diff --git a/apps/wolf_3d_cli/lib/cli_game_loop.dart b/apps/wolf_3d_cli/lib/cli_game_loop.dart
index 09d46a8..3385caf 100644
--- a/apps/wolf_3d_cli/lib/cli_game_loop.dart
+++ b/apps/wolf_3d_cli/lib/cli_game_loop.dart
@@ -25,7 +25,9 @@ class CliGameLoop {
                'CliGameLoop requires a CliInput instance.',
              ),
 
-       primaryRasterizer = AsciiRasterizer(isTerminal: true),
+       primaryRasterizer = AsciiRasterizer(
+         mode: AsciiRasterizerMode.terminalAnsi,
+       ),
        secondaryRasterizer = SixelRasterizer() {
     _rasterizer = primaryRasterizer;
   }
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/ascii_rasterizer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/ascii_rasterizer.dart
index c332788..78c041c 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/ascii_rasterizer.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/ascii_rasterizer.dart
@@ -61,6 +61,21 @@ class ColoredChar {
 
   // Outputs standard AARRGGBB for Flutter's Color(int) constructor
   int get argb => (0xFF000000) | (r << 16) | (g << 8) | b;
+
+  // Same AABBGGRR → AARRGGBB conversion for the background channel.
+  int? get backgroundArgb {
+    final bg = rawBackgroundColor;
+    if (bg == null) return null;
+    final int bgR = bg & 0xFF;
+    final int bgG = (bg >> 8) & 0xFF;
+    final int bgB = (bg >> 16) & 0xFF;
+    return 0xFF000000 | (bgR << 16) | (bgG << 8) | bgB;
+  }
+}
+
+enum AsciiRasterizerMode {
+  terminalAnsi,
+  terminalGrid,
 }
 
 class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
@@ -71,21 +86,23 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
   static const int _simpleHudMinWidth = 84;
   static const int _simpleHudMinRows = 7;
 
-  static const int _menuSelectedTextPaletteIndex = 19;
-  static const int _menuUnselectedTextPaletteIndex = 23;
   static const int _menuHintKeyPaletteIndex = 12;
   static const int _menuHintLabelPaletteIndex = 4;
   static const int _menuHintBackgroundPaletteIndex = 0;
 
   AsciiRasterizer({
     this.activeTheme = AsciiThemes.blocks,
-    this.isTerminal = false,
+    this.mode = AsciiRasterizerMode.terminalGrid,
     this.aspectMultiplier = 1.0,
     this.verticalStretch = 1.0,
   });
 
   AsciiTheme activeTheme = AsciiThemes.blocks;
-  final bool isTerminal;
+  final AsciiRasterizerMode mode;
+
+  bool get _usesTerminalLayout => true;
+
+  bool get _emitAnsi => mode == AsciiRasterizerMode.terminalAnsi;
 
   late List<List<ColoredChar>> _screen;
   late List<List<int>> _scenePixels;
@@ -97,7 +114,7 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
   final double verticalStretch;
 
   @override
-  int get projectionWidth => isTerminal
+  int get projectionWidth => _usesTerminalLayout
       ? math.max(
           1,
           math.min(width, (_terminalPixelHeight * _targetAspectRatio).floor()),
@@ -105,14 +122,16 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
       : width;
 
   @override
-  int get projectionOffsetX => isTerminal ? (width - projectionWidth) ~/ 2 : 0;
+  int get projectionOffsetX =>
+      _usesTerminalLayout ? (width - projectionWidth) ~/ 2 : 0;
 
   @override
-  int get projectionViewHeight => isTerminal ? viewHeight * 2 : viewHeight;
+  int get projectionViewHeight =>
+      _usesTerminalLayout ? viewHeight * 2 : viewHeight;
 
   @override
   bool isTerminalSizeSupported(int columns, int rows) {
-    if (!isTerminal) {
+    if (!_usesTerminalLayout) {
       return true;
     }
     return columns >= _minimumTerminalColumns && rows >= _minimumTerminalRows;
@@ -123,7 +142,7 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
       'ASCII renderer requires a minimum resolution of '
       '${_minimumTerminalColumns}x$_minimumTerminalRows.';
 
-  int get _terminalPixelHeight => isTerminal ? height * 2 : height;
+  int get _terminalPixelHeight => _usesTerminalLayout ? height * 2 : height;
 
   int get _viewportRightX => projectionOffsetX + projectionWidth;
 
@@ -149,7 +168,7 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
     // Just grab the raw ints!
     final int ceilingColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[25];
     final int floorColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[29];
-    final int backdropColor = isTerminal
+    final int backdropColor = _usesTerminalLayout
         ? _terminalBackdropColor
         : ColorPalette.vga32Bit[0];
 
@@ -167,7 +186,7 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
       }
     }
 
-    if (!isTerminal) {
+    if (!_usesTerminalLayout) {
       for (int y = 0; y < height; y++) {
         for (int x = 0; x < width; x++) {
           if (y < viewHeight / 2) {
@@ -206,7 +225,7 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
         pixelColor = shadeColor(pixelColor);
       }
 
-      if (isTerminal) {
+      if (_usesTerminalLayout) {
         _scenePixels[y][x] = _scaleColor(pixelColor, brightness);
       } else {
         final String wallChar = activeTheme.getByBrightness(brightness);
@@ -250,7 +269,7 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
 
         int shadedColor = (0xFF000000) | (b << 16) | (g << 8) | r;
 
-        if (isTerminal) {
+        if (_usesTerminalLayout) {
           _scenePixels[y][stripeX] = shadedColor;
         } else {
           _screen[y][stripeX] = ColoredChar(activeTheme.solid, shadedColor);
@@ -274,7 +293,7 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
     int startY =
         projectionViewHeight -
         weaponHeight +
-        (engine.player.weaponAnimOffset * (isTerminal ? 2 : 1) ~/ 4);
+        (engine.player.weaponAnimOffset * (_usesTerminalLayout ? 2 : 1) ~/ 4);
 
     for (int dy = 0; dy < weaponHeight; dy++) {
       for (int dx = 0; dx < weaponWidth; dx++) {
@@ -288,9 +307,9 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
           if (sceneX >= projectionOffsetX &&
               sceneX < _viewportRightX &&
               drawY >= 0) {
-            if (isTerminal && drawY < projectionViewHeight) {
+            if (_usesTerminalLayout && drawY < projectionViewHeight) {
               _scenePixels[drawY][sceneX] = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[colorByte];
-            } else if (!isTerminal && drawY < viewHeight) {
+            } else if (!_usesTerminalLayout && drawY < viewHeight) {
               _screen[drawY][sceneX] = ColoredChar(
                 activeTheme.solid,
                 ColorPalette.vga32Bit[colorByte],
@@ -324,7 +343,7 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
   void drawHud(WolfEngine engine) {
     // If the terminal is at least 160 columns wide and 50 rows tall,
     // there are enough "pixels" to downscale the VGA image clearly.
-    int hudWidth = isTerminal ? projectionWidth : width;
+    int hudWidth = _usesTerminalLayout ? projectionWidth : width;
     if (hudWidth >= 160 && height >= 50) {
       _drawFullVgaHud(engine);
     } else {
@@ -338,14 +357,11 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
         engine.menuManager.selectedDifficultyIndex;
     final int bgColor = _rgbToPaletteColor(engine.menuBackgroundRgb);
     final int panelColor = _rgbToPaletteColor(engine.menuPanelRgb);
-    // Exact title tint requested for menu heading text (#fff700).
-    final int headingColor = _rgbToRawColor(0xFFF700);
-    final int selectedTextColor =
-        ColorPalette.vga32Bit[_menuSelectedTextPaletteIndex];
-    final int unselectedTextColor =
-        ColorPalette.vga32Bit[_menuUnselectedTextPaletteIndex];
+    final int headingColor = WolfMenuPalette.headerTextColor;
+    final int selectedTextColor = WolfMenuPalette.selectedTextColor;
+    final int unselectedTextColor = WolfMenuPalette.unselectedTextColor;
 
-    if (isTerminal) {
+    if (_usesTerminalLayout) {
       _fillTerminalRect(0, 0, width, _terminalPixelHeight, bgColor);
     } else {
       _fillRect(0, 0, width, height, activeTheme.solid, bgColor);
@@ -464,7 +480,7 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
   }
 
   int get _fullMenuHeadingScale {
-    if (!isTerminal) {
+    if (!_usesTerminalLayout) {
       return 2;
     }
     return projectionWidth < 140 ? 1 : 2;
@@ -473,7 +489,8 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
   bool get _useMinimalMenuText => _menuGlyphHeightInRows(scale: 1) <= 4;
 
   int _menuGlyphHeightInRows({required int scale}) {
-    final double scaleY = (isTerminal ? _terminalPixelHeight : height) / 200.0;
+    final double scaleY =
+        (_usesTerminalLayout ? _terminalPixelHeight : height) / 200.0;
     // Use pre-compose pixel scale so terminal mode can graduate back to
     // bitmap menu text at practical window sizes.
     final double rasterHeight = 7.0 * scale * scaleY;
@@ -481,15 +498,17 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
   }
 
   int _menuY200ToRow(int y200) {
-    final double scaleY = (isTerminal ? _terminalPixelHeight : height) / 200.0;
+    final double scaleY =
+        (_usesTerminalLayout ? _terminalPixelHeight : height) / 200.0;
     final int pixelY = (y200 * scaleY).toInt();
-    final int row = isTerminal ? (pixelY / 2).round() : pixelY;
+    final int row = _usesTerminalLayout ? (pixelY / 2).round() : pixelY;
     return row.clamp(0, height - 1);
   }
 
   int _menuX320ToColumn(int x320) {
-    final double scaleX = (isTerminal ? projectionWidth : width) / 320.0;
-    final int offsetX = isTerminal ? projectionOffsetX : 0;
+    final double scaleX =
+        (_usesTerminalLayout ? projectionWidth : width) / 320.0;
+    final int offsetX = _usesTerminalLayout ? projectionOffsetX : 0;
     final int pixelX = offsetX + (x320 * scaleX).toInt();
     return pixelX.clamp(0, width - 1);
   }
@@ -517,10 +536,8 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
     const int rowStep = 15;
     for (int i = 0; i < Difficulty.values.length; i++) {
       final bool isSelected = i == selectedDifficultyIndex;
-      final int baseRowY = _menuY200ToRow(rowYStart + (i * rowStep));
-      final int rowY = i == Difficulty.values.length - 1
-          ? (baseRowY + 1).clamp(0, height - 1)
-          : baseRowY;
+      final int rowY = _menuY200ToRow(rowYStart + (i * rowStep));
+
       final String rowText = Difficulty.values[i].title;
       _writeLeftClipped(
         rowY,
@@ -534,6 +551,11 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
   }
 
   void _drawCenteredMenuFooter() {
+    if (_usesTerminalLayout && !_emitAnsi) {
+      _drawFlutterGridMenuFooter();
+      return;
+    }
+
     final int hintKeyColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[_menuHintKeyPaletteIndex];
     final int hintLabelColor =
         ColorPalette.vga32Bit[_menuHintLabelPaletteIndex];
@@ -558,7 +580,7 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
     final int boxX = ((width - boxWidth) ~/ 2).clamp(0, width - boxWidth);
     final int boxY = math.max(0, height - boxHeight - 1);
 
-    if (isTerminal) {
+    if (_usesTerminalLayout) {
       _fillTerminalRect(
         boxX,
         boxY * 2,
@@ -587,6 +609,41 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
     }
   }
 
+  void _drawFlutterGridMenuFooter() {
+    final int hintKeyColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[_menuHintKeyPaletteIndex];
+    final int hintLabelColor =
+        ColorPalette.vga32Bit[_menuHintLabelPaletteIndex];
+    final int hintBackground =
+        ColorPalette.vga32Bit[_menuHintBackgroundPaletteIndex];
+
+    final List<(String text, int color)> segments = <(String, int)>[
+      ('UP/DN', hintKeyColor),
+      (' MOVE  ', hintLabelColor),
+      ('RET', hintKeyColor),
+      (' SELECT  ', hintLabelColor),
+      ('ESC', hintKeyColor),
+      (' BACK', hintLabelColor),
+    ];
+
+    int textWidth = 0;
+    for (final (text, _) in segments) {
+      textWidth += WolfMenuFont.measureTextWidth(text, 1);
+    }
+
+    final int panelWidth = (textWidth + 12).clamp(1, 320);
+    final int panelHeight = 12;
+    final int panelX = ((320 - panelWidth) ~/ 2).clamp(0, 319);
+    const int panelY = 184;
+    _fillRect320(panelX, panelY, panelWidth, panelHeight, hintBackground);
+
+    int cursorX = panelX + 6;
+    const int textY = panelY + 2;
+    for (final (text, color) in segments) {
+      _drawMenuText(text, cursorX, textY, color, scale: 1);
+      cursorX += WolfMenuFont.measureTextWidth(text, 1);
+    }
+  }
+
   void _writeLeftClipped(
     int y,
     String text,
@@ -613,15 +670,17 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
   }
 
   void _plotMenuPixel320(int x320, int y200, int color) {
-    final double scaleX = (isTerminal ? projectionWidth : width) / 320.0;
-    final double scaleY = (isTerminal ? _terminalPixelHeight : height) / 200.0;
+    final double scaleX =
+        (_usesTerminalLayout ? projectionWidth : width) / 320.0;
+    final double scaleY =
+        (_usesTerminalLayout ? _terminalPixelHeight : height) / 200.0;
 
-    final int offsetX = isTerminal ? projectionOffsetX : 0;
+    final int offsetX = _usesTerminalLayout ? projectionOffsetX : 0;
     final int startX = offsetX + (x320 * scaleX).toInt();
     final int startY = (y200 * scaleY).toInt();
     final int pixelW = math.max(1, scaleX.ceil());
     final int pixelH = math.max(1, scaleY.ceil());
-    if (isTerminal) {
+    if (_usesTerminalLayout) {
       for (int dy = 0; dy < pixelH; dy++) {
         final int y = startY + dy;
         if (y < 0 || y >= _terminalPixelHeight) {
@@ -654,7 +713,7 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
   }
 
   void _drawSimpleHud(WolfEngine engine) {
-    final int hudWidth = isTerminal ? projectionWidth : width;
+    final int hudWidth = _usesTerminalLayout ? projectionWidth : width;
     final int hudRows = height - viewHeight;
     if (hudWidth < _simpleHudMinWidth || hudRows < _simpleHudMinRows) {
       _drawMinimalHud(engine);
@@ -693,7 +752,7 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
     final int baseY = viewHeight + 1;
 
     // 3. Clear HUD Base
-    if (isTerminal) {
+    if (_usesTerminalLayout) {
       _fillTerminalRect(
         projectionOffsetX,
         viewHeight * 2,
@@ -722,7 +781,7 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
 
     // 4. Panel Drawing Helper
     void drawBorderedPanel(int startX, int startY, int w, int h) {
-      if (isTerminal) {
+      if (_usesTerminalLayout) {
         _fillTerminalRect(startX, startY * 2, w, h * 2, vgaPanelDark);
         _fillTerminalRect(startX, startY * 2, w, 1, white);
         _fillTerminalRect(startX, (startY + h) * 2 - 1, w, 1, white);
@@ -821,7 +880,7 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
     final int red = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[4];
 
     final int hudRows = height - viewHeight;
-    if (isTerminal) {
+    if (_usesTerminalLayout) {
       _fillTerminalRect(
         projectionOffsetX,
         viewHeight * 2,
@@ -853,8 +912,8 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
     final int lineY = viewHeight + 1;
     if (lineY >= height) return;
 
-    final int drawStartX = isTerminal ? projectionOffsetX : 0;
-    final int drawWidth = isTerminal ? projectionWidth : width;
+    final int drawStartX = _usesTerminalLayout ? projectionOffsetX : 0;
+    final int drawWidth = _usesTerminalLayout ? projectionWidth : width;
     final int maxTextLen = math.max(0, drawWidth - 2);
     String clipped = hudText;
     if (clipped.length > maxTextLen) {
@@ -965,15 +1024,15 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
   @override
   dynamic finalizeFrame() {
     if (_engine.difficulty != null && _engine.player.damageFlash > 0.0) {
-      if (isTerminal) {
+      if (_usesTerminalLayout) {
         _applyDamageFlashToScene();
       } else {
         _applyDamageFlash();
       }
     }
-    if (isTerminal) {
+    if (_usesTerminalLayout) {
       _composeTerminalScene();
-      return toAnsiString();
+      return _emitAnsi ? toAnsiString() : _screen;
     }
     return _screen;
   }
@@ -983,14 +1042,16 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
   void _blitVgaImageAscii(VgaImage image, int startX_320, int startY_200) {
     int planeWidth = image.width ~/ 4;
     int planeSize = planeWidth * image.height;
-    int maxDrawHeight = isTerminal ? _terminalPixelHeight : height;
-    int maxDrawWidth = isTerminal ? _viewportRightX : width;
+    int maxDrawHeight = _usesTerminalLayout ? _terminalPixelHeight : height;
+    int maxDrawWidth = _usesTerminalLayout ? _viewportRightX : width;
 
-    double scaleX = (isTerminal ? projectionWidth : width) / 320.0;
-    double scaleY = (isTerminal ? _terminalPixelHeight : height) / 200.0;
+    double scaleX = (_usesTerminalLayout ? projectionWidth : width) / 320.0;
+    double scaleY =
+        (_usesTerminalLayout ? _terminalPixelHeight : height) / 200.0;
 
     int destStartX =
-        (isTerminal ? projectionOffsetX : 0) + (startX_320 * scaleX).toInt();
+        (_usesTerminalLayout ? projectionOffsetX : 0) +
+        (startX_320 * scaleX).toInt();
     int destStartY = (startY_200 * scaleY).toInt();
     int destWidth = (image.width * scaleX).toInt();
     int destHeight = (image.height * scaleY).toInt();
@@ -1013,7 +1074,7 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
 
           int colorByte = image.pixels[index];
           if (colorByte != 255) {
-            if (isTerminal) {
+            if (_usesTerminalLayout) {
               _scenePixels[drawY][drawX] = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[colorByte];
             } else {
               _screen[drawY][drawX] = ColoredChar(
@@ -1046,16 +1107,19 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
     int h200,
     int color,
   ) {
-    final double scaleX = (isTerminal ? projectionWidth : width) / 320.0;
-    final double scaleY = (isTerminal ? _terminalPixelHeight : height) / 200.0;
+    final double scaleX =
+        (_usesTerminalLayout ? projectionWidth : width) / 320.0;
+    final double scaleY =
+        (_usesTerminalLayout ? _terminalPixelHeight : height) / 200.0;
 
     final int startX =
-        (isTerminal ? projectionOffsetX : 0) + (startX320 * scaleX).toInt();
+        (_usesTerminalLayout ? projectionOffsetX : 0) +
+        (startX320 * scaleX).toInt();
     final int startY = (startY200 * scaleY).toInt();
     final int w = math.max(1, (w320 * scaleX).toInt());
     final int h = math.max(1, (h200 * scaleY).toInt());
 
-    if (isTerminal) {
+    if (_usesTerminalLayout) {
       _fillTerminalRect(startX, startY, w, h, color);
     } else {
       _fillRect(startX, startY, w, h, activeTheme.solid, color);
@@ -1119,7 +1183,11 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
 
         ColoredChar overlay = _screen[y][x];
         if (overlay.char != ' ') {
-          if (overlay.rawBackgroundColor == null) {
+          // In ANSI terminal mode, inject the bottom scene pixel as background
+          // so half-block rows pack two pixel rows into one cell. In Flutter
+          // grid mode any injected background renders as a colored rectangle
+          // behind the character, so we leave the cell as-is.
+          if (_emitAnsi && overlay.rawBackgroundColor == null) {
             _screen[y][x] = ColoredChar(
               overlay.char,
               overlay.rawColor,
@@ -1129,6 +1197,9 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
           continue;
         }
 
+        // Pack two scene rows into one cell for both terminal and Flutter grid
+        // modes. Overlay characters above keep a null background in Flutter
+        // mode, so this does not introduce text background artifacts.
         _screen[y][x] = topColor == bottomColor
             ? ColoredChar('█', topColor)
             : ColoredChar('▀', topColor, bottomColor);
@@ -1185,13 +1256,6 @@ class AsciiRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<dynamic> {
     return ColorPalette.vga32Bit[_rgbToPaletteIndex(rgb)];
   }
 
-  int _rgbToRawColor(int rgb) {
-    final int r = (rgb >> 16) & 0xFF;
-    final int g = (rgb >> 8) & 0xFF;
-    final int b = rgb & 0xFF;
-    return (0xFF000000) | (b << 16) | (g << 8) | r;
-  }
-
   int _rgbToPaletteIndex(int rgb) {
     final int targetR = (rgb >> 16) & 0xFF;
     final int targetG = (rgb >> 8) & 0xFF;
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/menu_font.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/menu_font.dart
index 42c2ddf..7969d70 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/menu_font.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/menu_font.dart
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 class WolfMenuFont {
   const WolfMenuFont._();
 
+  static const int _letterSpacing = 2;
+
   static const Map<String, List<String>> glyphs = {
     'A': ['01110', '10001', '10001', '11111', '10001', '10001', '10001'],
     'B': ['11110', '10001', '10001', '11110', '10001', '10001', '11110'],
@@ -62,11 +64,11 @@ class WolfMenuFont {
       case ',':
       case "'":
       case ':':
-        return 4 * scale;
+        return (4 + _letterSpacing) * scale;
       case ' ':
         return 5 * scale;
       default:
-        return 6 * scale;
+        return (6 + _letterSpacing) * scale;
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/sixel_rasterizer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/sixel_rasterizer.dart
index 2220f1f..f5f8a00 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/sixel_rasterizer.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/sixel_rasterizer.dart
@@ -336,9 +336,9 @@ class SixelRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<String> {
         engine.menuManager.selectedDifficultyIndex;
     final int bgColor = _rgbToPaletteIndex(engine.menuBackgroundRgb);
     final int panelColor = _rgbToPaletteIndex(engine.menuPanelRgb);
-    const int headingIndex = 119;
-    const int selectedTextIndex = 19;
-    const int unselectedTextIndex = 23;
+    final int headingIndex = WolfMenuPalette.headerTextIndex;
+    final int selectedTextIndex = WolfMenuPalette.selectedTextIndex;
+    final int unselectedTextIndex = WolfMenuPalette.unselectedTextIndex;
 
     for (int i = 0; i < _screen.length; i++) {
       _screen[i] = bgColor;
@@ -419,7 +419,9 @@ class SixelRasterizer extends CliRasterizer<String> {
         prefix + Difficulty.values[i].title,
         42,
         rowYStart + (i * rowStep),
-        isSelected ? 19 : 23,
+        isSelected
+            ? WolfMenuPalette.selectedTextIndex
+            : WolfMenuPalette.unselectedTextIndex,
         scale: 1,
       );
     }
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/software_rasterizer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/software_rasterizer.dart
index 817606f..5345a62 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/software_rasterizer.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/src/rasterizer/software_rasterizer.dart
@@ -182,9 +182,9 @@ class SoftwareRasterizer extends Rasterizer<FrameBuffer> {
         engine.menuManager.selectedDifficultyIndex;
     final int bgColor = _rgbToFrameColor(engine.menuBackgroundRgb);
     final int panelColor = _rgbToFrameColor(engine.menuPanelRgb);
-    final int headingColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[119];
-    final int selectedTextColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[19];
-    final int unselectedTextColor = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[23];
+    final int headingColor = WolfMenuPalette.headerTextColor;
+    final int selectedTextColor = WolfMenuPalette.selectedTextColor;
+    final int unselectedTextColor = WolfMenuPalette.unselectedTextColor;
 
     for (int i = 0; i < _buffer.pixels.length; i++) {
       _buffer.pixels[i] = bgColor;
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/wolf_3d_menu.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/wolf_3d_menu.dart
index 47a7ec9..e408080 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/wolf_3d_menu.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/wolf_3d_menu.dart
@@ -43,6 +43,55 @@ abstract class WolfMenuPic {
   ];
 }
 
+/// Shared menu text colors resolved from the VGA palette.
+///
+/// Keep menu color choices centralized so renderers don't duplicate
+/// hard-coded palette slots or RGB conversion logic.
+abstract class WolfMenuPalette {
+  static const int selectedTextIndex = 19;
+  static const int unselectedTextIndex = 23;
+  static const int _headerTargetRgb = 0xFFF700;
+
+  static int? _cachedHeaderTextIndex;
+
+  static int get headerTextIndex =>
+      _cachedHeaderTextIndex ??= _nearestPaletteIndex(_headerTargetRgb);
+
+  static int get selectedTextColor => ColorPalette.vga32Bit[selectedTextIndex];
+
+  static int get unselectedTextColor =>
+      ColorPalette.vga32Bit[unselectedTextIndex];
+
+  static int get headerTextColor => ColorPalette.vga32Bit[headerTextIndex];
+
+  static int _nearestPaletteIndex(int rgb) {
+    final int targetR = (rgb >> 16) & 0xFF;
+    final int targetG = (rgb >> 8) & 0xFF;
+    final int targetB = rgb & 0xFF;
+
+    int bestIndex = 0;
+    int bestDistance = 1 << 30;
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < 256; i++) {
+      final int color = ColorPalette.vga32Bit[i];
+      final int r = color & 0xFF;
+      final int g = (color >> 8) & 0xFF;
+      final int b = (color >> 16) & 0xFF;
+
+      final int dr = targetR - r;
+      final int dg = targetG - g;
+      final int db = targetB - b;
+      final int distance = (dr * dr) + (dg * dg) + (db * db);
+      if (distance < bestDistance) {
+        bestDistance = distance;
+        bestIndex = i;
+      }
+    }
+
+    return bestIndex;
+  }
+}
+
 /// Structured accessors for classic Wolf3D menu art.
 class WolfClassicMenuArt {
   final WolfensteinData data;
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/wolf_3d_rasterizer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/wolf_3d_rasterizer.dart
index 654e592..30e9e5f 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/wolf_3d_rasterizer.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_dart/lib/wolf_3d_rasterizer.dart
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 library;
 
-export 'src/rasterizer/ascii_rasterizer.dart' show AsciiRasterizer, ColoredChar;
+export 'src/rasterizer/ascii_rasterizer.dart'
+    show AsciiRasterizer, AsciiRasterizerMode, ColoredChar;
 export 'src/rasterizer/cli_rasterizer.dart';
 export 'src/rasterizer/rasterizer.dart';
 export 'src/rasterizer/sixel_rasterizer.dart';
diff --git a/packages/wolf_3d_renderer/lib/wolf_3d_ascii_renderer.dart b/packages/wolf_3d_renderer/lib/wolf_3d_ascii_renderer.dart
index b0ed657..46f0c85 100644
--- a/packages/wolf_3d_renderer/lib/wolf_3d_ascii_renderer.dart
+++ b/packages/wolf_3d_renderer/lib/wolf_3d_ascii_renderer.dart
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ class _WolfAsciiRendererState extends BaseWolfRendererState<WolfAsciiRenderer> {
   static const int _renderHeight = 100;
 
   List<List<ColoredChar>> _asciiFrame = [];
-  final AsciiRasterizer _asciiRasterizer = AsciiRasterizer();
+  final AsciiRasterizer _asciiRasterizer = AsciiRasterizer(
+    mode: AsciiRasterizerMode.terminalGrid,
+  );
 
   @override
   void initState() {
@@ -84,22 +86,16 @@ class AsciiFrameWidget extends StatelessWidget {
                 // Merge adjacent cells with the same color to keep the rich
                 // text tree smaller and reduce per-frame layout overhead.
                 Color currentColor = Color(row[0].argb);
-                Color? currentBackground = row[0].rawBackgroundColor == null
+                Color? currentBackground = row[0].backgroundArgb == null
                     ? null
-                    : Color(
-                        0xFF000000 | (row[0].rawBackgroundColor! & 0x00FFFFFF),
-                      );
+                    : Color(row[0].backgroundArgb!);
                 StringBuffer currentSegment = StringBuffer(row[0].char);
 
                 for (int i = 1; i < row.length; i++) {
                   final Color nextColor = Color(row[i].argb);
-                  final Color? nextBackground =
-                      row[i].rawBackgroundColor == null
+                  final Color? nextBackground = row[i].backgroundArgb == null
                       ? null
-                      : Color(
-                          0xFF000000 |
-                              (row[i].rawBackgroundColor! & 0x00FFFFFF),
-                        );
+                      : Color(row[i].backgroundArgb!);
                   if (nextColor == currentColor &&
                       nextBackground == currentBackground) {
                     currentSegment.write(row[i].char);