё не открыт",
+	"lobby.recruitment.applied_pending": "ваша заявка ожидает одобрения",
+	"lobby.recruitment.applied_approved": "ваша заявка принята",
 	"lobby.invitation.accept": "принять",
 	"lobby.invitation.decline": "отклонить",
 	"lobby.application.submit": "подать заявку",
@@ -97,6 +112,8 @@ const ru: Record<keyof typeof en, string> = {
 	"lobby.create.game_name_required": "название игры не должно быть пустым",
 	"lobby.create.turn_schedule_required": "расписание ходов не должно быть пустым",
 	"lobby.create.enrollment_ends_at_required": "время окончания набора обязательно",
+	"lobby.create.error.forbidden":
+		"Создание партий доступно только на платном тарифе.",
 	"lobby.error.invalid_request": "запрос некорректен",
 	"lobby.error.subject_not_found": "объект не найден",
 	"lobby.error.forbidden": "операция запрещена",

ui/frontend/src/lib/lobby-data.svelte.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+// LobbyDataStore is the session-wide cache for the four lobby panels
+// (active-past / recruitment / invitations / private-games). It owns the
+// GalaxyClient instance used by lobby HTTP commands, the result of the
+// `lobby.*.list` fan-out, and the loading / error flags every panel
+// reads. Sub-screens that need to mutate (submit application, redeem
+// invite) go through the store so the optimistic state stays consistent
+// across navigations.
+//
+// The store is built around F8-04b's split of the old single
+// `lobby-screen.svelte` into per-panel screens — the prior design fetched
+// everything on every panel mount, and refetching on each navigation
+// flash-cleared the UI. A singleton with $state runes keeps the four
+// lists alive while the user moves between subpages.
+//
+// `clear()` resets the store on signOut; the matching plumbing lives in
+// `session-store.svelte.ts::signOut`.
+
+import { createGatewayClient } from "../api/connect";
+import { GalaxyClient } from "../api/galaxy-client";
+import {
+	LobbyError,
+	listMyApplications,
+	listMyGames,
+	listMyInvites,
+	listPublicGames,
+	type ApplicationSummary,
+	type GameSummary,
+	type InviteSummary,
+} from "../api/lobby";
+import { gatewayRpcBaseUrl, GATEWAY_RESPONSE_PUBLIC_KEY } from "./env";
+import { i18n, type TranslationKey } from "./i18n/index.svelte";
+import { loadCore } from "../platform/core/index";
+import { session } from "./session-store.svelte";
+
+async function sha256(payload: Uint8Array): Promise<Uint8Array> {
+	const digest = await crypto.subtle.digest("SHA-256", payload as BufferSource);
+	return new Uint8Array(digest);
+}
+
+export function describeLobbyError(err: unknown): string {
+	if (err instanceof LobbyError) {
+		const key = `lobby.error.${err.code}` as TranslationKey;
+		const translated = i18n.t(key);
+		if (translated !== key) {
+			return translated;
+		}
+		return i18n.t("lobby.error.unknown", { message: err.message });
+	}
+	return err instanceof Error ? err.message : "request failed";
+}
+
+class LobbyDataStore {
+	myGames = $state<GameSummary[]>([]);
+	invitations = $state<InviteSummary[]>([]);
+	applications = $state<ApplicationSummary[]>([]);
+	publicGames = $state<GameSummary[]>([]);
+	loading = $state(true);
+	error: string | null = $state(null);
+	configError: string | null = $state(null);
+
+	#client: GalaxyClient | null = null;
+	#bootstrap: Promise<GalaxyClient | null> | null = null;
+	#refresh: Promise<void> | null = null;
+
+	get client(): GalaxyClient | null {
+		return this.#client;
+	}
+
+	// ensure resolves to the cached GalaxyClient, building one on first
+	// call and triggering the initial `lobby.*.list` fan-out. Concurrent
+	// callers from sibling screens share the same in-flight bootstrap.
+	ensure(): Promise<GalaxyClient | null> {
+		if (this.#client !== null) {
+			return Promise.resolve(this.#client);
+		}
+		if (this.#bootstrap !== null) {
+			return this.#bootstrap;
+		}
+		this.#bootstrap = this.#bootstrapClient();
+		return this.#bootstrap;
+	}
+
+	async #bootstrapClient(): Promise<GalaxyClient | null> {
+		try {
+			if (
+				session.keypair === null ||
+				session.deviceSessionId === null ||
+				GATEWAY_RESPONSE_PUBLIC_KEY.length === 0
+			) {
+				this.loading = false;
+				if (GATEWAY_RESPONSE_PUBLIC_KEY.length === 0) {
+					this.configError = "VITE_GATEWAY_RESPONSE_PUBLIC_KEY is not configured";
+				}
+				return null;
+			}
+			const keypair = session.keypair;
+			const core = await loadCore();
+			this.#client = new GalaxyClient({
+				core,
+				edge: createGatewayClient(gatewayRpcBaseUrl()),
+				signer: (canonical) => keypair.sign(canonical),
+				sha256,
+				deviceSessionId: session.deviceSessionId,
+				gatewayResponsePublicKey: GATEWAY_RESPONSE_PUBLIC_KEY,
+			});
+			await this.refresh();
+			return this.#client;
+		} catch (err) {
+			this.error = describeLobbyError(err);
+			this.loading = false;
+			return null;
+		} finally {
+			this.#bootstrap = null;
+		}
+	}
+
+	// refresh re-runs the four `lobby.*.list` fan-out. Concurrent callers
+	// share the same in-flight promise.
+	refresh(): Promise<void> {
+		if (this.#client === null) {
+			return Promise.resolve();
+		}
+		if (this.#refresh !== null) {
+			return this.#refresh;
+		}
+		const client = this.#client;
+		this.loading = true;
+		this.error = null;
+		this.#refresh = (async () => {
+			try {
+				const [games, invites, apps, publicPage] = await Promise.all([
+					listMyGames(client),
+					listMyInvites(client),
+					listMyApplications(client),
+					listPublicGames(client),
+				]);
+				this.myGames = games;
+				this.invitations = invites.filter((invite) => invite.status === "pending");
+				this.applications = apps;
+				this.publicGames = publicPage.items;
+			} catch (err) {
+				this.error = describeLobbyError(err);
+			} finally {
+				this.loading = false;
+				this.#refresh = null;
+			}
+		})();
+		return this.#refresh;
+	}
+
+	prependApplication(app: ApplicationSummary): void {
+		this.applications = [app, ...this.applications];
+	}
+
+	removeInvitation(inviteId: string): void {
+		this.invitations = this.invitations.filter((i) => i.inviteId !== inviteId);
+	}
+
+	setMyGames(games: GameSummary[]): void {
+		this.myGames = games;
+	}
+
+	clear(): void {
+		this.#client = null;
+		this.#bootstrap = null;
+		this.#refresh = null;
+		this.myGames = [];
+		this.invitations = [];
+		this.applications = [];
+		this.publicGames = [];
+		this.loading = true;
+		this.error = null;
+		this.configError = null;
+	}
+}
+
+export const lobbyData = new LobbyDataStore();

ui/frontend/src/lib/screens/games-active-past-screen.svelte

@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+<!--
+Active & past games panel for the lobby `games` section. Lists every
+game where the caller is a member, regardless of lifecycle status.
+Statuses that have no navigable in-game view (draft / enrollment_open /
+starting / cancelled / start_failed) render as disabled cards.
+
+The shell hides this submenu item entirely when the player has no games,
+so the empty-state text below is reached only in the narrow window
+where the shell mounts before the lobby-data fan-out resolves.
+-->
+<script lang="ts">
+	import { onMount } from "svelte";
+	import { appScreen, activeView } from "$lib/app-nav.svelte";
+	import { account } from "$lib/account-store.svelte";
+	import { i18n } from "$lib/i18n/index.svelte";
+	import { lobbyData } from "$lib/lobby-data.svelte";
+	import LobbyShell from "./lobby-shell.svelte";
+
+	onMount(() => {
+		lobbyData.ensure().then((client) => {
+			if (client !== null) {
+				account.ensure(client).catch(() => {});
+			}
+		});
+	});
+
+	function isPlayableStatus(status: string): boolean {
+		return status === "running" || status === "paused" || status === "finished";
+	}
+
+	function gotoGame(gameId: string): void {
+		activeView.reset();
+		appScreen.go("game", { gameId });
+	}
+</script>
+
+<LobbyShell>
+	{#if lobbyData.configError !== null}
+		<p role="alert" data-testid="account-error">{lobbyData.configError}</p>
+	{:else if lobbyData.error !== null}
+		<p role="alert" data-testid="lobby-error">{lobbyData.error}</p>
+	{/if}
+
+	<section data-testid="lobby-games-active-past-section">
+		<h2>{i18n.t("lobby.section.my_games")}</h2>
+		{#if lobbyData.loading}
+			<p role="status">{i18n.t("lobby.list_loading")}</p>
+		{:else if lobbyData.myGames.length === 0}
+			<p data-testid="lobby-games-active-past-empty">
+				{i18n.t("lobby.games.active_past.empty")}
+			</p>
+		{:else}
+			<ul class="card-list">
+				{#each lobbyData.myGames as game (game.gameId)}
+					<li>
+						<button
+							class="card"
+							onclick={() => gotoGame(game.gameId)}
+							disabled={!isPlayableStatus(game.status)}
+							data-testid="lobby-my-game-card"
+						>
+							<strong>{game.gameName}</strong>
+							<span class="meta">{game.status}</span>
+							<span class="meta">{game.minPlayers}–{game.maxPlayers} players</span>
+						</button>
+					</li>
+				{/each}
+			</ul>
+		{/if}
+	</section>
+</LobbyShell>
+
+<style>
+	section {
+		margin-bottom: var(--space-6);
+	}
+	section h2 {
+		font-size: var(--text-lg);
+		margin: 0 0 var(--space-3);
+	}
+	.card-list {
+		list-style: none;
+		padding: 0;
+		margin: 0;
+		display: flex;
+		flex-direction: column;
+		gap: var(--space-2);
+	}
+	.card {
+		display: flex;
+		flex-direction: column;
+		gap: var(--space-1);
+		padding: var(--space-3);
+		border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+		border-radius: var(--radius-md);
+		background: var(--color-surface-raised);
+		text-align: left;
+		font: inherit;
+		cursor: pointer;
+		width: 100%;
+	}
+	button.card:disabled {
+		cursor: not-allowed;
+		color: var(--color-text-faint);
+		background: var(--color-surface);
+	}
+	.meta {
+		color: var(--color-text-muted);
+		font-size: var(--text-sm);
+	}
+</style>

ui/frontend/src/lib/screens/games-invitations-screen.svelte

@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+<!--
+Pending invitations panel for the lobby `games` section. Surfaces
+user-bound invites that have not been redeemed or declined yet, with
+accept / decline actions. Accepted invites move the inviting game into
+`active-past`; declined invites disappear from the list.
+-->
+<script lang="ts">
+	import { onMount } from "svelte";
+	import { account } from "$lib/account-store.svelte";
+	import { i18n } from "$lib/i18n/index.svelte";
+	import { lobbyData, describeLobbyError } from "$lib/lobby-data.svelte";
+	import LobbyShell from "./lobby-shell.svelte";
+	import {
+		declineInvite,
+		listMyGames,
+		redeemInvite,
+		type InviteSummary,
+	} from "../../api/lobby";
+
+	let actionInFlight = $state<string | null>(null);
+	let actionError = $state<string | null>(null);
+
+	onMount(() => {
+		lobbyData.ensure().then((client) => {
+			if (client !== null) {
+				account.ensure(client).catch(() => {});
+			}
+		});
+	});
+
+	async function acceptInvite(invite: InviteSummary): Promise<void> {
+		const client = lobbyData.client;
+		if (client === null) return;
+		actionInFlight = invite.inviteId;
+		actionError = null;
+		try {
+			await redeemInvite(client, invite.gameId, invite.inviteId);
+			lobbyData.removeInvitation(invite.inviteId);
+			lobbyData.setMyGames(await listMyGames(client));
+		} catch (err) {
+			actionError = describeLobbyError(err);
+		} finally {
+			actionInFlight = null;
+		}
+	}
+
+	async function rejectInvite(invite: InviteSummary): Promise<void> {
+		const client = lobbyData.client;
+		if (client === null) return;
+		actionInFlight = invite.inviteId;
+		actionError = null;
+		try {
+			await declineInvite(client, invite.gameId, invite.inviteId);
+			lobbyData.removeInvitation(invite.inviteId);
+		} catch (err) {
+			actionError = describeLobbyError(err);
+		} finally {
+			actionInFlight = null;
+		}
+	}
+</script>
+
+<LobbyShell>
+	{#if lobbyData.configError !== null}
+		<p role="alert" data-testid="account-error">{lobbyData.configError}</p>
+	{:else if lobbyData.error !== null}
+		<p role="alert" data-testid="lobby-error">{lobbyData.error}</p>
+	{/if}
+
+	{#if actionError !== null}
+		<p role="alert" data-testid="lobby-invitation-error">{actionError}</p>
+	{/if}
+
+	<section data-testid="lobby-games-invitations-section">
+		<h2>{i18n.t("lobby.section.invitations")}</h2>
+		{#if lobbyData.loading}
+			<p role="status">{i18n.t("lobby.list_loading")}</p>
+		{:else if lobbyData.invitations.length === 0}
+			<p data-testid="lobby-invitations-empty">{i18n.t("lobby.invitations.empty")}</p>
+		{:else}
+			<ul class="card-list">
+				{#each lobbyData.invitations as invite (invite.inviteId)}
+					<li class="card">
+						<strong>{invite.raceName}</strong>
+						<span class="meta">{invite.gameId}</span>
+						<div class="actions">
+							<button
+								onclick={() => acceptInvite(invite)}
+								disabled={actionInFlight === invite.inviteId}
+								data-testid="lobby-invite-accept"
+							>
+								{i18n.t("lobby.invitation.accept")}
+							</button>
+							<button
+								onclick={() => rejectInvite(invite)}
+								disabled={actionInFlight === invite.inviteId}
+								data-testid="lobby-invite-decline"
+							>
+								{i18n.t("lobby.invitation.decline")}
+							</button>
+						</div>
+					</li>
+				{/each}
+			</ul>
+		{/if}
+	</section>
+</LobbyShell>
+
+<style>
+	section { margin-bottom: var(--space-6); }
+	section h2 { font-size: var(--text-lg); margin: 0 0 var(--space-3); }
+	.card-list { list-style: none; padding: 0; margin: 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: var(--space-2); }
+	.card {
+		display: flex;
+		flex-direction: column;
+		gap: var(--space-1);
+		padding: var(--space-3);
+		border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+		border-radius: var(--radius-md);
+		background: var(--color-surface-raised);
+		text-align: left;
+		font: inherit;
+		width: 100%;
+	}
+	.meta { color: var(--color-text-muted); font-size: var(--text-sm); }
+	.actions { display: flex; gap: var(--space-2); margin-top: var(--space-1); }
+</style>

ui/frontend/src/lib/screens/games-private-games-screen.svelte

@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+<!--
+Private games panel for the lobby `games` section. Filters
+`lobby.my.games.list` down to games where the caller is the owner and
+the visibility is `private`. The right-hand corner of the panel hosts
+the "create new game" button that opens `lobby-create`.
+
+This subpage is gated by paid-tier visibility (the shell hides the
+sidebar entry on free-tier; the backend also rejects
+`lobby.game.create` with `403 forbidden` for free callers). The
+`VITE_GALAXY_DEV_AFFORDANCES` flag is the DEV bypass — the shell
+keeps the entry visible so the owner can exercise both paths from a
+single test account.
+-->
+<script lang="ts">
+	import { onMount } from "svelte";
+	import { appScreen, activeView } from "$lib/app-nav.svelte";
+	import { account } from "$lib/account-store.svelte";
+	import { i18n } from "$lib/i18n/index.svelte";
+	import { lobbyData } from "$lib/lobby-data.svelte";
+	import LobbyShell from "./lobby-shell.svelte";
+
+	onMount(() => {
+		lobbyData.ensure().then((client) => {
+			if (client !== null) {
+				account.ensure(client).catch(() => {});
+			}
+		});
+	});
+
+	function isPlayableStatus(status: string): boolean {
+		return status === "running" || status === "paused" || status === "finished";
+	}
+
+	function gotoGame(gameId: string): void {
+		activeView.reset();
+		appScreen.go("game", { gameId });
+	}
+
+	function gotoCreate(): void {
+		appScreen.go("lobby-create");
+	}
+
+	let privateGames = $derived.by(() => {
+		const me = account.current?.userId ?? "";
+		return lobbyData.myGames.filter(
+			(g) => g.ownerUserId === me && g.gameType === "private",
+		);
+	});
+</script>
+
+<LobbyShell>
+	{#if lobbyData.configError !== null}
+		<p role="alert" data-testid="account-error">{lobbyData.configError}</p>
+	{:else if lobbyData.error !== null}
+		<p role="alert" data-testid="lobby-error">{lobbyData.error}</p>
+	{/if}
+
+	<section data-testid="lobby-games-private-section">
+		<header class="section-header">
+			<h2>{i18n.t("lobby.section.private_games")}</h2>
+			<button
+				type="button"
+				class="create-button"
+				onclick={gotoCreate}
+				data-testid="lobby-create-button"
+			>
+				{i18n.t("lobby.create_button")}
+			</button>
+		</header>
+		{#if lobbyData.loading}
+			<p role="status">{i18n.t("lobby.list_loading")}</p>
+		{:else if privateGames.length === 0}
+			<p data-testid="lobby-games-private-empty">
+				{i18n.t("lobby.games.private_games.empty")}
+			</p>
+		{:else}
+			<ul class="card-list">
+				{#each privateGames as game (game.gameId)}
+					<li>
+						<button
+							class="card"
+							onclick={() => gotoGame(game.gameId)}
+							disabled={!isPlayableStatus(game.status)}
+							data-testid="lobby-private-game-card"
+						>
+							<strong>{game.gameName}</strong>
+							<span class="meta">{game.status}</span>
+							<span class="meta">{game.minPlayers}–{game.maxPlayers} players</span>
+						</button>
+					</li>
+				{/each}
+			</ul>
+		{/if}
+	</section>
+</LobbyShell>
+
+<style>
+	section { margin-bottom: var(--space-6); }
+	section h2 { font-size: var(--text-lg); margin: 0; }
+	.section-header {
+		display: flex;
+		align-items: center;
+		justify-content: space-between;
+		gap: var(--space-3);
+		margin-bottom: var(--space-3);
+	}
+	.create-button {
+		font: inherit;
+		font-size: var(--text-sm);
+		padding: var(--space-1) var(--space-3);
+		border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+		border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
+		background: var(--color-surface-raised);
+		cursor: pointer;
+	}
+	.create-button:hover { background: var(--color-surface-hover); }
+	.card-list { list-style: none; padding: 0; margin: 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: var(--space-2); }
+	.card {
+		display: flex;
+		flex-direction: column;
+		gap: var(--space-1);
+		padding: var(--space-3);
+		border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+		border-radius: var(--radius-md);
+		background: var(--color-surface-raised);
+		text-align: left;
+		font: inherit;
+		cursor: pointer;
+		width: 100%;
+	}
+	button.card:disabled {
+		cursor: not-allowed;
+		color: var(--color-text-faint);
+		background: var(--color-surface);
+	}
+	.meta { color: var(--color-text-muted); font-size: var(--text-sm); }
+</style>

ui/frontend/src/lib/screens/games-recruitment-screen.svelte

@@ -0,0 +1,291 @@
+<!--
+Recruitment panel for the lobby `games` section. Surfaces every public
+game open for enrollment plus the caller's own pending/approved
+applications for games whose enrollment has since closed. Cards merge
+the public-game summary with the caller's application (if any) and
+display the status as a chip in the top-right.
+
+Inline race-name form behaviour:
+- visible when the caller has no application for that game;
+- visible when the caller's last application was rejected (re-apply
+  flow, owner-confirmed in F8-04b);
+- hidden when the application is pending or approved.
+
+Cards for stale applications (enrollment closed, no public-game row):
+- pending/approved → rendered as a standalone "applied" card so the
+  caller can see their waitlist or accepted slot;
+- rejected/unknown → not rendered (no actionable info).
+-->
+<script lang="ts">
+	import { onMount } from "svelte";
+	import { account } from "$lib/account-store.svelte";
+	import { i18n, type TranslationKey } from "$lib/i18n/index.svelte";
+	import {
+		lobbyData,
+		describeLobbyError,
+	} from "$lib/lobby-data.svelte";
+	import LobbyShell from "./lobby-shell.svelte";
+	import {
+		submitApplication,
+		type ApplicationSummary,
+		type GameSummary,
+	} from "../../api/lobby";
+
+	let openApplicationFor = $state<string | null>(null);
+	let raceNameInput = $state("");
+	let raceNameError = $state<string | null>(null);
+	let submitting = $state(false);
+
+	onMount(() => {
+		lobbyData.ensure().then((client) => {
+			if (client !== null) {
+				account.ensure(client).catch(() => {});
+			}
+		});
+	});
+
+	function applicationStatusLabel(status: string): string {
+		const key = `lobby.application.status.${status}` as TranslationKey;
+		const translated = i18n.t(key);
+		if (translated === key) {
+			return i18n.t("lobby.application.status.unknown", { status });
+		}
+		return translated;
+	}
+
+	// Determine whether the inline race-name form should be visible for
+	// a given (game, application) pair. Visible when there's no
+	// application, or when the latest application was rejected so the
+	// caller can try again. Hidden for pending / approved / unknown.
+	function showApplicationForm(application: ApplicationSummary | null): boolean {
+		if (application === null) return true;
+		return application.status === "rejected";
+	}
+
+	interface RecruitmentCard {
+		game: GameSummary;
+		application: ApplicationSummary | null;
+	}
+
+	let appsByGameId = $derived.by<Map<string, ApplicationSummary>>(() => {
+		const m = new Map<string, ApplicationSummary>();
+		for (const app of lobbyData.applications) {
+			m.set(app.gameId, app);
+		}
+		return m;
+	});
+
+	let recruitmentCards = $derived.by<ReadonlyArray<RecruitmentCard>>(() => {
+		const me = account.current?.userId ?? "";
+		return lobbyData.publicGames
+			.filter((g) => g.ownerUserId !== me)
+			.map((g) => ({ game: g, application: appsByGameId.get(g.gameId) ?? null }));
+	});
+
+	// Standalone cards for stale applications (game no longer in the
+	// public-games list but the application is pending/approved).
+	// Rejected / unknown stale applications are intentionally hidden.
+	let standaloneApplications = $derived.by<ReadonlyArray<ApplicationSummary>>(() => {
+		const seen = new Set(lobbyData.publicGames.map((g) => g.gameId));
+		return lobbyData.applications.filter(
+			(app) =>
+				!seen.has(app.gameId) &&
+				(app.status === "pending" || app.status === "approved"),
+		);
+	});
+
+	function openApplicationForm(gameId: string): void {
+		openApplicationFor = gameId;
+		raceNameInput = "";
+		raceNameError = null;
+	}
+
+	function cancelApplicationForm(): void {
+		openApplicationFor = null;
+		raceNameInput = "";
+		raceNameError = null;
+	}
+
+	async function submitApplicationFor(gameId: string): Promise<void> {
+		const client = lobbyData.client;
+		if (client === null) return;
+		const trimmed = raceNameInput.trim();
+		if (trimmed === "") {
+			raceNameError = i18n.t("lobby.application.race_name_required");
+			return;
+		}
+		submitting = true;
+		raceNameError = null;
+		try {
+			const result = await submitApplication(client, gameId, trimmed);
+			lobbyData.prependApplication(result);
+			openApplicationFor = null;
+			raceNameInput = "";
+		} catch (err) {
+			raceNameError = describeLobbyError(err);
+		} finally {
+			submitting = false;
+		}
+	}
+</script>
+
+<LobbyShell>
+	{#if lobbyData.configError !== null}
+		<p role="alert" data-testid="account-error">{lobbyData.configError}</p>
+	{:else if lobbyData.error !== null}
+		<p role="alert" data-testid="lobby-error">{lobbyData.error}</p>
+	{/if}
+
+	<section data-testid="lobby-games-recruitment-section">
+		<h2>{i18n.t("lobby.section.recruitment")}</h2>
+		{#if lobbyData.loading}
+			<p role="status">{i18n.t("lobby.list_loading")}</p>
+		{:else if recruitmentCards.length === 0 && standaloneApplications.length === 0}
+			<p data-testid="lobby-recruitment-empty">
+				{i18n.t("lobby.recruitment.empty")}
+			</p>
+		{:else}
+			<ul class="card-list">
+				{#each recruitmentCards as card (card.game.gameId)}
+					<li class="card" data-testid="lobby-recruitment-card">
+						<div class="card-header">
+							<strong>{card.game.gameName}</strong>
+							{#if card.application !== null}
+								<span
+									class="status-chip"
+									data-status={card.application.status}
+									data-testid="lobby-application-status-chip"
+								>
+									{applicationStatusLabel(card.application.status)}
+								</span>
+							{/if}
+						</div>
+						<span class="meta">{card.game.status}</span>
+						<span class="meta">{card.game.minPlayers}–{card.game.maxPlayers} players</span>
+
+						{#if showApplicationForm(card.application)}
+							{#if openApplicationFor === card.game.gameId}
+								<form
+									onsubmit={(event) => {
+										event.preventDefault();
+										submitApplicationFor(card.game.gameId);
+									}}
+									data-testid="lobby-application-form"
+								>
+									<label>
+										{i18n.t("lobby.application.race_name_label")}
+										<input
+											type="text"
+											bind:value={raceNameInput}
+											data-testid="lobby-application-race-name"
+											autocomplete="off"
+										/>
+									</label>
+									{#if raceNameError !== null}
+										<p role="alert" data-testid="lobby-application-error">
+											{raceNameError}
+										</p>
+									{/if}
+									<div class="actions">
+										<button
+											type="submit"
+											disabled={submitting}
+											data-testid="lobby-application-submit"
+										>
+											{i18n.t("lobby.application.submit")}
+										</button>
+										<button
+											type="button"
+											onclick={cancelApplicationForm}
+											data-testid="lobby-application-cancel"
+										>
+											{i18n.t("lobby.application.cancel")}
+										</button>
+									</div>
+								</form>
+							{:else}
+								<button
+									onclick={() => openApplicationForm(card.game.gameId)}
+									data-testid="lobby-public-game-apply"
+								>
+									{i18n.t("lobby.application.submit_for", {
+										name: card.game.gameName,
+									})}
+								</button>
+							{/if}
+						{:else if card.application?.status === "pending"}
+							<p class="meta">{i18n.t("lobby.recruitment.applied_pending")}</p>
+						{:else if card.application?.status === "approved"}
+							<p class="meta">{i18n.t("lobby.recruitment.applied_approved")}</p>
+						{/if}
+					</li>
+				{/each}
+
+				{#each standaloneApplications as app (app.applicationId)}
+					<li class="card" data-testid="lobby-stale-application-card">
+						<div class="card-header">
+							<strong>{app.raceName}</strong>
+							<span
+								class="status-chip"
+								data-status={app.status}
+								data-testid="lobby-application-status-chip"
+							>
+								{applicationStatusLabel(app.status)}
+							</span>
+						</div>
+						<span class="meta">{app.gameId}</span>
+						{#if app.status === "pending"}
+							<p class="meta">{i18n.t("lobby.recruitment.applied_pending")}</p>
+						{:else}
+							<p class="meta">{i18n.t("lobby.recruitment.applied_approved")}</p>
+						{/if}
+					</li>
+				{/each}
+			</ul>
+		{/if}
+	</section>
+</LobbyShell>
+
+<style>
+	section { margin-bottom: var(--space-6); }
+	section h2 { font-size: var(--text-lg); margin: 0 0 var(--space-3); }
+	.card-list { list-style: none; padding: 0; margin: 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: var(--space-2); }
+	.card {
+		display: flex;
+		flex-direction: column;
+		gap: var(--space-1);
+		padding: var(--space-3);
+		border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+		border-radius: var(--radius-md);
+		background: var(--color-surface-raised);
+		text-align: left;
+		font: inherit;
+		width: 100%;
+	}
+	.card-header {
+		display: flex;
+		align-items: flex-start;
+		justify-content: space-between;
+		gap: var(--space-2);
+	}
+	.status-chip {
+		align-self: flex-start;
+		padding: 0.1rem var(--space-2);
+		border-radius: var(--radius-pill);
+		background: var(--color-surface);
+		font-size: var(--text-xs);
+		color: var(--color-text-muted);
+		text-transform: lowercase;
+	}
+	.status-chip[data-status="approved"] {
+		color: var(--color-accent);
+	}
+	.status-chip[data-status="rejected"] {
+		color: var(--color-danger, #c33);
+	}
+	.meta { color: var(--color-text-muted); font-size: var(--text-sm); }
+	.actions { display: flex; gap: var(--space-2); margin-top: var(--space-1); }
+	form { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: var(--space-2); margin-top: var(--space-2); }
+	label { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: var(--space-1); }
+	input[type="text"] { font: inherit; font-size: var(--text-md); padding: var(--space-1) var(--space-2); }
+</style>

ui/frontend/src/lib/screens/lobby-create-screen.svelte

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 	import { i18n, type TranslationKey } from "$lib/i18n/index.svelte";
 	import { loadCore } from "../../platform/core/index";
 	import { session } from "$lib/session-store.svelte";
+	import { lobbyData } from "$lib/lobby-data.svelte";
 
 	const DEFAULT_MIN_PLAYERS = 2;
 	const DEFAULT_MAX_PLAYERS = 8;
@@ -40,6 +41,15 @@
 
 	function describeLobbyError(err: unknown): string {
 		if (err instanceof LobbyError) {
+			// Free-tier callers reach this branch when the backend gate
+			// at `lobby.game.create` rejects them. Show the dedicated
+			// inline message instead of the generic "operation
+			// forbidden" — the user got to this screen via the
+			// `private games` panel, so we want to spell out that the
+			// gate is the tier (not a permission misconfig).
+			if (err.code === "forbidden") {
+				return i18n.t("lobby.create.error.forbidden");
+			}
 			const key = `lobby.error.${err.code}` as TranslationKey;
 			const translated = i18n.t(key);
 			if (translated !== key) {
@@ -93,7 +103,18 @@
 				turnSchedule: trimmedSchedule,
 				targetEngineVersion: targetEngineVersion.trim() || DEFAULT_TARGET_ENGINE_VERSION,
 			});
-			appScreen.go("lobby");
+			// Refresh the lobby-data cache so the freshly-created game
+			// shows up in the private-games panel the moment we land
+			// there. The shared store is otherwise lazy (ensure-on-
+			// first-mount) and would render a stale list across the
+			// navigation.
+			try {
+				await lobbyData.refresh();
+			} catch {
+				// Refresh failure does not block the navigation —
+				// the panel will retry on its own mount.
+			}
+			appScreen.go("games-private-games");
 		} catch (err) {
 			formError = describeLobbyError(err);
 		} finally {

ui/frontend/src/lib/screens/lobby-screen.svelte

@@ -1,544 +1,32 @@
+<!--
+Resolver for the bare `lobby` AppScreen literal. F8-04b split the
+old single-page Overview into per-panel screens (`games-active-past`,
+`games-recruitment`, `games-invitations`, `games-private-games`); this
+component is what the dispatcher renders when the active screen is
+the historical `lobby` alias (e.g. a snapshot persisted before the
+split, or programmatic `appScreen.go("lobby")` from non-shell code).
+
+The resolver navigates to the first visible games sub-page at mount
+time and renders a thin LobbyShell placeholder while the redirect
+runs. The destination depends on the account tier and on whether the
+caller has any games yet — both are computed by the shell, so we just
+pick `games-recruitment` here as the canonical landing (always
+visible) and let the shell's submenu logic surface the others.
+-->
 <script lang="ts">
 	import { onMount } from "svelte";
-	import { appScreen, activeView } from "$lib/app-nav.svelte";
-
-	import { createGatewayClient } from "../../api/connect";
-	import { GalaxyClient } from "../../api/galaxy-client";
-	import {
-		LobbyError,
-		listMyApplications,
-		listMyGames,
-		listMyInvites,
-		listPublicGames,
-		redeemInvite,
-		declineInvite,
-		submitApplication,
-		type ApplicationSummary,
-		type GameSummary,
-		type InviteSummary,
-	} from "../../api/lobby";
-	import { account } from "$lib/account-store.svelte";
-	import { gatewayRpcBaseUrl, GATEWAY_RESPONSE_PUBLIC_KEY } from "$lib/env";
-	import {
-		SyntheticReportError,
-		loadSyntheticReportFromJSON,
-	} from "../../api/synthetic-report";
-	import { i18n, type TranslationKey } from "$lib/i18n/index.svelte";
-	import { loadCore } from "../../platform/core/index";
-	import { session } from "$lib/session-store.svelte";
+	import { appScreen } from "$lib/app-nav.svelte";
+	import { i18n } from "$lib/i18n/index.svelte";
 	import LobbyShell from "./lobby-shell.svelte";
 
-	let configError: string | null = $state(null);
-	let listsLoading = $state(true);
-	let lobbyError: string | null = $state(null);
-
-	let myGames: GameSummary[] = $state([]);
-	let invitations: InviteSummary[] = $state([]);
-	let applications: ApplicationSummary[] = $state([]);
-	let publicGames: GameSummary[] = $state([]);
-
-	let openApplicationFor: string | null = $state(null);
-	let raceNameInput = $state("");
-	let raceNameError: string | null = $state(null);
-	let submittingApplication = $state(false);
-
-	let inviteActionInFlight: string | null = $state(null);
-
-	let syntheticError: string | null = $state(null);
-
-	let client: GalaxyClient | null = null;
-
-	async function sha256(payload: Uint8Array): Promise<Uint8Array> {
-		const digest = await crypto.subtle.digest("SHA-256", payload as BufferSource);
-		return new Uint8Array(digest);
-	}
-
-	function describeLobbyError(err: unknown): string {
-		if (err instanceof LobbyError) {
-			const key = `lobby.error.${err.code}` as TranslationKey;
-			const translated = i18n.t(key);
-			if (translated !== key) {
-				return translated;
-			}
-			return i18n.t("lobby.error.unknown", { message: err.message });
-		}
-		return err instanceof Error ? err.message : "request failed";
-	}
-
-	async function refreshAll(): Promise<void> {
-		if (client === null) return;
-		listsLoading = true;
-		lobbyError = null;
-		try {
-			const [games, invites, apps, publicPage] = await Promise.all([
-				listMyGames(client),
-				listMyInvites(client),
-				listMyApplications(client),
-				listPublicGames(client),
-			]);
-			myGames = games;
-			invitations = invites.filter((invite) => invite.status === "pending");
-			applications = apps;
-			publicGames = publicPage.items;
-		} catch (err) {
-			lobbyError = describeLobbyError(err);
-		} finally {
-			listsLoading = false;
-		}
-	}
-
-	function applicationStatusLabel(status: string): string {
-		const key = `lobby.application.status.${status}` as TranslationKey;
-		const translated = i18n.t(key);
-		if (translated === key) {
-			return i18n.t("lobby.application.status.unknown", { status });
-		}
-		return translated;
-	}
-
-	function openApplicationForm(gameId: string): void {
-		openApplicationFor = gameId;
-		raceNameInput = "";
-		raceNameError = null;
-	}
-
-	function cancelApplicationForm(): void {
-		openApplicationFor = null;
-		raceNameInput = "";
-		raceNameError = null;
-	}
-
-	async function submitApplicationFor(gameId: string): Promise<void> {
-		if (client === null) return;
-		const trimmed = raceNameInput.trim();
-		if (trimmed === "") {
-			raceNameError = i18n.t("lobby.application.race_name_required");
-			return;
-		}
-		submittingApplication = true;
-		raceNameError = null;
-		try {
-			const result = await submitApplication(client, gameId, trimmed);
-			applications = [result, ...applications];
-			openApplicationFor = null;
-			raceNameInput = "";
-		} catch (err) {
-			raceNameError = describeLobbyError(err);
-		} finally {
-			submittingApplication = false;
-		}
-	}
-
-	async function acceptInvite(invite: InviteSummary): Promise<void> {
-		if (client === null) return;
-		inviteActionInFlight = invite.inviteId;
-		try {
-			await redeemInvite(client, invite.gameId, invite.inviteId);
-			invitations = invitations.filter((i) => i.inviteId !== invite.inviteId);
-			myGames = await listMyGames(client);
-		} catch (err) {
-			lobbyError = describeLobbyError(err);
-		} finally {
-			inviteActionInFlight = null;
-		}
-	}
-
-	async function rejectInvite(invite: InviteSummary): Promise<void> {
-		if (client === null) return;
-		inviteActionInFlight = invite.inviteId;
-		try {
-			await declineInvite(client, invite.gameId, invite.inviteId);
-			invitations = invitations.filter((i) => i.inviteId !== invite.inviteId);
-		} catch (err) {
-			lobbyError = describeLobbyError(err);
-		} finally {
-			inviteActionInFlight = null;
-		}
-	}
-
-	function gotoCreate(): void {
-		appScreen.go("lobby-create");
-	}
-
-	function gotoGame(gameId: string): void {
-		// Enter a fresh game on the map view: reset the in-game view
-		// state first so a stale snapshot from a previous game does not
-		// leak into the new one, then switch the top-level screen.
-		activeView.reset();
-		appScreen.go("game", { gameId });
-	}
-
-	async function onSyntheticFileChange(
-		event: Event & { currentTarget: HTMLInputElement },
-	): Promise<void> {
-		// Capture the element synchronously: `event.currentTarget`
-		// is nulled by the time any of the awaits below resolve, and
-		// reaching for it from the `finally` block then throws
-		// "null is not an object". The reset still has to happen so
-		// re-selecting the same file fires `change` again.
-		const input = event.currentTarget;
-		syntheticError = null;
-		const file = input.files?.[0];
-		if (file === undefined) return;
-		try {
-			const text = await file.text();
-			const json: unknown = JSON.parse(text);
-			const { gameId } = loadSyntheticReportFromJSON(json);
-			activeView.reset();
-			appScreen.go("game", { gameId });
-		} catch (err) {
-			if (err instanceof SyntheticReportError) {
-				syntheticError = err.message;
-			} else if (err instanceof SyntaxError) {
-				syntheticError = `invalid JSON: ${err.message}`;
-			} else if (err instanceof Error) {
-				syntheticError = err.message;
-			} else {
-				syntheticError = "failed to load synthetic report";
-			}
-		} finally {
-			input.value = "";
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Statuses for which the game has a navigable in-game view.
-	// Lobby-internal statuses (draft, enrollment_open, ready_to_start,
-	// starting, start_failed) and terminal ones (cancelled) stay
-	// non-clickable; entering them otherwise opens the game shell on a
-	// game whose runtime state does not exist yet.
-	function isPlayableStatus(status: string): boolean {
-		return status === "running" || status === "paused" || status === "finished";
-	}
-
-	onMount(async () => {
-		if (
-			session.keypair === null ||
-			session.deviceSessionId === null ||
-			GATEWAY_RESPONSE_PUBLIC_KEY.length === 0
-		) {
-			listsLoading = false;
-			if (GATEWAY_RESPONSE_PUBLIC_KEY.length === 0) {
-				configError = "VITE_GATEWAY_RESPONSE_PUBLIC_KEY is not configured";
-			}
-			return;
-		}
-		const keypair = session.keypair;
-		try {
-			const core = await loadCore();
-			client = new GalaxyClient({
-				core,
-				edge: createGatewayClient(gatewayRpcBaseUrl()),
-				signer: (canonical) => keypair.sign(canonical),
-				sha256,
-				deviceSessionId: session.deviceSessionId,
-				gatewayResponsePublicKey: GATEWAY_RESPONSE_PUBLIC_KEY,
-			});
-			// Populate the session-wide identity cache; the shell's
-			// identity strip reads from there. Swallowed errors leave
-			// the shell on the `lobby.account_loading` placeholder
-			// without breaking the rest of the lobby.
-			account.ensure(client).catch(() => {});
-			await refreshAll();
-		} catch (err) {
-			lobbyError = describeLobbyError(err);
-			listsLoading = false;
-		}
+	onMount(() => {
+		// The shell's own $effect keeps the user on a valid sub-page if
+		// the resolved choice ever becomes invisible; we just kick off
+		// the redirect on first paint.
+		appScreen.go("games-recruitment");
 	});
 </script>
 
-<LobbyShell activePage="overview">
-	{#if configError !== null}
-		<p role="alert" data-testid="account-error">{configError}</p>
-	{:else if lobbyError !== null}
-		<p role="alert" data-testid="lobby-error">{lobbyError}</p>
-	{/if}
-
-	<section data-testid="lobby-create-section">
-		<button onclick={gotoCreate} data-testid="lobby-create-button">
-			{i18n.t("lobby.create_button")}
-		</button>
-	</section>
-
-	<section data-testid="lobby-my-games-section">
-		<h2>{i18n.t("lobby.section.my_games")}</h2>
-		{#if listsLoading}
-			<p role="status">{i18n.t("lobby.list_loading")}</p>
-		{:else if myGames.length === 0}
-			<p data-testid="lobby-my-games-empty">{i18n.t("lobby.my_games.empty")}</p>
-		{:else}
-			<ul class="card-list">
-				{#each myGames as game (game.gameId)}
-					<li>
-						<button
-							class="card"
-							onclick={() => gotoGame(game.gameId)}
-							disabled={!isPlayableStatus(game.status)}
-							data-testid="lobby-my-game-card"
-						>
-							<strong>{game.gameName}</strong>
-							<span class="meta">{game.status}</span>
-							<span class="meta">{game.minPlayers}–{game.maxPlayers} players</span>
-						</button>
-					</li>
-				{/each}
-			</ul>
-		{/if}
-	</section>
-
-	<section data-testid="lobby-invitations-section">
-		<h2>{i18n.t("lobby.section.invitations")}</h2>
-		{#if listsLoading}
-			<p role="status">{i18n.t("lobby.list_loading")}</p>
-		{:else if invitations.length === 0}
-			<p data-testid="lobby-invitations-empty">{i18n.t("lobby.invitations.empty")}</p>
-		{:else}
-			<ul class="card-list">
-				{#each invitations as invite (invite.inviteId)}
-					<li class="card">
-						<strong>{invite.raceName}</strong>
-						<span class="meta">{invite.gameId}</span>
-						<div class="actions">
-							<button
-								onclick={() => acceptInvite(invite)}
-								disabled={inviteActionInFlight === invite.inviteId}
-								data-testid="lobby-invite-accept"
-							>
-								{i18n.t("lobby.invitation.accept")}
-							</button>
-							<button
-								onclick={() => rejectInvite(invite)}
-								disabled={inviteActionInFlight === invite.inviteId}
-								data-testid="lobby-invite-decline"
-							>
-								{i18n.t("lobby.invitation.decline")}
-							</button>
-						</div>
-					</li>
-				{/each}
-			</ul>
-		{/if}
-	</section>
-
-	<section data-testid="lobby-applications-section">
-		<h2>{i18n.t("lobby.section.applications")}</h2>
-		{#if listsLoading}
-			<p role="status">{i18n.t("lobby.list_loading")}</p>
-		{:else if applications.length === 0}
-			<p data-testid="lobby-applications-empty">{i18n.t("lobby.applications.empty")}</p>
-		{:else}
-			<ul class="card-list">
-				{#each applications as app (app.applicationId)}
-					<li class="card" data-testid="lobby-application-card">
-						<strong>{app.raceName}</strong>
-						<span class="meta">{app.gameId}</span>
-						<span class="status" data-status={app.status}>
-							{applicationStatusLabel(app.status)}
-						</span>
-					</li>
-				{/each}
-			</ul>
-		{/if}
-	</section>
-
-	{#if import.meta.env.VITE_GALAXY_DEV_AFFORDANCES === "true"}
-		<!--
-		Synthetic-report loader. Dev-only affordance for visual testing
-		against rich game states without playing many turns. The JSON
-		is produced offline by the Go CLI in
-		`tools/local-dev/legacy-report/`; see
-		`ui/docs/testing.md#synthetic-reports` for the workflow. Gated
-		on `VITE_GALAXY_DEV_AFFORDANCES` (set in `.env.development` and
-		mirrored by `dev-deploy.yaml`) rather than `import.meta.env.DEV`
-		so the long-lived dev environment can also surface it from a
-		production-mode bundle. The prod build path leaves the flag
-		unset, so the section is stripped from prod chunks.
-		-->
-		<section data-testid="lobby-synthetic-section">
-			<h2>Synthetic test reports (DEV)</h2>
-			<p class="meta">
-				Load a JSON file produced by
-				<code>legacy-report-to-json</code> to open the map view
-				against a synthetic snapshot. Orders compose locally but
-				never reach the server.
-			</p>
-			<label class="synthetic-loader">
-				Load JSON…
-				<input
-					type="file"
-					accept=".json,application/json"
-					onchange={onSyntheticFileChange}
-					data-testid="lobby-synthetic-file"
-				/>
-			</label>
-			{#if syntheticError !== null}
-				<p role="alert" data-testid="lobby-synthetic-error">
-					{syntheticError}
-				</p>
-			{/if}
-		</section>
-	{/if}
-
-	<section data-testid="lobby-public-games-section">
-		<h2>{i18n.t("lobby.section.public_games")}</h2>
-		{#if listsLoading}
-			<p role="status">{i18n.t("lobby.list_loading")}</p>
-		{:else if publicGames.length === 0}
-			<p data-testid="lobby-public-games-empty">{i18n.t("lobby.public_games.empty")}</p>
-		{:else}
-			<ul class="card-list">
-				{#each publicGames as game (game.gameId)}
-					<li class="card">
-						<strong>{game.gameName}</strong>
-						<span class="meta">{game.status}</span>
-						<span class="meta">{game.minPlayers}–{game.maxPlayers} players</span>
-						{#if openApplicationFor === game.gameId}
-							<form
-								onsubmit={(event) => {
-									event.preventDefault();
-									submitApplicationFor(game.gameId);
-								}}
-								data-testid="lobby-application-form"
-							>
-								<label>
-									{i18n.t("lobby.application.race_name_label")}
-									<input
-										type="text"
-										bind:value={raceNameInput}
-										data-testid="lobby-application-race-name"
-										autocomplete="off"
-									/>
-								</label>
-								{#if raceNameError !== null}
-									<p role="alert" data-testid="lobby-application-error">
-										{raceNameError}
-									</p>
-								{/if}
-								<div class="actions">
-									<button
-										type="submit"
-										disabled={submittingApplication}
-										data-testid="lobby-application-submit"
-									>
-										{i18n.t("lobby.application.submit")}
-									</button>
-									<button
-										type="button"
-										onclick={cancelApplicationForm}
-										data-testid="lobby-application-cancel"
-									>
-										{i18n.t("lobby.application.cancel")}
-									</button>
-								</div>
-							</form>
-						{:else}
-							<button
-								onclick={() => openApplicationForm(game.gameId)}
-								data-testid="lobby-public-game-apply"
-							>
-								{i18n.t("lobby.application.submit_for", { name: game.gameName })}
-							</button>
-						{/if}
-					</li>
-				{/each}
-			</ul>
-		{/if}
-	</section>
+<LobbyShell>
+	<p role="status">{i18n.t("lobby.list_loading")}</p>
 </LobbyShell>
-
-<style>
-	section {
-		margin-bottom: var(--space-6);
-	}
-
-	section h2 {
-		font-size: var(--text-lg);
-		margin: 0 0 var(--space-3);
-	}
-
-	.card-list {
-		list-style: none;
-		padding: 0;
-		margin: 0;
-		display: flex;
-		flex-direction: column;
-		gap: var(--space-2);
-	}
-
-	.card {
-		display: flex;
-		flex-direction: column;
-		gap: var(--space-1);
-		padding: var(--space-3);
-		border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
-		border-radius: var(--radius-md);
-		background: var(--color-surface-raised);
-		text-align: left;
-		font: inherit;
-		cursor: pointer;
-		width: 100%;
-	}
-
-	button.card:disabled {
-		cursor: not-allowed;
-		color: var(--color-text-faint);
-		background: var(--color-surface);
-	}
-
-	li.card {
-		cursor: default;
-	}
-
-	.meta {
-		color: var(--color-text-muted);
-		font-size: var(--text-sm);
-	}
-
-	.status {
-		align-self: flex-start;
-		padding: 0.1rem var(--space-2);
-		border-radius: var(--radius-pill);
-		background: var(--color-surface-raised);
-		font-size: var(--text-xs);
-	}
-
-	.actions {
-		display: flex;
-		gap: var(--space-2);
-		margin-top: var(--space-1);
-	}
-
-	form {
-		display: flex;
-		flex-direction: column;
-		gap: var(--space-2);
-		margin-top: var(--space-2);
-	}
-
-	label {
-		display: flex;
-		flex-direction: column;
-		gap: var(--space-1);
-	}
-
-	input[type="text"] {
-		font: inherit;
-		font-size: var(--text-md);
-		padding: var(--space-1) var(--space-2);
-	}
-
-	.synthetic-loader {
-		display: inline-flex;
-		align-items: center;
-		gap: var(--space-2);
-		padding: var(--space-1) var(--space-3);
-		border: 1px dashed var(--color-text-muted);
-		border-radius: var(--radius-md);
-		background: var(--color-surface-raised);
-		cursor: pointer;
-		font: inherit;
-	}
-
-	.synthetic-loader input[type="file"] {
-		font-size: var(--text-sm);
-	}
-</style>

ui/frontend/src/lib/screens/lobby-shell.svelte

@@ -1,36 +1,110 @@
 <!--
-Shared chrome for the post-login "site"-style pages — the lobby
-landing and the editable profile. Renders a left page-list sidebar
-(mirroring the project site's VitePress layout) plus a top identity
-strip ("Player-xxxx" → opens profile, logout). Children fill the
-right-hand column. Pages mark themselves active via `activePage`.
+Shared chrome for the post-login lobby pages and the profile screen.
+Renders a left page-list sidebar (mirroring the project site's
+VitePress layout) plus a top identity strip ("Player-xxxx" → opens
+profile, logout). Children fill the right-hand column.
+
+F8-04b extends the sidebar to a two-level hierarchy:
+- top-level items: `games` (with submenu), `profile`, and DEV-only
+  `synthetic test reports`;
+- `games` submenu: `active-past` (hidden when the player has no games),
+  `recruitment` (always), `invitations` (always), `private games`
+  (paid-tier only; DEV overrides).
+
+Desktop (>640px): the submenu stays expanded as long as the active
+screen is one of the games sub-panels. Mobile (≤640px, existing
+horizontal-strip breakpoint): the `games` item becomes a dropdown
+labeled "games · {active-sub} ▾"; tapping toggles the popover, tapping
+outside or pressing Escape closes it, and re-selecting the active
+sub-item is a no-op (mirrors the F8-02 idiom from issue #45).
 
 The identity strip reads directly from the session-wide `account`
-store so navigating Overview ⇄ Profile never re-renders an empty
-placeholder: both screens populate the same cache through
-`account.ensure(client)` and the shell renders the latest value.
+store so navigating between sub-pages never re-renders an empty
+placeholder.
 -->
 <script lang="ts">
-	import type { Snippet } from "svelte";
-	import { appScreen } from "$lib/app-nav.svelte";
-	import { i18n } from "$lib/i18n/index.svelte";
+	import { onMount, type Snippet } from "svelte";
+	import {
+		appScreen,
+		isLobbySubScreen,
+		LOBBY_SUB_SCREENS,
+		type AppScreen,
+	} from "$lib/app-nav.svelte";
+	import { i18n, type TranslationKey } from "$lib/i18n/index.svelte";
 	import { session } from "$lib/session-store.svelte";
 	import { account } from "$lib/account-store.svelte";
-
-	type Page = "overview" | "profile";
+	import { lobbyData } from "$lib/lobby-data.svelte";
 
 	interface Props {
-		activePage: Page;
 		children: Snippet;
 	}
 
-	let { activePage, children }: Props = $props();
+	let { children }: Props = $props();
 
-	const PAGES: ReadonlyArray<{ id: Page; labelKey: "lobby.nav.overview" | "lobby.nav.profile"; screen: "lobby" | "profile" }> = [
-		{ id: "overview", labelKey: "lobby.nav.overview", screen: "lobby" },
-		{ id: "profile", labelKey: "lobby.nav.profile", screen: "profile" },
+	const DEV_AFFORDANCES =
+		import.meta.env.VITE_GALAXY_DEV_AFFORDANCES === "true";
+
+	type GamesSubId = (typeof LOBBY_SUB_SCREENS)[number];
+
+	interface GamesSubItem {
+		id: GamesSubId;
+		labelKey: TranslationKey;
+		visible: () => boolean;
+	}
+
+	const GAMES_SUBS: ReadonlyArray<GamesSubItem> = [
+		{
+			id: "games-active-past",
+			labelKey: "lobby.nav.games.active_past",
+			visible: () => lobbyData.myGames.length > 0,
+		},
+		{
+			id: "games-recruitment",
+			labelKey: "lobby.nav.games.recruitment",
+			visible: () => true,
+		},
+		{
+			id: "games-invitations",
+			labelKey: "lobby.nav.games.invitations",
+			visible: () => true,
+		},
+		{
+			id: "games-private-games",
+			labelKey: "lobby.nav.games.private_games",
+			visible: () =>
+				DEV_AFFORDANCES || account.current?.entitlement.isPaid === true,
+		},
 	];
 
+	function visibleGamesSubs(): ReadonlyArray<GamesSubItem> {
+		return GAMES_SUBS.filter((sub) => sub.visible());
+	}
+
+	function firstVisibleGamesScreen(): AppScreen {
+		const visible = visibleGamesSubs();
+		// recruitment is unconditionally visible, so visible is never
+		// empty — but keep the fallback for type safety.
+		return visible[0]?.id ?? "games-recruitment";
+	}
+
+	function gotoScreen(screen: AppScreen): void {
+		if (appScreen.screen !== screen) {
+			appScreen.go(screen);
+		}
+	}
+
+	function gotoGamesParent(): void {
+		gotoScreen(firstVisibleGamesScreen());
+	}
+
+	let activeGamesSub = $derived.by<GamesSubItem | null>(() => {
+		return GAMES_SUBS.find((s) => s.id === appScreen.screen) ?? null;
+	});
+
+	let gamesActive = $derived.by(() => isLobbySubScreen(appScreen.screen));
+	let profileActive = $derived.by(() => appScreen.screen === "profile");
+	let syntheticActive = $derived.by(() => appScreen.screen === "synthetic-reports");
+
 	let identityLabel = $derived.by(() => {
 		const current = account.current;
 		if (current !== null) {
@@ -41,19 +115,79 @@ placeholder: both screens populate the same cache through
 		return i18n.t("lobby.account_loading");
 	});
 
-	function gotoPage(screen: "lobby" | "profile"): void {
-		if (appScreen.screen !== screen) {
-			appScreen.go(screen);
-		}
-	}
-
 	function gotoProfile(): void {
-		gotoPage("profile");
+		gotoScreen("profile");
 	}
 
 	async function logout(): Promise<void> {
 		await session.signOut("user");
 	}
+
+	// Mobile dropdown state for the games submenu. Closed on subitem
+	// selection, click outside, Escape, and on tap of the toggle when
+	// already open.
+	let mobileMenuOpen = $state(false);
+	let mobileMenuEl: HTMLElement | null = null;
+
+	function toggleMobileMenu(): void {
+		mobileMenuOpen = !mobileMenuOpen;
+	}
+
+	function selectMobileSub(screen: AppScreen): void {
+		mobileMenuOpen = false;
+		gotoScreen(screen);
+	}
+
+	function handleMobileKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent): void {
+		if (event.key === "Escape" && mobileMenuOpen) {
+			mobileMenuOpen = false;
+		}
+	}
+
+	function handleDocumentPointerDown(event: PointerEvent): void {
+		if (!mobileMenuOpen) return;
+		if (mobileMenuEl !== null && event.target instanceof Node) {
+			if (!mobileMenuEl.contains(event.target)) {
+				mobileMenuOpen = false;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	onMount(() => {
+		document.addEventListener("pointerdown", handleDocumentPointerDown);
+		document.addEventListener("keydown", handleMobileKeydown);
+		return () => {
+			document.removeEventListener("pointerdown", handleDocumentPointerDown);
+			document.removeEventListener("keydown", handleMobileKeydown);
+		};
+	});
+
+	// Persisted snapshot may restore the user onto `games-private-games`
+	// after a tier downgrade or onto `synthetic-reports` in a prod
+	// bundle that strips the DEV affordance. Resolve quietly to the
+	// first visible games sub-page instead of letting the dispatcher
+	// render an empty shell.
+	$effect(() => {
+		const screen = appScreen.screen;
+		if (screen === "games-private-games") {
+			if (!DEV_AFFORDANCES && account.current?.entitlement.isPaid !== true) {
+				appScreen.go(firstVisibleGamesScreen());
+			}
+		} else if (screen === "synthetic-reports") {
+			if (!DEV_AFFORDANCES) {
+				appScreen.go(firstVisibleGamesScreen());
+			}
+		} else if (screen === "games-active-past") {
+			// Hide-when-empty is asymmetric: we only kick the user out if
+			// the lobby-data store has actually reported zero games (not
+			// during the initial `loading=true` window). Otherwise a
+			// fresh navigation would bounce off this screen before the
+			// fan-out resolves.
+			if (!lobbyData.loading && lobbyData.myGames.length === 0) {
+				appScreen.go(firstVisibleGamesScreen());
+			}
+		}
+	});
 </script>
 
 <a class="skip-link" href="#main-content">{i18n.t("common.skip_to_content")}</a>
@@ -73,21 +207,116 @@ placeholder: both screens populate the same cache through
 	</header>
 	<div class="body">
 		<nav class="sidebar" aria-label={i18n.t("lobby.nav.aria_label")}>
-			<ul>
-				{#each PAGES as page (page.id)}
+			<ul class="top-list">
+				<li class="games-item">
+					<button
+						type="button"
+						class="nav-link parent"
+						class:active={gamesActive}
+						aria-current={gamesActive ? "page" : undefined}
+						onclick={gotoGamesParent}
+						data-testid="lobby-nav-games"
+					>
+						{i18n.t("lobby.nav.games")}
+					</button>
+
+					<!-- Desktop submenu: always expanded when in `games-*` -->
+					<ul
+						class="submenu desktop-only"
+						aria-label={i18n.t("lobby.nav.games.aria_label")}
+					>
+						{#each visibleGamesSubs() as sub (sub.id)}
+							<li>
+								<button
+									type="button"
+									class="nav-link sub"
+									class:active={appScreen.screen === sub.id}
+									aria-current={appScreen.screen === sub.id ? "page" : undefined}
+									onclick={() => gotoScreen(sub.id)}
+									data-testid="lobby-nav-{sub.id}"
+								>
+									{i18n.t(sub.labelKey)}
+								</button>
+							</li>
+						{/each}
+					</ul>
+
+					<!-- Mobile dropdown: only the active sub is shown as a
+					     button, tap toggles the popover with the visible
+					     subs. Re-tap on the active sub is a no-op. -->
+					<div
+						class="mobile-dropdown mobile-only"
+						bind:this={mobileMenuEl}
+					>
+						<button
+							type="button"
+							class="nav-link mobile-toggle"
+							class:active={gamesActive}
+							aria-haspopup="listbox"
+							aria-expanded={mobileMenuOpen}
+							onclick={toggleMobileMenu}
+							data-testid="lobby-nav-games-mobile"
+						>
+							{i18n.t("lobby.nav.games.mobile_toggle", {
+								label: activeGamesSub
+									? i18n.t(activeGamesSub.labelKey)
+									: i18n.t("lobby.nav.games.recruitment"),
+							})}
+							<span aria-hidden="true">▾</span>
+						</button>
+						{#if mobileMenuOpen}
+							<ul
+								class="mobile-popover"
+								role="listbox"
+								aria-label={i18n.t("lobby.nav.games.aria_label")}
+							>
+								{#each visibleGamesSubs() as sub (sub.id)}
+									<li>
+										<button
+											type="button"
+											class="popover-item"
+											class:active={appScreen.screen === sub.id}
+											role="option"
+											aria-selected={appScreen.screen === sub.id}
+											onclick={() => selectMobileSub(sub.id)}
+											data-testid="lobby-nav-{sub.id}-mobile"
+										>
+											{i18n.t(sub.labelKey)}
+										</button>
+									</li>
+								{/each}
+							</ul>
+						{/if}
+					</div>
+				</li>
+
+				<li>
+					<button
+						type="button"
+						class="nav-link"
+						class:active={profileActive}
+						aria-current={profileActive ? "page" : undefined}
+						onclick={gotoProfile}
+						data-testid="lobby-nav-profile"
+					>
+						{i18n.t("lobby.nav.profile")}
+					</button>
+				</li>
+
+				{#if DEV_AFFORDANCES}
 					<li>
 						<button
 							type="button"
 							class="nav-link"
-							class:active={activePage === page.id}
-							aria-current={activePage === page.id ? "page" : undefined}
-							onclick={() => gotoPage(page.screen)}
-							data-testid="lobby-nav-{page.id}"
+							class:active={syntheticActive}
+							aria-current={syntheticActive ? "page" : undefined}
+							onclick={() => gotoScreen("synthetic-reports")}
+							data-testid="lobby-nav-synthetic-reports"
 						>
-							{i18n.t(page.labelKey)}
+							{i18n.t("lobby.nav.synthetic_reports")}
 						</button>
 					</li>
-				{/each}
+				{/if}
 			</ul>
 		</nav>
 		<main id="main-content" tabindex="-1" class="content">
@@ -160,7 +389,8 @@ placeholder: both screens populate the same cache through
 		background: var(--color-surface);
 	}
 
-	.sidebar ul {
+	.top-list,
+	.submenu {
 		list-style: none;
 		margin: 0;
 		padding: 0;
@@ -169,6 +399,11 @@ placeholder: both screens populate the same cache through
 		gap: var(--space-1);
 	}
 
+	.submenu {
+		margin-left: var(--space-3);
+		margin-top: var(--space-1);
+	}
+
 	.nav-link {
 		display: block;
 		width: 100%;
@@ -183,6 +418,16 @@ placeholder: both screens populate the same cache through
 		cursor: pointer;
 	}
 
+	.nav-link.sub {
+		font-size: var(--text-sm);
+		padding: var(--space-1) var(--space-3);
+	}
+
+	.nav-link.parent.active {
+		color: var(--color-text);
+		font-weight: var(--weight-medium);
+	}
+
 	.nav-link:hover {
 		background: var(--color-surface-hover);
 		color: var(--color-text);
@@ -200,6 +445,62 @@ placeholder: both screens populate the same cache through
 		max-width: 48rem;
 	}
 
+	.mobile-dropdown {
+		position: relative;
+		display: none;
+	}
+
+	.mobile-toggle {
+		display: flex;
+		align-items: center;
+		gap: var(--space-1);
+		justify-content: space-between;
+	}
+
+	.mobile-popover {
+		position: absolute;
+		top: calc(100% + var(--space-1));
+		left: 0;
+		right: 0;
+		z-index: 5;
+		list-style: none;
+		margin: 0;
+		padding: var(--space-1);
+		background: var(--color-surface-raised);
+		border: 1px solid var(--color-border);
+		border-radius: var(--radius-md);
+		box-shadow: var(--shadow-sm, 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15));
+	}
+
+	.popover-item {
+		display: block;
+		width: 100%;
+		text-align: left;
+		font: inherit;
+		font-size: var(--text-sm);
+		color: var(--color-text-muted);
+		background: transparent;
+		border: none;
+		padding: var(--space-2) var(--space-3);
+		border-radius: var(--radius-sm);
+		cursor: pointer;
+	}
+
+	.popover-item:hover {
+		background: var(--color-surface-hover);
+		color: var(--color-text);
+	}
+
+	.popover-item.active {
+		color: var(--color-accent);
+		background: var(--color-accent-subtle);
+		font-weight: var(--weight-medium);
+	}
+
+	.mobile-only {
+		display: none;
+	}
+
 	@media (max-width: 640px) {
 		.body {
 			flex-direction: column;
@@ -210,7 +511,7 @@ placeholder: both screens populate the same cache through
 			border-bottom: 1px solid var(--color-border-subtle);
 			padding: var(--space-2) var(--space-3);
 		}
-		.sidebar ul {
+		.top-list {
 			flex-direction: row;
 			gap: var(--space-2);
 			overflow-x: auto;
@@ -219,9 +520,24 @@ placeholder: both screens populate the same cache through
 			white-space: nowrap;
 			padding: var(--space-1) var(--space-3);
 		}
+		.games-item {
+			position: relative;
+		}
+		.desktop-only {
+			display: none;
+		}
+		.mobile-only,
+		.mobile-dropdown {
+			display: block;
+		}
 		.content {
 			padding: var(--space-4);
 			max-width: none;
 		}
+		/* The games-item's parent button is replaced by the mobile
+		   dropdown toggle. */
+		.nav-link.parent {
+			display: none;
+		}
 	}
 </style>

ui/frontend/src/lib/screens/profile-screen.svelte

@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@
 	});
 </script>
 
-<LobbyShell activePage="profile">
+<LobbyShell>
 	<h1>{i18n.t("profile.title")}</h1>
 	{#if configError !== null}
 		<p role="alert" data-testid="profile-config-error">{configError}</p>

ui/frontend/src/lib/screens/synthetic-reports-screen.svelte

@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+<!--
+DEV-only synthetic-report loader. Lifts the old `lobby.synthetic`
+section out of Overview into its own top-level sidebar item that only
+appears when `VITE_GALAXY_DEV_AFFORDANCES === "true"`. The conditional
+is statically evaluated by Vite — prod bundles strip the whole screen
+out of the tree.
+
+Reports are JSON files produced offline by the Go CLI in
+`tools/local-dev/legacy-report/`. They open the map view against a
+synthetic snapshot; orders compose locally but never reach the server.
+See `ui/docs/testing.md#synthetic-reports` for the workflow.
+-->
+<script lang="ts">
+	import { onMount } from "svelte";
+	import { appScreen, activeView } from "$lib/app-nav.svelte";
+	import { account } from "$lib/account-store.svelte";
+	import { lobbyData } from "$lib/lobby-data.svelte";
+	import LobbyShell from "./lobby-shell.svelte";
+	import {
+		SyntheticReportError,
+		loadSyntheticReportFromJSON,
+	} from "../../api/synthetic-report";
+
+	let error = $state<string | null>(null);
+
+	onMount(() => {
+		lobbyData.ensure().then((client) => {
+			if (client !== null) {
+				account.ensure(client).catch(() => {});
+			}
+		});
+	});
+
+	async function onFileChange(
+		event: Event & { currentTarget: HTMLInputElement },
+	): Promise<void> {
+		const input = event.currentTarget;
+		error = null;
+		const file = input.files?.[0];
+		if (file === undefined) return;
+		try {
+			const text = await file.text();
+			const json: unknown = JSON.parse(text);
+			const { gameId } = loadSyntheticReportFromJSON(json);
+			activeView.reset();
+			appScreen.go("game", { gameId });
+		} catch (err) {
+			if (err instanceof SyntheticReportError) {
+				error = err.message;
+			} else if (err instanceof SyntaxError) {
+				error = `invalid JSON: ${err.message}`;
+			} else if (err instanceof Error) {
+				error = err.message;
+			} else {
+				error = "failed to load synthetic report";
+			}
+		} finally {
+			input.value = "";
+		}
+	}
+</script>
+
+<LobbyShell>
+	<section data-testid="lobby-synthetic-section">
+		<h2>Synthetic test reports (DEV)</h2>
+		<p class="meta">
+			Load a JSON file produced by
+			<code>legacy-report-to-json</code> to open the map view against
+			a synthetic snapshot. Orders compose locally but never reach
+			the server.
+		</p>
+		<label class="synthetic-loader">
+			Load JSON…
+			<input
+				type="file"
+				accept=".json,application/json"
+				onchange={onFileChange}
+				data-testid="lobby-synthetic-file"
+			/>
+		</label>
+		{#if error !== null}
+			<p role="alert" data-testid="lobby-synthetic-error">{error}</p>
+		{/if}
+	</section>
+</LobbyShell>
+
+<style>
+	section { margin-bottom: var(--space-6); }
+	section h2 { font-size: var(--text-lg); margin: 0 0 var(--space-3); }
+	.meta { color: var(--color-text-muted); font-size: var(--text-sm); }
+	.synthetic-loader {
+		display: inline-flex;
+		align-items: center;
+		gap: var(--space-2);
+		padding: var(--space-1) var(--space-3);
+		border: 1px dashed var(--color-text-muted);
+		border-radius: var(--radius-md);
+		background: var(--color-surface-raised);
+		cursor: pointer;
+		font: inherit;
+	}
+	.synthetic-loader input[type="file"] { font-size: var(--text-sm); }
+</style>

ui/frontend/src/lib/session-store.svelte.ts

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ import {
 	setDeviceSessionId,
 } from "../api/session";
 import { account } from "./account-store.svelte";
+import { lobbyData } from "./lobby-data.svelte";
 
 export type SessionStatus =
 	| "loading"
@@ -97,8 +98,11 @@ export class SessionStore {
 		this.status = "anonymous";
 		// Drop the cached identity so a different user signing in on the
 		// same browser does not briefly see the previous display name
-		// through the post-login shell.
+		// through the post-login shell. The lobby data cache is dropped
+		// for the same reason — public games / invites / applications
+		// belong to the signed-in user.
 		account.clear();
+		lobbyData.clear();
 		if (reason === "revoked") {
 			console.info("session store: device session revoked by gateway");
 		}

ui/frontend/src/routes/+page.svelte

@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@
 	import LobbyCreateScreen from "$lib/screens/lobby-create-screen.svelte";
 	import ProfileScreen from "$lib/screens/profile-screen.svelte";
 	import GameShell from "$lib/game/game-shell.svelte";
+	import GamesActivePastScreen from "$lib/screens/games-active-past-screen.svelte";
+	import GamesRecruitmentScreen from "$lib/screens/games-recruitment-screen.svelte";
+	import GamesInvitationsScreen from "$lib/screens/games-invitations-screen.svelte";
+	import GamesPrivateGamesScreen from "$lib/screens/games-private-games-screen.svelte";
+	import SyntheticReportsScreen from "$lib/screens/synthetic-reports-screen.svelte";
 	import { pushState } from "$app/navigation";
 	import { page } from "$app/state";
 
@@ -90,11 +95,23 @@
 		<ProfileScreen />
 	{:else if appScreen.screen === "game" && appScreen.gameId !== null}
 		<GameShell />
+	{:else if appScreen.screen === "games-active-past"}
+		<GamesActivePastScreen />
+	{:else if appScreen.screen === "games-recruitment"}
+		<GamesRecruitmentScreen />
+	{:else if appScreen.screen === "games-invitations"}
+		<GamesInvitationsScreen />
+	{:else if appScreen.screen === "games-private-games"}
+		<GamesPrivateGamesScreen />
+	{:else if appScreen.screen === "synthetic-reports"}
+		<SyntheticReportsScreen />
 	{:else}
 		<!--
-		Default authenticated screen. Covers `lobby`, a stale `login`
-		screen restored from a previous anonymous session, and a `game`
-		screen with no active game id (a snapshot that lost its id).
+		Default authenticated screen. Covers the historical `lobby`
+		alias and any restored snapshot that lost its game id. The
+		`LobbyScreen` resolver navigates to `games-recruitment` on
+		mount; the shell then re-routes to a more appropriate
+		sub-page if visibility rules allow.
 		-->
 		<LobbyScreen />
 	{/if}

ui/frontend/tests/account-decode.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+// Unit tests for `decodeAccountView` — F8-04b adds an `entitlement`
+// projection on the TS Account, sourced from the FBS
+// `EntitlementSnapshot.is_paid` field. The decode must default to
+// `false` when the snapshot is absent, never throw on null.
+
+import { Builder, ByteBuffer } from "flatbuffers";
+import { describe, expect, test } from "vitest";
+
+import { decodeAccountView } from "../src/api/account";
+import {
+	AccountView,
+	EntitlementSnapshot,
+} from "../src/proto/galaxy/fbs/user";
+
+function buildAccountView(opts: {
+	isPaid?: boolean;
+	includeEntitlement: boolean;
+}): AccountView {
+	const builder = new Builder(256);
+	const userIdOff = builder.createString("user-1");
+	const emailOff = builder.createString("user@example.com");
+	const userNameOff = builder.createString("Player-1");
+	const displayNameOff = builder.createString("Display");
+	const langOff = builder.createString("en-US");
+	const tzOff = builder.createString("UTC");
+	const countryOff = builder.createString("US");
+
+	let entitlementOff = 0;
+	if (opts.includeEntitlement) {
+		const planOff = builder.createString("free");
+		const sourceOff = builder.createString("default");
+		const reasonOff = builder.createString("init");
+		EntitlementSnapshot.startEntitlementSnapshot(builder);
+		EntitlementSnapshot.addPlanCode(builder, planOff);
+		EntitlementSnapshot.addIsPaid(builder, opts.isPaid ?? false);
+		EntitlementSnapshot.addSource(builder, sourceOff);
+		EntitlementSnapshot.addReasonCode(builder, reasonOff);
+		entitlementOff = EntitlementSnapshot.endEntitlementSnapshot(builder);
+	}
+
+	AccountView.startAccountView(builder);
+	AccountView.addUserId(builder, userIdOff);
+	AccountView.addEmail(builder, emailOff);
+	AccountView.addUserName(builder, userNameOff);
+	AccountView.addDisplayName(builder, displayNameOff);
+	AccountView.addPreferredLanguage(builder, langOff);
+	AccountView.addTimeZone(builder, tzOff);
+	AccountView.addDeclaredCountry(builder, countryOff);
+	if (entitlementOff !== 0) {
+		AccountView.addEntitlement(builder, entitlementOff);
+	}
+	const viewOff = AccountView.endAccountView(builder);
+	builder.finish(viewOff);
+
+	return AccountView.getRootAsAccountView(new ByteBuffer(builder.asUint8Array()));
+}
+
+describe("decodeAccountView", () => {
+	test("extracts entitlement.isPaid=true from FBS EntitlementSnapshot", () => {
+		const view = buildAccountView({ includeEntitlement: true, isPaid: true });
+		const account = decodeAccountView(view);
+		expect(account.entitlement.isPaid).toBe(true);
+	});
+
+	test("extracts entitlement.isPaid=false from FBS EntitlementSnapshot", () => {
+		const view = buildAccountView({ includeEntitlement: true, isPaid: false });
+		const account = decodeAccountView(view);
+		expect(account.entitlement.isPaid).toBe(false);
+	});
+
+	test("defaults entitlement.isPaid to false when snapshot is absent", () => {
+		const view = buildAccountView({ includeEntitlement: false });
+		const account = decodeAccountView(view);
+		expect(account.entitlement.isPaid).toBe(false);
+	});
+
+	test("populates other Account fields verbatim", () => {
+		const view = buildAccountView({ includeEntitlement: true, isPaid: true });
+		const account = decodeAccountView(view);
+		expect(account.userId).toBe("user-1");
+		expect(account.email).toBe("user@example.com");
+		expect(account.userName).toBe("Player-1");
+		expect(account.displayName).toBe("Display");
+		expect(account.preferredLanguage).toBe("en-US");
+		expect(account.timeZone).toBe("UTC");
+		expect(account.declaredCountry).toBe("US");
+	});
+});

ui/frontend/tests/e2e/fixtures/lobby-fbs.ts

@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ import {
 import {
 	ApplicationSubmitResponse,
 	ApplicationSummary,
+	ErrorBody,
+	ErrorResponse,
 	GameCreateResponse,
 	GameSummary,
 	InviteDeclineResponse,
@@ -218,17 +220,36 @@ export interface AccountFixture {
 	preferredLanguage?: string;
 	timeZone?: string;
 	declaredCountry?: string;
+	isPaid?: boolean;
+}
+
+// buildLobbyErrorPayload builds a `lobby.ErrorResponse` FBS payload
+// the Playwright suite returns on non-`ok` result codes. The TS lobby
+// client decodes the same payload via `decodeLobbyError`, surfacing
+// `code` / `message` to the UI for inline rendering.
+export function buildLobbyErrorPayload(code: string, message: string): Uint8Array {
+	const builder = new Builder(128);
+	const codeOff = builder.createString(code);
+	const messageOff = builder.createString(message);
+	ErrorBody.startErrorBody(builder);
+	ErrorBody.addCode(builder, codeOff);
+	ErrorBody.addMessage(builder, messageOff);
+	const bodyOff = ErrorBody.endErrorBody(builder);
+	ErrorResponse.startErrorResponse(builder);
+	ErrorResponse.addError(builder, bodyOff);
+	builder.finish(ErrorResponse.endErrorResponse(builder));
+	return builder.asUint8Array();
 }
 
 export function buildAccountResponsePayload(account: AccountFixture): Uint8Array {
 	const builder = new Builder(256);
 
-	const planCode = builder.createString("free");
+	const planCode = builder.createString(account.isPaid === true ? "permanent" : "free");
 	const source = builder.createString("internal");
 	const reasonCode = builder.createString("");
 	EntitlementSnapshot.startEntitlementSnapshot(builder);
 	EntitlementSnapshot.addPlanCode(builder, planCode);
-	EntitlementSnapshot.addIsPaid(builder, false);
+	EntitlementSnapshot.addIsPaid(builder, account.isPaid === true);
 	EntitlementSnapshot.addSource(builder, source);
 	EntitlementSnapshot.addReasonCode(builder, reasonCode);
 	EntitlementSnapshot.addStartsAtMs(builder, 0n);

ui/frontend/tests/e2e/game-shell-map.spec.ts

@@ -250,9 +250,12 @@ test("missing-membership game drops back to the lobby with an unavailable toast"
 	);
 
 	// Back on the lobby (game shell unmounted), with the unavailable toast.
+	// F8-04b moved the `create new game` button into the `private games`
+	// sub-panel; the always-present lobby chrome signal is the identity
+	// strip, so assert that instead.
 	await expect(page.getByTestId("toast")).toContainText(
 		"this game is no longer available",
 	);
-	await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-create-button")).toBeVisible();
+	await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-account-name")).toBeVisible();
 	await expect(page.getByTestId("game-shell")).toHaveCount(0);
 });

ui/frontend/tests/e2e/inspector-ship-group.spec.ts

@@ -136,9 +136,13 @@ test("synthetic-report loader navigates from lobby to map and renders", async ({
 	page,
 }) => {
 	await seedSession(page);
-	// Seeded session → the dispatcher renders the lobby; the synthetic
-	// loader lives there behind the dev-affordances flag.
+	// Seeded session → the dispatcher renders the lobby. F8-04b moved
+	// the synthetic-report loader off of Overview into its own
+	// dev-only top-level screen; jump straight to it via the dev nav
+	// surface so the spec is viewport-agnostic.
 	await page.goto("/");
+	await page.waitForFunction(() => window.__galaxyNav !== undefined);
+	await page.evaluate(() => window.__galaxyNav!.go("synthetic-reports"));
 	await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-synthetic-section")).toBeVisible();
 
 	const file = page.getByTestId("lobby-synthetic-file");

ui/frontend/tests/e2e/lobby-flow.spec.ts

@@ -42,9 +42,14 @@ interface LobbyMocks {
 	createGameCalls: GameFixture[];
 	applicationSubmitCalls: Array<{ gameId: string; raceName: string }>;
 	inviteRedeemCalls: Array<{ gameId: string; inviteId: string }>;
+	accountIsPaid: boolean;
 }
 
-async function mockGateway(page: Page, initial: Partial<LobbyState> = {}): Promise<LobbyMocks> {
+interface MockOptions extends Partial<LobbyState> {
+	isPaid?: boolean;
+}
+
+async function mockGateway(page: Page, initial: MockOptions = {}): Promise<LobbyMocks> {
 	const mocks: LobbyMocks = {
 		state: {
 			myGames: initial.myGames ?? [],
@@ -56,6 +61,7 @@ async function mockGateway(page: Page, initial: Partial<LobbyState> = {}): Promi
 		createGameCalls: [],
 		applicationSubmitCalls: [],
 		inviteRedeemCalls: [],
+		accountIsPaid: initial.isPaid ?? false,
 	};
 
 	await page.route("**/api/v1/public/auth/send-email-code", async (route) => {
@@ -94,6 +100,7 @@ async function mockGateway(page: Page, initial: Partial<LobbyState> = {}): Promi
 					email: "pilot@example.com",
 					userName: "pilot",
 					displayName: "Pilot",
+					isPaid: mocks.accountIsPaid,
 				});
 				break;
 			case "lobby.my.games.list":
@@ -255,16 +262,23 @@ async function completeLogin(page: Page): Promise<void> {
 }
 
 test.describe("Phase 8 — lobby flow", () => {
-	test("create-game flow lands the new game in My Games", async ({ page }) => {
-		const mocks = await mockGateway(page);
+	test("paid-tier owner creates a private game and lands on the private-games panel", async ({
+		page,
+	}) => {
+		const mocks = await mockGateway(page, { isPaid: true });
 		await completeLogin(page);
 
-		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-my-games-empty")).toBeVisible();
-		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-public-games-empty")).toBeVisible();
+		// Default landing is `games-recruitment` (empty, no public games).
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-recruitment-empty")).toBeVisible();
+
+		// Paid tier exposes the `private games` sub-panel; navigate to
+		// it via the dev nav surface so the spec is viewport-agnostic
+		// (the mobile sidebar hides the desktop submenu behind a
+		// dropdown — that UX is covered by lobby-submenu specs).
+		await page.evaluate(() => window.__galaxyNav!.go("games-private-games"));
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-games-private-empty")).toBeVisible();
 
 		await page.getByTestId("lobby-create-button").click();
-		// The create screen replaces the lobby in place (no `/lobby/create`
-		// route); the create form is the visible signal.
 		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-create-form")).toBeVisible();
 
 		await page.getByTestId("lobby-create-game-name").click();
@@ -276,16 +290,18 @@ test.describe("Phase 8 — lobby flow", () => {
 			.fill("2026-06-01T12:00");
 		await page.getByTestId("lobby-create-submit").click();
 
-		// Submit returns to the lobby in place; the new game card is the
-		// visible signal that the lobby re-rendered.
-		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-my-game-card")).toContainText("First Contact");
+		// Submit returns to the private-games sub-panel; the new game
+		// card is the visible signal that the lobby data refreshed.
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-private-game-card")).toContainText(
+			"First Contact",
+		);
 		expect(mocks.createGameCalls.length).toBe(1);
 		expect(mocks.createGameCalls[0]!.gameName).toBe("First Contact");
 
 		mocks.pendingSubscribes.forEach((resolve) => resolve());
 	});
 
-	test("submitting an application produces a pending applications card", async ({
+	test("submitting an application produces a status chip on the recruitment card", async ({
 		page,
 	}) => {
 		const mocks = await mockGateway(page, {
@@ -300,14 +316,17 @@ test.describe("Phase 8 — lobby flow", () => {
 		});
 		await completeLogin(page);
 
-		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-public-game-apply")).toBeVisible();
+		// Default landing for a no-games account is the recruitment panel.
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-recruitment-card")).toBeVisible();
 		await page.getByTestId("lobby-public-game-apply").click();
 		await page
 			.getByTestId("lobby-application-race-name")
 			.fill("Vegan Federation");
 		await page.getByTestId("lobby-application-submit").click();
 
-		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-application-card")).toBeVisible();
+		// After submit the inline form collapses and the recruitment card
+		// surfaces the status chip with the new `pending` application.
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-application-status-chip")).toBeVisible();
 		expect(mocks.applicationSubmitCalls).toEqual([
 			{ gameId: "public-1", raceName: "Vegan Federation" },
 		]);
@@ -315,7 +334,7 @@ test.describe("Phase 8 — lobby flow", () => {
 		mocks.pendingSubscribes.forEach((resolve) => resolve());
 	});
 
-	test("accepting an invitation removes it and adds the game to My Games", async ({
+	test("accepting an invitation removes it and adds the game to active-past", async ({
 		page,
 	}) => {
 		const mocks = await mockGateway(page, {
@@ -332,10 +351,16 @@ test.describe("Phase 8 — lobby flow", () => {
 		});
 		await completeLogin(page);
 
+		// Navigate to the invitations sub-panel via the dev nav surface
+		// (viewport-agnostic — the mobile sidebar hides the desktop
+		// submenu behind a dropdown).
+		await page.evaluate(() => window.__galaxyNav!.go("games-invitations"));
 		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-invite-accept")).toBeVisible();
 		await page.getByTestId("lobby-invite-accept").click();
-
 		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-invite-accept")).toBeHidden();
+
+		// Active-past now has the invited game.
+		await page.evaluate(() => window.__galaxyNav!.go("games-active-past"));
 		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-my-game-card")).toContainText("Invited Game");
 		expect(mocks.inviteRedeemCalls).toEqual([
 			{ gameId: "private-1", inviteId: "invite-1" },

ui/frontend/tests/e2e/lobby-recruitment-badges.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,244 @@
+// F8-04b regression spec: recruitment cards merge public games with
+// the caller's applications and surface the application status as a
+// chip. The inline race-name form must be visible when there is no
+// application or when the latest application is `rejected` (re-apply
+// flow). Pending / approved applications hide the form.
+
+import { fromJson, type JsonValue } from "@bufbuild/protobuf";
+import { expect, test, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
+import { ExecuteCommandRequestSchema } from "../../src/proto/edge/v1/edge_gateway_pb";
+import { forgeExecuteCommandResponseJson } from "./fixtures/sign-response";
+import {
+	buildAccountResponsePayload,
+	buildMyApplicationsListPayload,
+	buildMyGamesListPayload,
+	buildMyInvitesListPayload,
+	buildPublicGamesListPayload,
+	type ApplicationFixture,
+	type GameFixture,
+} from "./fixtures/lobby-fbs";
+
+interface BadgeMocks {
+	pendingSubscribes: Array<() => void>;
+}
+
+async function mockGateway(
+	page: Page,
+	opts: { games: GameFixture[]; applications: ApplicationFixture[] },
+): Promise<BadgeMocks> {
+	const mocks: BadgeMocks = { pendingSubscribes: [] };
+
+	await page.route("**/api/v1/public/auth/send-email-code", async (route) => {
+		await route.fulfill({
+			status: 200,
+			contentType: "application/json",
+			body: JSON.stringify({ challenge_id: "ch-badge-1" }),
+		});
+	});
+	await page.route("**/api/v1/public/auth/confirm-email-code", async (route) => {
+		await route.fulfill({
+			status: 200,
+			contentType: "application/json",
+			body: JSON.stringify({ device_session_id: "dev-badge-1" }),
+		});
+	});
+
+	await page.route("**/edge.v1.Gateway/ExecuteCommand", async (route) => {
+		const reqText = route.request().postData();
+		if (reqText === null) {
+			await route.fulfill({ status: 400 });
+			return;
+		}
+		const req = fromJson(
+			ExecuteCommandRequestSchema,
+			JSON.parse(reqText) as JsonValue,
+		);
+		let payload: Uint8Array;
+		switch (req.messageType) {
+			case "user.account.get":
+				payload = buildAccountResponsePayload({
+					userId: "user-badge",
+					email: "pilot+badge@example.com",
+					userName: "pilot",
+					displayName: "Pilot",
+				});
+				break;
+			case "lobby.my.games.list":
+				payload = buildMyGamesListPayload([]);
+				break;
+			case "lobby.public.games.list":
+				payload = buildPublicGamesListPayload(opts.games);
+				break;
+			case "lobby.my.invites.list":
+				payload = buildMyInvitesListPayload([]);
+				break;
+			case "lobby.my.applications.list":
+				payload = buildMyApplicationsListPayload(opts.applications);
+				break;
+			default:
+				payload = new Uint8Array();
+				break;
+		}
+		const responseJson = await forgeExecuteCommandResponseJson({
+			requestId: req.requestId,
+			timestampMs: BigInt(Date.now()),
+			resultCode: "ok",
+			payloadBytes: payload,
+		});
+		await route.fulfill({
+			status: 200,
+			contentType: "application/json",
+			body: responseJson,
+		});
+	});
+
+	await page.route("**/edge.v1.Gateway/SubscribeEvents", async (route) => {
+		const action = await new Promise<"endOfStream" | "abort">((resolve) => {
+			mocks.pendingSubscribes.push(() => resolve("endOfStream"));
+		});
+		if (action === "abort") {
+			await route.abort();
+			return;
+		}
+		const body = new TextEncoder().encode("{}");
+		const frame = new Uint8Array(5 + body.length);
+		frame[0] = 0x02;
+		new DataView(frame.buffer).setUint32(1, body.length, false);
+		frame.set(body, 5);
+		await route.fulfill({
+			status: 200,
+			contentType: "application/connect+json",
+			body: Buffer.from(frame),
+		});
+	});
+
+	return mocks;
+}
+
+async function completeLogin(page: Page): Promise<void> {
+	await page.goto("/");
+	await page.getByTestId("login-email-input").click();
+	await page.getByTestId("login-email-input").fill("pilot+badge@example.com");
+	await page.getByTestId("login-email-submit").click();
+	await page.getByTestId("login-code-input").click();
+	await page.getByTestId("login-code-input").fill("123456");
+	await page.getByTestId("login-code-submit").click();
+	await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-account-name")).toBeVisible();
+}
+
+test.describe("F8-04b — recruitment status badges", () => {
+	test("pending application hides the inline form and shows the chip", async ({
+		page,
+	}) => {
+		const game: GameFixture = {
+			gameId: "public-pending",
+			gameName: "Pending Game",
+			gameType: "public",
+			status: "enrollment_open",
+			ownerUserId: "other-owner",
+		};
+		const app: ApplicationFixture = {
+			applicationId: "app-pending",
+			gameId: "public-pending",
+			applicantUserId: "user-badge",
+			raceName: "Race Pending",
+			status: "pending",
+			createdAtMs: 1n,
+		};
+		const mocks = await mockGateway(page, { games: [game], applications: [app] });
+		await completeLogin(page);
+
+		const card = page.getByTestId("lobby-recruitment-card");
+		await expect(card).toBeVisible();
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-application-status-chip")).toContainText(
+			/pending/i,
+		);
+		// Inline form is hidden for pending — re-apply not allowed.
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-public-game-apply")).toBeHidden();
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-application-form")).toBeHidden();
+
+		mocks.pendingSubscribes.forEach((resolve) => resolve());
+	});
+
+	test("rejected application shows the chip AND keeps the inline form visible", async ({
+		page,
+	}) => {
+		const game: GameFixture = {
+			gameId: "public-rejected",
+			gameName: "Rejected Game",
+			gameType: "public",
+			status: "enrollment_open",
+			ownerUserId: "other-owner",
+		};
+		const app: ApplicationFixture = {
+			applicationId: "app-rejected",
+			gameId: "public-rejected",
+			applicantUserId: "user-badge",
+			raceName: "Race Rejected",
+			status: "rejected",
+			createdAtMs: 1n,
+		};
+		const mocks = await mockGateway(page, { games: [game], applications: [app] });
+		await completeLogin(page);
+
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-recruitment-card")).toBeVisible();
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-application-status-chip")).toContainText(
+			/rejected/i,
+		);
+		// Re-apply button is visible for rejected — owner-confirmed F8-04b
+		// behaviour.
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-public-game-apply")).toBeVisible();
+
+		mocks.pendingSubscribes.forEach((resolve) => resolve());
+	});
+
+	test("approved application hides the inline form and shows the chip", async ({
+		page,
+	}) => {
+		const game: GameFixture = {
+			gameId: "public-approved",
+			gameName: "Approved Game",
+			gameType: "public",
+			status: "enrollment_open",
+			ownerUserId: "other-owner",
+		};
+		const app: ApplicationFixture = {
+			applicationId: "app-approved",
+			gameId: "public-approved",
+			applicantUserId: "user-badge",
+			raceName: "Race Approved",
+			status: "approved",
+			createdAtMs: 1n,
+		};
+		const mocks = await mockGateway(page, { games: [game], applications: [app] });
+		await completeLogin(page);
+
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-application-status-chip")).toContainText(
+			/approved/i,
+		);
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-public-game-apply")).toBeHidden();
+
+		mocks.pendingSubscribes.forEach((resolve) => resolve());
+	});
+
+	test("no application leaves the inline race-name form visible", async ({
+		page,
+	}) => {
+		const game: GameFixture = {
+			gameId: "public-new",
+			gameName: "New Game",
+			gameType: "public",
+			status: "enrollment_open",
+			ownerUserId: "other-owner",
+		};
+		const mocks = await mockGateway(page, { games: [game], applications: [] });
+		await completeLogin(page);
+
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-recruitment-card")).toBeVisible();
+		// No application → no chip, but the apply button is there.
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-application-status-chip")).toBeHidden();
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-public-game-apply")).toBeVisible();
+
+		mocks.pendingSubscribes.forEach((resolve) => resolve());
+	});
+});

ui/frontend/tests/e2e/lobby-tier-gate.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,240 @@
+// F8-04b regression spec: paid-tier gate on the `private games`
+// sub-panel and the `create new game` button. The gateway is mocked
+// at the message-type level (same shape as lobby-flow.spec.ts) so the
+// account aggregate carries either is_paid=false (free) or
+// is_paid=true (paid). The tests assert sidebar visibility and the
+// inline forbidden message produced by the lobby-create screen when
+// the backend rejects a `lobby.game.create` from a free-tier caller.
+
+import { fromJson, type JsonValue } from "@bufbuild/protobuf";
+import { expect, test, type Page } from "@playwright/test";
+import { ExecuteCommandRequestSchema } from "../../src/proto/edge/v1/edge_gateway_pb";
+import { forgeExecuteCommandResponseJson } from "./fixtures/sign-response";
+import {
+	buildAccountResponsePayload,
+	buildMyApplicationsListPayload,
+	buildMyGamesListPayload,
+	buildMyInvitesListPayload,
+	buildPublicGamesListPayload,
+	buildLobbyErrorPayload,
+} from "./fixtures/lobby-fbs";
+
+interface TierMocks {
+	pendingSubscribes: Array<() => void>;
+	createGameCalls: number;
+}
+
+async function mockGatewayTier(
+	page: Page,
+	opts: { isPaid: boolean; rejectCreate?: boolean },
+): Promise<TierMocks> {
+	const mocks: TierMocks = {
+		pendingSubscribes: [],
+		createGameCalls: 0,
+	};
+
+	await page.route("**/api/v1/public/auth/send-email-code", async (route) => {
+		await route.fulfill({
+			status: 200,
+			contentType: "application/json",
+			body: JSON.stringify({ challenge_id: "ch-tier-1" }),
+		});
+	});
+	await page.route("**/api/v1/public/auth/confirm-email-code", async (route) => {
+		await route.fulfill({
+			status: 200,
+			contentType: "application/json",
+			body: JSON.stringify({ device_session_id: "dev-tier-1" }),
+		});
+	});
+
+	await page.route("**/edge.v1.Gateway/ExecuteCommand", async (route) => {
+		const reqText = route.request().postData();
+		if (reqText === null) {
+			await route.fulfill({ status: 400 });
+			return;
+		}
+		const req = fromJson(
+			ExecuteCommandRequestSchema,
+			JSON.parse(reqText) as JsonValue,
+		);
+
+		let resultCode = "ok";
+		let payload: Uint8Array;
+		switch (req.messageType) {
+			case "user.account.get":
+				payload = buildAccountResponsePayload({
+					userId: "user-tier",
+					email: "pilot+tier@example.com",
+					userName: "pilot",
+					displayName: "Pilot",
+					isPaid: opts.isPaid,
+				});
+				break;
+			case "lobby.my.games.list":
+				payload = buildMyGamesListPayload([]);
+				break;
+			case "lobby.public.games.list":
+				payload = buildPublicGamesListPayload([]);
+				break;
+			case "lobby.my.invites.list":
+				payload = buildMyInvitesListPayload([]);
+				break;
+			case "lobby.my.applications.list":
+				payload = buildMyApplicationsListPayload([]);
+				break;
+			case "lobby.game.create":
+				mocks.createGameCalls += 1;
+				if (opts.rejectCreate === true) {
+					resultCode = "forbidden";
+					payload = buildLobbyErrorPayload(
+						"forbidden",
+						"creating private games requires a paid subscription",
+					);
+				} else {
+					// Tests that allow create return a minimal valid payload
+					// — but we only need the rejection path here.
+					resultCode = "internal_error";
+					payload = new Uint8Array();
+				}
+				break;
+			default:
+				resultCode = "internal_error";
+				payload = new Uint8Array();
+				break;
+		}
+
+		const responseJson = await forgeExecuteCommandResponseJson({
+			requestId: req.requestId,
+			timestampMs: BigInt(Date.now()),
+			resultCode,
+			payloadBytes: payload,
+		});
+		await route.fulfill({
+			status: 200,
+			contentType: "application/json",
+			body: responseJson,
+		});
+	});
+
+	await page.route("**/edge.v1.Gateway/SubscribeEvents", async (route) => {
+		const action = await new Promise<"endOfStream" | "abort">((resolve) => {
+			mocks.pendingSubscribes.push(() => resolve("endOfStream"));
+		});
+		if (action === "abort") {
+			await route.abort();
+			return;
+		}
+		const body = new TextEncoder().encode("{}");
+		const frame = new Uint8Array(5 + body.length);
+		frame[0] = 0x02;
+		new DataView(frame.buffer).setUint32(1, body.length, false);
+		frame.set(body, 5);
+		await route.fulfill({
+			status: 200,
+			contentType: "application/connect+json",
+			body: Buffer.from(frame),
+		});
+	});
+
+	return mocks;
+}
+
+async function completeLogin(page: Page): Promise<void> {
+	await page.goto("/");
+	await expect(page.getByTestId("login-email-input")).toBeVisible();
+	await page.getByTestId("login-email-input").click();
+	await page.getByTestId("login-email-input").fill("pilot+tier@example.com");
+	await page.getByTestId("login-email-submit").click();
+	await expect(page.getByTestId("login-code-input")).toBeVisible();
+	await page.getByTestId("login-code-input").click();
+	await page.getByTestId("login-code-input").fill("123456");
+	await page.getByTestId("login-code-submit").click();
+	await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-account-name")).toBeVisible();
+}
+
+test.describe("F8-04b — tier gate", () => {
+	test("free-tier session hides the private-games sub-panel and the create button", async ({
+		page,
+	}) => {
+		// Note: this assertion exercises the runtime check
+		// (account.entitlement.isPaid). The build-time
+		// VITE_GALAXY_DEV_AFFORDANCES flag is `true` in the dev bundle
+		// the e2e suite runs against, so the sub-panel WOULD be visible
+		// without the runtime check. The shell falls back to the
+		// runtime check whenever DEV_AFFORDANCES is also true — that's
+		// the path this test pins.
+		const mocks = await mockGatewayTier(page, { isPaid: false });
+		await completeLogin(page);
+
+		// Default landing is `games-recruitment`.
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-recruitment-empty")).toBeVisible();
+
+		// In a true prod bundle the private-games entry would be
+		// absent. The dev bundle keeps it via VITE_GALAXY_DEV_AFFORDANCES;
+		// this assertion documents the dev-bundle behaviour and acts as
+		// a smoke test that the runtime predicate at least evaluates
+		// account.entitlement.is_paid without throwing. Use `attached`
+		// instead of `visible` because the desktop submenu button is
+		// CSS-hidden on the mobile viewports — the mobile sidebar
+		// tucks the same entry behind a dropdown popover.
+		const privateGamesEntry = page.getByTestId("lobby-nav-games-private-games");
+		await expect(privateGamesEntry).toBeAttached();
+
+		// Free-tier callers reach the create form via the DEV-visible
+		// entry, but the backend still rejects the POST. Use the dev
+		// nav surface so the assertion works on mobile too.
+		await page.evaluate(() => window.__galaxyNav!.go("games-private-games"));
+		await page.getByTestId("lobby-create-button").click();
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-create-form")).toBeVisible();
+
+		mocks.pendingSubscribes.forEach((resolve) => resolve());
+	});
+
+	test("backend forbidden surfaces an inline paid-tier message on lobby-create", async ({
+		page,
+	}) => {
+		const mocks = await mockGatewayTier(page, {
+			isPaid: false,
+			rejectCreate: true,
+		});
+		await completeLogin(page);
+
+		await page.evaluate(() => window.__galaxyNav!.go("games-private-games"));
+		await page.getByTestId("lobby-create-button").click();
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-create-form")).toBeVisible();
+
+		await page.getByTestId("lobby-create-game-name").click();
+		await page.getByTestId("lobby-create-game-name").fill("Forbidden Game");
+		await page.getByTestId("lobby-create-turn-schedule").click();
+		await page.getByTestId("lobby-create-turn-schedule").fill("0 0 * * *");
+		await page
+			.getByTestId("lobby-create-enrollment-ends-at")
+			.fill("2026-06-01T12:00");
+		await page.getByTestId("lobby-create-submit").click();
+
+		// Inline error stays on the create form (no redirect, no toast).
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-create-error")).toContainText(
+			"paid",
+		);
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-create-form")).toBeVisible();
+		expect(mocks.createGameCalls).toBe(1);
+
+		mocks.pendingSubscribes.forEach((resolve) => resolve());
+	});
+
+	test("paid-tier session shows the private-games sub-panel and routes the create-button to the form", async ({
+		page,
+	}) => {
+		const mocks = await mockGatewayTier(page, { isPaid: true });
+		await completeLogin(page);
+
+		await page.evaluate(() => window.__galaxyNav!.go("games-private-games"));
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-games-private-empty")).toBeVisible();
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-create-button")).toBeVisible();
+		await page.getByTestId("lobby-create-button").click();
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-create-form")).toBeVisible();
+
+		mocks.pendingSubscribes.forEach((resolve) => resolve());
+	});
+});

ui/frontend/tests/e2e/profile-screen.spec.ts

@@ -260,7 +260,9 @@ test.describe("F8-04 — profile screen", () => {
 		await page.getByTestId("profile-display-name").fill("ignored");
 		await page.getByTestId("profile-cancel").click();
 
-		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-my-games-empty")).toBeVisible();
+		// Cancel returns to the lobby (resolver navigates to the first
+		// visible games sub-panel — recruitment for a no-games session).
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-recruitment-empty")).toBeVisible();
 		expect(mocks.profileUpdates).toEqual([]);
 		expect(mocks.settingsUpdates).toEqual([]);
 
@@ -320,16 +322,19 @@ test.describe("F8-04 — profile screen", () => {
 		const firstCount = mocks.accountGetCount;
 		expect(firstCount).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(1);
 
-		// Navigate Overview → Profile: identity must NOT flash the
+		// Navigate Games → Profile: identity must NOT flash the
 		// loading placeholder, and the cache must answer without a
 		// second gateway call.
 		await page.getByTestId("lobby-nav-profile").click();
 		await expect(page.getByTestId("profile-form")).toBeVisible();
 		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-account-name")).toContainText("Pilot");
 
-		// Navigate back to Overview.
-		await page.getByTestId("lobby-nav-overview").click();
-		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-my-games-empty")).toBeVisible();
+		// Navigate back to the games section. F8-04b replaced the bare
+		// `Overview` page with a `games` parent + sub-panels; the dev
+		// nav surface goes straight to the canonical landing
+		// (`games-recruitment`) so the assertion is viewport-agnostic.
+		await page.evaluate(() => window.__galaxyNav!.go("games-recruitment"));
+		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-recruitment-empty")).toBeVisible();
 		await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-account-name")).toContainText("Pilot");
 
 		expect(mocks.accountGetCount).toBe(firstCount);

ui/frontend/tests/e2e/ship-group-send.spec.ts

@@ -135,9 +135,13 @@ async function bootSession(page: Page): Promise<void> {
 }
 
 async function loadSyntheticGame(page: Page): Promise<void> {
-	// Seeded session → the dispatcher renders the lobby; the synthetic
-	// loader lives there behind the dev-affordances flag.
+	// Seeded session → the dispatcher renders the lobby. F8-04b moved
+	// the synthetic-report loader off of Overview into its own
+	// dev-only top-level screen; jump straight to it via the dev nav
+	// surface so the spec is viewport-agnostic.
 	await page.goto("/");
+	await page.waitForFunction(() => window.__galaxyNav !== undefined);
+	await page.evaluate(() => window.__galaxyNav!.go("synthetic-reports"));
 	await expect(page.getByTestId("lobby-synthetic-section")).toBeVisible();
 	const file = page.getByTestId("lobby-synthetic-file");
 	await file.setInputFiles({

ui/frontend/tests/lobby-create.test.ts

@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ describe("lobby/create screen", () => {
 			expect(input.startGapPlayers).toBe(2);
 			expect(input.targetEngineVersion).toBe("v1");
 			expect(input.enrollmentEndsAt).toBeInstanceOf(Date);
-			expect(appScreenGoSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith("lobby");
+			expect(appScreenGoSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith("games-private-games");
 		});
 	});
 

ui/frontend/tests/lobby-page.test.ts

@@ -1,430 +0,0 @@
-// Component tests for the Phase 8 lobby screen. The lobby API and the
-// gateway client are mocked at module level; the session singleton is
-// wired to a per-test `SessionStore`-backing IndexedDB so the page's
-// boot path settles on `authenticated` and constructs a real
-// GalaxyClient (which is then never called because the lobby API
-// wrappers are stubs). The tests assert the section rendering, the
-// inline race-name form for public games, and the invitation Accept
-// flow. The app-shell navigation store is mocked so opening a game
-// (`activeView.reset()` + `appScreen.go("game", …)`) or the create
-// form (`appScreen.go("lobby-create")`) never runs real `pushState`
-// in JSDOM; the single-URL shell has no `/lobby`/`/games` routes.
-
-import "fake-indexeddb/auto";
-import { fireEvent, render, waitFor } from "@testing-library/svelte";
-import {
-	afterEach,
-	beforeEach,
-	describe,
-	expect,
-	test,
-	vi,
-} from "vitest";
-import type { IDBPDatabase } from "idb";
-
-import { i18n } from "../src/lib/i18n/index.svelte";
-import { session } from "../src/lib/session-store.svelte";
-import { type GalaxyDB, openGalaxyDB } from "../src/platform/store/idb";
-import { IDBCache } from "../src/platform/store/idb-cache";
-import { WebCryptoKeyStore } from "../src/platform/store/webcrypto-keystore";
-
-// The lobby screen navigates through the app-shell stores
-// (`appScreen.go`, `activeView.reset`/`select`), which internally call
-// SvelteKit `pushState`. Mock the whole nav module so the spies
-// capture the transitions and no real history mutation runs in JSDOM.
-const appScreenGoSpy = vi.fn();
-const activeViewResetSpy = vi.fn();
-const activeViewSelectSpy = vi.fn();
-vi.mock("$lib/app-nav.svelte", () => ({
-	appScreen: { go: (...args: unknown[]) => appScreenGoSpy(...args) },
-	activeView: {
-		reset: (...args: unknown[]) => activeViewResetSpy(...args),
-		select: (...args: unknown[]) => activeViewSelectSpy(...args),
-	},
-}));
-
-const listMyGamesSpy = vi.fn();
-const listPublicGamesSpy = vi.fn();
-const listMyInvitesSpy = vi.fn();
-const listMyApplicationsSpy = vi.fn();
-const submitApplicationSpy = vi.fn();
-const redeemInviteSpy = vi.fn();
-const declineInviteSpy = vi.fn();
-
-vi.mock("../src/api/lobby", async () => {
-	const actual = await vi.importActual<typeof import("../src/api/lobby")>(
-		"../src/api/lobby",
-	);
-	return {
-		...actual,
-		listMyGames: (...args: unknown[]) => listMyGamesSpy(...args),
-		listPublicGames: (...args: unknown[]) => listPublicGamesSpy(...args),
-		listMyInvites: (...args: unknown[]) => listMyInvitesSpy(...args),
-		listMyApplications: (...args: unknown[]) => listMyApplicationsSpy(...args),
-		submitApplication: (...args: unknown[]) => submitApplicationSpy(...args),
-		redeemInvite: (...args: unknown[]) => redeemInviteSpy(...args),
-		declineInvite: (...args: unknown[]) => declineInviteSpy(...args),
-	};
-});
-
-vi.mock("../src/lib/env", () => ({
-	GATEWAY_BASE_URL: "http://gateway.test",
-	gatewayRpcBaseUrl: () => "http://gateway.test/rpc",
-	GATEWAY_RESPONSE_PUBLIC_KEY: new Uint8Array(32).fill(0x55),
-}));
-
-vi.mock("../src/api/connect", () => ({
-	createGatewayClient: vi.fn(() => ({})),
-}));
-
-vi.mock("../src/api/galaxy-client", () => {
-	class FakeGalaxyClient {
-		executeCommand = vi.fn(async () => ({
-			resultCode: "ok",
-			payloadBytes: new Uint8Array(),
-		}));
-	}
-	return { GalaxyClient: FakeGalaxyClient };
-});
-
-vi.mock("../src/platform/core/index", () => ({
-	loadCore: async () => ({
-		signRequest: () => new Uint8Array(),
-		verifyResponse: () => true,
-		verifyEvent: () => true,
-		verifyPayloadHash: () => true,
-	}),
-}));
-
-let db: IDBPDatabase<GalaxyDB>;
-let dbName: string;
-
-beforeEach(async () => {
-	dbName = `galaxy-ui-test-${crypto.randomUUID()}`;
-	db = await openGalaxyDB(dbName);
-	const store = {
-		keyStore: new WebCryptoKeyStore(db),
-		cache: new IDBCache(db),
-	};
-	session.resetForTests();
-	session.setStoreLoaderForTests(async () => store);
-	await session.init();
-	await session.signIn("device-1");
-	i18n.resetForTests("en");
-
-	listMyGamesSpy.mockReset();
-	listPublicGamesSpy.mockReset();
-	listMyInvitesSpy.mockReset();
-	listMyApplicationsSpy.mockReset();
-	submitApplicationSpy.mockReset();
-	redeemInviteSpy.mockReset();
-	declineInviteSpy.mockReset();
-	appScreenGoSpy.mockReset();
-	activeViewResetSpy.mockReset();
-	activeViewSelectSpy.mockReset();
-});
-
-afterEach(async () => {
-	session.resetForTests();
-	i18n.resetForTests("en");
-	db.close();
-	await new Promise<void>((resolve) => {
-		const req = indexedDB.deleteDatabase(dbName);
-		req.onsuccess = () => resolve();
-		req.onerror = () => resolve();
-		req.onblocked = () => resolve();
-	});
-});
-
-async function importLobbyPage(): Promise<
-	typeof import("../src/lib/screens/lobby-screen.svelte")
-> {
-	return import("../src/lib/screens/lobby-screen.svelte");
-}
-
-const baseDate = new Date("2026-05-07T10:00:00Z");
-
-function makeGame(id: string, name: string, status = "draft") {
-	return {
-		gameId: id,
-		gameName: name,
-		gameType: "private",
-		status,
-		ownerUserId: "user-1",
-		minPlayers: 2,
-		maxPlayers: 8,
-		enrollmentEndsAt: baseDate,
-		createdAt: baseDate,
-		updatedAt: baseDate,
-		currentTurn: 0,
-	};
-}
-
-function makePublicGame(id: string, name: string) {
-	return {
-		gameId: id,
-		gameName: name,
-		gameType: "public",
-		status: "enrollment_open",
-		ownerUserId: "",
-		minPlayers: 4,
-		maxPlayers: 12,
-		enrollmentEndsAt: baseDate,
-		createdAt: baseDate,
-		updatedAt: baseDate,
-		currentTurn: 0,
-	};
-}
-
-function makeInvite(id: string) {
-	return {
-		inviteId: id,
-		gameId: "private-1",
-		inviterUserId: "host",
-		invitedUserId: "user-1",
-		code: "",
-		raceName: "Vegan Federation",
-		status: "pending",
-		createdAt: baseDate,
-		expiresAt: baseDate,
-		decidedAt: null,
-	};
-}
-
-function makeApplication(id: string, status: string) {
-	return {
-		applicationId: id,
-		gameId: "public-1",
-		applicantUserId: "user-1",
-		raceName: "Vegan Federation",
-		status,
-		createdAt: baseDate,
-		decidedAt: status === "pending" ? null : baseDate,
-	};
-}
-
-describe("lobby screen", () => {
-	test("renders empty states for every section when API returns no items", async () => {
-		listMyGamesSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-		listPublicGamesSpy.mockResolvedValue({ items: [], page: 1, pageSize: 50, total: 0 });
-		listMyInvitesSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-		listMyApplicationsSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-
-		const Page = (await importLobbyPage()).default;
-		const ui = render(Page);
-
-		await waitFor(() => {
-			expect(ui.getByTestId("lobby-my-games-empty")).toBeInTheDocument();
-			expect(ui.getByTestId("lobby-invitations-empty")).toBeInTheDocument();
-			expect(ui.getByTestId("lobby-applications-empty")).toBeInTheDocument();
-			expect(ui.getByTestId("lobby-public-games-empty")).toBeInTheDocument();
-		});
-	});
-
-	test("renders my-game cards and public-game cards when items are present", async () => {
-		listMyGamesSpy.mockResolvedValue([makeGame("private-1", "First Contact")]);
-		listPublicGamesSpy.mockResolvedValue({
-			items: [makePublicGame("public-1", "Open Lobby")],
-			page: 1,
-			pageSize: 50,
-			total: 1,
-		});
-		listMyInvitesSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-		listMyApplicationsSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-
-		const Page = (await importLobbyPage()).default;
-		const ui = render(Page);
-
-		await waitFor(() => {
-			expect(ui.getAllByTestId("lobby-my-game-card").length).toBe(1);
-			expect(ui.getByText("First Contact")).toBeInTheDocument();
-			expect(ui.getByText("Open Lobby")).toBeInTheDocument();
-		});
-	});
-
-	test("submitting an application opens the inline form and posts race_name", async () => {
-		listMyGamesSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-		listPublicGamesSpy.mockResolvedValue({
-			items: [makePublicGame("public-1", "Open Lobby")],
-			page: 1,
-			pageSize: 50,
-			total: 1,
-		});
-		listMyInvitesSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-		listMyApplicationsSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-		submitApplicationSpy.mockResolvedValue(makeApplication("app-1", "pending"));
-
-		const Page = (await importLobbyPage()).default;
-		const ui = render(Page);
-
-		await waitFor(() => {
-			expect(ui.getByTestId("lobby-public-game-apply")).toBeInTheDocument();
-		});
-
-		await fireEvent.click(ui.getByTestId("lobby-public-game-apply"));
-
-		await waitFor(() => {
-			expect(ui.getByTestId("lobby-application-form")).toBeInTheDocument();
-		});
-
-		await fireEvent.input(ui.getByTestId("lobby-application-race-name"), {
-			target: { value: "Vegan Federation" },
-		});
-		await fireEvent.click(ui.getByTestId("lobby-application-submit"));
-
-		await waitFor(() => {
-			expect(submitApplicationSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-				expect.anything(),
-				"public-1",
-				"Vegan Federation",
-			);
-			expect(ui.getByTestId("lobby-application-card")).toBeInTheDocument();
-		});
-	});
-
-	test("submitting an empty race name surfaces a validation error and does not call the API", async () => {
-		listMyGamesSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-		listPublicGamesSpy.mockResolvedValue({
-			items: [makePublicGame("public-1", "Open Lobby")],
-			page: 1,
-			pageSize: 50,
-			total: 1,
-		});
-		listMyInvitesSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-		listMyApplicationsSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-
-		const Page = (await importLobbyPage()).default;
-		const ui = render(Page);
-
-		await waitFor(() =>
-			expect(ui.getByTestId("lobby-public-game-apply")).toBeInTheDocument(),
-		);
-		await fireEvent.click(ui.getByTestId("lobby-public-game-apply"));
-		await fireEvent.click(ui.getByTestId("lobby-application-submit"));
-
-		await waitFor(() => {
-			expect(ui.getByTestId("lobby-application-error")).toBeInTheDocument();
-			expect(submitApplicationSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-		});
-	});
-
-	test("accepting an invitation calls redeemInvite and removes the card", async () => {
-		listMyGamesSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-		listPublicGamesSpy.mockResolvedValue({ items: [], page: 1, pageSize: 50, total: 0 });
-		listMyInvitesSpy.mockResolvedValue([makeInvite("invite-1")]);
-		listMyApplicationsSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-		redeemInviteSpy.mockResolvedValue(makeInvite("invite-1"));
-
-		const Page = (await importLobbyPage()).default;
-		const ui = render(Page);
-
-		await waitFor(() =>
-			expect(ui.getByTestId("lobby-invite-accept")).toBeInTheDocument(),
-		);
-
-		await fireEvent.click(ui.getByTestId("lobby-invite-accept"));
-
-		await waitFor(() => {
-			expect(redeemInviteSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-				expect.anything(),
-				"private-1",
-				"invite-1",
-			);
-			expect(ui.queryByTestId("lobby-invite-accept")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
-			expect(ui.getByTestId("lobby-invitations-empty")).toBeInTheDocument();
-		});
-	});
-
-	test("declining an invitation calls declineInvite and removes the card", async () => {
-		listMyGamesSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-		listPublicGamesSpy.mockResolvedValue({ items: [], page: 1, pageSize: 50, total: 0 });
-		listMyInvitesSpy.mockResolvedValue([makeInvite("invite-2")]);
-		listMyApplicationsSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-		declineInviteSpy.mockResolvedValue({ ...makeInvite("invite-2"), status: "declined" });
-
-		const Page = (await importLobbyPage()).default;
-		const ui = render(Page);
-
-		await waitFor(() =>
-			expect(ui.getByTestId("lobby-invite-decline")).toBeInTheDocument(),
-		);
-
-		await fireEvent.click(ui.getByTestId("lobby-invite-decline"));
-
-		await waitFor(() => {
-			expect(declineInviteSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
-				expect.anything(),
-				"private-1",
-				"invite-2",
-			);
-			expect(ui.queryByTestId("lobby-invite-decline")).not.toBeInTheDocument();
-		});
-	});
-
-	test("my-game cards are clickable for running/paused/finished and disabled otherwise", async () => {
-		// Cover the live-able statuses (running, paused, finished) and a
-		// representative non-playable mix (cancelled is the post-shutdown
-		// terminal state developers see most often; draft is the lobby-
-		// internal state before any membership exists).
-		listMyGamesSpy.mockResolvedValue([
-			makeGame("g-running", "Live", "running"),
-			makeGame("g-paused", "Paused Run", "paused"),
-			makeGame("g-finished", "Closed Run", "finished"),
-			makeGame("g-cancelled", "Cancelled Run", "cancelled"),
-			makeGame("g-draft", "Draft Run", "draft"),
-		]);
-		listPublicGamesSpy.mockResolvedValue({ items: [], page: 1, pageSize: 50, total: 0 });
-		listMyInvitesSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-		listMyApplicationsSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-
-		const Page = (await importLobbyPage()).default;
-		const ui = render(Page);
-
-		await waitFor(() => {
-			expect(ui.getAllByTestId("lobby-my-game-card").length).toBe(5);
-		});
-		const cards = ui.getAllByTestId("lobby-my-game-card");
-		const disabledByLabel: Record<string, boolean> = {};
-		for (const card of cards) {
-			const label = card.querySelector("strong")?.textContent ?? "";
-			disabledByLabel[label] = (card as HTMLButtonElement).disabled;
-		}
-		expect(disabledByLabel["Live"]).toBe(false);
-		expect(disabledByLabel["Paused Run"]).toBe(false);
-		expect(disabledByLabel["Closed Run"]).toBe(false);
-		expect(disabledByLabel["Cancelled Run"]).toBe(true);
-		expect(disabledByLabel["Draft Run"]).toBe(true);
-
-		// Clicking a playable card resets the in-game view and enters the
-		// game screen with its id (the single-URL app-shell switches
-		// in-memory state instead of navigating to `/games/:id`).
-		const liveCard = cards.find(
-			(card) => card.querySelector("strong")?.textContent === "Live",
-		);
-		await fireEvent.click(liveCard!);
-		expect(activeViewResetSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-		expect(appScreenGoSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith("game", {
-			gameId: "g-running",
-		});
-	});
-
-	test("application status badges localise pending and approved states", async () => {
-		listMyGamesSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-		listPublicGamesSpy.mockResolvedValue({ items: [], page: 1, pageSize: 50, total: 0 });
-		listMyInvitesSpy.mockResolvedValue([]);
-		listMyApplicationsSpy.mockResolvedValue([
-			makeApplication("app-1", "pending"),
-			makeApplication("app-2", "approved"),
-		]);
-
-		const Page = (await importLobbyPage()).default;
-		const ui = render(Page);
-
-		await waitFor(() => {
-			const cards = ui.getAllByTestId("lobby-application-card");
-			expect(cards.length).toBe(2);
-			expect(cards[0]!.querySelector(".status")?.textContent?.trim()).toBe("pending");
-			expect(cards[1]!.querySelector(".status")?.textContent?.trim()).toBe("approved");
-		});
-	});
-});