diff --git a/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.cpp b/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.cpp
index 5eaa425..d882e45 100644
--- a/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.cpp
+++ b/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.cpp
@@ -156,6 +156,99 @@ void GameRenderer::drawSmallPiece(SDL_Renderer* renderer, SDL_Texture* blocksTex
     }
 }
 
+void GameRenderer::renderNextPanel(
+    SDL_Renderer* renderer,
+    FontAtlas* pixelFont,
+    SDL_Texture* blocksTex,
+    const Game::Piece& nextPiece,
+    float panelX,
+    float panelY,
+    float panelW,
+    float panelH,
+    float tileSize
+) {
+    if (!renderer || !pixelFont) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    const SDL_Color gridBorderColor{60, 80, 160, 255}; // matches main grid outline
+    const SDL_Color bayColor{8, 12, 24, 235};
+    const SDL_Color bayOutline{25, 62, 86, 220};
+    const SDL_Color labelColor{255, 220, 0, 255};
+
+    SDL_FRect bayRect{panelX, panelY, panelW, panelH};
+    SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(renderer, bayColor.r, bayColor.g, bayColor.b, bayColor.a);
+    SDL_RenderFillRect(renderer, &bayRect);
+
+    SDL_FRect thinOutline{panelX - 1.0f, panelY - 1.0f, panelW + 2.0f, panelH + 2.0f};
+    auto drawOutlineNoBottom = [&](const SDL_FRect& rect, SDL_Color color) {
+        SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(renderer, color.r, color.g, color.b, color.a);
+        const float left = rect.x;
+        const float top = rect.y;
+        const float right = rect.x + rect.w;
+        const float bottom = rect.y + rect.h;
+        SDL_RenderLine(renderer, left, top, right, top);       // top edge
+        SDL_RenderLine(renderer, left, top, left, bottom);     // left edge
+        SDL_RenderLine(renderer, right, top, right, bottom);   // right edge
+    };
+
+    drawOutlineNoBottom(thinOutline, gridBorderColor);
+    drawOutlineNoBottom(bayRect, bayOutline);
+
+    const float labelPad = tileSize * 0.25f;
+    pixelFont->draw(renderer, panelX + labelPad, panelY + labelPad * 0.5f, "NEXT", 0.9f, labelColor);
+
+    if (nextPiece.type >= PIECE_COUNT) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    // Determine the occupied bounds of the tetromino within its 4x4 local grid.
+    int minCx = 4;
+    int maxCx = -1;
+    int minCy = 4;
+    int maxCy = -1;
+    for (int cy = 0; cy < 4; ++cy) {
+        for (int cx = 0; cx < 4; ++cx) {
+            if (!Game::cellFilled(nextPiece, cx, cy)) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            minCx = std::min(minCx, cx);
+            maxCx = std::max(maxCx, cx);
+            minCy = std::min(minCy, cy);
+            maxCy = std::max(maxCy, cy);
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (maxCx < minCx || maxCy < minCy) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    // Reserve a little headroom for the NEXT label, then center the piece in screen-space.
+    const float labelReserve = tileSize * 0.9f;
+    const float previewTop = panelY + std::min(labelReserve, panelH * 0.45f);
+    const float previewBottom = panelY + panelH - tileSize * 0.25f;
+    const float previewCenterY = (previewTop + previewBottom) * 0.5f;
+    const float previewCenterX = panelX + panelW * 0.5f;
+
+    const float pieceWidth = static_cast<float>(maxCx - minCx + 1) * tileSize;
+    const float pieceHeight = static_cast<float>(maxCy - minCy + 1) * tileSize;
+    // Nudge preview slightly to the right so it aligns with the main grid's visual columns
+    const float previewNudgeX = tileSize * 0.5f;
+    const float startX = previewCenterX - pieceWidth * 0.5f - static_cast<float>(minCx) * tileSize + previewNudgeX;
+    const float startY = previewCenterY - pieceHeight * 0.5f - static_cast<float>(minCy) * tileSize;
+
+    for (int cy = 0; cy < 4; ++cy) {
+        for (int cx = 0; cx < 4; ++cx) {
+            if (!Game::cellFilled(nextPiece, cx, cy)) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            const float px = startX + static_cast<float>(cx) * tileSize;
+            const float py = startY + static_cast<float>(cy) * tileSize;
+            drawBlockTexture(renderer, blocksTex, px, py, tileSize, nextPiece.type);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 void GameRenderer::renderPlayingState(
     SDL_Renderer* renderer,
     Game* game,
@@ -235,10 +328,10 @@ void GameRenderer::renderPlayingState(
         const float statsH = GRID_H;
 
         // Next piece preview position
-        const float nextW = finalBlockSize * 4 + 20;
-        const float nextH = finalBlockSize * 2 + 20;
-        const float nextX = gridX + (GRID_W - nextW) * 0.5f;
-        const float nextY = contentStartY + contentOffsetY;
+        const float NEXT_PANEL_WIDTH = finalBlockSize * 6.0f; // +1 cell padding on each horizontal side
+        const float NEXT_PANEL_HEIGHT = finalBlockSize * 3.0f;
+        const float NEXT_PANEL_X = gridX + (GRID_W - NEXT_PANEL_WIDTH) * 0.5f;
+        const float NEXT_PANEL_Y = gridY - NEXT_PANEL_HEIGHT - 2.0f; // nudge up ~2px
     
     // Handle line clearing effects
     if (game->hasCompletedLines() && lineEffect && !lineEffect->isActive()) {
@@ -248,7 +341,17 @@ void GameRenderer::renderPlayingState(
     
     // Draw game grid border
     drawRectWithOffset(gridX - 3 - contentOffsetX, gridY - 3 - contentOffsetY, GRID_W + 6, GRID_H + 6, {100, 120, 200, 255});
-    drawRectWithOffset(gridX - 1 - contentOffsetX, gridY - 1 - contentOffsetY, GRID_W + 2, GRID_H + 2, {60, 80, 160, 255});
+    // Draw a 1px blue border around grid but omit the top horizontal so the NEXT panel
+    // can visually join seamlessly. We'll draw left, right and bottom bands manually.
+    {
+        SDL_Color blue{60, 80, 160, 255};
+        // left vertical band (1px wide)
+        drawRectWithOffset(gridX - 1 - contentOffsetX, gridY - contentOffsetY, 1.0f, GRID_H, blue);
+        // right vertical band (1px wide)
+        drawRectWithOffset(gridX + GRID_W - contentOffsetX, gridY - contentOffsetY, 1.0f, GRID_H, blue);
+        // bottom horizontal band (1px high)
+        drawRectWithOffset(gridX - 1 - contentOffsetX, gridY + GRID_H - contentOffsetY, GRID_W + 2.0f, 1.0f, blue);
+    }
     drawRectWithOffset(gridX - contentOffsetX, gridY - contentOffsetY, GRID_W, GRID_H, {20, 25, 35, 255});
     
     // Draw stats panel backdrop using the same art as the score panel
@@ -442,10 +545,16 @@ void GameRenderer::renderPlayingState(
     }
 
     SDL_SetRenderDrawBlendMode(renderer, oldBlend);
-    
-    // Draw next piece preview panel border
-    drawRectWithOffset(nextX - 3 - contentOffsetX, nextY - 3 - contentOffsetY, nextW + 6, nextH + 6, {100, 120, 200, 255});
-    drawRectWithOffset(nextX - contentOffsetX, nextY - contentOffsetY, nextW, nextH, {30, 35, 50, 255});
+
+    renderNextPanel(renderer, pixelFont, blocksTex, game->next(), NEXT_PANEL_X, NEXT_PANEL_Y, NEXT_PANEL_WIDTH, NEXT_PANEL_HEIGHT, finalBlockSize);
+
+    // Draw a thin horizontal connector at the bottom of the NEXT panel so it visually
+    // connects to the top of the grid (appears as a single continuous frame).
+    SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(renderer, 60, 80, 160, 255); // same as grid border
+    float connectorY = NEXT_PANEL_Y + NEXT_PANEL_HEIGHT; // bottom of next panel (near grid top)
+    // Draw a 2px-high filled connector to overwrite any existing grid border pixels
+    SDL_FRect connRect{ NEXT_PANEL_X, connectorY - 1.0f, NEXT_PANEL_WIDTH, 2.0f };
+    SDL_RenderFillRect(renderer, &connRect);
     
     // Precompute row drop offsets (line collapse effect)
     std::array<float, Game::ROWS> rowDropOffsets{};
@@ -695,12 +804,6 @@ void GameRenderer::renderPlayingState(
         lineEffect->render(renderer, blocksTex, static_cast<int>(gridX), static_cast<int>(gridY), static_cast<int>(finalBlockSize));
     }
     
-    // Draw next piece preview
-    pixelFont->draw(renderer, nextX + 10, nextY - 20, "NEXT", 1.0f, {255, 220, 0, 255});
-    if (game->next().type < PIECE_COUNT) {
-        drawSmallPiece(renderer, blocksTex, static_cast<PieceType>(game->next().type), nextX + 10, nextY + 10, finalBlockSize * 0.6f);
-    }
-    
     // Draw block statistics (left panel)
     const auto& blockCounts = game->getBlockCounts();
     int totalBlocks = 0;
diff --git a/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.h b/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.h
index ad3287b..6d96a6a 100644
--- a/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.h
+++ b/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.h
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ private:
     static void drawBlockTexture(SDL_Renderer* renderer, SDL_Texture* blocksTex, float x, float y, float size, int blockType);
     static void drawPiece(SDL_Renderer* renderer, SDL_Texture* blocksTex, const Game::Piece& piece, float ox, float oy, float tileSize, bool isGhost = false, float pixelOffsetX = 0.0f, float pixelOffsetY = 0.0f);
     static void drawSmallPiece(SDL_Renderer* renderer, SDL_Texture* blocksTex, PieceType pieceType, float x, float y, float tileSize);
+    static void renderNextPanel(SDL_Renderer* renderer, FontAtlas* pixelFont, SDL_Texture* blocksTex, const Game::Piece& nextPiece, float panelX, float panelY, float panelW, float panelH, float tileSize);
     
     // Helper function for drawing rectangles
     static void drawRect(SDL_Renderer* renderer, float x, float y, float w, float h, SDL_Color c);