diff --git a/scenes/splash.gd b/scenes/splash.gd
index c32bc55..0794575 100644
--- a/scenes/splash.gd
+++ b/scenes/splash.gd
@@ -7,8 +7,6 @@ extends Control
 @onready var transition_overlay: ColorRect = %TransitionOverlay
 @onready var vbox: VBoxContainer = %VBox
 
-var _elapsed: float = 0.0
-var _animating: bool = false
 var _v_start: int
 var _v_end: int
 var _p_start: int
@@ -26,7 +24,6 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 		bg.color = ConfigManager.get_color("background_color", Color(0.08, 0.08, 0.12))
 
 	# Compute end font sizes as a large fraction of screen height.
-	# Use set() to go through the property system directly.
 	_v_end = maxi(1, int(screen_size.y * 0.28))
 	_p_end = maxi(1, int(screen_size.y * 0.15))
 	_v_start = 4
@@ -39,41 +36,36 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 
 	await get_tree().process_frame
 
-	# Reveal background
+	# Reveal background (fade overlay away)
 	var reveal := create_tween()
 	reveal.tween_property(transition_overlay, "color", Color(0, 0, 0, 0), 0.4)
 	await reveal.finished
 
 	# Phase 1: Animate font sizes up + fade in
-	_elapsed = 0.0
-	_animating = true
 	var grow := create_tween()
 	grow.set_parallel(true)
 	grow.tween_method(_set_sizes, 0.0, 1.0, 2.0).set_ease(Tween.EASE_OUT).set_trans(Tween.TRANS_BACK)
 	grow.tween_property(vbox, "modulate", Color(1, 1, 1, 1), 1.8).set_ease(Tween.EASE_OUT)
 	await grow.finished
-	_animating = false
 
 	# Phase 2: Hold
 	await get_tree().create_timer(1.0).timeout
 
-	# Phase 3: Fade out
-	var fade_out := create_tween()
-	fade_out.tween_property(vbox, "modulate", Color(1, 1, 1, 0), 0.8).set_ease(Tween.EASE_IN)
-	await fade_out.finished
-
-	# Phase 4: Crossfade to dashboard
-	var to_black := create_tween()
-	to_black.tween_property(transition_overlay, "color", Color(0, 0, 0, 1), 0.3)
-	await to_black.finished
-
+	# Phase 3: Crossfade to dashboard
+	# The splash and dashboard share the same background color, so the
+	# transition is seamless — splash text fades out while dashboard
+	# modules materialise out of the same dark backdrop.
 	var dashboard := preload("res://scenes/dashboard.tscn").instantiate()
 	add_child(dashboard)
+	dashboard.modulate = Color(1, 1, 1, 0)
 
-	var from_black := create_tween()
-	from_black.tween_property(transition_overlay, "color", Color(0, 0, 0, 0), 0.6)
-	await from_black.finished
+	var crossfade := create_tween()
+	crossfade.set_parallel(true)
+	crossfade.tween_property(vbox, "modulate", Color(1, 1, 1, 0), 1.0).set_ease(Tween.EASE_IN)
+	crossfade.tween_property(dashboard, "modulate", Color(1, 1, 1, 1), 1.0).set_ease(Tween.EASE_OUT).set_delay(0.2)
+	await crossfade.finished
 
+	# Reparent dashboard from splash to root, then free splash.
 	remove_child(dashboard)
 	get_tree().root.add_child(dashboard)
 	queue_free()