diff --git a/src/features/snake-game/SnakeGame.tsx b/src/features/snake-game/SnakeGame.tsx
index 049c9b5..28ee0ac 100644
--- a/src/features/snake-game/SnakeGame.tsx
+++ b/src/features/snake-game/SnakeGame.tsx
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ export function SnakeGame({ className = '' }: SnakeGameProps) {
             onDifficulty={actions.setDifficulty}
             onMode={actions.setMode}
           />
-          {highScore > 0 && <HighScoreBadge highScore={highScore} />}
+          {mode === 'competitive' && highScore > 0 && <HighScoreBadge highScore={highScore} />}
         </div>
 
         <div className="relative" {...swipeHandlers}>
diff --git a/src/features/snake-game/components/GameControls.tsx b/src/features/snake-game/components/GameControls.tsx
index acd2bd4..c56cf41 100644
--- a/src/features/snake-game/components/GameControls.tsx
+++ b/src/features/snake-game/components/GameControls.tsx
@@ -28,7 +28,10 @@ export const GameControls = memo(function GameControls({ status, onDirection }:
 
       <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5 items-center mt-2">
         <button
-          onClick={() => onDirection('UP')}
+          onPointerDown={(e) => {
+            e.preventDefault();
+            onDirection('UP');
+          }}
           disabled={disabled}
           aria-label="Cima"
           className={buttonClass}
@@ -41,7 +44,10 @@ export const GameControls = memo(function GameControls({ status, onDirection }:
           {ROW_BUTTONS.map(({ direction, rotation }) => (
             <button
               key={direction}
-              onClick={() => onDirection(direction)}
+              onPointerDown={(e) => {
+                e.preventDefault();
+                onDirection(direction);
+              }}
               disabled={disabled}
               aria-label={direction.toLowerCase()}
               className={buttonClass}
diff --git a/src/features/snake-game/constants/index.ts b/src/features/snake-game/constants/index.ts
index 47b97ce..ca42959 100644
--- a/src/features/snake-game/constants/index.ts
+++ b/src/features/snake-game/constants/index.ts
@@ -8,11 +8,13 @@ export const MAX_LEADERBOARD_ENTRIES = 10;
 export const COUNTDOWN_SECONDS = 3;
 export const COMBO_WINDOW_MS = 3000;
 export const PARTICLE_LIFETIME_MS = 600;
+export const MAX_DIRECTION_QUEUE = 2;
+export const FAST_FORWARD_THRESHOLD = 0.35;
 
 export const DIFFICULTY_SPEEDS: Record<Difficulty, number> = {
-  easy: 200,
-  normal: 150,
-  hard: 100,
+  easy: 170,
+  normal: 140,
+  hard: 80,
 };
 
 export const DIFFICULTY_LABELS: Record<Difficulty, string> = {
diff --git a/src/features/snake-game/hooks/useSnakeGame.ts b/src/features/snake-game/hooks/useSnakeGame.ts
index 45b21d1..d3ce76d 100644
--- a/src/features/snake-game/hooks/useSnakeGame.ts
+++ b/src/features/snake-game/hooks/useSnakeGame.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ export function useSnakeGame() {
   const pauseGame = useGameStore((s) => s.pauseGame);
   const resumeGame = useGameStore((s) => s.resumeGame);
   const resetGame = useGameStore((s) => s.resetGame);
-  const setDirection = useGameStore((s) => s.setDirection);
+  const storeSetDirection = useGameStore((s) => s.setDirection);
   const setDifficulty = useGameStore((s) => s.setDifficulty);
   const setMode = useGameStore((s) => s.setMode);
   const saveToLeaderboard = useGameStore((s) => s.saveToLeaderboard);
@@ -29,6 +29,28 @@ export function useSnakeGame() {
   const statusRef = useRef(status);
   statusRef.current = status;
 
+  const speed = DIFFICULTY_SPEEDS[difficulty];
+  const speedRef = useRef(speed);
+  speedRef.current = speed;
+
+  const timerRef = useRef<ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null>(null);
+
+  const runTick = useCallback(() => {
+    if (statusRef.current === 'playing') {
+      useGameStore.getState().moveSnake();
+    }
+  }, []);
+
+  const scheduleTick = useCallback(() => {
+    if (timerRef.current) clearTimeout(timerRef.current);
+    timerRef.current = setTimeout(() => {
+      runTick();
+      if (statusRef.current === 'playing') scheduleTick();
+    }, speedRef.current);
+  }, [runTick]);
+
+  const setDirection = storeSetDirection;
+
   const handleKeyPress = useCallback(
     (event: KeyboardEvent) => {
       const key = event.key.toLowerCase();
@@ -67,17 +89,22 @@ export function useSnakeGame() {
     return () => window.removeEventListener('keydown', handleKeyPress);
   }, [handleKeyPress]);
 
-  const speed = DIFFICULTY_SPEEDS[difficulty];
-
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (status !== 'playing') return;
-
-    const gameInterval = setInterval(() => {
-      useGameStore.getState().moveSnake();
-    }, speed);
-
-    return () => clearInterval(gameInterval);
-  }, [status, speed]);
+    if (status !== 'playing') {
+      if (timerRef.current) {
+        clearTimeout(timerRef.current);
+        timerRef.current = null;
+      }
+      return;
+    }
+    scheduleTick();
+    return () => {
+      if (timerRef.current) {
+        clearTimeout(timerRef.current);
+        timerRef.current = null;
+      }
+    };
+  }, [status, scheduleTick]);
 
   const remainingFood = mode === 'casual' ? Math.max(0, FOOD_TO_WIN_CASUAL - score) : null;
 
diff --git a/src/features/snake-game/store/useGameStore.ts b/src/features/snake-game/store/useGameStore.ts
index 557291e..450e4b5 100644
--- a/src/features/snake-game/store/useGameStore.ts
+++ b/src/features/snake-game/store/useGameStore.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import {
   FOOD_TYPES,
   COMBO_WINDOW_MS,
   PARTICLE_LIFETIME_MS,
+  MAX_DIRECTION_QUEUE,
 } from '../constants';
 
 function pickFoodType(): FoodType {
@@ -207,14 +208,19 @@ export const useGameStore = create<GameStore>((set, get) => ({
     const { direction: currentDirection, directionQueue, status } = get();
     if (status !== 'playing') return;
 
+    // drop inputs when queue is saturated — prevents input lag from spam
+    if (directionQueue.length >= MAX_DIRECTION_QUEUE) return;
+
     const lastDirection =
       directionQueue.length > 0
         ? directionQueue[directionQueue.length - 1]
         : currentDirection;
 
-    if (OPPOSITE_DIRECTIONS[direction] !== lastDirection && direction !== lastDirection) {
-      set({ directionQueue: [...directionQueue, direction] });
-    }
+    // reject duplicates (same as pending last) and opposite (180 turn)
+    if (direction === lastDirection) return;
+    if (OPPOSITE_DIRECTIONS[direction] === lastDirection) return;
+
+    set({ directionQueue: [...directionQueue, direction] });
   },
 
   clearParticle: (id: number) => {
diff --git a/src/features/snake-game/styles/snake-game.css b/src/features/snake-game/styles/snake-game.css
index d5b8741..0a93469 100644
--- a/src/features/snake-game/styles/snake-game.css
+++ b/src/features/snake-game/styles/snake-game.css
@@ -176,6 +176,9 @@
   border: 1px solid var(--sg-color-border);
   border-radius: var(--sg-radius);
   cursor: pointer;
+  touch-action: manipulation;
+  user-select: none;
+  -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;
   box-shadow: inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.04);
   transition:
     border-color var(--sg-transition),