diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/play/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/play/+page.svelte
index ad6348f..b760d8c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/play/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/play/+page.svelte
@@ -1,13 +1,20 @@
 <script>
   import { onMount } from 'svelte';
+  import { goto, afterNavigate } from '$app/navigation';
+  import { page } from '$app/stores';
   import { getJSON } from '$lib/api.js';
   import WordGame from '$lib/components/WordGame.svelte';
   import WordSearchGame from '$lib/components/WordSearchGame.svelte';
 
-  let view = $state('hub');      // 'hub' | 'select' | 'play'
-  let game = $state('word');     // 'word' | 'wordsearch'
-  let variant = $state('5');
-  let wsSize = $state('med');
+  // Screen is derived from the URL so the device/browser Back button steps through
+  // Hub → Game Selection → Game (each screen is its own history entry), instead of
+  // jumping straight out of /play.
+  let sp = $derived($page.url.searchParams);
+  let game = $derived(sp.get('game') === 'wordsearch' ? 'wordsearch' : 'word');
+  let view = $derived(!sp.get('game') ? 'hub' : (sp.get('v') ? 'play' : 'select'));
+  let variant = $derived(sp.get('v') || '5');
+  let wsSize = $derived(sp.get('v') || 'med');
+
   let date = $state('');
   let wordStatus = $state({ 5: null, 6: null });
   let wsStatus = $state(null);
@@ -71,8 +78,11 @@
     return 'Play';
   }
 
-  function openGame(g) { game = g; view = 'select'; refreshStatus(); }
-  function pick(v) { if (game === 'word') variant = v; else wsSize = v; view = 'play'; }
+  // Forward navigations push a history entry (via goto); the in-app Back button
+  // pops it (history.back), so it mirrors the device Back button exactly.
+  function openGame(g) { goto('/play?game=' + g); }
+  function pick(v) { goto('/play?game=' + game + '&v=' + v); }
+  function back() { history.back(); }
 
   // Daily Word on mobile = a focused viewport: lock scroll + hide footer. Cleanup
   // ALWAYS removes the class (re-run or unmount), so leaving /play can't strand it.
@@ -83,10 +93,6 @@
       return () => document.documentElement.classList.remove('playing-word');
     }
   });
-  function back() {
-    view = view === 'play' ? 'select' : 'hub';
-    refreshStatus();
-  }
 
   const WS_OPTS = [
     ['small', 'Small', 'cosy · 8×8'],
@@ -98,6 +104,8 @@
     try { date = (await getJSON('/api/puzzle/word?variant=5')).date; } catch { /* offline */ }
     refreshStatus();
   });
+  // Refresh hub/selection statuses whenever we land on a screen (incl. Back).
+  afterNavigate(() => refreshStatus());
 </script>
 
 <svelte:head><title>Play · Upbeat Bytes</title></svelte:head>