diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin.rs
index 6629033..956fd43 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/hud_plugin.rs
@@ -371,6 +371,9 @@ pub enum MenuOption {
 /// Mirrors `ui_theme::Z_HUD` and is duplicated here only so the hud module
 /// can use it as a `const` without a non-const expression in `ZIndex(...)`.
 const Z_HUD: i32 = crate::ui_theme::Z_HUD;
+const Z_HUD_POPOVER_BACKDROP: i32 = crate::ui_theme::Z_HUD_POPOVER_BACKDROP;
+const Z_HUD_POPOVER: i32 = crate::ui_theme::Z_HUD_POPOVER;
+const Z_HUD_TOP: i32 = crate::ui_theme::Z_HUD_TOP;
 
 /// Idle / hover / pressed colours shared by every action button. Aliased
 /// to the theme tokens so the HUD picks up palette changes for free.
@@ -1184,7 +1187,7 @@ fn spawn_modes_popover(
                 ..default()
             },
             BackgroundColor(BG_ELEVATED),
-            ZIndex(Z_HUD + 5),
+            ZIndex(Z_HUD_POPOVER),
         ))
         .with_children(|panel| {
             for (option, label, tooltip) in rows {
@@ -1211,8 +1214,8 @@ fn spawn_modes_popover(
             }
         });
 
-    // Fullscreen transparent backdrop at Z_HUD+4 (below the popover at
-    // Z_HUD+5) so tapping outside the panel light-dismisses it.
+    // Fullscreen transparent backdrop at Z_HUD_POPOVER_BACKDROP (below the
+    // popover at Z_HUD_POPOVER) so tapping outside light-dismisses it.
     commands.spawn((
         ModesPopoverBackdrop,
         Button,
@@ -1225,7 +1228,7 @@ fn spawn_modes_popover(
             ..default()
         },
         BackgroundColor(Color::NONE),
-        ZIndex(Z_HUD + 4),
+        ZIndex(Z_HUD_POPOVER_BACKDROP),
     ));
 }
 
@@ -1382,7 +1385,7 @@ fn spawn_menu_popover(commands: &mut Commands, font_res: Option<&FontResource>)
                 ..default()
             },
             BackgroundColor(BG_ELEVATED),
-            ZIndex(Z_HUD + 5),
+            ZIndex(Z_HUD_POPOVER),
         ))
         .with_children(|panel| {
             for (option, label, tooltip) in rows {
@@ -1423,7 +1426,7 @@ fn spawn_menu_popover(commands: &mut Commands, font_res: Option<&FontResource>)
             ..default()
         },
         BackgroundColor(Color::NONE),
-        ZIndex(Z_HUD + 4),
+        ZIndex(Z_HUD_POPOVER_BACKDROP),
     ));
 }
 
@@ -1797,7 +1800,7 @@ fn detect_score_change(
             top: Val::Px(0.0),
             ..default()
         },
-        ZIndex(Z_HUD + 10),
+        ZIndex(Z_HUD_TOP),
         Text::new(format!("+{delta}")),
         font,
         TextColor(ACCENT_PRIMARY),
diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/ui_theme.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/ui_theme.rs
index eb91432..f599bf6 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/ui_theme.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/ui_theme.rs
@@ -401,8 +401,13 @@ pub const Z_BACKGROUND: i32 = -10;
 pub const Z_PILE_MARKER: i32 = -1;
 /// Base layer for HUD readouts (top-left).
 pub const Z_HUD: i32 = 50;
-/// Action bar + popovers — above HUD readouts so dropdowns can overlap.
-pub const Z_HUD_TOP: i32 = 60;
+/// Fullscreen transparent dismiss-backdrop spawned behind a HUD popover so
+/// tapping outside it light-dismisses the panel without blocking other input.
+pub const Z_HUD_POPOVER_BACKDROP: i32 = Z_HUD + 4;
+/// HUD popovers (Modes dropdown, etc.) — above the dismiss backdrop.
+pub const Z_HUD_POPOVER: i32 = Z_HUD + 5;
+/// Transient HUD annotations (score-delta floaters) — above popovers.
+pub const Z_HUD_TOP: i32 = Z_HUD + 10;
 pub const Z_MODAL_SCRIM: i32 = 200;
 pub const Z_MODAL_PANEL: i32 = 210;
 /// Pause overlay outranks normal modals — pausing should always be on top.
@@ -648,6 +653,8 @@ mod tests {
             Z_BACKGROUND,
             Z_PILE_MARKER,
             Z_HUD,
+            Z_HUD_POPOVER_BACKDROP,
+            Z_HUD_POPOVER,
             Z_HUD_TOP,
             Z_MODAL_SCRIM,
             Z_MODAL_PANEL,