diff --git a/assets/audio/time.m4a b/assets/audio/time.m4a
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e78c7ee
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/audio/time.m4a differ
diff --git a/config.js b/config.js
index 74a986f..faebe0d 100644
--- a/config.js
+++ b/config.js
@@ -18,8 +18,12 @@ export const TUNE = {
   aiReaction: 0.45,        // s before the CPU reads your shot — well-aimed corners are winners
   autoAssist: matchMedia('(pointer: coarse)').matches ? 1.15 : 0, // auto-run speed factor (mobile)
   zSpeed: 0.7,      // zombie shamble speed m/s
-  zSpawnEvery: 2.6, // s between spawns
-  zMax: 6,          // shamblers on court at once
+  zSpawnEvery: 3.0, // s between spawns in game 1 — shrinks by zSpawnStep per finished game
+  zSpawnMin: 1.0,   // spawn-gap floor late in a run
+  zSpawnStep: 0.22, // spawn-gap reduction per finished game
+  zMax: 3,          // shamblers on court in game 1 (cap grows +1 per game to zMaxCap; 0 = spawns off, for tests)
+  zMaxCap: 14,      // absolute shambler cap
+  changeoverT: 4.5, // s the changeover breather lasts (after odd games, as the rules demand)
   zSplatQ: 0.5,     // min shot quality to splatter; below = stagger pushback
   zPushback: 1.4,   // m a staggered zombie is knocked back
   splatterOverT: 0.1, // s the spent-ball 'over' beat lasts before the next serve is armed
diff --git a/gameplay.js b/gameplay.js
index 9dc7758..51fb16c 100644
--- a/gameplay.js
+++ b/gameplay.js
@@ -180,21 +180,46 @@ function pointTo(side, reason) {
 
 // splatter-mode scoring: points land mid-flight without interrupting play.
 // quiet (during a horde) rate-limits the umpire so he doesn't call every rapid-fire point.
+// The scoreboard IS the progression: games drive spawn pressure, 6 games = a set = a horde,
+// odd games end in a changeover breather.
 export function splatPoint(side, quiet = false) {
   const gameOver = advancePoint(side);
   if (gameOver) {
+    G.runGames++;
+    if (side === 'O') G.shameGame = true; // they took a game — Oliver pays at the next new-balls delivery
     voice(side === 'P' ? 'game_set_massacre' : 'game_opponent', 0.5); // game-win lines always speak
     cheer(2.2, 0.5);
-    if (side === 'P' && ++G.splatGames >= 2) startHorde(); // 2nd splatter game (and every one after): the horde
+    const i = side === 'P' ? 0 : 1;
+    if (score.games[i] >= 6) { // set to the winner — and the court answers with a horde
+      G.sets[i]++; score.games = [0, 0];
+      startHorde();
+    } else if ((score.games[0] + score.games[1]) % 2 === 1) startChangeover(); // real rule: after odd games
   } else if (!quiet || G.idleT - G.lastScoreT > 2) {
     voice(scoreKey(), 0.45); G.lastScoreT = G.idleT;
     if (side === 'P' && !quiet) cheer(0.7, 0.25);
   }
 }
 
+// changeover (after odd games, as the rules demand): a forced breather — no spawns,
+// no serving, the boys mop. Zombies already on court keep walking; it's calm, not safe.
+function startChangeover() {
+  G.changeover = true;
+  G.phase = 'over'; G.overT = TUNE.changeoverT;
+  sendBoy();
+  G.flash = { text: 'CHANGEOVER', t: 1.4 };
+}
+
+// retire the splatter ball; a running changeover's long beat must not be clobbered short
+export function spentBall() {
+  ball.active = false;
+  G.phase = 'over';
+  if (!G.changeover) G.overT = TUNE.splatterOverT;
+}
+
 // the swarm keeps coming: no serving, the racket auto-fires, the thumb drag steers you
 function startHorde() {
   if (G.horde) return;
+  G.changeover = false; // a cheat-forced horde mid-changeover must not leave spawns locked
   G.horde = { t: TUNE.hordeLen, spawnT: 0, mgT: 0 };
   ball.active = false; G.phase = 'rally';           // ball gone; 'rally' lets the movement block steer P
   P.pose = 'idle'; P.poseT = 0; P.swingT = -1;      // clear the triggering shot's serve/swing pose
@@ -246,8 +271,8 @@ function onBounce() {
   ball.bounces++;
   pock(0.35, 500);
   if (G.mode === 'splatter' && ball.bomb && ball.bounces === 1) { // a bomb that missed everyone still blows up
-    explode(ball.x, ball.z); ball.active = false; ball.bomb = false;
-    G.phase = 'over'; G.overT = TUNE.splatterOverT; return;
+    explode(ball.x, ball.z); ball.bomb = false;
+    spentBall(); return;
   }
   if (G.mode !== 'tennis') return; // no lines, no faults — the umpire has other concerns
   if (ball.bounces === 1) {
@@ -401,6 +426,7 @@ export function keyPressed(code) {
   audio(); // unlock on first gesture
   if (G.mode === 'splatter') meleeSwipe(P.x, P.z, TUNE.meleeRange); // a swish cleaves adjacent shamblers
   if (G.horde) return; // horde: the racket auto-fires; a tap only swishes, never serves
+  if (G.changeover) return; // the breather is mandatory — the melee swish above still works
   // splatter: a tap/flick during the brief 'over' beat re-arms the next serve immediately
   if (G.mode === 'splatter' && G.phase === 'over') { ball.active = false; setupPoint(); }
   if (G.phase === 'pretoss' && score.server === 'P') {
@@ -558,14 +584,15 @@ export function update(dt) {
       if (ball.active && Math.abs(ball.vy) < 0.8) { // rolled out — dead ball
         ball.active = false;
         if (G.mode === 'splatter') { // hand the server a fresh one, fast — they're coming
-          G.phase = 'over'; G.overT = TUNE.splatterOverT; sendBoy();
+          spentBall(); sendBoy();
           if (Math.random() < 0.12) voice('new_balls', 0.3);
         } else if (ball.bounces === 1) pointTo(ball.lastHit, null);
       }
     }
     // a racket zombie's return that gets past you (crosses your baseline) is a point for THEM
     if (G.mode === 'splatter' && ball.active && ball.lastHit === 'O' && ball.z > COURT.L + 0.3) {
-      ball.active = false; if (!G.horde) splatPoint('O'); G.phase = 'over'; G.overT = TUNE.splatterOverT;
+      if (!G.horde) splatPoint('O'); // may start a changeover — spentBall respects its beat
+      spentBall();
     }
     // splatter: retire spent or hopeless balls fast so the next serve comes right up.
     // z-bounds gate on travel direction — a serve born behind the baseline (P.z up to 26)
@@ -574,7 +601,7 @@ export function update(dt) {
         ((ball.lastHit === 'X' && ball.bounces >= 1)
          || (ball.z < -2 && ball.vz < 0) || (ball.z > 25.5 && ball.vz > 0)
          || Math.abs(ball.x) > 7.5)) {
-      ball.active = false; G.phase = 'over'; G.overT = TUNE.splatterOverT;
+      spentBall();
     }
     if (G.phase === 'toss' && ball.y <= 1.4 && ball.vy < 0) { // uncaught toss → retoss
       ball.active = false; G.phase = 'pretoss';
@@ -595,5 +622,11 @@ export function update(dt) {
   }
   if (G.outMarker && (G.outMarker.t -= dt) <= 0) G.outMarker = null;
 
-  if (G.phase === 'over') { G.overT -= dt; if (G.overT <= 0) setupPoint(); }
+  if (G.phase === 'over') {
+    G.overT -= dt;
+    if (G.overT <= 0) {
+      if (G.changeover) { G.changeover = false; voice('time', 0, 0.95); } // "Time." — play resumes
+      setupPoint();
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index d35d239..8a5c621 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@
 
 import { TUNE, COURT, UMP_H } from './config.js';
 import { P, O, ball, score, G, setupPoint } from './state.js';
-import { update, keyPressed, solveShot, inServeBox, inCourt, forceZombies } from './gameplay.js';
+import { update, keyPressed, solveShot, inServeBox, inCourt, forceZombies, splatPoint } from './gameplay.js';
 import { fitViewport, render, proj } from './render.js';
 import { voice } from './audio.js';
-import { zombies, spawnZombie, piles, gore, parts, pellets } from './zombies.js';
+import { zombies, spawnZombie, piles, gore, parts, pellets, explode } from './zombies.js';
 import { cv } from './dom.js';
 import './input.js';
 
@@ -54,6 +54,6 @@ cv.addEventListener('pointerdown', e => {
 requestAnimationFrame(frame);
 
 // exposed for in-browser sanity checks and simulated playtests
-window.T = { TUNE, ball, P, O, score, G, zombies, spawnZombie, piles, gore, parts, pellets, solveShot, inServeBox, inCourt, proj, setupPoint, forceZombies,
+window.T = { TUNE, ball, P, O, score, G, zombies, spawnZombie, piles, gore, parts, pellets, explode, splatPoint, solveShot, inServeBox, inCourt, proj, setupPoint, forceZombies,
   step: dt => update(dt), render, press: keyPressed,
   get phase() { return G.phase; }, set phase(v) { G.phase = v; } };
diff --git a/render.js b/render.js
index dc6ed1a..21c7c8e 100644
--- a/render.js
+++ b/render.js
@@ -335,22 +335,27 @@ export function render() {
   const ptTxt = i => score.pts[i] >= 3 && score.pts[0] >= 3 && score.pts[1] >= 3
     ? (score.pts[i] === score.pts[1 - i] ? '40' : (score.pts[i] > score.pts[1 - i] ? 'AD' : '40'))
     : ['0', '15', '30', '40'][Math.min(score.pts[i], 3)];
+  const setsTxt = i => G.mode === 'tennis' ? '' : G.sets[i] + '·'; // splatter scoreboard: SETS·GAMES PTS
   ctx.fillStyle = score.server === 'P' ? '#f8e048' : '#c8d0dc';
-  ctx.fillText('YOU ' + score.games[0] + '  ' + ptTxt(0), 12, 10);
+  ctx.fillText('YOU ' + setsTxt(0) + score.games[0] + '  ' + ptTxt(0), 12, 10);
   for (let b = 0; b < G.bombs; b++) { // stocked bomb balls: black pips with an orange fuse rim
     ctx.fillStyle = '#111'; ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(96 + b * 8, 14, 2.6, 0, 7); ctx.fill();
     ctx.strokeStyle = '#ff8010'; ctx.lineWidth = 0.75; ctx.stroke();
   }
   ctx.fillStyle = score.server === 'O' ? '#f8e048' : '#c8d0dc';
-  ctx.fillText((G.mode === 'tennis' ? 'CPU ' : 'THEM ') + score.games[1] + '  ' + ptTxt(1), 12, 22);
+  ctx.fillText((G.mode === 'tennis' ? 'CPU ' : 'THEM ') + setsTxt(1) + score.games[1] + '  ' + ptTxt(1), 12, 22);
   ctx.textAlign = 'center';
-  if (G.mode === 'eaten') {
+  if (G.mode === 'eaten') { // the run summary — permadeath makes this scoreboard the whole game
     ctx.fillStyle = 'rgba(10,4,6,0.72)'; ctx.fillRect(0, 0, W, H);
-    ctx.fillStyle = '#c02020'; ctx.font = 'bold 22px monospace';
-    ctx.fillText('EATEN.', W / 2, H / 2 - 30);
+    ctx.fillStyle = '#c02020'; ctx.font = 'bold 16px monospace';
+    ctx.fillText('GAME, SET, MASSACRE.', W / 2, H / 2 - 32);
     ctx.fillStyle = '#c8d0dc'; ctx.font = 'bold 10px monospace';
-    ctx.fillText('GAMES  YOU ' + score.games[0] + ' — THEM ' + score.games[1], W / 2, H / 2);
-    if (G.eatenT > 0.7) { ctx.fillStyle = '#f8e048'; ctx.font = 'bold 8px monospace'; ctx.fillText('TAP TO PLAY AGAIN', W / 2, H / 2 + 20); }
+    ctx.fillText('SURVIVED ' + G.runGames + ' GAMES · ' + G.sets[0] + ' SETS', W / 2, H / 2 - 6);
+    if (G.best) {
+      ctx.fillStyle = '#8fa0b8'; ctx.font = 'bold 8px monospace';
+      ctx.fillText('BEST  ' + G.best.games + ' GAMES · ' + G.best.sets + ' SETS', W / 2, H / 2 + 10);
+    }
+    if (G.eatenT > 0.7) { ctx.fillStyle = '#f8e048'; ctx.font = 'bold 8px monospace'; ctx.fillText('TAP TO PLAY AGAIN', W / 2, H / 2 + 28); }
   }
   if (G.phase === 'pretoss' && score.server === 'P' && G.mode !== 'eaten' && !G.horde) {
     ctx.fillStyle = '#f8e048'; ctx.font = 'bold 8px monospace';
diff --git a/state.js b/state.js
index f1d57c0..3a5932f 100644
--- a/state.js
+++ b/state.js
@@ -32,7 +32,11 @@ export const G = {
   bombs: 0,           // bomb-ball stock (max TUNE.bombMax); the next serve auto-consumes one
   killMeter: 0,       // splatter kills toward the next bomb reward (every TUNE.bombEvery)
   horde: null,        // active horde wave {t, spawnT, mgT} — machine-gun racket, no serving
-  splatGames: 0,      // splatter games you've won; the 2nd (and every one after) launches a horde
+  runGames: 0,        // games finished this run (either side) — the difficulty director
+  sets: [0, 0],       // splatter sets won [you, them]; 6 games = a set = a horde
+  changeover: false,  // the odd-game breather: no spawns, no serving, the boys mop
+  shameGame: false,   // they took a game — the next new-balls delivery is withheld
+  best: null,         // best run {games, sets}, loaded from localStorage when you get eaten
   lastScoreT: -9,     // idleT of the last score voice — rate-limits umpire during a horde
   eatenT: 0,          // time since you were eaten — gates the restart tap
   missLog: [],        // swing diagnostics ring buffer (tennis mode) — inspect via T.G.missLog
diff --git a/zombies.js b/zombies.js
index 84674a6..fbb919b 100644
--- a/zombies.js
+++ b/zombies.js
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 import { TUNE, COURT } from './config.js';
 import { G, P, ball, sendBoy, setupPoint } from './state.js';
 import { splat, moan, pock, voice, boom, swish } from './audio.js';
-import { splatPoint, cheer } from './gameplay.js';
+import { splatPoint, cheer, spentBall } from './gameplay.js';
 
 export const zombies = []; // {x, z, v, walkT, variant: 'a'|'b'|'c'}
 export const gore = [];    // lawn decals {x, z, r, a}  — the flat ground layer
@@ -118,12 +118,14 @@ export function updateZombies(dt) {
 
   if (G.mode === 'splatter') { // transition spawns are scripted, not timed
     G.splatT += dt;
-    if (G.horde) tickHorde(dt); // horde: dense spawns + machine gun, ignores zMax
-    else {
+    if (G.horde) tickHorde(dt); // horde: dense spawns + machine gun, ignores the cap
+    else if (!G.changeover) {   // changeovers are a real breather — no fresh spawns
       spawnT -= dt;
-      if (spawnT <= 0 && zombies.length < TUNE.zMax) {
+      // the spawn director: the match's age (games finished) sets both crowd size and tempo
+      const cap = Math.min(TUNE.zMaxCap, TUNE.zMax + G.runGames);
+      if (spawnT <= 0 && zombies.length < cap) {
         spawnZombie((Math.random() * 2 - 1) * 4.8, -1.5 - Math.random(), Math.random() < 0.5 ? 'a' : 'b');
-        spawnT = TUNE.zSpawnEvery;
+        spawnT = Math.max(TUNE.zSpawnMin, TUNE.zSpawnEvery - G.runGames * TUNE.zSpawnStep);
       }
     }
   }
@@ -148,13 +150,18 @@ export function updateZombies(dt) {
       voice('game_set_massacre', 0.8);
       G.mode = 'eaten'; ball.active = false; G.flash = null; // zombies keep shambling for ambience
       G.horde = null; pellets.length = 0;                    // the swarm stops; the eaten screen takes over
+      try { // the run is over — settle it against the best (games survived, sets as tiebreak)
+        const b = JSON.parse(localStorage.splatterBest || 'null') || { games: 0, sets: 0 };
+        if (G.runGames > b.games) { b.games = G.runGames; b.sets = G.sets[0]; localStorage.splatterBest = JSON.stringify(b); }
+        G.best = b;
+      } catch (e) { G.best = null; } // private mode etc. — the summary just skips the best line
     }
     if (ball.active && ball.lastHit === 'P' && ball.y < 1.9) {
       const d = Math.hypot(ball.x - zb.x, ball.z - zb.z);
       if (d < 0.55) {
         if (ball.bomb) { // detonate on first contact, whatever the pace
-          explode(ball.x, ball.z); ball.active = false; ball.bomb = false;
-          G.phase = 'over'; G.overT = TUNE.splatterOverT; break; // zombies mutated — stop this frame's loop
+          explode(ball.x, ball.z); ball.bomb = false;
+          spentBall(); break; // zombies mutated — stop this frame's loop
         }
         if (zb.variant === 'r') { // mini-boss: splat-quality wounds it; soft balls it rallies (racketAI)
           if ((ball.pow || 0) >= TUNE.zSplatQ) {