diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 2482370..26b5b08 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -430,9 +430,11 @@ explicitly replacing the current one (despawn first, then spawn).
 
 ## 14.3 Safe area
 
-Every `ModalScrim` automatically receives `padding.bottom` equal to the
-logical gesture-bar height via `apply_safe_area_to_modal_scrims` in
-`SafeAreaInsetsPlugin`. Do not manually add bottom padding to scrim nodes.
+Every `ModalScrim` automatically receives `padding.top` equal to the logical
+status-bar height and `padding.bottom` equal to the logical gesture-bar height
+via `apply_safe_area_to_modal_scrims` in `SafeAreaInsetsPlugin`. This centres
+the modal card within the usable area between both system bars. Do not manually
+add top or bottom padding to scrim nodes.
 
 ## 14.4 Z-ordering
 
diff --git a/docs/in-place-card-game-rewrite-plan.md b/docs/in-place-card-game-rewrite-plan.md
index 4bc11df..089c949 100644
--- a/docs/in-place-card-game-rewrite-plan.md
+++ b/docs/in-place-card-game-rewrite-plan.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 **Date:** 2026-06-08  
 **Upstream rev:** `99b49e62`  
-**Status:** Phases 0–2 complete. Pre-Phase 3 undo audit complete (see §5 below). Awaiting approval for Phase 3.
+**Status:** All phases complete (0–3). recycle_count drift and score compound error on undo fixed in `56e3b62`.
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/solitaire_engine/src/safe_area.rs b/solitaire_engine/src/safe_area.rs
index 1fc4e16..b499bb3 100644
--- a/solitaire_engine/src/safe_area.rs
+++ b/solitaire_engine/src/safe_area.rs
@@ -147,8 +147,13 @@ fn apply_safe_area_bottom_anchors(
     }
 }
 
-/// Pads the bottom of every [`ModalScrim`] by the logical bottom inset so
-/// modal cards don't extend into the Android gesture-navigation zone.
+/// Pads both edges of every [`ModalScrim`] by the logical system-bar insets so
+/// modal cards are centred within the usable area (between the status bar at
+/// the top and the gesture-navigation bar at the bottom).
+///
+/// `padding.top` = status-bar inset; `padding.bottom` = gesture-bar inset.
+/// With `align_items: Center` / `justify_content: Center` on the scrim the
+/// `ModalCard` lands at the visual midpoint of the visible content area.
 ///
 /// Fires when [`SafeAreaInsets`] changes (covers the common case of insets
 /// arriving a few frames after app start) AND when a new `ModalScrim` is
@@ -165,8 +170,18 @@ fn apply_safe_area_to_modal_scrims(
     }
     let scale = windows.iter().next().map_or(1.0, |w| w.scale_factor());
     let window_height = windows.iter().next().map_or(800.0, |w| w.height());
+    // Clamp each inset to 25% of screen height so an unexpectedly large OS
+    // value can't push the modal card off the visible area entirely.
+    let top_logical = (insets.top / scale).min(window_height * 0.25);
     let bottom_logical = (insets.bottom / scale).min(window_height * 0.25);
     for mut node in &mut scrims {
+        // Set both edges so the scrim's content box equals the usable area
+        // between the status bar and the gesture/navigation bar. With
+        // `align_items: Center` / `justify_content: Center` on the scrim,
+        // the modal card is centred within that usable region rather than
+        // the full viewport, correcting the slight upward shift seen when
+        // only the bottom inset was applied.
+        node.padding.top = Val::Px(top_logical);
         node.padding.bottom = Val::Px(bottom_logical);
     }
 }