diff --git a/assets/images/asteroids_001.png b/assets/images/asteroids_001.png
index 9a932e2..3a185f9 100644
Binary files a/assets/images/asteroids_001.png and b/assets/images/asteroids_001.png differ
diff --git a/src/app/TetrisApp.cpp b/src/app/TetrisApp.cpp
index a82ac30..aacaebb 100644
--- a/src/app/TetrisApp.cpp
+++ b/src/app/TetrisApp.cpp
@@ -1576,6 +1576,7 @@ void TetrisApp::Impl::runLoop()
                 scorePanelTex,
                 nextPanelTex,
                 holdPanelTex,
+                false,
                 (float)LOGICAL_W,
                 (float)LOGICAL_H,
                 logicalScale,
diff --git a/src/core/application/ApplicationManager.cpp b/src/core/application/ApplicationManager.cpp
index fe68192..194b87b 100644
--- a/src/core/application/ApplicationManager.cpp
+++ b/src/core/application/ApplicationManager.cpp
@@ -1168,6 +1168,7 @@ void ApplicationManager::setupStateHandlers() {
                 m_stateContext.scorePanelTex,
                 m_stateContext.nextPanelTex,
                 m_stateContext.holdPanelTex,
+                false,
                 LOGICAL_W,
                 LOGICAL_H,
                 logicalScale,
diff --git a/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.cpp b/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.cpp
index 8799191..5a27baf 100644
--- a/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.cpp
+++ b/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.cpp
@@ -576,6 +576,7 @@ void GameRenderer::renderPlayingState(
     SDL_Texture* scorePanelTex,
     SDL_Texture* nextPanelTex,
     SDL_Texture* holdPanelTex,
+    bool countdownActive,
     float logicalW,
     float logicalH,
     float logicalScale,
@@ -1017,7 +1018,29 @@ void GameRenderer::renderPlayingState(
                 bool isAsteroid = challengeMode && asteroidCells[cellIdx].has_value();
                 if (isAsteroid) {
                     const AsteroidCell& cell = *asteroidCells[cellIdx];
-                    drawAsteroid(renderer, asteroidsTex, bx, by, finalBlockSize, cell);
+                    float spawnScale = 1.0f;
+                    float spawnAlpha = 1.0f;
+                    if (countdownActive) {
+                        // Staggered pop-in while counting: start oversized, fade to 1.0 with ease
+                        const float t = static_cast<float>(SDL_GetTicks() & 2047) * 0.0015f; // ~0..3s loop
+                        float phase = std::fmod(t + (float(cellIdx % 11) * 0.12f), 1.6f);
+                        float pulse = std::clamp(phase / 1.2f, 0.0f, 1.0f);
+                        float eased = smoothstep(pulse);
+                        spawnScale = 1.35f - 0.35f * eased; // big -> normal
+                        spawnAlpha = 0.25f + 0.75f * eased; // fade in
+                    }
+
+                    if (asteroidsTex && spawnAlpha < 1.0f) {
+                        SDL_SetTextureAlphaMod(asteroidsTex, static_cast<Uint8>(std::clamp(spawnAlpha, 0.0f, 1.0f) * 255.0f));
+                    }
+
+                    float size = finalBlockSize * spawnScale;
+                    float offset = (finalBlockSize - size) * 0.5f;
+                    drawAsteroid(renderer, asteroidsTex, bx + offset, by + offset, size, cell);
+
+                    if (asteroidsTex && spawnAlpha < 1.0f) {
+                        SDL_SetTextureAlphaMod(asteroidsTex, 255);
+                    }
                 } else {
                     drawBlockTexture(renderer, blocksTex, bx, by, finalBlockSize, v - 1);
                 }
diff --git a/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.h b/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.h
index 39e6a45..4f77b29 100644
--- a/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.h
+++ b/src/graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ public:
         SDL_Texture* scorePanelTex,
         SDL_Texture* nextPanelTex,
         SDL_Texture* holdPanelTex,
+        bool countdownActive,
         float logicalW,
         float logicalH,
         float logicalScale,
diff --git a/src/states/PlayingState.cpp b/src/states/PlayingState.cpp
index 1ff9162..a9bbe14 100644
--- a/src/states/PlayingState.cpp
+++ b/src/states/PlayingState.cpp
@@ -122,6 +122,16 @@ void PlayingState::handleEvent(const SDL_Event& e) {
             return;
         }
 
+        // Debug: skip to next challenge level (B)
+        if (e.key.scancode == SDL_SCANCODE_B && ctx.game && ctx.game->getMode() == GameMode::Challenge) {
+            ctx.game->beginNextChallengeLevel();
+            // Cancel any countdown so play resumes immediately on the new level
+            if (ctx.gameplayCountdownActive) *ctx.gameplayCountdownActive = false;
+            if (ctx.menuPlayCountdownArmed) *ctx.menuPlayCountdownArmed = false;
+            ctx.game->setPaused(false);
+            return;
+        }
+
         // Tetris controls (only when not paused)
         if (!ctx.game->isPaused()) {
             // Hold / swap current piece (H)
@@ -246,6 +256,7 @@ void PlayingState::render(SDL_Renderer* renderer, float logicalScale, SDL_Rect l
             ctx.scorePanelTex,
             ctx.nextPanelTex,
             ctx.holdPanelTex,
+            countdown,
             1200.0f, // LOGICAL_W
             1000.0f, // LOGICAL_H
             logicalScale,
@@ -335,6 +346,7 @@ void PlayingState::render(SDL_Renderer* renderer, float logicalScale, SDL_Rect l
             ctx.scorePanelTex,
             ctx.nextPanelTex,
             ctx.holdPanelTex,
+            countdown,
             1200.0f,
             1000.0f,
             logicalScale,