diff --git a/client/assets/main_menu_background.png b/client/assets/main_menu_background.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ebf2bbf
Binary files /dev/null and b/client/assets/main_menu_background.png differ
diff --git a/client/css/style.css b/client/css/style.css
index 26adc70..8694c1b 100644
--- a/client/css/style.css
+++ b/client/css/style.css
@@ -91,6 +91,15 @@ html, body {
 }
 #screen-menu.active, #screen-new.active, #screen-join.active, #screen-choose.active { display: flex; }
 
+/* The main menu sits on the game's key art, dimmed so the card stays legible;
+   the setup, join and choose screens keep the plain gradient above. */
+#screen-menu {
+  background:
+    radial-gradient(circle at 50% 25%, rgba(60, 90, 140, 0.25), transparent 60%),
+    linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(5, 7, 12, 0.45), rgba(5, 7, 12, 0.85)),
+    url("../assets/main_menu_background.png") center / cover no-repeat;
+}
+
 .menu-card {
   width: 380px;
   padding: 28px 32px;