diff --git a/backend/internal/inttest/chatread_test.go b/backend/internal/inttest/chatread_test.go
index d8fa7ad..3b69423 100644
--- a/backend/internal/inttest/chatread_test.go
+++ b/backend/internal/inttest/chatread_test.go
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 // TestChatUnreadAndMarkRead checks a text message marks every recipient seat unread (not the
-// sender), surfaces through HasUnread / UnreadGames, and that MarkRead clears the reader's bit.
+// sender), surfaces through HasUnread / UnreadGames and the message-level HasUnreadMessage /
+// UnreadMessageGames (it is a real message, not a nudge), and that MarkRead clears the reader's bit.
 func TestChatUnreadAndMarkRead(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	svc := newSocialService()
@@ -37,6 +38,15 @@ func TestChatUnreadAndMarkRead(t *testing.T) {
 	} else if !set[gameID] {
 		t.Error("UnreadGames should include the game for the recipient")
 	}
+	// A text message also raises the message-level flags (it is not just a nudge).
+	if msg, _ := svc.HasUnreadMessage(ctx, gameID, seats[1]); !msg {
+		t.Error("recipient should have the message flagged as an unread message")
+	}
+	if set, err := svc.UnreadMessageGames(ctx, seats[1]); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unread message games: %v", err)
+	} else if !set[gameID] {
+		t.Error("UnreadMessageGames should include the game for a text message")
+	}
 
 	// Reading it clears the recipient's bit and reports one entry marked.
 	if n, err := svc.MarkRead(ctx, gameID, seats[1]); err != nil {
@@ -55,7 +65,8 @@ func TestChatUnreadAndMarkRead(t *testing.T) {
 
 // TestNudgeUnreadTargetsOnlyToMove checks, in a three-player game, that a nudge marks ONLY the
 // awaited (to-move) seat unread — never the other waiting players. This is the owner's nudge
-// targeting invariant, now observable through the unread bitmask.
+// targeting invariant, now observable through the unread bitmask. It also checks a nudge raises
+// HasUnread but not the message-level flags, so the badge can colour it apart from a real message.
 func TestNudgeUnreadTargetsOnlyToMove(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	svc := newSocialService()
@@ -68,6 +79,13 @@ func TestNudgeUnreadTargetsOnlyToMove(t *testing.T) {
 	if unread, _ := svc.HasUnread(ctx, gameID, seats[0]); !unread {
 		t.Error("the awaited seat should have the nudge unread")
 	}
+	// A nudge is not a message: it must not raise the message-level flags.
+	if msg, _ := svc.HasUnreadMessage(ctx, gameID, seats[0]); msg {
+		t.Error("a nudge must not be flagged as an unread message")
+	}
+	if set, _ := svc.UnreadMessageGames(ctx, seats[0]); set[gameID] {
+		t.Error("UnreadMessageGames must not include a game whose only unread entry is a nudge")
+	}
 	if unread, _ := svc.HasUnread(ctx, gameID, seats[2]); unread {
 		t.Error("a non-awaited waiting seat must not receive the nudge")
 	}
diff --git a/backend/internal/inttest/robot_test.go b/backend/internal/inttest/robot_test.go
index 5e04982..0a5fda0 100644
--- a/backend/internal/inttest/robot_test.go
+++ b/backend/internal/inttest/robot_test.go
@@ -181,8 +181,8 @@ func TestMatchmakerSubstitutesRobotEndToEnd(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// TestRobotProactiveNudge checks the robot's lengthening proactive-nudge schedule on the
-// human's turn: nothing before the ~60-90 min first gap, exactly one once it has elapsed.
+// TestRobotProactiveNudge checks the robot's flat proactive-nudge schedule on the human's
+// turn: nothing before the 9 h floor of the 9-12 h gap, exactly one once past its 12 h ceiling.
 func TestRobotProactiveNudge(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	svc := newGameService()
@@ -206,18 +206,20 @@ func TestRobotProactiveNudge(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("create: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	// A daytime turn start (the robot is awake for every ±3h drift between 07:30 and 12:00). No
-	// nudge before the 60-min floor of the first gap; exactly one once past its 90-min ceiling.
-	start := time.Date(2024, 1, 1, 10, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	// A noon turn start. The drive instants below sit at UTC hours 20:00 and (next day) 12:00,
+	// both in [10:00, 20:00] so the robot is awake for every ±3h sleep drift — the gap, not the
+	// sleep window, decides the outcome. No nudge at 8 h idle (before the 9 h floor); exactly one
+	// at 24 h idle (well past the 12 h ceiling, however the seed drew within 9-12 h).
+	start := time.Date(2024, 1, 1, 12, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
 	setTurnStarted(t, g.ID, start)
 
-	robots.Drive(ctx, start.Add(30*time.Minute))
+	robots.Drive(ctx, start.Add(8*time.Hour))
 	if n := countNudges(t, g.ID, robotID); n != 0 {
-		t.Errorf("robot nudges = %d at 30m idle, want 0 (before the first gap)", n)
+		t.Errorf("robot nudges = %d at 8h idle, want 0 (before the 9h floor)", n)
 	}
-	robots.Drive(ctx, start.Add(2*time.Hour))
+	robots.Drive(ctx, start.Add(24*time.Hour))
 	if n := countNudges(t, g.ID, robotID); n != 1 {
-		t.Errorf("robot nudges = %d at 2h idle, want 1 (after the first gap)", n)
+		t.Errorf("robot nudges = %d at 24h idle, want 1 (past the 12h ceiling)", n)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/backend/internal/robot/driver.go b/backend/internal/robot/driver.go
index aa2b33b..b9c4825 100644
--- a/backend/internal/robot/driver.go
+++ b/backend/internal/robot/driver.go
@@ -152,12 +152,12 @@ func (s *Service) maybeMove(ctx context.Context, rt game.RobotTurn, oppID uuid.U
 	return s.act(ctx, rt, now)
 }
 
-// maybeNudge sends a proactive nudge on a lengthening, randomized schedule (proactiveNudgeGap):
-// the first lands ~60-90 min into the human's turn, and each one waits longer than the last, so a
-// long idle turn gets a handful of increasingly-spaced reminders rather than an hourly stream. The
-// gap is measured from the previous nudge (or the turn start for the first). The social service
-// still enforces the once-per-game floor and rejects a nudge on the robot's own turn, so any such
-// rejection is benign.
+// maybeNudge sends a proactive nudge on a sparse, randomized schedule (proactiveNudgeGap): every
+// nudge waits a uniform random 9-12 h, so a long idle turn gets only a handful of widely-spaced
+// reminders rather than an hourly stream. The gap is measured from the previous nudge (or the turn
+// start for the first). The caller's asleep gate already skips this during the robot's sleep
+// window, so a due nudge fires at the first scan after wake. The social service still enforces the
+// once-per-game floor and rejects a nudge on the robot's own turn, so any such rejection is benign.
 func (s *Service) maybeNudge(ctx context.Context, rt game.RobotTurn, now time.Time) error {
 	ref := rt.TurnStartedAt
 	if last, ok, err := s.social.LastNudgeAt(ctx, rt.GameID, rt.RobotID); err != nil {
diff --git a/backend/internal/robot/strategy.go b/backend/internal/robot/strategy.go
index 07afa93..1afd8dc 100644
--- a/backend/internal/robot/strategy.go
+++ b/backend/internal/robot/strategy.go
@@ -79,16 +79,14 @@ const (
 	// sleep window relative to the opponent's timezone, in hours.
 	sleepDriftHours = 3
 
-	// The robot proactively nudges the idle human on a lengthening, randomized schedule rather
-	// than an hourly stream: the first nudge lands ~60-90 min into the turn, and each subsequent
-	// gap grows toward 1-6 h the longer the wait drags on, so a long idle turn gets only a handful
-	// of increasingly-spaced reminders. The gap is a uniform sample in [nudgeGapFloorMinutes,
-	// ceil] minutes, where ceil ramps from nudgeGapFirstCeilMinutes to nudgeGapCeilMinutes over
-	// nudgeGapRamp of idle.
-	nudgeGapFloorMinutes     = 60.0
-	nudgeGapFirstCeilMinutes = 90.0
-	nudgeGapCeilMinutes      = 360.0
-	nudgeGapRamp             = 12 * time.Hour
+	// The robot proactively nudges the idle human on a sparse, randomized schedule rather than an
+	// hourly stream: every nudge waits a uniform random 9-12 h after its reference point (the turn
+	// start for the first nudge, the previous nudge thereafter), so even a long-neglected turn
+	// collects only a few widely-spaced reminders. The 3 h window width is the random spread; the
+	// gap does not lengthen with idle time. The driver still skips a nudge that would land in the
+	// robot's sleep window, deferring it to the first scan after wake.
+	nudgeGapLoHours = 9.0
+	nudgeGapHiHours = 12.0
 )
 
 // defaultBand is the target resulting score margin after the robot's move: when
@@ -263,19 +261,13 @@ func nudgeReplyDelay(seed int64, moveCount int) time.Duration {
 
 // proactiveNudgeGap is the randomized wait before the next proactive nudge, given how long the
 // human had already been idle at the previous nudge (refIdle; 0 for the first nudge of the turn).
-// It is a uniform sample in [nudgeGapFloorMinutes, ceil] minutes, where ceil ramps from
-// nudgeGapFirstCeilMinutes (a ~60-90 min first gap) up to nudgeGapCeilMinutes (a 1-6 h gap) as
-// refIdle reaches nudgeGapRamp — so the reminders space out the longer the turn is neglected. It
-// is deterministic per (seed, refIdle), so the driver computes the same due time on every scan.
+// It is a uniform sample in [nudgeGapLoHours, nudgeGapHiHours] hours, deterministic per
+// (seed, refIdle) so the driver computes the same due time on every scan. refIdle only salts the
+// draw, so each successive nudge of a still-idle turn waits a fresh 9-12 h rather than lengthening.
 func proactiveNudgeGap(refIdle time.Duration, seed int64) time.Duration {
-	f := float64(refIdle) / float64(nudgeGapRamp)
-	if f > 1 {
-		f = 1
-	}
-	ceil := nudgeGapFirstCeilMinutes + (nudgeGapCeilMinutes-nudgeGapFirstCeilMinutes)*f
 	u := unitFloat(mix(seed, "pnudge", int(refIdle/(30*time.Minute))))
-	mins := nudgeGapFloorMinutes + (ceil-nudgeGapFloorMinutes)*u
-	return time.Duration(mins * float64(time.Minute))
+	hours := nudgeGapLoHours + (nudgeGapHiHours-nudgeGapLoHours)*u
+	return time.Duration(hours * float64(time.Hour))
 }
 
 // clampMinutes converts a minute count to a duration, clamping it to the hard delay
diff --git a/backend/internal/robot/strategy_test.go b/backend/internal/robot/strategy_test.go
index f3f5f85..98cb4d9 100644
--- a/backend/internal/robot/strategy_test.go
+++ b/backend/internal/robot/strategy_test.go
@@ -315,13 +315,13 @@ func TestDeviatesDistribution(t *testing.T) {
 // as the idle grows (the median at 12 h idle exceeds the median at the start).
 func TestProactiveNudgeGap(t *testing.T) {
 	for seed := int64(1); seed <= 1000; seed++ {
-		if first := proactiveNudgeGap(0, seed); first < 60*time.Minute || first > 90*time.Minute {
-			t.Fatalf("first gap %s out of [60m,90m] for seed %d", first, seed)
+		if first := proactiveNudgeGap(0, seed); first < 9*time.Hour || first > 12*time.Hour {
+			t.Fatalf("first gap %s out of [9h,12h] for seed %d", first, seed)
 		}
 		for _, idle := range []time.Duration{0, time.Hour, 3 * time.Hour, 6 * time.Hour, 12 * time.Hour, 24 * time.Hour} {
 			g := proactiveNudgeGap(idle, seed)
-			if g < 60*time.Minute || g > 6*time.Hour {
-				t.Fatalf("gap %s out of [60m,6h] for seed %d idle %s", g, seed, idle)
+			if g < 9*time.Hour || g > 12*time.Hour {
+				t.Fatalf("gap %s out of [9h,12h] for seed %d idle %s", g, seed, idle)
 			}
 			if proactiveNudgeGap(idle, seed) != g {
 				t.Fatalf("gap not deterministic for seed %d idle %s", seed, idle)
@@ -337,8 +337,16 @@ func TestProactiveNudgeGap(t *testing.T) {
 		sort.Float64s(xs)
 		return xs[n/2]
 	}
-	if early, late := median(0), median(12*time.Hour); early >= late {
-		t.Errorf("median gap should grow with idle: idle0=%.0f idle12h=%.0f", early, late)
+	// The window is flat: the gap distribution does not lengthen with idle time, so the median
+	// stays near the band centre (10.5 h) and barely moves between a fresh turn and a long-idle one.
+	early, late := median(0), median(12*time.Hour)
+	for _, m := range []float64{early, late} {
+		if m < 9*60 || m > 12*60 {
+			t.Fatalf("median gap %.0f min out of [540,720]", m)
+		}
+	}
+	if diff := math.Abs(early - late); diff > 30 {
+		t.Errorf("median gap should not shift with idle (flat window): idle0=%.0f idle12h=%.0f", early, late)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/backend/internal/server/dto.go b/backend/internal/server/dto.go
index f02828b..68ba1e7 100644
--- a/backend/internal/server/dto.go
+++ b/backend/internal/server/dto.go
@@ -112,6 +112,10 @@ type gameDTO struct {
 	// entry (message or nudge) in this game. It seeds the lobby and in-game unread badge.
 	// gameDTOFromGame leaves it false (it has no viewer); the handlers fill it.
 	UnreadChat bool `json:"unread_chat"`
+	// UnreadMessages is a per-viewer flag: at least one of the unread entries is a real chat
+	// message (not just a nudge). It colours the badge — set with UnreadChat it is the regular
+	// badge, UnreadChat alone is the softer nudge-only badge. gameDTOFromGame leaves it false.
+	UnreadMessages bool `json:"unread_messages"`
 }
 
 // moveResultDTO is the outcome of a committed move. Rack carries the actor's refilled rack as
diff --git a/backend/internal/server/handlers_game.go b/backend/internal/server/handlers_game.go
index be5e539..13d6df7 100644
--- a/backend/internal/server/handlers_game.go
+++ b/backend/internal/server/handlers_game.go
@@ -443,16 +443,20 @@ func (s *Server) handleListGames(c *gin.Context) {
 		return
 	}
 	memo := map[string]string{}
-	// One query seeds the lobby's per-card unread badge for every listed game.
-	var unread map[uuid.UUID]bool
+	// Two queries seed the lobby's per-card unread badge for every listed game: which games have
+	// any unread entry, and which of those have a real message (so the badge can colour
+	// message-bearing games apart from nudge-only ones).
+	var unread, unreadMsg map[uuid.UUID]bool
 	if s.social != nil {
 		unread, _ = s.social.UnreadGames(c.Request.Context(), uid)
+		unreadMsg, _ = s.social.UnreadMessageGames(c.Request.Context(), uid)
 	}
 	out := make([]gameDTO, 0, len(games))
 	for _, g := range games {
 		dto := gameDTOFromGame(g)
 		s.fillSeatNames(c.Request.Context(), &dto, memo)
 		dto.UnreadChat = unread[g.ID]
+		dto.UnreadMessages = unreadMsg[g.ID]
 		out = append(out, dto)
 	}
 	c.JSON(http.StatusOK, gameListDTO{Games: out, AtGameLimit: atLimit})
@@ -536,8 +540,9 @@ func (s *Server) writeMoveResult(c *gin.Context, res game.MoveResult) {
 	c.JSON(http.StatusOK, dto)
 }
 
-// setUnreadChat fills the per-game unread-chat flag for viewer uid on one game's DTO,
-// when the social domain is present. It is best-effort: a lookup error leaves the flag
+// setUnreadChat fills the per-game unread-chat flags for viewer uid on one game's DTO, when the
+// social domain is present: UnreadChat for any unread entry and UnreadMessages when one of them is
+// a real message (so the badge can be coloured). It is best-effort: a lookup error leaves the flag
 // false (a missing badge) rather than failing the surrounding game response.
 func (s *Server) setUnreadChat(ctx context.Context, g *gameDTO, uid uuid.UUID) {
 	if s.social == nil {
@@ -550,4 +555,7 @@ func (s *Server) setUnreadChat(ctx context.Context, g *gameDTO, uid uuid.UUID) {
 	if unread, err := s.social.HasUnread(ctx, gid, uid); err == nil {
 		g.UnreadChat = unread
 	}
+	if msg, err := s.social.HasUnreadMessage(ctx, gid, uid); err == nil {
+		g.UnreadMessages = msg
+	}
 }
diff --git a/backend/internal/social/chatread.go b/backend/internal/social/chatread.go
index 08571c2..5b1b495 100644
--- a/backend/internal/social/chatread.go
+++ b/backend/internal/social/chatread.go
@@ -67,6 +67,21 @@ func (svc *Service) HasUnread(ctx context.Context, gameID, viewerID uuid.UUID) (
 	return svc.store.hasUnread(ctx, gameID, viewerID)
 }
 
+// UnreadMessageGames returns the subset of UnreadGames whose unread entries include a real chat
+// message (a 'message' kind, not a nudge), for colouring the lobby's per-card unread badge: a game
+// present here has an unread message (the regular badge), one only in UnreadGames has nudges alone
+// (the soft nudge badge).
+func (svc *Service) UnreadMessageGames(ctx context.Context, viewerID uuid.UUID) (map[uuid.UUID]bool, error) {
+	return svc.store.unreadMessageGames(ctx, viewerID)
+}
+
+// HasUnreadMessage reports whether viewerID has an unread chat message (a 'message' kind, not a
+// nudge) in the game, for distinguishing a message badge from a nudge-only one on a single game's
+// state and move-result views.
+func (svc *Service) HasUnreadMessage(ctx context.Context, gameID, viewerID uuid.UUID) (bool, error) {
+	return svc.store.hasUnreadMessage(ctx, gameID, viewerID)
+}
+
 // readMark is one chat entry that flipped from unread to read, carrying what the
 // publish-to-read latency metric needs.
 type readMark struct {
@@ -161,6 +176,43 @@ func (s *Store) hasUnread(ctx context.Context, gameID, viewerID uuid.UUID) (bool
 	return ok, nil
 }
 
+// unreadMessageGames is unreadGames restricted to real chat messages (kind 'message', not a
+// nudge), so the caller can tell a message badge from a nudge-only one in one extra query.
+func (s *Store) unreadMessageGames(ctx context.Context, viewerID uuid.UUID) (map[uuid.UUID]bool, error) {
+	const q = `SELECT DISTINCT m.game_id
+FROM backend.chat_messages m
+JOIN backend.game_players p ON p.game_id = m.game_id AND p.account_id = $1
+WHERE m.kind = 'message' AND m.unread_seats <> 0 AND (m.unread_seats::int & (1 << p.seat::int)) <> 0`
+	rows, err := s.db.QueryContext(ctx, q, viewerID)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("social: unread message games: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer rows.Close()
+	out := make(map[uuid.UUID]bool)
+	for rows.Next() {
+		var id uuid.UUID
+		if err := rows.Scan(&id); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("social: scan unread message games: %w", err)
+		}
+		out[id] = true
+	}
+	return out, rows.Err()
+}
+
+// hasUnreadMessage reports whether viewerID has an unread real chat message (kind 'message', not
+// a nudge) in the one game.
+func (s *Store) hasUnreadMessage(ctx context.Context, gameID, viewerID uuid.UUID) (bool, error) {
+	const q = `SELECT EXISTS(
+  SELECT 1 FROM backend.chat_messages m
+  JOIN backend.game_players p ON p.game_id = m.game_id AND p.account_id = $2
+  WHERE m.game_id = $1 AND m.kind = 'message' AND (m.unread_seats::int & (1 << p.seat::int)) <> 0)`
+	var ok bool
+	if err := s.db.QueryRowContext(ctx, q, gameID, viewerID).Scan(&ok); err != nil {
+		return false, fmt.Errorf("social: has unread message: %w", err)
+	}
+	return ok, nil
+}
+
 // countUnread counts the chat entries with at least one recipient seat still unread,
 // for the chat_unread_messages gauge.
 func (s *Store) countUnread(ctx context.Context) (int64, error) {
diff --git a/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
index 9595419..aa461fc 100644
--- a/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
+++ b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
@@ -446,9 +446,10 @@ disguised robot stays indistinguishable from a person.
   **sleeps 00:00–07:00** anchored to the **opponent's** profile timezone with a
   per-game drift of **±3 h** (fallback UTC), so its night overlaps the human's
   rather than running anti-phase; on a daytime nudge it replies near the move's lower
-  band; it proactively nudges the idle human on a **lengthening, randomized schedule** — the
-  first ~60-90 min into the turn, each later reminder spaced further out toward 1-6 h — so a long
-  wait gets a handful of increasingly-spaced nudges rather than an hourly stream.
+  band; it proactively nudges the idle human on a **sparse, randomized schedule** — every nudge
+  waits a uniform random **9-12 h** (the first measured from the turn start, each later one from
+  the previous nudge), so a neglected turn gets only a handful of widely-spaced reminders. A nudge
+  that would fall inside the sleep window is skipped and fires at the first scan after wake.
 - **Dead-endgame timing**: once the **two most recent moves are both passes**, the board and the
   robot's rack are frozen and it is bound to pass again, so the robot drops the long late-game
   think time and answers on a **shortened schedule scaled to the human's own last (pass) think
@@ -570,8 +571,15 @@ in either direction (the enqueue excludes the caller's `BlockedWith` set);
   recipient answers by moving** (the move path calls a wired `NudgeClearer`). The mask is
   inverted so "anything unread" is a plain `unread_seats <> 0`, which the per-viewer
   `unread_chat` game-view flag (seeding the lobby and in-game unread **dot**), the admin
-  unread filter and the unread gauge all use. On each clear the publish-to-read latency is
-  recorded; the read time itself is not retained.
+  unread filter and the unread gauge all use. A second per-viewer flag, **`unread_messages`**
+  (`unread_seats <> 0 AND kind = 'message'`), reports whether any unread entry is a real
+  message rather than only a nudge, so the **dot is coloured**: the regular danger colour
+  when a message is unread, a softer amber when only nudges are. Both flags share the
+  REST-seed-then-event-bump lifecycle (the live-event game-view leaves them false; a nudge
+  event raises only `unread_chat`, a message event raises both). The lobby additionally
+  **floats games with any unread entry to the top** of the your-turn and opponent-turn
+  sections (the finished section keeps its activity order). On each clear the publish-to-read
+  latency is recorded; the read time itself is not retained.
 - **Profile**: `preferred_language` (en/ru, edited in Settings), display name, email
   (confirm-code binding, see §4), **timezone**, the daily **away window** and the
   block toggles — all editable through `account.UpdateProfile`, which validates them:
diff --git a/docs/FUNCTIONAL.md b/docs/FUNCTIONAL.md
index 43d9591..f76a17c 100644
--- a/docs/FUNCTIONAL.md
+++ b/docs/FUNCTIONAL.md
@@ -74,8 +74,9 @@ The lobby lists **my games** and offers a bottom tab bar — new game, statistic
 **my games** list groups games into three
 sections — *your turn*, *opponent's turn* and *finished* (empty sections are hidden) — and
 orders them so the games awaiting your move come first, the longest-waiting on top, while
-opponent-turn and finished games are most-recent first; it renders as a compact,
-line-separated list. While the lobby is open and a listed game **becomes your turn or
+opponent-turn and finished games are most-recent first; within the your-turn and
+opponent-turn sections a game with any unread notification floats to the top (the finished
+section keeps its order). It renders as a compact, line-separated list. While the lobby is open and a listed game **becomes your turn or
 finishes**, its status icon **blinks twice** to draw the eye (an opponent's-turn change is
 silent, applied in place). You can **remove a finished game from your own list**:
 swipe a finished row left (or, on desktop, tap its **⋮**) to reveal a **❌**, then tap it.
@@ -161,7 +162,8 @@ times for most moves, the occasional long one, and a night-time pause that track
 player's own day; once a game is clearly decided and both sides are only passing, it stops
 dragging it out, answering its forced passes at roughly the player's own pace rather than
 after a long deliberation. It answers a nudge
-within a few minutes and nudges back when the player has been away a long time. It
+within a few minutes and, when the player keeps it waiting, nudges back on a sparse
+schedule — roughly every 9-12 hours, and never during its night-time pause. It
 carries a human-like, language-appropriate name — a fresh one each game, drawn from a wide
 international pool of real names and handles, so the arena feels populated by many different
 players (a Russian game shows mostly Russian names, never East-Asian scripts; an international
@@ -216,8 +218,9 @@ Chat and the word-check tool share one **comms screen** with **💬 chat** / **
 tabs, reached from the 💬 in the move-history header (with a back to the game). An AI game has no
 chat, so its comms screen is the word-check alone — and once an AI game is finished (no chat, the
 dictionary closed) the 💬 entry disappears entirely. An unread chat
-entry — a message **or a nudge** from an opponent — raises a small **red dot** next to the game
-in the **lobby** and on the game's **score bar**. Opening the **move history** counts as reading
+entry — a message **or a nudge** from an opponent — raises a small **dot** next to the game
+in the **lobby** and on the game's **score bar**, **red when an unread message is waiting and a
+softer amber when only nudges are**. Opening the **move history** counts as reading
 the chat, even without entering it: the dot clears and the 💬 icon **fade-blinks twice**. A nudge
 also clears the moment its recipient **takes their move**.
 
diff --git a/docs/FUNCTIONAL_ru.md b/docs/FUNCTIONAL_ru.md
index d15ee77..1124539 100644
--- a/docs/FUNCTIONAL_ru.md
+++ b/docs/FUNCTIONAL_ru.md
@@ -75,8 +75,9 @@ nudge) приходят от бота **этой партии** — по язы
 Список **мои игры** разбит на три секции —
 *твой ход*, *ход соперника* и *завершённые* (пустые секции скрыты) — и упорядочен так,
 что игры, ждущие твоего хода, идут первыми, дольше всего ждущие сверху, а игры на ходу
-соперника и завершённые — самые свежие сверху; отображается компактным списком с
-линиями-разделителями. Пока лобби открыто и партия из списка **переходит на твой ход или
+соперника и завершённые — самые свежие сверху; внутри секций «твой ход» и «ход соперника»
+игра с любым непрочитанным уведомлением всплывает наверх (секция «завершённые» сохраняет
+свой порядок). Отображается компактным списком с линиями-разделителями. Пока лобби открыто и партия из списка **переходит на твой ход или
 завершается**, её значок статуса **дважды моргает**, привлекая внимание (переход на ход
 соперника — без моргания, применяется на месте). Завершённую партию можно **убрать из своего списка**:
 проведи по строке завершённой партии влево (или, на десктопе, нажми её **⋮**), чтобы открыть
@@ -166,8 +167,9 @@ nudge) приходят от бота **этой партии** — по язы
 человеческим темпом — чаще короткие раздумья, изредка долгие, и ночная пауза,
 подстроенная под день игрока; когда партия уже явно решена и обе стороны только пасуют,
 он перестаёт её затягивать — отвечает на вынужденные пасы примерно в темпе самого игрока,
-а не после долгого раздумья. На nudge отвечает за несколько минут и
-сам шлёт nudge, когда игрок надолго пропал. Носит человекоподобное имя, подходящее
+а не после долгого раздумья. На nudge отвечает за несколько минут и, когда игрок
+держит его в ожидании, сам шлёт nudge редко — примерно раз в 9-12 часов и никогда во время
+своей ночной паузы. Носит человекоподобное имя, подходящее
 языку партии — каждую партию новое, из широкого международного пула реальных имён и
 никнеймов, так что арена кажется полной разных игроков (в русской партии — в основном
 русские имена, без восточноазиатских письменностей; в международной — весь спектр); не общается в чате и
@@ -222,8 +224,9 @@ nudge) приходят от бота **этой партии** — по язы
 открываемый по 💬 в шапке истории ходов (с кнопкой «назад» в партию). В ИИ-партии чата нет, поэтому её
 экран связи — только проверка слова; а после завершения ИИ-партии (чата нет, словарь закрыт) сам вход
 💬 исчезает. Непрочитанная запись чата —
-сообщение **или nudge** от соперника — зажигает маленькую **красную точку** рядом с партией в
-**лобби** и на **строке счёта** партии. Открытие **истории ходов** считается прочтением чата, даже
+сообщение **или nudge** от соперника — зажигает маленькую **точку** рядом с партией в
+**лобби** и на **строке счёта** партии, **красную при непрочитанном сообщении и мягкую жёлтую,
+когда непрочитаны только nudge'и**. Открытие **истории ходов** считается прочтением чата, даже
 без захода в него: точка гаснет, а значок 💬 **дважды мигает**. Nudge также гаснет в момент, когда
 его получатель **делает ход**.
 
diff --git a/gateway/internal/backendclient/api.go b/gateway/internal/backendclient/api.go
index 4bff004..f9465e5 100644
--- a/gateway/internal/backendclient/api.go
+++ b/gateway/internal/backendclient/api.go
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ type GameResp struct {
 	LastActivityUnix     int64      `json:"last_activity_unix"`
 	Seats                []SeatResp `json:"seats"`
 	UnreadChat           bool       `json:"unread_chat"`
+	UnreadMessages       bool       `json:"unread_messages"`
 }
 
 // MoveResultResp is the outcome of a committed move. Rack carries the actor's refilled rack as
diff --git a/gateway/internal/transcode/encode.go b/gateway/internal/transcode/encode.go
index 7b84e57..2b44f2e 100644
--- a/gateway/internal/transcode/encode.go
+++ b/gateway/internal/transcode/encode.go
@@ -441,6 +441,7 @@ func toWireGame(g backendclient.GameResp) wire.GameView {
 		Seats:                seats,
 		LastActivityUnix:     g.LastActivityUnix,
 		UnreadChat:           g.UnreadChat,
+		UnreadMessages:       g.UnreadMessages,
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/gateway/internal/transcode/transcode_test.go b/gateway/internal/transcode/transcode_test.go
index cdd2482..a2545af 100644
--- a/gateway/internal/transcode/transcode_test.go
+++ b/gateway/internal/transcode/transcode_test.go
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ func TestGamesListRoundTripDecodesSeatNames(t *testing.T) {
 		if r.URL.Path != "/api/v1/user/games" {
 			t.Errorf("unexpected path %q", r.URL.Path)
 		}
-		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"games":[{"id":"g-1","variant":"scrabble_en","status":"active","players":2,"to_move":0,"last_activity_unix":1717000000,"unread_chat":true,"seats":[{"seat":0,"account_id":"u-9","display_name":"You","score":10},{"seat":1,"account_id":"a-1","display_name":"Ann","score":7}]}],"at_game_limit":true}`))
+		_, _ = w.Write([]byte(`{"games":[{"id":"g-1","variant":"scrabble_en","status":"active","players":2,"to_move":0,"last_activity_unix":1717000000,"unread_chat":true,"unread_messages":true,"seats":[{"seat":0,"account_id":"u-9","display_name":"You","score":10},{"seat":1,"account_id":"a-1","display_name":"Ann","score":7}]}],"at_game_limit":true}`))
 	})
 	defer cleanup()
 
@@ -279,6 +279,9 @@ func TestGamesListRoundTripDecodesSeatNames(t *testing.T) {
 	if !g.UnreadChat() {
 		t.Error("unread_chat = false, want true (the backend flagged unread for the viewer)")
 	}
+	if !g.UnreadMessages() {
+		t.Error("unread_messages = false, want true (the backend flagged an unread message)")
+	}
 	var seat fb.SeatView
 	g.Seats(&seat, 1)
 	if string(seat.DisplayName()) != "Ann" {
diff --git a/pkg/fbs/scrabble.fbs b/pkg/fbs/scrabble.fbs
index 53f2917..9fe46cc 100644
--- a/pkg/fbs/scrabble.fbs
+++ b/pkg/fbs/scrabble.fbs
@@ -76,6 +76,10 @@ table GameView {
   // unread_chat is a per-viewer flag: the requesting player has at least one unread chat
   // entry (message or nudge) in this game. It drives the lobby and in-game unread badge.
   unread_chat:bool;
+  // unread_messages is a per-viewer flag: at least one of the unread entries is a real chat
+  // message (not just a nudge). With unread_chat it colours the badge — both set is the regular
+  // badge, unread_chat alone is the softer nudge-only badge.
+  unread_messages:bool;
 }
 
 // MoveRecord is one decoded move (a committed play, or a hint preview).
diff --git a/pkg/fbs/scrabblefb/GameView.go b/pkg/fbs/scrabblefb/GameView.go
index fd91d9d..0969946 100644
--- a/pkg/fbs/scrabblefb/GameView.go
+++ b/pkg/fbs/scrabblefb/GameView.go
@@ -197,8 +197,20 @@ func (rcv *GameView) MutateUnreadChat(n bool) bool {
 	return rcv._tab.MutateBoolSlot(30, n)
 }
 
+func (rcv *GameView) UnreadMessages() bool {
+	o := flatbuffers.UOffsetT(rcv._tab.Offset(32))
+	if o != 0 {
+		return rcv._tab.GetBool(o + rcv._tab.Pos)
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func (rcv *GameView) MutateUnreadMessages(n bool) bool {
+	return rcv._tab.MutateBoolSlot(32, n)
+}
+
 func GameViewStart(builder *flatbuffers.Builder) {
-	builder.StartObject(14)
+	builder.StartObject(15)
 }
 func GameViewAddId(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, id flatbuffers.UOffsetT) {
 	builder.PrependUOffsetTSlot(0, flatbuffers.UOffsetT(id), 0)
@@ -245,6 +257,9 @@ func GameViewAddVsAi(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, vsAi bool) {
 func GameViewAddUnreadChat(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, unreadChat bool) {
 	builder.PrependBoolSlot(13, unreadChat, false)
 }
+func GameViewAddUnreadMessages(builder *flatbuffers.Builder, unreadMessages bool) {
+	builder.PrependBoolSlot(14, unreadMessages, false)
+}
 func GameViewEnd(builder *flatbuffers.Builder) flatbuffers.UOffsetT {
 	return builder.EndObject()
 }
diff --git a/pkg/wire/build.go b/pkg/wire/build.go
index 56dba8e..ca58f76 100644
--- a/pkg/wire/build.go
+++ b/pkg/wire/build.go
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ type GameView struct {
 	VsAI bool
 	// UnreadChat is a per-viewer flag: the requesting player has unread chat in this game.
 	UnreadChat bool
+	// UnreadMessages is a per-viewer flag: at least one unread entry is a real message (not just
+	// a nudge), so the badge can be coloured apart from the nudge-only case.
+	UnreadMessages bool
 }
 
 // TileRecord is one tile in a decoded MoveRecord (the concrete letter, "?" for a blank
@@ -165,6 +168,7 @@ func BuildGameView(b *flatbuffers.Builder, g GameView) flatbuffers.UOffsetT {
 	fb.GameViewAddLastActivityUnix(b, g.LastActivityUnix)
 	fb.GameViewAddVsAi(b, g.VsAI)
 	fb.GameViewAddUnreadChat(b, g.UnreadChat)
+	fb.GameViewAddUnreadMessages(b, g.UnreadMessages)
 	return fb.GameViewEnd(b)
 }
 
diff --git a/ui/src/game/Game.svelte b/ui/src/game/Game.svelte
index 5e5e8d0..6894761 100644
--- a/ui/src/game/Game.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/game/Game.svelte
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
   import { t, type MessageKey } from '../lib/i18n/index.svelte';
   import type { EvalResult, MoveRecord, MoveResult, StateView, Tile } from '../lib/model';
   import { lastMoveCells, replay } from '../lib/board';
+  import { badgeKind } from '../lib/unread';
   import { historyGrid } from '../lib/history';
   import { centre, premiumGrid } from '../lib/premiums';
   import { variantNameKey } from '../lib/variants';
@@ -183,7 +184,7 @@
       view = st;
       syncWallet(st.walletBalance);
       // Seed the unread flag from the authoritative state (the live stream only raises it).
-      seedChatUnread(id, st.game.unreadChat);
+      seedChatUnread(id, st.game.unreadChat, st.game.unreadMessages);
       moves = hist.moves;
       setCachedGame(id, st, hist.moves, draft);
       // Mirror the fresh status into the lobby snapshot so returning there shows it without a
@@ -670,7 +671,7 @@
     };
     // The move result is an authoritative per-viewer view: a nudge the actor just answered by
     // moving is already cleared server-side, so reconcile the unread flag from it.
-    seedChatUnread(id, r.game.unreadChat);
+    seedChatUnread(id, r.game.unreadChat, r.game.unreadMessages);
     moves = [...moves, r.move];
     // A committed move clears the actor's draft on the server, so clear the cached draft too;
     // otherwise a same-session re-entry would briefly re-apply the now-stale composition.
@@ -1091,10 +1092,11 @@
      above so the markup and logic stay single-sourced (see the {#if landscape} split). -->
 {#snippet scoreboardBlock()}
   {#if view}
+    {@const badge = badgeKind(app.chatUnread[id] ?? false, app.messageUnread[id] ?? false)}
     <!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_static_element_interactions -->
     <!-- svelte-ignore a11y_click_events_have_key_events -->
     <div class="scoreboard" class:flat={landscape} onclick={landscape ? undefined : toggleHistory}>
-      {#if app.chatUnread[id]}<span class="unread-dot sbadge-dot"></span>{/if}
+      {#if badge}<span class="unread-dot sbadge-dot" class:nudge={badge === 'nudge'}></span>{/if}
       {#each view.game.seats as s (s.seat)}
         <div class="seat" class:turn={view.game.toMove === s.seat && !gameOver} class:win={s.isWinner}>
           <div class="nm" class:struck={seatBlocked(s)}>{seatName(s)}</div>
@@ -1582,13 +1584,17 @@
     color: var(--danger);
   }
   /* The unread-chat dot on the score bar's corner; the history's 💬 icon fade-blinks (two cycles)
-     when the history is opened with unread present, rather than carrying a count badge. */
+     when the history is opened with unread present, rather than carrying a count badge. Red for an
+     unread message, a softer amber when only nudges are unread. */
   .unread-dot {
     width: 8px;
     height: 8px;
     border-radius: 50%;
     background: var(--danger);
   }
+  .unread-dot.nudge {
+    background: var(--warn);
+  }
   .sbadge-dot {
     position: absolute;
     top: 4px;
diff --git a/ui/src/gen/fbs/scrabblefb/game-view.ts b/ui/src/gen/fbs/scrabblefb/game-view.ts
index cc80841..35ec956 100644
--- a/ui/src/gen/fbs/scrabblefb/game-view.ts
+++ b/ui/src/gen/fbs/scrabblefb/game-view.ts
@@ -108,8 +108,13 @@ unreadChat():boolean {
   return offset ? !!this.bb!.readInt8(this.bb_pos + offset) : false;
 }
 
+unreadMessages():boolean {
+  const offset = this.bb!.__offset(this.bb_pos, 32);
+  return offset ? !!this.bb!.readInt8(this.bb_pos + offset) : false;
+}
+
 static startGameView(builder:flatbuffers.Builder) {
-  builder.startObject(14);
+  builder.startObject(15);
 }
 
 static addId(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, idOffset:flatbuffers.Offset) {
@@ -180,12 +185,16 @@ static addUnreadChat(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, unreadChat:boolean) {
   builder.addFieldInt8(13, +unreadChat, +false);
 }
 
+static addUnreadMessages(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, unreadMessages:boolean) {
+  builder.addFieldInt8(14, +unreadMessages, +false);
+}
+
 static endGameView(builder:flatbuffers.Builder):flatbuffers.Offset {
   const offset = builder.endObject();
   return offset;
 }
 
-static createGameView(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, idOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, variantOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, dictVersionOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, statusOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, players:number, toMove:number, turnTimeoutSecs:number, multipleWordsPerTurn:boolean, moveCount:number, endReasonOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, seatsOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, lastActivityUnix:bigint, vsAi:boolean, unreadChat:boolean):flatbuffers.Offset {
+static createGameView(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, idOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, variantOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, dictVersionOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, statusOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, players:number, toMove:number, turnTimeoutSecs:number, multipleWordsPerTurn:boolean, moveCount:number, endReasonOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, seatsOffset:flatbuffers.Offset, lastActivityUnix:bigint, vsAi:boolean, unreadChat:boolean, unreadMessages:boolean):flatbuffers.Offset {
   GameView.startGameView(builder);
   GameView.addId(builder, idOffset);
   GameView.addVariant(builder, variantOffset);
@@ -201,6 +210,7 @@ static createGameView(builder:flatbuffers.Builder, idOffset:flatbuffers.Offset,
   GameView.addLastActivityUnix(builder, lastActivityUnix);
   GameView.addVsAi(builder, vsAi);
   GameView.addUnreadChat(builder, unreadChat);
+  GameView.addUnreadMessages(builder, unreadMessages);
   return GameView.endGameView(builder);
 }
 }
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/app.svelte.ts b/ui/src/lib/app.svelte.ts
index 20e8418..e91f4c5 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/app.svelte.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/app.svelte.ts
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@ export const app = $state<{
    *  game, for the lobby and in-game unread dot. Seeded from the authoritative REST views and
    *  raised by live chat/nudge events; cleared (with a backend ack) on opening the history/chat. */
   chatUnread: Record<string, boolean>;
+  /** Per-game flag: at least one unread entry is a real message (not just a nudge), so the dot
+   *  can be coloured apart from the nudge-only case. Same lifecycle as chatUnread; nudge events
+   *  raise only chatUnread, message events raise both. */
+  messageUnread: Record<string, boolean>;
   /** Whether an operator feedback reply awaits the player, for the lobby ⚙️ badge (combined
    *  with friend requests) and the Settings → Info badge. */
   feedbackReplyUnread: boolean;
@@ -93,6 +97,7 @@ export const app = $state<{
   localeLocked: false,
   notifications: 0,
   chatUnread: {},
+  messageUnread: {},
   feedbackReplyUnread: false,
   staleInvite: false,
   welcomeRedeem: false,
@@ -170,14 +175,18 @@ export function dismissWelcomeRedeem(): void {
 }
 
 /**
- * seedChatUnread sets a game's unread flag from an authoritative per-viewer REST view (the lobby
- * list, a game's state, or a move result). The live-event GameView omits the flag, so the live
- * stream raises unread (bumpChatUnread) rather than seeding it from a GameView.
+ * seedChatUnread sets a game's unread flags from an authoritative per-viewer REST view (the lobby
+ * list, a game's state, or a move result): unread is any unread entry, message whether one of them
+ * is a real message (the badge colour). The live-event GameView omits both, so the live stream
+ * raises them on receive rather than seeding from a GameView.
  */
-export function seedChatUnread(gameId: string, unread: boolean): void {
+export function seedChatUnread(gameId: string, unread: boolean, message: boolean): void {
   if ((app.chatUnread[gameId] ?? false) !== unread) {
     app.chatUnread = { ...app.chatUnread, [gameId]: unread };
   }
+  if ((app.messageUnread[gameId] ?? false) !== message) {
+    app.messageUnread = { ...app.messageUnread, [gameId]: message };
+  }
 }
 
 /**
@@ -192,6 +201,7 @@ export function seedChatUnread(gameId: string, unread: boolean): void {
 export function markChatRead(gameId: string): void {
   if (!app.chatUnread[gameId]) return;
   app.chatUnread = { ...app.chatUnread, [gameId]: false };
+  if (app.messageUnread[gameId]) app.messageUnread = { ...app.messageUnread, [gameId]: false };
   void gateway.markChatRead(gameId).catch(() => {});
 }
 
@@ -262,6 +272,11 @@ function openStream(): void {
           router.route.params.id === e.message.gameId;
         if (!inComms) {
           app.chatUnread = { ...app.chatUnread, [e.message.gameId]: true };
+          // Only a real message colours the badge; a nudge delivered as a chat_message must not
+          // raise the message flag (the separate nudge event below also leaves it untouched).
+          if (e.message.kind !== 'nudge') {
+            app.messageUnread = { ...app.messageUnread, [e.message.gameId]: true };
+          }
           showToast(e.message.kind === 'nudge' ? t('chat.nudge') : e.message.body, 'info');
         }
       } else if (e.kind === 'nudge') {
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/codec.ts b/ui/src/lib/codec.ts
index 7f23cdb..aeb995e 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/codec.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/codec.ts
@@ -253,6 +253,7 @@ function decodeGameView(g: fb.GameView): GameView {
     lastActivityUnix: Number(g.lastActivityUnix()),
     vsAi: g.vsAi(),
     unreadChat: g.unreadChat(),
+    unreadMessages: g.unreadMessages(),
     seats,
   };
 }
@@ -849,6 +850,7 @@ function emptyGame(): GameView {
     lastActivityUnix: 0,
     vsAi: false,
     unreadChat: false,
+    unreadMessages: false,
     seats: [],
   };
 }
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/gamecache.test.ts b/ui/src/lib/gamecache.test.ts
index ef3344f..6b8e4fd 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/gamecache.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/gamecache.test.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ function gameView(id: string): GameView {
     dictVersion: 'v1',
     vsAi: false,
     unreadChat: false,
+    unreadMessages: false,
     status: 'active',
     players: 2,
     toMove: 0,
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/gamedelta.test.ts b/ui/src/lib/gamedelta.test.ts
index 2f25759..67fcaf0 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/gamedelta.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/gamedelta.test.ts
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ function gameView(moveCount: number, over = false): GameView {
     dictVersion: 'v1',
     vsAi: false,
     unreadChat: false,
+    unreadMessages: false,
     status: over ? 'finished' : 'active',
     players: 2,
     toMove: 1,
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/lobbycache.test.ts b/ui/src/lib/lobbycache.test.ts
index b1960c0..0e8f4b9 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/lobbycache.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/lobbycache.test.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ function gameView(id: string, status: GameView['status'] = 'active', toMove = 0)
     dictVersion: 'v1',
     vsAi: false,
     unreadChat: false,
+    unreadMessages: false,
     status,
     players: 2,
     toMove,
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/lobbysort.test.ts b/ui/src/lib/lobbysort.test.ts
index 75763aa..f4e3007 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/lobbysort.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/lobbysort.test.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ function game(id: string, status: GameView['status'], toMove: number, lastActivi
     dictVersion: 'v1',
     vsAi: false,
     unreadChat: false,
+    unreadMessages: false,
     status,
     players: 2,
     toMove,
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ describe('groupGames', () => {
         game('c', 'finished', 0, 100),
       ],
       ME,
+      {},
     );
     expect(g.yourTurn.map((x) => x.id)).toEqual(['a']);
     expect(g.theirTurn.map((x) => x.id)).toEqual(['b']);
@@ -57,12 +59,33 @@ describe('groupGames', () => {
         game('f_old', 'finished', 0, 100),
       ],
       ME,
+      {},
     );
     expect(g.yourTurn.map((x) => x.id)).toEqual(['y_old', 'y_new']);
     expect(g.theirTurn.map((x) => x.id)).toEqual(['t_new', 't_old']);
     expect(g.finished.map((x) => x.id)).toEqual(['f_new', 'f_old']);
   });
 
+  it('bumps unread games first in the active sections, leaving finished by activity', () => {
+    const g = groupGames(
+      [
+        game('y_read', 'active', 0, 50), // my turn, oldest, read
+        game('y_unread', 'active', 0, 200), // my turn, newest, unread -> bumped above y_read
+        game('t_read', 'active', 1, 200), // their turn, newest, read
+        game('t_unread', 'active', 1, 50), // their turn, oldest, unread -> bumped above t_read
+        game('f_unread', 'finished', 0, 100),
+        game('f_new', 'finished', 0, 300), // finished ignores unread, stays newest-first
+      ],
+      ME,
+      { y_unread: true, t_unread: true, f_unread: true },
+    );
+    // Unread is the primary key, so it overrides the within-section activity order.
+    expect(g.yourTurn.map((x) => x.id)).toEqual(['y_unread', 'y_read']);
+    expect(g.theirTurn.map((x) => x.id)).toEqual(['t_unread', 't_read']);
+    // Finished ignores unread: still newest-first by activity.
+    expect(g.finished.map((x) => x.id)).toEqual(['f_new', 'f_unread']);
+  });
+
   it('isMyTurn is false for a finished game even at my seat', () => {
     expect(isMyTurn(game('x', 'finished', 0, 0), ME)).toBe(false);
     expect(isMyTurn(game('x', 'active', 0, 0), ME)).toBe(true);
@@ -76,6 +99,7 @@ describe('groupGames', () => {
         game('open_wait', 'open', 1, 100), // the empty seat's turn
       ],
       ME,
+      {},
     );
     expect(g.yourTurn.map((x) => x.id)).toEqual(['open_mine']);
     expect(g.theirTurn.map((x) => x.id)).toEqual(['open_wait']);
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/lobbysort.ts b/ui/src/lib/lobbysort.ts
index e98ec82..6cc4906 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/lobbysort.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/lobbysort.ts
@@ -43,11 +43,16 @@ export interface LobbyGroups {
 }
 
 /**
- * groupGames partitions games for myId into the three lobby sections and orders each: the
- * your-turn games by ascending last activity (the longest-waiting first), the opponent-turn
- * and finished games by descending last activity (the most recent first).
+ * groupGames partitions games for myId into the three lobby sections and orders each. In the two
+ * active sections a game with an unread notification (unread[g.id], any chat entry or nudge) sorts
+ * first, then by last activity: your-turn ascending (the longest-waiting first), opponent-turn
+ * descending (the most recent first). Finished games ignore unread and stay descending by activity.
  */
-export function groupGames(games: GameView[], myId: string): LobbyGroups {
+export function groupGames(
+  games: GameView[],
+  myId: string,
+  unread: Record<string, boolean>,
+): LobbyGroups {
   const yourTurn: GameView[] = [];
   const theirTurn: GameView[] = [];
   const finished: GameView[] = [];
@@ -56,8 +61,10 @@ export function groupGames(games: GameView[], myId: string): LobbyGroups {
     else if (isMyTurn(g, myId)) yourTurn.push(g);
     else theirTurn.push(g);
   }
-  yourTurn.sort((a, b) => a.lastActivityUnix - b.lastActivityUnix);
-  theirTurn.sort((a, b) => b.lastActivityUnix - a.lastActivityUnix);
+  // Unread is the primary key in the active sections (rank 1 before rank 0), last activity the tie-break.
+  const rank = (g: GameView) => (unread[g.id] ? 1 : 0);
+  yourTurn.sort((a, b) => rank(b) - rank(a) || a.lastActivityUnix - b.lastActivityUnix);
+  theirTurn.sort((a, b) => rank(b) - rank(a) || b.lastActivityUnix - a.lastActivityUnix);
   finished.sort((a, b) => b.lastActivityUnix - a.lastActivityUnix);
   return { yourTurn, theirTurn, finished };
 }
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/mock/client.ts b/ui/src/lib/mock/client.ts
index ed24928..ee2fd8e 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/mock/client.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/mock/client.ts
@@ -182,6 +182,7 @@ export class MockGateway implements GatewayClient {
           lastActivityUnix: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000),
           vsAi: true,
           unreadChat: false,
+          unreadMessages: false,
           seats: [
             { seat: 0, accountId: ME, displayName: 'You', score: 0, hintsUsed: 0, isWinner: false },
             { seat: 1, accountId: 'robot', displayName: 'Robot', score: 0, hintsUsed: 0, isWinner: false },
@@ -214,6 +215,7 @@ export class MockGateway implements GatewayClient {
         lastActivityUnix: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000),
         vsAi: false,
         unreadChat: false,
+        unreadMessages: false,
         seats: [
           { seat: 0, accountId: ME, displayName: 'You', score: 0, hintsUsed: 0, isWinner: false },
           { seat: 1, accountId: '', displayName: '', score: 0, hintsUsed: 0, isWinner: false },
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/mock/data.ts b/ui/src/lib/mock/data.ts
index c4e7c20..718b74f 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/mock/data.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/mock/data.ts
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ function activeGame(): MockGame {
       dictVersion: 'v1',
       vsAi: false,
       unreadChat: false,
+      unreadMessages: false,
       status: 'active',
       players: 2,
       toMove: 0,
@@ -218,6 +219,7 @@ function finishedG2(): MockGame {
       dictVersion: 'v1',
       vsAi: false,
       unreadChat: false,
+      unreadMessages: false,
       status: 'finished',
       players: 2,
       toMove: 0,
@@ -256,6 +258,7 @@ function finishedG3(): MockGame {
       dictVersion: 'v1',
       vsAi: false,
       unreadChat: false,
+      unreadMessages: false,
       status: 'finished',
       players: 2,
       toMove: 0,
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/model.ts b/ui/src/lib/model.ts
index 402bd43..b5483ec 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/model.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/model.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ export interface GameView {
    *  nudge) in this game. Set on the authoritative REST views (lobby list, game state,
    *  move result); the live-event GameView leaves it false (events bump unread instead). */
   unreadChat: boolean;
+  /** Per-viewer flag: at least one unread entry is a real message (not just a nudge), so the
+   *  badge can be coloured apart from the nudge-only case. Same REST-seeded lifecycle as
+   *  unreadChat; the live-event GameView leaves it false. */
+  unreadMessages: boolean;
   seats: Seat[];
 }
 
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/preload.test.ts b/ui/src/lib/preload.test.ts
index 4aa53cc..9a53d18 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/preload.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/preload.test.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ function gameView(id: string, status: GameView['status'] = 'active'): GameView {
     dictVersion: 'v1',
     vsAi: false,
     unreadChat: false,
+    unreadMessages: false,
     status,
     players: 2,
     toMove: 0,
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/result.test.ts b/ui/src/lib/result.test.ts
index e0a00f9..52c6147 100644
--- a/ui/src/lib/result.test.ts
+++ b/ui/src/lib/result.test.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ function game(seats: Seat[], status = 'finished', toMove = 0): GameView {
     dictVersion: 'v1',
     vsAi: false,
     unreadChat: false,
+    unreadMessages: false,
     status,
     players: seats.length,
     toMove,
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/unread.test.ts b/ui/src/lib/unread.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..040d37f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/unread.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import { badgeKind } from './unread';
+
+describe('badgeKind', () => {
+  it('shows nothing when nothing is unread', () => {
+    expect(badgeKind(false, false)).toBeNull();
+    // message without unread is inconsistent input; the unread guard still wins.
+    expect(badgeKind(false, true)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('is a nudge badge when only nudges are unread', () => {
+    expect(badgeKind(true, false)).toBe('nudge');
+  });
+
+  it('is a message badge when a real message is unread', () => {
+    expect(badgeKind(true, true)).toBe('message');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/ui/src/lib/unread.ts b/ui/src/lib/unread.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f2685b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/src/lib/unread.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+// Pure resolution of the per-game unread dot's kind, kept out of the .svelte components so it can
+// be unit-tested. A game's dot is shown when anything is unread; its colour distinguishes a real
+// chat message (the regular danger colour) from nudge-only unread (a softer nudge colour).
+
+/** BadgeKind is the unread dot to show for a game, or null when nothing is unread. */
+export type BadgeKind = 'message' | 'nudge' | null;
+
+/**
+ * badgeKind picks the unread dot for a game from its two per-viewer flags: null when nothing is
+ * unread, 'message' when an unread real chat message is present (the regular colour), else 'nudge'
+ * when only nudges are unread (the softer colour). message implies unread, so a stray message=true
+ * with unread=false still shows nothing.
+ */
+export function badgeKind(unread: boolean, message: boolean): BadgeKind {
+  if (!unread) return null;
+  return message ? 'message' : 'nudge';
+}
diff --git a/ui/src/screens/Lobby.svelte b/ui/src/screens/Lobby.svelte
index 7ee2060..212cd70 100644
--- a/ui/src/screens/Lobby.svelte
+++ b/ui/src/screens/Lobby.svelte
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
   import { navigate } from '../lib/router.svelte';
   import { t, type MessageKey } from '../lib/i18n/index.svelte';
   import { resultBadge } from '../lib/result';
+  import { badgeKind } from '../lib/unread';
   import { getLobby, setLobby } from '../lib/lobbycache';
   import { preloadGames } from '../lib/preload';
   import { gamePhase, groupGames, shouldBlink, type LobbyPhase } from '../lib/lobbysort';
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@
       games = list.games;
       // Seed the per-game unread badges from the authoritative list. The live stream only raises
       // unread (it never seeds it from a GameView), so a persisted unread survives a reload here.
-      for (const g of games) seedChatUnread(g.id, g.unreadChat);
+      for (const g of games) seedChatUnread(g.id, g.unreadChat, g.unreadMessages);
       atGameLimit = list.atGameLimit;
       if (!guest) {
         [invitations, incoming] = await Promise.all([gateway.invitationsList(), gateway.friendsIncoming()]);
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@
   });
 
   const myId = $derived(app.session?.userId ?? '');
-  const groups = $derived(groupGames(games, myId));
+  const groups = $derived(groupGames(games, myId, app.chatUnread));
 
   // Per-card "look here" blink. When a game changes lobby bucket into "your turn" or "finished"
   // while the lobby is on screen, its status emoji blinks twice (an opponent's-turn change is
@@ -253,6 +254,7 @@
           <h2>{t(group.h as 'lobby.yourTurn')}</h2>
           <div class="list">
             {#each group.list as g (g.id)}
+              {@const badge = badgeKind(app.chatUnread[g.id] ?? false, app.messageUnread[g.id] ?? false)}
               <div class="rowwrap" class:revealed={group.finished && revealedId === g.id}>
                 {#if group.finished}
                   <button class="del" onclick={() => hide(g.id)} disabled={!connection.online} aria-label={t('lobby.hideGame')}>❌</button>
@@ -267,7 +269,7 @@
                     <span class="info">
                       <span class="who">
                         <span class="who-name">{opponents(g) || '—'}</span>
-                        {#if app.chatUnread[g.id]}<span class="unread-dot"></span>{/if}
+                        {#if badge}<span class="unread-dot" class:nudge={badge === 'nudge'}></span>{/if}
                       </span>
                       <span class="sub">{scoreline(g)}</span>
                     </span>
@@ -458,7 +460,8 @@
     overflow: hidden;
     text-overflow: ellipsis;
   }
-  /* A small red dot beside the opponent name: this game has an unread chat entry. */
+  /* A small dot beside the opponent name: this game has an unread chat entry. Red for an unread
+     message, a softer amber when only nudges are unread. */
   .unread-dot {
     flex: 0 0 auto;
     width: 8px;
@@ -466,6 +469,9 @@
     border-radius: 50%;
     background: var(--danger);
   }
+  .unread-dot.nudge {
+    background: var(--warn);
+  }
   .sub {
     font-size: 0.85rem;
     color: var(--text-muted);