diff --git a/packages/web/src/App.svelte b/packages/web/src/App.svelte
index dced1a9..05463e2 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/App.svelte
+++ b/packages/web/src/App.svelte
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
   import Board from "./Board.svelte";
   import Card from "./Card.svelte";
   import Help from "./Help.svelte";
+  import { local } from "./local.svelte";
   import { allCardDefs, cardDef, isNumberCard, SIDES, stepTarget, cellKey } from "@wizwar/engine";
   import type { CardInstance, Side } from "@wizwar/engine";
 
@@ -13,6 +14,7 @@
   let joinCode = $state("");
   let claimPhrase = $state("");
   let showHelp = $state(false);
+  let hotseatNames = $state("");
   let drawCount = $state(2);
   let withExpansion = $state(true);
   /** Your creature selected for movement/attacks. */
@@ -45,7 +47,7 @@
   /** Voluntary discard mode: hand clicks mark cards instead of playing them. */
   let discardMode = $state(false);
 
-  const view = $derived(net.view);
+  const view = $derived(local.active ? local.view : net.view);
   const isYourTurn = $derived(view !== null && view.activePlayerId === view.you && !view.stack);
   const youMustRespond = $derived(view?.stack != null && view.stack.waitingOn === view.you);
   const youMustDiscard = $derived(view != null && view.pendingDiscard === view.you);
@@ -75,6 +77,11 @@
   );
   const numberTotal = $derived(attachedNumber ? cardDef(attachedNumber.cardId).value! : 1);
 
+  function dispatch(command: Parameters<typeof net.command>[0]) {
+    if (local.active) local.command(command);
+    else net.command(command);
+  }
+
   function clearSelection() {
     trapCells = [];
     tradeFrom = null;
@@ -112,7 +119,7 @@
   function selectCard(card: CardInstance) {
     if (!view) return;
     if (youMustRespond) {
-      net.command({ type: "counteract", instanceId: card.instanceId });
+      dispatch({ type: "counteract", instanceId: card.instanceId });
       return;
     }
     if (youMustDiscard || discardMode || discardSelection.size > 0) {
@@ -163,7 +170,7 @@
       const add = view.yourHand.find((c) => c.cardId === "add");
       if (add) cmd.addInstanceId = add.instanceId;
     }
-    net.command(cmd);
+    dispatch(cmd);
     clearSelection();
   }
 
@@ -180,13 +187,13 @@
     if (!selectedCard) return;
     const cmd: Parameters<typeof net.command>[0] = { type: "cast", instanceId: selectedCard.instanceId };
     if (attachedNumber) cmd.numberInstanceIds = [attachedNumber.instanceId];
-    net.command(cmd);
+    dispatch(cmd);
     clearSelection();
   }
 
   function castPowerRun() {
     if (!selectedCard) return;
-    net.command({ type: "cast", instanceId: selectedCard.instanceId, params: { points: runPoints } });
+    dispatch({ type: "cast", instanceId: selectedCard.instanceId, params: { points: runPoints } });
     clearSelection();
   }
 
@@ -194,7 +201,7 @@
     if (!view || !isYourTurn) return;
     if (pendingCellFor && selectedCard) {
       // Stage 2 of teleport-opponent: destination chosen.
-      net.command({
+      dispatch({
         type: "cast", instanceId: selectedCard.instanceId,
         target: { kind: "player", playerId: pendingCellFor },
         params: { cell },
@@ -207,7 +214,7 @@
         pendingSectorFrom = cell; // first click: the sector to move
         return;
       }
-      net.command({
+      dispatch({
         type: "cast", instanceId: selectedCard.instanceId,
         target: { kind: "cell", cell }, params: { cell: pendingSectorFrom },
       });
@@ -217,14 +224,14 @@
     if (selectedCard?.cardId === "boobytrap") {
       trapCells = [...trapCells, cell];
       if (trapCells.length === 4) {
-        net.command({ type: "cast", instanceId: selectedCard.instanceId, params: { cells: trapCells } });
+        dispatch({ type: "cast", instanceId: selectedCard.instanceId, params: { cells: trapCells } });
         clearSelection();
       }
       return;
     }
     if (selectedCard && TWO_CELL_CARDS.has(selectedCard.cardId)) {
       if (!tradeFrom) { tradeFrom = cell; return; }
-      net.command({
+      dispatch({
         type: "cast", instanceId: selectedCard.instanceId,
         target: { kind: "cell", cell }, params: { cell: tradeFrom },
       });
@@ -232,7 +239,7 @@
       return;
     }
     if (selectedCard?.cardId === "rotate-sector") {
-      net.command({
+      dispatch({
         type: "cast", instanceId: selectedCard.instanceId,
         target: { kind: "cell", cell }, params: { clockwise: rotateCW },
       });
@@ -240,7 +247,7 @@
       return;
     }
     if (selectedCard && CELL_CARDS.has(selectedCard.cardId)) {
-      net.command({
+      dispatch({
         type: "cast", instanceId: selectedCard.instanceId,
         target: { kind: "cell", cell },
       });
@@ -254,7 +261,7 @@
           const n = { x: creature.position.x + (side === "E" ? 1 : side === "W" ? -1 : 0),
                       y: creature.position.y + (side === "S" ? 1 : side === "N" ? -1 : 0) };
           if (cellKey(n) === cellKey(cell)) {
-            net.command({ type: "moveCreature", creatureId: selectedCreature, direction: side });
+            dispatch({ type: "moveCreature", creatureId: selectedCreature, direction: side });
             return;
           }
         }
@@ -268,7 +275,7 @@
     for (const side of SIDES) {
       const t = stepTarget(view.board, me.position, side);
       if (t.kind !== "blocked" && cellKey(t.to) === cellKey(cell)) {
-        net.command({ type: "move", direction: side });
+        dispatch({ type: "move", direction: side });
         return;
       }
     }
@@ -278,7 +285,7 @@
       const n = { x: me.position.x + (side === "E" ? 1 : side === "W" ? -1 : 0),
                   y: me.position.y + (side === "S" ? 1 : side === "N" ? -1 : 0) };
       if (cellKey(n) === cellKey(cell)) {
-        net.command({ type: "move", direction: side });
+        dispatch({ type: "move", direction: side });
         return;
       }
     }
@@ -289,7 +296,7 @@
     // Standing on the opening: step through. Otherwise treat it as a cell
     // click on the opening square (e.g. to walk toward it).
     if (me.position.x === cell.x && me.position.y === cell.y) {
-      net.command({ type: "move", direction: side });
+      dispatch({ type: "move", direction: side });
     } else {
       clickCell(cell);
     }
@@ -297,7 +304,7 @@
 
   function clickEdge(cell: { x: number; y: number }, side: Side) {
     if (!selectedCard || !edgeSelectMode) return;
-    net.command({
+    dispatch({
       type: "cast",
       instanceId: selectedCard.instanceId,
       target: { kind: "edge", cell, side },
@@ -310,7 +317,7 @@
     const creature = view.creatures.find((c) => c.id === creatureId);
     if (!creature) return;
     if (selectedCard && (CREATURE_TARGET_CARDS.has(selectedCard.cardId) || cardDef(selectedCard.cardId).cardType === "attack")) {
-      net.command({
+      dispatch({
         type: "cast", instanceId: selectedCard.instanceId,
         target: { kind: "creature", creatureId },
         ...(attachedNumber ? { numberInstanceIds: [attachedNumber.instanceId] } : {}),
@@ -320,7 +327,7 @@
     }
     if (selectedCreature && selectedCreature !== creatureId) {
       // Your selected creature attacks another creature in its square.
-      net.command({ type: "creatureAttack", creatureId: selectedCreature, targetId: creatureId });
+      dispatch({ type: "creatureAttack", creatureId: selectedCreature, targetId: creatureId });
       selectedCreature = null;
       return;
     }
@@ -333,7 +340,7 @@
   function clickPlayer(playerId: string) {
     if (!view || !isYourTurn) return;
     if (selectedCreature) {
-      net.command({ type: "creatureAttack", creatureId: selectedCreature, targetId: playerId });
+      dispatch({ type: "creatureAttack", creatureId: selectedCreature, targetId: playerId });
       selectedCreature = null;
       return;
     }
@@ -342,7 +349,7 @@
       const me = view.players.find((p) => p.id === view.you)!;
       const them = view.players.find((p) => p.id === playerId)!;
       if (playerId !== view.you && cellKey(me.position) === cellKey(them.position)) {
-        net.command({ type: "punch", targetId: playerId });
+        dispatch({ type: "punch", targetId: playerId });
       }
       return;
     }
@@ -365,24 +372,24 @@
       if (!id) return; // needs a card name typed first
       cmd.params = { cardId: id };
     }
-    net.command(cmd);
+    dispatch(cmd);
     clearSelection();
   }
 
   function doDiscard() {
-    net.command({ type: "discard", instanceIds: [...discardSelection] });
+    dispatch({ type: "discard", instanceIds: [...discardSelection] });
     discardSelection = new Set();
     discardMode = false;
   }
 
   function endTurn() {
     clearSelection();
-    net.command({ type: "endTurn", draw: drawCount });
+    dispatch({ type: "endTurn", draw: drawCount });
   }
 
-  function pickUp() { net.command({ type: "pickUpTreasure" }); }
-  function drop() { net.command({ type: "dropTreasure" }); }
-  function pass() { net.command({ type: "pass" }); }
+  function pickUp() { dispatch({ type: "pickUpTreasure" }); }
+  function drop() { dispatch({ type: "dropTreasure" }); }
+  function pass() { dispatch({ type: "pass" }); }
 
   const me = $derived(view?.players.find((p) => p.id === view?.you) ?? null);
   const carryingTreasure = $derived(me?.carriedTreasureId != null);
@@ -401,6 +408,7 @@
   let chronicleEl = $state<HTMLElement | null>(null);
   $effect(() => {
     void net.log.length;
+    void local.log.length;
     if (chronicleEl) chronicleEl.scrollTop = chronicleEl.scrollHeight;
   });
 
@@ -450,7 +458,11 @@
   <header class="masthead">
     <span class="mast-title">Wiz-War</span>
     <span class="mast-sub">sixth edition</span>
-    {#if net.roomId}
+    {#if local.active}
+      <span class="mast-room">hotseat</span>
+      <button class="mast-leave" onclick={() => local.leave()}>set the game aside</button>
+      <button class="mast-leave" onclick={() => local.abandon()}>abandon game</button>
+    {:else if net.roomId}
       <span class="mast-room">room <b>{net.roomId}</b></span>
       <button class="mast-leave" onclick={() => net.requestTransferCode()}>transfer seat</button>
       <button class="mast-leave" onclick={() => net.leave()}>leave table</button>
@@ -479,7 +491,18 @@
     </div>
   {/if}
 
-  {#if !net.roomId}
+  {#if local.handoffTo}
+    <div class="scrim-handoff" role="button" tabindex="0"
+      onclick={() => local.takeSeat()} onkeydown={(e) => e.key === "Enter" && local.takeSeat()}>
+      <div class="handoff-card">
+        <div class="handoff-eyebrow">pass the device to</div>
+        <div class="handoff-name">{local.handoffTo}</div>
+        <div class="handoff-hint">tap when only they can see the screen</div>
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  {/if}
+
+  {#if !net.roomId && !local.active}
     <section class="boxlid">
       <div class="boxlid-inner">
         <div class="boxlid-title">Wiz-War</div>
@@ -499,6 +522,24 @@
           </button>
         </div>
 
+        <div class="hotseat-row">
+          <input class="claim-input wide" bind:value={hotseatNames}
+            placeholder="hotseat: names, comma-separated" aria-label="hotseat player names" />
+          <button class="stamp tiny" disabled={hotseatNames.split(",").filter((n) => n.trim()).length < 2}
+            onclick={() => {
+              const err = local.start(hotseatNames.split(","), withExpansion);
+              if (err) net.error = err;
+            }}>
+            Play here
+          </button>
+          {#if local.hasSave()}
+            <button class="stamp tiny" onclick={() => local.resume()}>Resume hotseat</button>
+          {/if}
+        </div>
+        <label class="check hotseat-exp">
+          <input type="checkbox" bind:checked={withExpansion} /> with Expansion Set #1
+        </label>
+
         <div class="claim-row">
           <input class="claim-input" bind:value={claimPhrase}
             placeholder="ember-troll-dagger" aria-label="seat transfer phrase" />
@@ -545,7 +586,7 @@
         {/if}
       </div>
     </section>
-  {:else if !net.started}
+  {:else if !local.active && !net.started}
     <section class="boxlid">
       <div class="boxlid-inner">
         <div class="boxlid-title small">Room {net.roomId}</div>
@@ -630,7 +671,7 @@
         </div>
 
         <div class="chronicle" aria-label="game log" bind:this={chronicleEl}>
-          {#each net.log.slice(-60) as line, i (i)}
+          {#each (local.active ? local.log : net.log).slice(-60) as line, i (i)}
             <div>{line}</div>
           {/each}
         </div>
@@ -679,7 +720,7 @@
                 <button class="stamp tiny" onclick={() => {
                   const id = nameToCardId(nameInput);
                   if (id && selectedCard) {
-                    net.command({ type: "cast", instanceId: selectedCard.instanceId, params: { cardId: id } });
+                    dispatch({ type: "cast", instanceId: selectedCard.instanceId, params: { cardId: id } });
                     clearSelection();
                   }
                 }}>Retrieve</button>
@@ -712,7 +753,7 @@
 
       <div class="actions">
         {#if isYourTurn && onWarpToken}
-          <button class="stamp" onclick={() => net.command({ type: "warpStep" })}>Step through the warp</button>
+          <button class="stamp" onclick={() => dispatch({ type: "warpStep" })}>Step through the warp</button>
         {/if}
         {#if isYourTurn}
           <button class="stamp" disabled={!treasureHere || carryingTreasure || view.turn.actionsEnded}
@@ -806,6 +847,40 @@
   }
   .mast-leave:hover { color: #d8d2c0; }
   .mast-help-solo { margin-left: auto; }
+  .claim-input.wide { width: 17rem; }
+  .hotseat-row { display: flex; gap: 0.5rem; align-items: center; justify-content: center; margin-top: 1.3rem; }
+  .hotseat-exp { margin-top: 0.4rem; margin-bottom: 0; font-size: 0.85rem; }
+
+  .scrim-handoff {
+    position: fixed;
+    inset: 0;
+    background: #14161b;
+    display: grid;
+    place-items: center;
+    z-index: 60;
+    cursor: pointer;
+  }
+  .handoff-card {
+    background: #e9e1cb;
+    color: #43331f;
+    border-radius: 8px;
+    padding: 2.4rem 3.2rem;
+    text-align: center;
+    box-shadow: 0 16px 44px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6);
+  }
+  .handoff-eyebrow {
+    font-family: "Oswald", sans-serif;
+    font-size: 0.7rem;
+    letter-spacing: 0.22em;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    color: #6b5a41;
+  }
+  .handoff-name {
+    font-family: "Caveat", cursive;
+    font-size: 3rem;
+    line-height: 1.15;
+  }
+  .handoff-hint { font-size: 0.85rem; color: #6b5a41; margin-top: 0.4rem; }
 
   .toast {
     background: #6d2119;
diff --git a/packages/web/src/local.svelte.ts b/packages/web/src/local.svelte.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3a1896b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/web/src/local.svelte.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+// Hotseat: the whole game runs in this browser — the engine is pure
+// TypeScript, so no server is involved at all. The device is passed between
+// players; a hand-off screen keeps hands private between seats. The game
+// saves itself after every command (config + command log, replayed on
+// resume — the same determinism trick the server uses).
+
+import {
+  applyCommand,
+  createGame,
+  viewFor,
+  type Command,
+  type GameConfig,
+  type GameState,
+  type GameView,
+  type PlayerId,
+} from "@wizwar/engine";
+import { humanize } from "./net.svelte";
+
+const SAVE_KEY = "wizwar-hotseat";
+
+interface SavedHotseat {
+  config: GameConfig;
+  commands: { playerId: PlayerId; command: Command }[];
+}
+
+/** Whose input does the game need right now? */
+function actorId(state: GameState): PlayerId {
+  return (
+    state.pendingDiscard ??
+    state.outOfTurnWindow?.playerId ??
+    state.stack?.waitingOn ??
+    state.players[state.turn.activeIndex]!.id
+  );
+}
+
+class LocalGame {
+  active = $state(false);
+  gameState = $state<GameState | null>(null);
+  viewerId = $state<PlayerId | null>(null);
+  /** Set while the device should be handed to the named player. */
+  handoffTo = $state<PlayerId | null>(null);
+  log = $state<string[]>([]);
+  view = $derived(
+    this.gameState && this.viewerId ? viewFor(this.gameState, this.viewerId) : null,
+  );
+
+  private config: GameConfig | null = null;
+  private commands: { playerId: PlayerId; command: Command }[] = [];
+
+  hasSave(): boolean {
+    return localStorage.getItem(SAVE_KEY) !== null;
+  }
+
+  start(names: PlayerId[], expansion: boolean): string | null {
+    const cleaned = [...new Set(names.map((n) => n.trim()).filter(Boolean))];
+    if (cleaned.length < 2 || cleaned.length > 6) return "two to six wizards, each with a name";
+    const seed = crypto.getRandomValues(new Uint32Array(1))[0]!;
+    const config: GameConfig = {
+      playerIds: cleaned,
+      seed,
+      sets: expansion ? ["basic", "expansion1"] : ["basic"],
+    };
+    const { state, events } = createGame(config);
+    this.config = config;
+    this.commands = [];
+    this.gameState = state;
+    this.log = [];
+    for (const e of events) {
+      const line = humanize(e);
+      if (line) this.log = [...this.log, line];
+    }
+    this.active = true;
+    this.viewerId = null;
+    this.handoffTo = actorId(state);
+    this.persist();
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  resume(): boolean {
+    const raw = localStorage.getItem(SAVE_KEY);
+    if (!raw) return false;
+    try {
+      const saved = JSON.parse(raw) as SavedHotseat;
+      const { state, events } = createGame(saved.config);
+      let current = state;
+      this.log = [];
+      for (const e of events) {
+        const line = humanize(e);
+        if (line) this.log = [...this.log, line];
+      }
+      for (const c of saved.commands) {
+        const result = applyCommand(current, c.playerId, c.command);
+        if (!result.ok) throw new Error(`replay failed: ${result.error}`);
+        current = result.state;
+        for (const e of result.events) {
+          const line = humanize(e);
+          if (line) this.log = [...this.log, line];
+        }
+      }
+      this.config = saved.config;
+      this.commands = saved.commands;
+      this.gameState = current;
+      this.active = true;
+      this.viewerId = null;
+      this.handoffTo = actorId(current);
+      return true;
+    } catch (e) {
+      console.error("hotseat resume failed:", e);
+      localStorage.removeItem(SAVE_KEY);
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  /** The named player takes the device: their hand becomes visible. */
+  takeSeat(): void {
+    if (!this.handoffTo) return;
+    this.viewerId = this.handoffTo;
+    this.handoffTo = null;
+  }
+
+  command(command: Command): void {
+    if (!this.gameState || !this.viewerId) return;
+    // The engine deep-clones with structuredClone, which cannot handle
+    // Svelte's reactive proxies — hand it a plain snapshot.
+    const plain = $state.snapshot(this.gameState) as GameState;
+    const result = applyCommand(plain, this.viewerId, command);
+    if (!result.ok) {
+      this.log = [...this.log, `— ${result.error} —`];
+      return;
+    }
+    this.gameState = result.state;
+    this.commands = [...this.commands, { playerId: this.viewerId, command }];
+    for (const e of result.events) {
+      const line = humanize(e);
+      if (line) this.log = [...this.log, line];
+    }
+    this.persist();
+    if (this.gameState.phase === "playing") {
+      const next = actorId(this.gameState);
+      if (next !== this.viewerId) this.handoffTo = next;
+    }
+  }
+
+  /** End the hotseat session (the save survives unless the game is over). */
+  leave(): void {
+    if (this.gameState?.phase === "finished") localStorage.removeItem(SAVE_KEY);
+    this.active = false;
+    this.gameState = null;
+    this.viewerId = null;
+    this.handoffTo = null;
+    this.log = [];
+  }
+
+  abandon(): void {
+    localStorage.removeItem(SAVE_KEY);
+    this.leave();
+  }
+
+  private persist(): void {
+    if (!this.config) return;
+    localStorage.setItem(
+      SAVE_KEY,
+      JSON.stringify({ config: this.config, commands: this.commands } satisfies SavedHotseat),
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+export const local = new LocalGame();
diff --git a/packages/web/src/net.svelte.ts b/packages/web/src/net.svelte.ts
index 317a702..d6abf4f 100644
--- a/packages/web/src/net.svelte.ts
+++ b/packages/web/src/net.svelte.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { cardDef } from "@wizwar/engine";
 
 const SERVER_URL = import.meta.env.VITE_WIZWAR_SERVER ?? "ws://localhost:8787";
 
-function humanize(e: GameEvent): string | null {
+export function humanize(e: GameEvent): string | null {
   switch (e.type) {
     case "gameStarted": return `Game started — ${e.players.join(", ")}. ${e.firstPlayer} goes first.`;
     case "turnStarted": return `— ${e.player}'s turn (round ${e.round}) —`;