diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/WordGame.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/WordGame.svelte
index 98302f9..47c9780 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/WordGame.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/WordGame.svelte
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 <script>
   import { getJSON, postJSON } from '$lib/api.js';
+  import { pushGameState, fetchGameStats } from '$lib/gamesync.js';
 
   let { variant = '5', onstatus } = $props();
 
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@
     }
     loading = false;
     requestAnimationFrame(() => (ready = true));
+    syncNow();   // reconcile with the server in the background (signed-in only)
   }
 
   function restore() {
@@ -59,6 +61,30 @@
     try { localStorage.setItem(stateKey, JSON.stringify({ guesses, cols, status, answer, why })); } catch { /* ignore */ }
     onstatus?.(summary());
   }
+
+  // --- cross-device sync (signed-in only; "furthest progress" merged server-side) ---
+  let serverStats = $state(null);
+  let syncTimer;
+  function adopt(merged) {
+    if (!merged || !Array.isArray(merged.guesses)) return;
+    const lr = [status !== 'playing' ? 1 : 0, guesses.length];
+    const mr = [merged.status && merged.status !== 'playing' ? 1 : 0, merged.guesses.length];
+    if (mr[0] > lr[0] || (mr[0] === lr[0] && mr[1] > lr[1])) {  // server is further along
+      guesses = merged.guesses;
+      cols = Array.isArray(merged.cols) ? merged.cols : cols;
+      status = merged.status || 'playing';
+      answer = merged.answer ?? answer;
+      why = merged.why ?? why;
+      persist();
+    }
+  }
+  async function syncNow() {
+    const d = date, v = variant;
+    const merged = await pushGameState('word', v, d, { guesses, cols, status, answer, why });
+    if (d === date && v === variant) adopt(merged);
+    serverStats = await fetchGameStats('word', variant);   // streak/dist follow you across devices
+  }
+  function syncSoon() { clearTimeout(syncTimer); syncTimer = setTimeout(syncNow, 1000); }
   function summary() {
     return { variant, date, status, tries: guesses.length, max: maxGuesses };
   }
@@ -101,6 +127,7 @@
       if (res.solved) { status = 'won'; answer = res.answer; why = res.why; recordStat(true); }
       else if (guesses.length >= maxGuesses) { status = 'lost'; answer = res.answer; why = res.why; recordStat(false); }
       persist();
+      syncSoon();   // push this guess (and any completion) to the server, debounced
     } catch {
       flash('Hmm — couldn’t check that. Try again.');
     } finally {
@@ -119,6 +146,7 @@
   }
   let stats = $derived.by(() => {
     if (status === 'playing') return null;
+    if (serverStats) return serverStats;   // signed-in: consistent across devices
     try { return JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem(statsKey) || 'null'); } catch { return null; }
   });
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/WordSearchGame.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/WordSearchGame.svelte
index aab6307..c00120f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/WordSearchGame.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/WordSearchGame.svelte
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script>
   import { getJSON } from '$lib/api.js';
   import { lineFrom, matchWord, cellFromPoint } from '$lib/wordsearch.js';
+  import { pushGameState, fetchGameStats } from '$lib/gamesync.js';
 
   let { size = 'med', onstatus } = $props();
 
@@ -32,10 +33,30 @@
   const status = $derived(words.length && foundWords.length === words.length ? 'done' : 'playing');
   const selSet = $derived(new Set(sel.map(([r, c]) => r + ',' + c)));
   const cellColor = $derived.by(() => {
-    const m = new Map();
-    for (const w of foundWords) for (const [r, c] of w.cells) m.set(r + ',' + c, w.ci);
+    const m = new Map();                 // "r,c" -> [colour index, ...] (all words covering it)
+    for (const w of foundWords) for (const [r, c] of w.cells) {
+      const k = r + ',' + c;
+      if (!m.has(k)) m.set(k, []);
+      m.get(k).push(w.ci);
+    }
     return m;
   });
+
+  // Multiply-blend the palette colours of every word covering a cell, so where
+  // words cross the cell DEEPENS into a darker shade instead of one colour
+  // stomping the others. Single-word cells keep their plain pastel.
+  function cellStyle(indices) {
+    let r = 255, g = 255, b = 255;
+    for (const ci of indices) {
+      const h = PALETTE[ci];
+      r = (r * parseInt(h.slice(1, 3), 16)) / 255;
+      g = (g * parseInt(h.slice(3, 5), 16)) / 255;
+      b = (b * parseInt(h.slice(5, 7), 16)) / 255;
+    }
+    r = Math.round(r); g = Math.round(g); b = Math.round(b);
+    const lum = 0.299 * r + 0.587 * g + 0.114 * b;   // keep text readable as cells darken
+    return `background:rgb(${r},${g},${b});color:${lum < 140 ? '#fff' : '#2a2f36'}`;
+  }
   const wordColor = $derived.by(() => {
     const m = new Map();
     for (const w of foundWords) m.set(w.word, w.ci);
@@ -60,20 +81,30 @@
     if (seq !== loadSeq) return;
     loading = false;
     requestAnimationFrame(() => (ready = true));
+    // Reconcile with the server in the background (signed-in only): pull any
+    // progress from another device, and pull the cross-device best time.
+    syncNow();
+    fetchGameStats('wordsearch', size).then((st) => {
+      if (st && st.best && (!best || st.best < best)) best = st.best;
+    });
+  }
+
+  // Keep only finds whose cells still spell their word in the CURRENT grid —
+  // guards stale highlights if the puzzle/layout changed (and validates finds
+  // arriving from another device, which is the same date+size grid).
+  function validFinds(list) {
+    return (list || []).filter((fw) =>
+      fw && Array.isArray(fw.cells) && words.includes(fw.word) &&
+      fw.cells.map(([r, c]) => (grid[r] && grid[r][c]) || '').join('') === fw.word);
   }
 
   function restore() {
     try {
       const s = JSON.parse(localStorage.getItem(stateKey) || 'null');
       if (s && Array.isArray(s.foundWords)) {
-        // Keep only finds whose stored cells still spell their word in the CURRENT
-        // grid — guards against stale highlights if the day's puzzle changed.
-        const valid = s.foundWords.filter((fw) =>
-          fw && Array.isArray(fw.cells) && words.includes(fw.word) &&
-          fw.cells.map(([r, c]) => (grid[r] && grid[r][c]) || '').join('') === fw.word);
-        foundWords = valid;
+        foundWords = validFinds(s.foundWords);
         startTime = s.startTime || 0;
-        resultMs = valid.length === words.length ? (s.ms || 0) : 0;
+        resultMs = foundWords.length === words.length ? (s.ms || 0) : 0;
       }
     } catch { /* ignore */ }
     onstatus?.(summary());
@@ -83,6 +114,27 @@
     catch { /* ignore */ }
     onstatus?.(summary());
   }
+
+  // --- cross-device sync (signed-in only; merged server-side) ---
+  let syncTimer;
+  function adopt(merged) {
+    if (!merged) return;
+    const have = new Set(foundWords.map((w) => w.word));
+    for (const fw of validFinds(merged.foundWords)) {
+      if (!have.has(fw.word)) { foundWords = [...foundWords, fw]; have.add(fw.word); }
+    }
+    // renumber colours by find order so overlap blends stay consistent
+    foundWords = foundWords.map((fw, i) => ({ ...fw, ci: i % PALETTE.length }));
+    if (merged.startTime && (!startTime || merged.startTime < startTime)) startTime = merged.startTime;
+    if (foundWords.length === words.length && merged.ms) resultMs = Math.min(resultMs || merged.ms, merged.ms);
+    persist();
+  }
+  async function syncNow() {
+    const d = date, sz = size;                      // pin against a size switch mid-flight
+    const merged = await pushGameState('wordsearch', sz, d, { foundWords, startTime, ms: resultMs });
+    if (d === date && sz === size) adopt(merged);   // ignore if the user switched away
+  }
+  function syncSoon() { clearTimeout(syncTimer); syncTimer = setTimeout(syncNow, 1200); }
   function summary() { return { game: 'wordsearch', size, date, status, found: foundWords.length, total: words.length, ms: resultMs }; }
 
   function cellAt(e) {
@@ -115,6 +167,7 @@
     okFlash = true; setTimeout(() => (okFlash = false), 500);
     if (foundWords.length === words.length) finish();
     persist();
+    syncSoon();   // push this find (and completion) to the server, debounced
   }
 
   function finish() {
@@ -157,7 +210,7 @@
           {#each rowStr.split('') as ch, c (c)}
             {@const key = r + ',' + c}
             <div class="cell" class:sel={selSet.has(key)}
-                 style={cellColor.has(key) && !selSet.has(key) ? `background:${PALETTE[cellColor.get(key)]};color:#2a2f36` : ''}>{ch}</div>
+                 style={cellColor.has(key) && !selSet.has(key) ? cellStyle(cellColor.get(key)) : ''}>{ch}</div>
           {/each}
         {/each}
       </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/gamesync.js b/frontend/src/lib/gamesync.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d67916a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/gamesync.js
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+// Cross-device game-state sync. Local-first: games always paint from
+// localStorage instantly; these calls reconcile with the server in the
+// background. Signed-out players stay purely local (no-ops here).
+import { getJSON, putJSON } from './api.js';
+import { auth } from './auth.svelte.js';
+
+// Push this device's state → the server merges it with any other device's
+// progress → returns the merged state to adopt. null when signed out / on error
+// (the game just stays on its local copy).
+export async function pushGameState(game, variant, date, local) {
+  if (!auth.user) return null;
+  try {
+    const r = await putJSON('/api/games/state', { game, variant, date, state: local || {} }, { timeout: 8000 });
+    return r?.state ?? null;
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+// Derived record (streak / distribution / best) computed server-side from the
+// player's synced states, so it's consistent across devices. null when signed out.
+export async function fetchGameStats(game, variant) {
+  if (!auth.user) return null;
+  try {
+    const q = `game=${encodeURIComponent(game)}&variant=${encodeURIComponent(variant)}`;
+    return (await getJSON('/api/games/stats?' + q))?.stats ?? null;
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/goodnews/api.py b/goodnews/api.py
index 959153b..08a3eba 100644
--- a/goodnews/api.py
+++ b/goodnews/api.py
@@ -350,6 +350,13 @@ class WordGuessRequest(BaseModel):
     n: int = 1  # this guess's position (1-based); the answer is revealed only at n >= max
 
 
+class GameStateBody(BaseModel):
+    game: str
+    variant: str
+    date: str
+    state: dict = {}
+
+
 class WordPoolBody(BaseModel):
     word: str
 
@@ -1567,6 +1574,42 @@ def create_app() -> FastAPI:
             raise HTTPException(status_code=400, detail=res["error"])
         return res
 
+    # --- Cross-device game state sync (signed-in only; merged server-side) ---
+    def _game_ok(game: str, variant: str) -> bool:
+        return (game == "word" and variant in games.WORD_VARIANTS) or \
+               (game == "wordsearch" and variant in games.WS_TIERS)
+
+    @app.get("/api/games/state")
+    def game_state_get(game: str, variant: str, date: str, request: Request) -> dict:
+        if not _game_ok(game, variant):
+            raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="no such game")
+        with get_conn() as conn:
+            user = _current_user(conn, request)
+            if not user:
+                return {"state": None}
+            return {"state": games.load_game_state(conn, user["id"], game, variant, date[:10])}
+
+    @app.put("/api/games/state")
+    def game_state_put(body: GameStateBody, request: Request) -> dict:
+        if not _game_ok(body.game, body.variant):
+            raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="no such game")
+        if len(json.dumps(body.state)) > 20000:  # a real game state is tiny — reject junk
+            raise HTTPException(status_code=413, detail="state too large")
+        with get_conn() as conn:
+            user = _current_user(conn, request)
+            if not user:
+                return {"state": body.state}  # signed out → no sync, just echo
+            merged = games.save_game_state(conn, user["id"], body.game, body.variant, body.date[:10], body.state or {})
+            return {"state": merged}
+
+    @app.get("/api/games/stats")
+    def game_stats_get(game: str, variant: str, request: Request) -> dict:
+        if not _game_ok(game, variant):
+            raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="no such game")
+        with get_conn() as conn:
+            user = _current_user(conn, request)
+            return {"stats": games.game_stats(conn, user["id"], game, variant) if user else None}
+
     # --- Admin: Daily Word pool curation ---
     @app.get("/api/admin/word/lookup")
     def admin_word_lookup(word: str, request: Request) -> dict:
diff --git a/goodnews/db.py b/goodnews/db.py
index f1f3477..8d9c575 100644
--- a/goodnews/db.py
+++ b/goodnews/db.py
@@ -300,6 +300,16 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS daily_puzzles (
     UNIQUE (puzzle_date, game, variant)
 );
 
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS game_state (
+    user_id INTEGER NOT NULL REFERENCES users(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
+    game TEXT NOT NULL,            -- 'word' | 'wordsearch'
+    variant TEXT NOT NULL,         -- '5'|'6' | 'small'|'med'|'large'
+    puzzle_date TEXT NOT NULL,
+    state_json TEXT NOT NULL,      -- per-puzzle progress; merged server-side on save
+    updated_at TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP,
+    PRIMARY KEY (user_id, game, variant, puzzle_date)
+);
+
 CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS user_follows (
     id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
     user_id INTEGER NOT NULL REFERENCES users(id) ON DELETE CASCADE,
diff --git a/goodnews/games.py b/goodnews/games.py
index 2a0c04e..1f8fdad 100644
--- a/goodnews/games.py
+++ b/goodnews/games.py
@@ -540,6 +540,111 @@ def _build_grid(words: list[str], size: int, seed: int) -> tuple[list[str], list
     return ["".join(row) for row in grid], placed
 
 
+# --- Cross-device game state sync -------------------------------------------
+# Per-puzzle progress is merged SERVER-SIDE on every save, so two devices
+# converge regardless of push order. The merge is tailored to each game's nature.
+
+def _merge_wordsearch(a: dict, b: dict) -> dict:
+    """Union the found words (a find is monotonic — you can't un-find one, so the
+    union is always correct), keep the earliest start and the best (min) time."""
+    by_word = {}
+    for fw in list(a.get("foundWords") or []) + list(b.get("foundWords") or []):
+        w = fw.get("word") if isinstance(fw, dict) else None
+        if w and w not in by_word:
+            by_word[w] = fw
+    starts = [s for s in (a.get("startTime"), b.get("startTime")) if s]
+    times = [m for m in (a.get("ms"), b.get("ms")) if m]
+    return {
+        "foundWords": list(by_word.values()),
+        "startTime": min(starts) if starts else 0,
+        "ms": min(times) if times else 0,
+    }
+
+
+def _word_rank(s: dict) -> tuple:
+    return (1 if s.get("status") in ("won", "lost") else 0, len(s.get("guesses") or []))
+
+
+def _merge_word(a: dict, b: dict) -> dict:
+    """Furthest progress wins: a finished game beats in-progress, more guesses
+    beats fewer. Picks one device's game WHOLE — never splices guess sequences."""
+    return a if _word_rank(a) >= _word_rank(b) else b
+
+
+def merge_game_state(game: str, a: dict | None, b: dict | None) -> dict:
+    if not a:
+        return dict(b or {})
+    if not b:
+        return dict(a or {})
+    return _merge_wordsearch(a, b) if game == "wordsearch" else _merge_word(a, b)
+
+
+def load_game_state(conn: sqlite3.Connection, user_id: int, game: str, variant: str, date: str) -> dict | None:
+    row = conn.execute(
+        "SELECT state_json FROM game_state WHERE user_id=? AND game=? AND variant=? AND puzzle_date=?",
+        (user_id, game, variant, date),
+    ).fetchone()
+    if not row:
+        return None
+    try:
+        return json.loads(row["state_json"])
+    except (ValueError, TypeError):
+        return None
+
+
+def save_game_state(conn: sqlite3.Connection, user_id: int, game: str, variant: str,
+                    date: str, incoming: dict) -> dict:
+    """Merge incoming with the stored state (server-authoritative) and persist."""
+    stored = load_game_state(conn, user_id, game, variant, date)
+    merged = merge_game_state(game, stored, incoming or {})
+    conn.execute(
+        "INSERT INTO game_state (user_id, game, variant, puzzle_date, state_json, updated_at) "
+        "VALUES (?,?,?,?,?,CURRENT_TIMESTAMP) "
+        "ON CONFLICT(user_id, game, variant, puzzle_date) DO UPDATE SET "
+        "state_json=excluded.state_json, updated_at=CURRENT_TIMESTAMP",
+        (user_id, game, variant, date, json.dumps(merged)),
+    )
+    conn.commit()
+    return merged
+
+
+def game_stats(conn: sqlite3.Connection, user_id: int, game: str, variant: str) -> dict:
+    """Derive the player's record for a variant from their synced states, so
+    streak / distribution / best are consistent across devices (not per-device counters)."""
+    rows = conn.execute(
+        "SELECT puzzle_date, state_json FROM game_state "
+        "WHERE user_id=? AND game=? AND variant=? ORDER BY puzzle_date DESC",
+        (user_id, game, variant),
+    ).fetchall()
+    states = []
+    for r in rows:
+        try:
+            states.append(json.loads(r["state_json"]))
+        except (ValueError, TypeError):
+            pass
+    if game == "wordsearch":
+        times = [s.get("ms") for s in states if s.get("ms")]
+        return {"completed": sum(1 for s in states if s.get("ms")), "best": min(times) if times else 0}
+    played = won = 0
+    dist: dict[int, int] = {}
+    streak = 0
+    streak_open = True  # consecutive wins counting back from newest (matches the old local counter)
+    for s in states:
+        st = s.get("status")
+        if st in ("won", "lost"):
+            played += 1
+        if st == "won":
+            won += 1
+            g = len(s.get("guesses") or [])
+            dist[g] = dist.get(g, 0) + 1
+            if streak_open:
+                streak += 1
+        elif st == "lost":
+            streak_open = False
+        # 'playing' (e.g. today unfinished) neither counts nor breaks the streak
+    return {"played": played, "won": won, "streak": streak, "dist": dist}
+
+
 def wordsearch_response(conn: sqlite3.Connection, date: str, size: str = "med") -> dict:
     """Public shape for a size tier: theme + placed words + grid. The grid is meant
     to be seen — the play is finding the words — so there's nothing to hide."""
diff --git a/tests/test_game_sync.py b/tests/test_game_sync.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c521c1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_game_sync.py
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+"""Cross-device game-state sync: server-side merge so two devices converge."""
+import pytest
+
+from goodnews import games
+from goodnews.db import connect, init_db
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def conn(tmp_path):
+    c = connect(str(tmp_path / "t.db"))
+    init_db(c)
+    c.execute("INSERT INTO users (email) VALUES ('a@b.c')")
+    c.commit()
+    return c
+
+
+# --- merge logic (the audited core) ---
+
+def test_merge_wordsearch_unions_finds():
+    a = {"foundWords": [{"word": "CAT", "cells": [[0, 0]], "ci": 0}], "startTime": 100, "ms": 0}
+    b = {"foundWords": [{"word": "DOG", "cells": [[1, 1]], "ci": 1}], "startTime": 50, "ms": 0}
+    m = games.merge_game_state("wordsearch", a, b)
+    assert {f["word"] for f in m["foundWords"]} == {"CAT", "DOG"}  # union of finds
+    assert m["startTime"] == 50  # earliest start
+
+
+def test_merge_wordsearch_dedupes_and_keeps_best_time():
+    a = {"foundWords": [{"word": "CAT", "cells": [[0, 0]], "ci": 0}], "ms": 5000}
+    b = {"foundWords": [{"word": "CAT", "cells": [[0, 0]], "ci": 0}], "ms": 3000}
+    m = games.merge_game_state("wordsearch", a, b)
+    assert len(m["foundWords"]) == 1 and m["ms"] == 3000  # same word once, best time
+
+
+def test_merge_word_furthest_progress_wins():
+    playing = {"status": "playing", "guesses": ["AAAAA", "BBBBB"]}
+    won = {"status": "won", "guesses": ["AAAAA", "CCCCC", "DDDDD"]}
+    assert games.merge_game_state("word", playing, won) == won  # terminal beats in-progress
+    less = {"status": "playing", "guesses": ["A"]}
+    more = {"status": "playing", "guesses": ["A", "B", "C"]}
+    assert games.merge_game_state("word", less, more) == more  # more guesses beats fewer
+
+
+def test_merge_handles_missing_sides():
+    a = {"status": "won", "guesses": ["x"]}
+    assert games.merge_game_state("word", None, a) == a
+    assert games.merge_game_state("word", a, None) == a
+
+
+# --- persistence convergence ---
+
+def test_save_converges_across_devices(conn):
+    games.save_game_state(conn, 1, "wordsearch", "small", "2026-06-12",
+                          {"foundWords": [{"word": "CAT", "cells": [[0, 0]], "ci": 0}], "startTime": 100})
+    merged = games.save_game_state(conn, 1, "wordsearch", "small", "2026-06-12",
+                                   {"foundWords": [{"word": "DOG", "cells": [[1, 1]], "ci": 1}], "startTime": 50})
+    assert {f["word"] for f in merged["foundWords"]} == {"CAT", "DOG"}
+    # stored state reflects the merge (order-independent)
+    assert games.load_game_state(conn, 1, "wordsearch", "small", "2026-06-12")["startTime"] == 50
+
+
+# --- derived stats ---
+
+def test_word_stats_streak_and_distribution(conn):
+    games.save_game_state(conn, 1, "word", "5", "2026-06-12", {"status": "won", "guesses": ["a", "b", "c"]})
+    games.save_game_state(conn, 1, "word", "5", "2026-06-11", {"status": "won", "guesses": ["a", "b", "c", "d"]})
+    games.save_game_state(conn, 1, "word", "5", "2026-06-10", {"status": "lost", "guesses": ["a"] * 6})
+    st = games.game_stats(conn, 1, "word", "5")
+    assert st["played"] == 3 and st["won"] == 2
+    assert st["streak"] == 2  # two most-recent wins, then the loss stops it
+    assert st["dist"] == {3: 1, 4: 1}
+
+
+def test_wordsearch_stats_best_time(conn):
+    games.save_game_state(conn, 1, "wordsearch", "med", "2026-06-12", {"foundWords": [], "ms": 4000})
+    games.save_game_state(conn, 1, "wordsearch", "med", "2026-06-11", {"foundWords": [], "ms": 6000})
+    st = games.game_stats(conn, 1, "wordsearch", "med")
+    assert st["completed"] == 2 and st["best"] == 4000
+
+
+# --- API round-trip (signed-in only; needs the test helpers) ---
+
+def test_game_state_api_roundtrip(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    from test_admin import _make, _signin
+    from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
+    app, api = _make(tmp_path, monkeypatch)
+    # signed out → no sync, echoes the posted state and GET sees nothing stored
+    anon = TestClient(app)
+    body = {"game": "wordsearch", "variant": "small", "date": "2026-06-12",
+            "state": {"foundWords": [{"word": "CAT", "cells": [[0, 0]], "ci": 0}], "startTime": 9}}
+    assert anon.put("/api/games/state", json=body).json()["state"]["foundWords"][0]["word"] == "CAT"
+    assert anon.get("/api/games/state?game=wordsearch&variant=small&date=2026-06-12").json()["state"] is None
+    # signed in: push from "device A", then "device B" → server returns the union
+    tc = _signin(app, api, "p@x.com")
+    tc.put("/api/games/state", json=body)
+    bodyB = {**body, "state": {"foundWords": [{"word": "DOG", "cells": [[1, 1]], "ci": 1}], "startTime": 4}}
+    merged = tc.put("/api/games/state", json=bodyB).json()["state"]
+    assert {f["word"] for f in merged["foundWords"]} == {"CAT", "DOG"} and merged["startTime"] == 4
+    # GET returns the stored merge; unknown game → 404
+    got = tc.get("/api/games/state?game=wordsearch&variant=small&date=2026-06-12").json()["state"]
+    assert {f["word"] for f in got["foundWords"]} == {"CAT", "DOG"}
+    assert tc.get("/api/games/state?game=nope&variant=x&date=2026-06-12").status_code == 404