diff --git a/src/world/WorldAPI.lua b/src/world/WorldAPI.lua
index 66aa493c..dadf91d6 100644
--- a/src/world/WorldAPI.lua
+++ b/src/world/WorldAPI.lua
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 -- stays unsupported; anything a mod legitimately needs belongs here.
 
 local Logger = require("src.core.Logger")
+local Assets = require("src.render.Assets")
 local MapLoader = require("src.world.MapLoader")
 local Runtime = require("src.mods.Runtime")
 
@@ -13,6 +14,45 @@ local WorldAPI = {}
 WorldAPI.__index = WorldAPI
 
 local NO_OVERWORLD = "no overworld"
+local overviewShades = {}
+
+Assets.register(function() overviewShades = {} end)
+
+local function mapTileRows(map)
+  local tileset = map.tileset
+  if not (tileset and tileset.image and tileset.tilesPerRow) then return nil end
+  local cached = overviewShades[tileset.image]
+  if not cached then
+    local ok, pixels = pcall(Assets.imageData, tileset.image)
+    if not ok then return nil end
+    cached = { pixels = pixels, shades = {} }
+    overviewShades[tileset.image] = cached
+  end
+  local rows, perRow = {}, tileset.tilesPerRow
+  for ty = 0, map.heightCells * 2 - 1 do
+    local row = {}
+    for tx = 0, map.widthCells * 2 - 1 do
+      local tile = map:tileAt(tx, ty)
+      local shade = cached.shades[tile]
+      if shade == nil then
+        local sum = 0
+        local ox, oy = (tile % perRow) * 8, math.floor(tile / perRow) * 8
+        for py = 0, 7 do
+          for px = 0, 7 do
+            local r, g, b = cached.pixels:getPixel(ox + px, oy + py)
+            sum = sum + r * 0.2126 + g * 0.7152 + b * 0.0722
+          end
+        end
+        shade = tostring(math.max(0, math.min(3,
+          math.floor((1 - sum / 64) * 3 + 0.5))))
+        cached.shades[tile] = shade
+      end
+      row[#row + 1] = shade
+    end
+    rows[#rows + 1] = table.concat(row)
+  end
+  return rows
+end
 
 function WorldAPI.new(game, modId)
   return setmetatable({ game = game, modId = modId }, WorldAPI)
@@ -44,8 +84,8 @@ function WorldAPI:current()
 end
 
 -- A compact, read-only view of the active map for minimaps and companion UIs.
--- Rows use " " for blocked terrain, "." for walkable land, "~" for water
--- and "+" for a door or warp.
+-- `rows` describes collision terrain; optional `tileRows` reduces each real
+-- 8x8 map tile to its average Game Boy shade ("0" lightest, "3" darkest).
 function WorldAPI:mapOverview()
   local ow = self:overworld()
   if not ow or not ow.map then return nil, NO_OVERWORLD end
@@ -59,8 +99,11 @@ function WorldAPI:mapOverview()
     end
     rows[#rows + 1] = table.concat(row)
   end
+  local tileRows = mapTileRows(map)
   return { mapId = map.id, width = map.widthCells,
-           height = map.heightCells, rows = rows }
+           height = map.heightCells, rows = rows, tileRows = tileRows,
+           tileWidth = tileRows and map.widthCells * 2,
+           tileHeight = tileRows and map.heightCells * 2 }
 end
 
 -- opts.arrive = "fly" | "teleport" picks the arrival FX; anything else
diff --git a/tests/engine/world_map_overview_test.lua b/tests/engine/world_map_overview_test.lua
index 054fea68..d0a4b825 100644
--- a/tests/engine/world_map_overview_test.lua
+++ b/tests/engine/world_map_overview_test.lua
@@ -1,8 +1,16 @@
 package.path = "./?.lua;./?/init.lua;" .. package.path
 
 local T = require("tests.harness")
+local Assets = require("src.render.Assets")
 local WorldAPI = require("src.world.WorldAPI")
 
+Assets.imageData = function()
+  return { getPixel = function(_, x)
+    local shade = x < 8 and 1 or 0
+    return shade, shade, shade, 1
+  end }
+end
+
 local api = WorldAPI.new({ stack = { states = {} } }, "tester")
 local overview, err = api:mapOverview()
 T.eq(overview, nil, "map overview is unavailable outside the overworld")
@@ -12,6 +20,7 @@ local map = { id = "TEST_MAP", widthCells = 2, heightCells = 2 }
 function map:isWarpTileCell(x, y) return x == 1 and y == 0 end
 function map:isWaterCell(x, y) return x == 0 and y == 1 end
 function map:isWalkableCell(x, y) return x == 0 and y == 0 end
+function map:tileAt(x) return x % 2 end
 
 api = WorldAPI.new({ stack = { states = {
   { isOverworld = true, map = map },
@@ -22,5 +31,12 @@ T.eq(overview.width, 2, "map overview reports its width")
 T.eq(overview.height, 2, "map overview reports its height")
 T.eq(overview.rows[1], ".+", "walkable land and warps are distinct")
 T.eq(overview.rows[2], "~ ", "water and blocked terrain are distinct")
+T.eq(overview.tileRows, nil, "tile overview is optional")
+
+map.tileset = { image = "test.png", tilesPerRow = 2 }
+overview = api:mapOverview()
+T.eq(overview.tileWidth, 4, "tile overview reports its width")
+T.eq(overview.tileHeight, 4, "tile overview reports its height")
+T.eq(overview.tileRows[1], "0303", "tile overview preserves map shading")
 
 T.finish("world map overview")