diff --git a/docs/REMEDIATION_PLAN.md b/docs/REMEDIATION_PLAN.md
index 6681a75..40deffe 100644
--- a/docs/REMEDIATION_PLAN.md
+++ b/docs/REMEDIATION_PLAN.md
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ Key: `S` ≤ half day · `M` ~1–3 days · `L` ~1 week+ · 🔴 launch-blocker
 - [x] **2.3 M — Input validation + leak fixes.** ✅ `register_client` validates `clientId` (type/length/charset) before it enters `clientSocketMap` — closes the map-poisoning vector. `mempoolNotified` is now a Map with real TTL eviction in PaymentHandlers (the dead duplicate Set + its random-10% eviction removed from SocketHandlers). `sessions` cache evicted on disconnect (`removeSocket`, called after suspend reads it). `sessionManager.dispose()` / `suspendedGameManager.cleanup()` / `paymentHandlers.dispose()` wired into `shutdown()`. `checkGamesTimeout` snapshots before iterating + awaits sequentially (was mutate-during-`forEach` + fire-and-forget). New `inputValidation.test.js`.
 
 ## Phase 3 — Game integrity (🟠)
-- [ ] **3.1 S — Uniform time budget** (elapsed/fixed-block, not "next block"); fix early-entry (`src/network/queueHandler.js:241`).
+- [x] **3.1 S — Anti-instant-death grace only (NO fairness floor).** ✅ Random block timing is the game's core mechanic and is deliberately preserved — early entry is a knowingly-risky bet, not a bug. The only change is a tiny configurable grace (`GAME_START_GRACE_MS`, default 2000ms, 0 to disable) so a block landing the instant a game starts can't kill the player before the dungeon renders / before their first move is possible. _(Rejected the originally-planned uniform time budget — it would gut the random-timing mechanic.)_
 - [ ] **3.2 S — Reachability guarantee** entrance→treasure→exit (`src/game/dungeon.js`).
 - [ ] **3.3 S — Swap/passthrough collision fix** (`src/game/game.js:181`).
 
diff --git a/src/.env.example b/src/.env.example
index 63d9075..6fc93a4 100644
--- a/src/.env.example
+++ b/src/.env.example
@@ -348,6 +348,12 @@ RPC_POLL_INTERVAL=2000
 # req.ip. Leave unset/false for direct exposure, otherwise clients could spoof their IP.
 # TRUST_PROXY=true
 
+# Anti-instant-death grace (ms) before a block-timeout can end a game. This is NOT a
+# fairness floor — random block timing is the core mechanic. It only prevents the
+# degenerate case where a block lands the instant a game starts (before the dungeon
+# renders / before the first move is possible). Default 2000 (2s); set 0 to disable.
+# GAME_START_GRACE_MS=2000
+
 # =============================================================================
 # SECTION 12: SERVER & MULTI-INSTANCE
 # =============================================================================
diff --git a/src/network/socketHandlers.js b/src/network/socketHandlers.js
index 53f9ca9..fbf90bb 100644
--- a/src/network/socketHandlers.js
+++ b/src/network/socketHandlers.js
@@ -1038,10 +1038,18 @@ class SocketHandlers {
         // Snapshot the entries first: handleGameOver mutates activeGames (it deletes the
         // entry), so iterating the live Map could skip games. Process sequentially and
         // await each game-over rather than firing them all off concurrently on one tick.
+        // Anti-instant-death guard ONLY (default 2s, set 0 to disable). Random block timing
+        // is the game's core mechanic and is deliberately preserved — this is not a fairness
+        // floor. It only avoids the degenerate case where a block lands in the same instant
+        // the game starts and the player dies before the dungeon even renders / before their
+        // first move is possible (100ms move cooldown).
+        const graceMs = (() => { const v = parseInt(process.env.GAME_START_GRACE_MS, 10); return Number.isFinite(v) ? v : 2000; })();
+        const now = Date.now();
         const snapshot = Array.from(this.activeGames.entries());
         for (const [socketId, game] of snapshot) {
             const user = this.connectionHandler.getUserBySocket(socketId);
-            if (user && user.blockRec && currentHeight > user.blockRec) {
+            const elapsedMs = now - (game.startedAt || now);
+            if (user && user.blockRec && currentHeight > user.blockRec && elapsedMs >= graceMs) {
                 if (this.debugManager.CONSOLE_LOGGING) {
                     console.log(`💀 GAME TIMEOUT for player ${socketId}: entered on block ${user.blockRec}, died on block ${currentHeight}`);
                 }