diff --git a/game/session.go b/game/session.go
index 84c219d..ffa611f 100644
--- a/game/session.go
+++ b/game/session.go
@@ -293,6 +293,13 @@ func (s *GameSession) BuyItem(playerID string, itemIdx int) bool {
 	return false
 }
 
+// SendChat appends a chat message to the combat log
+func (s *GameSession) SendChat(playerName, message string) {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	s.addLog(fmt.Sprintf("[%s] %s", playerName, message))
+}
+
 // LeaveShop exits the shop phase
 func (s *GameSession) LeaveShop() {
 	s.mu.Lock()
diff --git a/ui/game_view.go b/ui/game_view.go
index 8c65ec5..7931ad7 100644
--- a/ui/game_view.go
+++ b/ui/game_view.go
@@ -11,11 +11,17 @@ import (
 	"github.com/tolelom/catacombs/game"
 )
 
-func renderGame(state game.GameState, width, height int, targetCursor int, moveCursor int) string {
+func renderGame(state game.GameState, width, height int, targetCursor int, moveCursor int, chatting bool, chatInput string) string {
 	mapView := renderMap(state.Floor)
 	hudView := renderHUD(state, targetCursor, moveCursor)
 	logView := renderCombatLog(state.CombatLog)
 
+	if chatting {
+		chatStyle := lipgloss.NewStyle().Foreground(lipgloss.Color("117"))
+		chatView := chatStyle.Render(fmt.Sprintf("> %s_", chatInput))
+		return lipgloss.JoinVertical(lipgloss.Left, mapView, hudView, logView, chatView)
+	}
+
 	return lipgloss.JoinVertical(lipgloss.Left,
 		mapView,
 		hudView,
diff --git a/ui/model.go b/ui/model.go
index cbb2816..2b6666c 100644
--- a/ui/model.go
+++ b/ui/model.go
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ type Model struct {
 	inputBuffer  string
 	targetCursor int
 	moveCursor   int // selected neighbor index during exploration
+	chatting     bool
+	chatInput    string
 	rankingSaved bool
 }
 
@@ -117,7 +119,7 @@ func (m Model) View() string {
 	case screenClassSelect:
 		return renderClassSelect(m.classState, m.width, m.height)
 	case screenGame:
-		return renderGame(m.gameState, m.width, m.height, m.targetCursor, m.moveCursor)
+		return renderGame(m.gameState, m.width, m.height, m.targetCursor, m.moveCursor, m.chatting, m.chatInput)
 	case screenShop:
 		return renderShop(m.gameState, m.width, m.height)
 	case screenResult:
@@ -328,6 +330,38 @@ func (m Model) updateGame(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	}
 
 	if key, ok := msg.(tea.KeyMsg); ok {
+		// Chat mode
+		if m.chatting {
+			if isEnter(key) && len(m.chatInput) > 0 {
+				if m.session != nil {
+					m.session.SendChat(m.playerName, m.chatInput)
+					m.gameState = m.session.GetState()
+				}
+				m.chatting = false
+				m.chatInput = ""
+			} else if isKey(key, "esc") || key.Type == tea.KeyEsc {
+				m.chatting = false
+				m.chatInput = ""
+			} else if key.Type == tea.KeyBackspace && len(m.chatInput) > 0 {
+				m.chatInput = m.chatInput[:len(m.chatInput)-1]
+			} else if len(key.Runes) == 1 && len(m.chatInput) < 40 {
+				m.chatInput += string(key.Runes)
+			}
+			if m.gameState.Phase == game.PhaseCombat {
+				return m, m.pollState()
+			}
+			return m, nil
+		}
+
+		if isKey(key, "/") {
+			m.chatting = true
+			m.chatInput = ""
+			if m.gameState.Phase == game.PhaseCombat {
+				return m, m.pollState()
+			}
+			return m, nil
+		}
+
 		switch m.gameState.Phase {
 		case game.PhaseExploring:
 			neighbors := m.getNeighbors()