diff --git a/game.js b/game.js
index 59536c6..4a6d419 100644
--- a/game.js
+++ b/game.js
@@ -385,11 +385,12 @@ class Game {
 
     /* Player sprite stays horizontally centred; only Y shifts */
     const p = document.getElementById('map-player');
-    if (p) {
+    const pw = document.getElementById('map-player-wrap');
+    if (p && pw) {
       const centreX = viewW / 2 - 16;
       const centreY = viewH * 0.65 + this.state.worldY;
-      p.style.left   = centreX + 'px';
-      p.style.bottom = (viewH - centreY - 40) + 'px';
+      pw.style.left   = centreX + 'px';
+      pw.style.bottom = (viewH - centreY - 40) + 'px';
       p.className    = `map-player walk-${dir}`;
     }
 
@@ -454,11 +455,20 @@ class Game {
 
   _talkToNPC() {
     if (!this._nearNPC()) {
-      this.toast('Walk up to the NPC first!');
+      const bub = document.getElementById('player-bubble');
+      if (bub) {
+        bub.classList.remove('visible');
+        void bub.offsetWidth;
+        bub.classList.add('visible');
+        clearTimeout(this._bubbleTimer);
+        this._bubbleTimer = setTimeout(() => bub.classList.remove('visible'), 1500);
+      }
       return;
     }
     const arrow = document.getElementById('map-dir-arrow');
     if (arrow) arrow.style.display = 'none';
+    const bub = document.getElementById('player-bubble');
+    if (bub) bub.classList.remove('visible');
     SFX.encounter();
     this.startQuestion();
   }
@@ -470,11 +480,11 @@ class Game {
     const viewH = world ? world.parentElement.offsetHeight : 300;
 
     const p = document.getElementById('map-player');
-    if (p) {
-      p.style.left      = (viewW / 2 - 16) + 'px';
-      p.style.bottom    = (viewH * 0.28) + 'px';
-      
-      p.className       = 'map-player idle';
+    const pw = document.getElementById('map-player-wrap');
+    if (p && pw) {
+      pw.style.left   = (viewW / 2 - 16) + 'px';
+      pw.style.bottom = (viewH * 0.28) + 'px';
+      p.className     = 'map-player idle';
     }
     this._applyCamera();
     const hint = document.getElementById('map-talk-hint');
diff --git a/index.html b/index.html
index 42f7adc..a052f6f 100644
--- a/index.html
+++ b/index.html
@@ -109,7 +109,10 @@
         <div class="map-npc" id="map-npc"></div>
       </div>
       <!-- Player stays fixed to viewport, only Y moves -->
-      <div class="map-player" id="map-player"></div>
+      <div class="map-player-wrap" id="map-player-wrap">
+        <div class="player-bubble" id="player-bubble">...</div>
+        <div class="map-player" id="map-player"></div>
+      </div>
       <!-- Hints overlay the viewport, not the world -->
       <div class="map-talk-hint" id="map-talk-hint" style="display:none"><span class="hint-pc">Press E</span><span class="hint-touch">Press A</span></div>
       <div class="map-dir-arrow" id="map-dir-arrow" style="display:none">▶</div>
diff --git a/style.css b/style.css
index 67f2a5a..0165c90 100644
--- a/style.css
+++ b/style.css
@@ -483,7 +483,11 @@ html, body {
 .npc-bubble   { font-size:14px; font-family:var(--font); color:var(--black); background:var(--yellow); border:2px solid var(--black); width:20px; height:20px; display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; margin:0 auto 2px; animation:bounce .7s ease-in-out infinite; }
 .map-npc      { font-size:clamp(36px,10vw,52px); filter:drop-shadow(2px 3px 0 rgba(0,0,0,.35)); cursor:pointer; }
 /* Player is fixed to the viewport centre horizontally; only Y moves */
+.map-player-wrap { position:absolute; text-align:center; z-index:99; }
+.player-bubble   { font-size:11px; font-family:var(--font); color:var(--black); background:#fff; border:2px solid var(--black); padding:0 4px; height:20px; display:none; align-items:center; justify-content:center; margin:0 auto 2px; border-radius:2px; white-space:nowrap; }
+.player-bubble.visible { display:flex; animation:bounce .5s ease-in-out 3; }
 .map-player {
+  position: relative;
   position: absolute;
   width:  32px;
   height: 64px;