diff --git a/server/Server.py b/server/Server.py
index 4607fb2..9670a44 100644
--- a/server/Server.py
+++ b/server/Server.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ from quart_common.web.env import env_bool, env_int
 from server.Files import read_file
 
 from server.game_state_store import GameStateStoreBuilder
-from server.GameBoard import GameBoard
 
 from snakes import SnakeBuilder
 
@@ -24,8 +23,14 @@ from server.blueprints import (
   create_metrics_blueprint,
   create_dashboard_blueprint,
 )
-from server.services import DashboardEventsService
-from server.services import DashboardWebSocketHub
+from server.services import (
+  DashboardEventsService,
+  DashboardWebSocketHub,
+  GameRuntimeService,
+  GameplayTrackingService,
+  DashboardQueryService,
+)
+
 
 class Server:
   default_snake_config = {
@@ -59,9 +64,12 @@ class Server:
     self.metrics_redis_url = metrics_redis_url
     self.stale_game_timeout_sec = self._get_stale_game_timeout_sec()
 
-    self.running_games: dict[str, GameBoard] = {}
-    self.game_move_counts: dict[str, int] = {}
-    self.game_last_seen_unix: dict[str, int] = {}
+    self.game_runtime = GameRuntimeService(
+      game_state_store=self.game_state_store,
+      snake_type=self.snake_type,
+      game_state_local_cache=self.game_state_local_cache,
+      stale_game_timeout_sec=self.stale_game_timeout_sec,
+    )
     self.dashboard_ws_hub = DashboardWebSocketHub()
     dashboard_event_origin = f'worker-{os.getpid()}-{int(time.time() * 1000)}'
     dashboard_events_channel = os.getenv('DASHBOARD_EVENTS_CHANNEL', 'snake:dashboard:events')
@@ -78,15 +86,39 @@ class Server:
       metrics_backend=metrics_backend_normalized,
       game_state_backend=game_state_backend,
       stale_game_timeout_sec=self.stale_game_timeout_sec,
-      game_last_seen_unix=self.game_last_seen_unix,
-      game_move_counts=self.game_move_counts,
+      game_last_seen_unix=self.game_runtime.game_last_seen_unix,
+      game_move_counts=self.game_runtime.game_move_counts,
     )
+
+    self.game_runtime.attach_metrics_collector(self.metrics_collector)
     self.clear_worker_metrics_on_startup = env_bool('METRICS_CLEAR_WORKERS_ON_STARTUP', True)
     self.worker_metrics_startup_lock_ttl_sec = env_int('METRICS_STARTUP_CLEANUP_LOCK_TTL_SEC', 300)
     self.dashboard_running_game_stale_sec = 600
     self._startup_worker_metrics_cleared = False
 
     self.logger = build_logger('Battlesnake', debug_env_var='DEBUG_SERVER')
+    self.snake_builder = SnakeBuilder
+    self.snake_version = self._get_snake_version()
+    self.gameplay_database = None
+    if gameplay_db_enabled:
+      db_path = gameplay_db_path or os.path.join(data_path, 'data', 'database', 'gameplay.sqlite3')
+      self.gameplay_database = GameplayDatabase(
+        db_path=db_path,
+        busy_timeout_ms=gameplay_db_busy_timeout_ms,
+      )
+
+    self.gameplay_tracking = GameplayTrackingService(
+      gameplay_database=self.gameplay_database,
+      snake_type=self.snake_type,
+      snake_version=self.snake_version,
+      logger=self.logger,
+    )
+    self.dashboard_query = DashboardQueryService(
+      gameplay_database=self.gameplay_database,
+      ws_hub=self.dashboard_ws_hub,
+      logger=self.logger,
+      dashboard_running_game_stale_sec=self.dashboard_running_game_stale_sec,
+    )
     self.dashboard_events_service = DashboardEventsService(
       enabled=dashboard_events_enabled,
       redis_url=self.metrics_redis_url,
@@ -96,14 +128,7 @@ class Server:
       on_notice=self._on_dashboard_games_update_notice,
       logger=self.logger,
     )
-    self.snake_version = self._get_snake_version()
-    self.gameplay_database = None
-    if gameplay_db_enabled:
-      db_path = gameplay_db_path or os.path.join(data_path, 'data', 'database', 'gameplay.sqlite3')
-      self.gameplay_database = GameplayDatabase(
-        db_path=db_path,
-        busy_timeout_ms=gameplay_db_busy_timeout_ms,
-      )
+    self.dashboard_query.set_publish_notice(self.dashboard_events_service.publish_notice)
 
     self.app = Quart('Battlesnake', template_folder=os.path.join(data_path, 'server', 'templates'))
 
@@ -143,7 +168,7 @@ class Server:
     shutdown_event = asyncio.Event()
 
     def on_shutdown_signal() -> None:
-      self._request_dashboard_ws_shutdown()
+      self.dashboard_ws_hub.request_shutdown()
       shutdown_event.set()
 
     async def shutdown_trigger() -> None:
@@ -160,7 +185,7 @@ class Server:
     try:
       await self.app.run_task(host=host, port=port, debug=debug, shutdown_trigger=shutdown_trigger)
     finally:
-      self._request_dashboard_ws_shutdown()
+      self.dashboard_ws_hub.request_shutdown()
       for shutdown_signal in installed_signal_handlers:
         try:
           loop.remove_signal_handler(shutdown_signal)
@@ -207,66 +232,6 @@ class Server:
   def _get_stale_game_timeout_sec(self) -> int:
     return max(30, env_int('SNAKE_STUCK_GAME_TIMEOUT_SEC', 180))
 
-  async def _create_game_board(self, game_state:dict) -> GameBoard:
-    game_id = game_state['game']['id']
-    new_game_board = GameBoard(
-      game_id=game_id,
-      width=game_state['board']['width'],
-      height=game_state['board']['height'],
-      ruleset=game_state['game']['ruleset'],
-      source=game_state['game']['source'],
-      map=game_state['game']['map'],
-      snake_class=SnakeBuilder.build(self.snake_type),
-    )
-    await new_game_board.start_game(game_state)
-
-    if self.game_state_local_cache:
-      self.running_games[game_id] = new_game_board
-    await self.game_state_store.save(game_id, new_game_board)
-    self.game_move_counts[game_id] = 0
-    self.game_last_seen_unix[game_id] = int(time.time())
-    await self.metrics_collector.record_game_started(len(self.game_last_seen_unix))
-    return new_game_board
-
-  async def _persist_game_board(self, game_id:str, game_board:GameBoard):
-    if self.game_state_local_cache:
-      self.running_games[game_id] = game_board
-    await self.game_state_store.save(game_id, game_board)
-
-  async def _delete_game_board(self, game_state:dict):
-    game_id = game_state['game']['id']
-    self.running_games.pop(game_id, None)
-    self.game_move_counts.pop(game_id, None)
-    self.game_last_seen_unix.pop(game_id, None)
-    await self.game_state_store.delete(game_id)
-
-  async def _get_game_board(self, game_state:dict, end:bool=False) -> GameBoard:
-    game_id = game_state['game']['id']
-    game_board:GameBoard
-    if self.game_state_local_cache and game_id in self.running_games:
-      game_board = self.running_games[game_id]
-    else:
-      persisted_board = await self.game_state_store.load(game_id)
-      if persisted_board is not None:
-        game_board = cast(GameBoard, persisted_board)
-        if self.game_state_local_cache:
-          self.running_games[game_id] = game_board
-      else:
-        game_board = await self._create_game_board(game_state)
-        await self.metrics_collector.record_game_autocreated()
-
-    if not end:
-      self.game_move_counts[game_id] = self.game_move_counts.get(game_id, 0) + 1
-
-    self.game_last_seen_unix[game_id] = int(time.time())
-
-    game_board.read_game_data(game_state)
-    if end:
-      game_board.end_game(game_state)
-      await self._persist_game_board(game_id, game_board)
-
-    return game_board
-
   def enable_store_game_state(self):
     self.store_game_state = True
 
@@ -274,199 +239,5 @@ class Server:
     storage = StorageLoader.build(self.storage_type)()
     return storage.cleanup()
 
-  async def _prune_stale_games(self):
-    if not self.game_last_seen_unix:
-      return
-
-    now = int(time.time())
-    stale_ids = [
-      game_id
-      for game_id, last_seen in self.game_last_seen_unix.items()
-      if now - last_seen >= self.stale_game_timeout_sec
-    ]
-    for game_id in stale_ids:
-      self.running_games.pop(game_id, None)
-      self.game_move_counts.pop(game_id, None)
-      self.game_last_seen_unix.pop(game_id, None)
-      await self.metrics_collector.record_stuck_removed()
-
-  async def _record_gameplay_start(self, game_state:dict) -> None:
-    if self.gameplay_database is None:
-      return
-    try:
-      await self.gameplay_database.record_game_start(
-        game_state,
-        snake_type=self.snake_type,
-        snake_version=self.snake_version,
-      )
-    except Exception as error:
-      await await_log(self.logger.warning(f'Gameplay DB start record failed:{error}'))
-
-  def _extract_latest_snake_thinking(self, game_board:GameBoard) -> dict|None:
-    try:
-      history = game_board.snake_class.get_history()
-    except Exception:
-      return None
-    if not isinstance(history, list) or len(history) == 0:
-      return None
-    latest = history[-1]
-    return latest if isinstance(latest, dict) else None
-
-  async def _record_gameplay_turn(self, game_state:dict, my_move:str, game_board:GameBoard) -> None:
-    if self.gameplay_database is None:
-      return
-    try:
-      thinking = self._extract_latest_snake_thinking(game_board)
-      await self.gameplay_database.record_turn(game_state, my_move, thinking)
-    except Exception as error:
-      await await_log(self.logger.warning(f'Gameplay DB turn record failed:{error}'))
-
-  async def _record_gameplay_end(self, game_state:dict) -> None:
-    if self.gameplay_database is None:
-      return
-    try:
-      await self.gameplay_database.record_game_end(game_state)
-    except Exception as error:
-      await await_log(self.logger.warning(f'Gameplay DB end record failed:{error}'))
-
-  async def _register_dashboard_game_subscriber(self, subscriber_queue:asyncio.Queue[str]) -> None:
-    await self.dashboard_ws_hub.register_subscriber(subscriber_queue)
-
-  async def _unregister_dashboard_game_subscriber(self, subscriber_queue:asyncio.Queue[str]) -> None:
-    await self.dashboard_ws_hub.unregister_subscriber(subscriber_queue)
-
-  async def _broadcast_dashboard_game_event(self, payload:dict) -> None:
-    await self.dashboard_ws_hub.broadcast_payload(payload)
-
-  async def _register_dashboard_ws_task(self, websocket_task:asyncio.Task) -> None:
-    await self.dashboard_ws_hub.register_task(websocket_task)
-
-  async def _unregister_dashboard_ws_task(self, websocket_task:asyncio.Task) -> None:
-    await self.dashboard_ws_hub.unregister_task(websocket_task)
-
-  def _request_dashboard_ws_shutdown(self) -> None:
-    self.dashboard_ws_hub.request_shutdown()
-
   async def _on_dashboard_games_update_notice(self, trigger:str) -> None:
-    await self._push_dashboard_games_update(
-      game_state=None,
-      publish_cluster=False,
-      trigger=trigger,
-    )
-
-  async def _build_dashboard_games_event(self, game_state:dict|None=None, trigger_override:str|None=None) -> dict:
-    games_payload = await self._get_dashboard_games(limit=100)
-    summary_payload = await self._get_dashboard_summary()
-    game_id = None
-    if game_state is not None:
-      game_id = game_state.get('game', {}).get('id')
-    trigger = trigger_override or ('game_saved' if game_id else 'snapshot')
-
-    return {
-      'type': 'dashboard_games_update',
-      'trigger': trigger,
-      'games': games_payload,
-      'summary': summary_payload,
-    }
-
-  async def _build_dashboard_game_replay_event(self, game_id:str, request_id:str|None=None) -> dict:
-    replay_payload = await self._get_dashboard_game_replay(game_id)
-    if replay_payload is None:
-      return {
-        'type': 'dashboard_game_replay',
-        'request_id': request_id,
-        'game_id': game_id,
-        'error': 'game_not_found',
-      }
-
-    return {
-      'type': 'dashboard_game_replay',
-      'request_id': request_id,
-      'game_id': game_id,
-      'replay': replay_payload,
-    }
-
-  async def _handle_dashboard_ws_request(self, payload_raw:object) -> dict|None:
-    if not isinstance(payload_raw, str):
-      return None
-
-    try:
-      payload = json.loads(payload_raw)
-    except json.JSONDecodeError:
-      return None
-
-    if not isinstance(payload, dict):
-      return None
-
-    if payload.get('type') != 'dashboard_game_replay_request':
-      return None
-
-    game_id = str(payload.get('game_id') or '').strip()
-    request_id_raw = payload.get('request_id')
-    request_id = None if request_id_raw is None else str(request_id_raw)
-    if game_id == '':
-      return {
-        'type': 'dashboard_game_replay',
-        'request_id': request_id,
-        'error': 'missing_game_id',
-      }
-
-    return await self._build_dashboard_game_replay_event(
-      game_id=game_id,
-      request_id=request_id,
-    )
-
-  async def _push_dashboard_games_update(self, game_state:dict|None=None, publish_cluster:bool=True, trigger:str|None=None) -> None:
-    if self.gameplay_database is None:
-      return
-    event_payload = await self._build_dashboard_games_event(
-      game_state,
-      trigger_override=trigger,
-    )
-    await self._broadcast_dashboard_game_event(event_payload)
-    if publish_cluster:
-      await self.dashboard_events_service.publish_notice(trigger=str(event_payload.get('trigger') or ''))
-
-  async def _get_dashboard_summary(self) -> dict:
-    if self.gameplay_database is None:
-      return {'enabled': False}
-    try:
-      await self._finalize_stale_dashboard_games()
-      summary = await self.gameplay_database.get_summary()
-      summary['enabled'] = True
-      return summary
-    except Exception as error:
-      await await_log(self.logger.warning(f'Gameplay DB summary failed:{error}'))
-      return {'enabled': True, 'error': ' summary_unavailable'}
-
-  async def _get_dashboard_games(self, limit:int=50) -> dict:
-    if self.gameplay_database is None:
-      return {'enabled': False, 'games': []}
-    try:
-      await self._finalize_stale_dashboard_games()
-      games = await self.gameplay_database.list_games(limit=limit)
-      return {'enabled': True, 'games': games}
-    except Exception as error:
-      await await_log(self.logger.warning(f'Gameplay DB game list failed:{error}'))
-      return {'enabled': True, 'error': 'games_unavailable', 'games': []}
-
-  async def _finalize_stale_dashboard_games(self) -> None:
-    if self.gameplay_database is None:
-      return
-    try:
-      await self.gameplay_database.finalize_stale_running_games(stale_after_seconds=self.dashboard_running_game_stale_sec)
-    except Exception as error:
-      await await_log(self.logger.warning(f'Gameplay DB stale running game finalize failed:{error}'))
-
-  async def _get_dashboard_game_replay(self, game_id:str) -> dict|None:
-    if self.gameplay_database is None:
-      return {'enabled': False, 'error': 'database_disabled', 'game_id': game_id}
-    try:
-      replay = await self.gameplay_database.get_game_replay(game_id)
-      if replay is None:
-        return None
-      replay['enabled'] = True
-      return replay
-    except Exception as error:
-      await await_log(self.logger.warning(f'Gameplay DB replay failed:{error}'))
-      return {'enabled': True, 'error': 'replay_unavailable', 'game_id': game_id}
+    await self.dashboard_query.on_dashboard_games_update_notice(trigger)
diff --git a/server/blueprints/battlesnake.py b/server/blueprints/battlesnake.py
index 61016e3..f86fab3 100644
--- a/server/blueprints/battlesnake.py
+++ b/server/blueprints/battlesnake.py
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@ def create_battlesnake_blueprint(server:'Server') -> Blueprint:
   @blueprint.post('/start')
   async def on_start():
     server.metrics_collector.record_http_request('start')
-    await server._prune_stale_games()
+    await server.game_runtime.prune_stale_games()
     game_state = await request.get_json()
-    await server._create_game_board(game_state)
-    await server._record_gameplay_start(game_state)
+    await server.game_runtime.create_game_board(game_state, snake_builder=server.snake_builder)
+    await server.gameplay_tracking.record_gameplay_start(game_state)
     await await_log(server.logger.info(f'GAME START: {game_state['game']}'))
     return 'ok'
 
@@ -35,10 +35,10 @@ def create_battlesnake_blueprint(server:'Server') -> Blueprint:
     server.metrics_collector.record_http_request('move')
     game_state = await request.get_json()
     move_started = time.perf_counter()
-    game_board = cast(GameBoard, await server._get_game_board(game_state))
+    game_board = cast(GameBoard, await server.game_runtime.get_game_board(game_state, snake_builder=server.snake_builder))
     next_move = game_board.snake_neat_make_a_move()
-    await server._persist_game_board(game_state['game']['id'], game_board)
-    await server._record_gameplay_turn(game_state, next_move, game_board)
+    await server.game_runtime.persist_game_board(game_state['game']['id'], game_board)
+    await server.gameplay_tracking.record_gameplay_turn(game_state, next_move, game_board)
     elapsed_ms = (time.perf_counter() - move_started) * 1000.0
     await server.metrics_collector.record_move(next_move, elapsed_ms)
 
@@ -50,10 +50,10 @@ def create_battlesnake_blueprint(server:'Server') -> Blueprint:
   @blueprint.post('/end')
   async def on_end():
     server.metrics_collector.record_http_request('end')
-    await server._prune_stale_games()
+    await server.game_runtime.prune_stale_games()
     game_state = await request.get_json()
     if server.store_game_state:
-      game_board = cast(GameBoard, await server._get_game_board(game_state, end=True))
+      game_board = cast(GameBoard, await server.game_runtime.get_game_board(game_state, snake_builder=server.snake_builder, end=True))
       if server.check_tls_security:
         await game_board.save(
           StorageLoader.build(server.storage_type),
@@ -68,14 +68,14 @@ def create_battlesnake_blueprint(server:'Server') -> Blueprint:
           database=os.getenv('EDGEDB_DATABASE', None),
         )
 
-    await server._record_gameplay_end(game_state)
-    await server._push_dashboard_games_update(game_state)
+    await server.gameplay_tracking.record_gameplay_end(game_state)
+    await server.dashboard_query.push_dashboard_games_update(game_state)
     await await_log(server.logger.info(f'GAME ENDED: Winner is {[x['name'] for x in game_state['board']['snakes']]}'))
-    await server._delete_game_board(game_state)
+    await server.game_runtime.delete_game_board(game_state)
     await server.metrics_collector.record_game_end(game_state)
     return 'ok'
 
-  @blueprint.get("/cleanup")
+  @blueprint.get('/cleanup')
   async def cleanup():
     results = server._cleanup_database()
     return jsonify(data=json.loads(results), status=200)
diff --git a/server/blueprints/dashboard.py b/server/blueprints/dashboard.py
index a72e3c4..b8a970d 100644
--- a/server/blueprints/dashboard.py
+++ b/server/blueprints/dashboard.py
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ def create_dashboard_blueprint(server:'Server') -> Blueprint:
   @blueprint.get('/dashboard')
   async def dashboard_view():
     initial_game_id = request.args.get('game_id', '')
-    initial_summary = await server._get_dashboard_summary()
-    initial_games = await server._get_dashboard_games(limit=100)
+    initial_summary = await server.dashboard_query.get_dashboard_summary()
+    initial_games = await server.dashboard_query.get_dashboard_games(limit=100)
     return await render_template(
       'dashboard.html',
       initial_game_id=initial_game_id,
@@ -42,12 +42,12 @@ def create_dashboard_blueprint(server:'Server') -> Blueprint:
     ws_hub = server.dashboard_ws_hub
     websocket_task = asyncio.current_task()
     if websocket_task is not None:
-      await server._register_dashboard_ws_task(websocket_task)
+      await ws_hub.register_task(websocket_task)
 
     subscriber_queue:asyncio.Queue[str] = asyncio.Queue(maxsize=20)
-    await server._register_dashboard_game_subscriber(subscriber_queue)
+    await ws_hub.register_subscriber(subscriber_queue)
     try:
-      initial_payload = await server._build_dashboard_games_event()
+      initial_payload = await server.dashboard_query.build_dashboard_games_event()
       await asyncio.wait_for(
         websocket.send(json.dumps(initial_payload)), timeout=1.5
       )
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def create_dashboard_blueprint(server:'Server') -> Blueprint:
             except Exception:
               break
 
-            response_event = await server._handle_dashboard_ws_request(request_payload_raw)
+            response_event = await server.dashboard_query.handle_dashboard_ws_request(request_payload_raw)
             if response_event is not None:
               await asyncio.wait_for(
                 websocket.send(json.dumps(response_event)),
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@ def create_dashboard_blueprint(server:'Server') -> Blueprint:
     except Exception:
       pass
     finally:
-      await server._unregister_dashboard_game_subscriber(subscriber_queue)
+      await ws_hub.unregister_subscriber(subscriber_queue)
       if websocket_task is not None:
-        await server._unregister_dashboard_ws_task(websocket_task)
+        await ws_hub.unregister_task(websocket_task)
 
   return blueprint
diff --git a/server/blueprints/metrics.py b/server/blueprints/metrics.py
index d421ee2..07ce75a 100644
--- a/server/blueprints/metrics.py
+++ b/server/blueprints/metrics.py
@@ -4,27 +4,27 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
   from server.Server import Server
 
-def create_metrics_blueprint(server:"Server") -> Blueprint:
-  blueprint = Blueprint("metrics", __name__)
+def create_metrics_blueprint(server:'Server') -> Blueprint:
+  blueprint = Blueprint('metrics', __name__)
 
-  @blueprint.get("/metrics")
+  @blueprint.get('/metrics')
   async def metrics():
     snapshot = await server.metrics_collector.build_snapshot(
-      server.game_last_seen_unix,
-      server.game_move_counts,
+      server.game_runtime.game_last_seen_unix,
+      server.game_runtime.game_move_counts,
     )
     return jsonify(snapshot)
 
-  @blueprint.get("/metrics/prometheus")
+  @blueprint.get('/metrics/prometheus')
   async def metrics_prometheus():
     snapshot = await server.metrics_collector.build_snapshot(
-      server.game_last_seen_unix,
-      server.game_move_counts,
+      server.game_runtime.game_last_seen_unix,
+      server.game_runtime.game_move_counts,
     )
     return (
       server.metrics_collector.build_prometheus_metrics(snapshot),
       200,
-      {"Content-Type": "text/plain; version=0.0.4; charset=utf-8"},
+      {'Content-Type': 'text/plain; version=0.0.4; charset=utf-8'},
     )
 
   return blueprint
diff --git a/server/services/__init__.py b/server/services/__init__.py
index a7f0fb2..2a4c9b5 100644
--- a/server/services/__init__.py
+++ b/server/services/__init__.py
@@ -1,2 +1,5 @@
 from .dashboard_events import DashboardEventsService
 from .dashboard_ws_hub import DashboardWebSocketHub
+from .game_runtime import GameRuntimeService
+from .gameplay_tracking import GameplayTrackingService
+from .dashboard_query import DashboardQueryService
diff --git a/server/services/dashboard_query.py b/server/services/dashboard_query.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..557b2bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/services/dashboard_query.py
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+from quart_common.web.logger import await_log, logging
+
+from typing import Awaitable, Callable
+import json
+
+from .dashboard_ws_hub import DashboardWebSocketHub
+from server.database import GameplayDatabase
+
+class DashboardQueryService:
+  def __init__(self, gameplay_database:GameplayDatabase, ws_hub:DashboardWebSocketHub, logger:logging, dashboard_running_game_stale_sec:int):
+    self.gameplay_database = gameplay_database
+    self.ws_hub = ws_hub
+    self.logger = logger
+    self.dashboard_running_game_stale_sec = dashboard_running_game_stale_sec
+    self.publish_notice:Callable[[str], Awaitable[None]] | None = None
+
+  def set_publish_notice(self, publish_notice:Callable[[str], Awaitable[None]]) -> None:
+    self.publish_notice = publish_notice
+
+  async def on_dashboard_games_update_notice(self, trigger:str) -> None:
+    await self.push_dashboard_games_update(
+      game_state=None,
+      publish_cluster=False,
+      trigger=trigger,
+    )
+
+  async def build_dashboard_games_event(self, game_state:dict|None=None, trigger_override:str|None=None) -> dict:
+    games_payload = await self.get_dashboard_games(limit=100)
+    summary_payload = await self.get_dashboard_summary()
+    game_id = None
+    if game_state is not None:
+      game_id = game_state.get('game', {}).get('id')
+    trigger = trigger_override or ('game_saved' if game_id else 'snapshot')
+
+    return {
+      'type': 'dashboard_games_update',
+      'trigger': trigger,
+      'games': games_payload,
+      'summary': summary_payload,
+    }
+
+  async def build_dashboard_game_replay_event(self, game_id:str, request_id:str|None=None) -> dict:
+    replay_payload = await self.get_dashboard_game_replay(game_id)
+    if replay_payload is None:
+      return {
+        'type': 'dashboard_game_replay',
+        'request_id': request_id,
+        'game_id': game_id,
+        'error': 'game_not_found',
+      }
+
+    return {
+      'type': 'dashboard_game_replay',
+      'request_id': request_id,
+      'game_id': game_id,
+      'replay': replay_payload,
+    }
+
+  async def handle_dashboard_ws_request(self, payload_raw:object) -> dict|None:
+    if not isinstance(payload_raw, str):
+      return None
+
+    try:
+      payload = json.loads(payload_raw)
+    except json.JSONDecodeError:
+      return None
+
+    if not isinstance(payload, dict):
+      return None
+
+    if payload.get('type') != 'dashboard_game_replay_request':
+      return None
+
+    game_id = str(payload.get('game_id') or '').strip()
+    request_id_raw = payload.get('request_id')
+    request_id = None if request_id_raw is None else str(request_id_raw)
+    if game_id == '':
+      return {
+        'type': 'dashboard_game_replay',
+        'request_id': request_id,
+        'error': 'missing_game_id',
+      }
+
+    return await self.build_dashboard_game_replay_event(
+      game_id=game_id,
+      request_id=request_id,
+    )
+
+  async def push_dashboard_games_update(self, game_state:dict|None=None, publish_cluster:bool=True, trigger:str|None=None) -> None:
+    if self.gameplay_database is None:
+      return
+    event_payload = await self.build_dashboard_games_event(
+      game_state,
+      trigger_override=trigger,
+    )
+    await self.ws_hub.broadcast_payload(event_payload)
+    if publish_cluster and self.publish_notice is not None:
+      await self.publish_notice(str(event_payload.get('trigger') or ''))
+
+  async def get_dashboard_summary(self) -> dict:
+    if self.gameplay_database is None:
+      return {'enabled': False}
+    try:
+      await self._finalize_stale_dashboard_games()
+      summary = await self.gameplay_database.get_summary()
+      summary['enabled'] = True
+      return summary
+    except Exception as error:
+      await await_log(self.logger.warning(f'Gameplay DB summary failed:{error}'))
+      return {'enabled': True, 'error': ' summary_unavailable'}
+
+  async def get_dashboard_games(self, limit:int=50) -> dict:
+    if self.gameplay_database is None:
+      return {'enabled': False, 'games': []}
+    try:
+      await self._finalize_stale_dashboard_games()
+      games = await self.gameplay_database.list_games(limit=limit)
+      return {'enabled': True, 'games': games}
+    except Exception as error:
+      await await_log(
+        self.logger.warning(f'Gameplay DB game list failed:{error}')
+      )
+      return {'enabled': True, 'error': 'games_unavailable', 'games': []}
+
+  async def get_dashboard_game_replay(self, game_id:str) -> dict|None:
+    if self.gameplay_database is None:
+      return {'enabled': False, 'error': 'database_disabled', 'game_id': game_id}
+    try:
+      replay = await self.gameplay_database.get_game_replay(game_id)
+      if replay is None:
+        return None
+      replay['enabled'] = True
+      return replay
+    except Exception as error:
+      await await_log(self.logger.warning(f'Gameplay DB replay failed:{error}'))
+      return {'enabled': True, 'error': 'replay_unavailable', 'game_id': game_id}
+
+  async def _finalize_stale_dashboard_games(self) -> None:
+    if self.gameplay_database is None:
+      return
+    try:
+      await self.gameplay_database.finalize_stale_running_games(stale_after_seconds=self.dashboard_running_game_stale_sec)
+    except Exception as error:
+      await await_log(self.logger.warning(f'Gameplay DB stale running game finalize failed:{error}'))
diff --git a/server/services/game_runtime.py b/server/services/game_runtime.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9b00e5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/services/game_runtime.py
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+from typing import cast
+import time
+
+from server.metrics import MetricsCollector
+from server.GameBoard import GameBoard
+
+from storage import StorageLoader
+from snakes import SnakeBuilder
+
+class GameRuntimeService:
+  def __init__(self, game_state_store:StorageLoader, snake_type:str, game_state_local_cache:bool, stale_game_timeout_sec:int):
+    self.game_state_store = game_state_store
+    self.snake_type = snake_type
+    self.game_state_local_cache = game_state_local_cache
+    self.stale_game_timeout_sec = stale_game_timeout_sec
+    self.metrics_collector = None
+
+    self.running_games: dict[str, GameBoard] = {}
+    self.game_move_counts: dict[str, int] = {}
+    self.game_last_seen_unix: dict[str, int] = {}
+
+  def attach_metrics_collector(self, metrics_collector:MetricsCollector) -> None:
+    self.metrics_collector = metrics_collector
+
+  async def create_game_board(self, game_state:dict, snake_builder:SnakeBuilder) -> GameBoard:
+    game_id = game_state['game']['id']
+    new_game_board = GameBoard(
+      game_id=game_id,
+      width=game_state['board']['width'],
+      height=game_state['board']['height'],
+      ruleset=game_state['game']['ruleset'],
+      source=game_state['game']['source'],
+      map=game_state['game']['map'],
+      snake_class=snake_builder.build(self.snake_type),
+    )
+    await new_game_board.start_game(game_state)
+
+    if self.game_state_local_cache:
+      self.running_games[game_id] = new_game_board
+
+    await self.game_state_store.save(game_id, new_game_board)
+    self.game_move_counts[game_id] = 0
+    self.game_last_seen_unix[game_id] = int(time.time())
+    if self.metrics_collector is not None:
+      await self.metrics_collector.record_game_started(len(self.game_last_seen_unix))
+    return new_game_board
+
+  async def persist_game_board(self, game_id:str, game_board:GameBoard) -> None:
+    if self.game_state_local_cache:
+      self.running_games[game_id] = game_board
+    await self.game_state_store.save(game_id, game_board)
+
+  async def delete_game_board(self, game_state:dict) -> None:
+    game_id = game_state['game']['id']
+    self.running_games.pop(game_id, None)
+    self.game_move_counts.pop(game_id, None)
+    self.game_last_seen_unix.pop(game_id, None)
+    await self.game_state_store.delete(game_id)
+
+  async def get_game_board(self, game_state:dict, snake_builder:SnakeBuilder, end:bool=False) -> GameBoard:
+    game_id = game_state['game']['id']
+    game_board: GameBoard
+    if self.game_state_local_cache and game_id in self.running_games:
+      game_board = self.running_games[game_id]
+    else:
+      persisted_board = await self.game_state_store.load(game_id)
+      if persisted_board is not None:
+        game_board = cast(GameBoard, persisted_board)
+        if self.game_state_local_cache:
+          self.running_games[game_id] = game_board
+      else:
+        game_board = await self.create_game_board(game_state, snake_builder)
+        if self.metrics_collector is not None:
+          await self.metrics_collector.record_game_autocreated()
+
+    if not end:
+      self.game_move_counts[game_id] = self.game_move_counts.get(game_id, 0) + 1
+
+    self.game_last_seen_unix[game_id] = int(time.time())
+
+    game_board.read_game_data(game_state)
+    if end:
+      game_board.end_game(game_state)
+      await self.persist_game_board(game_id, game_board)
+
+    return game_board
+
+  async def prune_stale_games(self) -> None:
+    if not self.game_last_seen_unix:
+      return
+
+    now = int(time.time())
+    stale_ids = [
+      game_id
+      for game_id, last_seen in self.game_last_seen_unix.items()
+      if now - last_seen >= self.stale_game_timeout_sec
+    ]
+    for game_id in stale_ids:
+      self.running_games.pop(game_id, None)
+      self.game_move_counts.pop(game_id, None)
+      self.game_last_seen_unix.pop(game_id, None)
+      if self.metrics_collector is not None:
+        await self.metrics_collector.record_stuck_removed()
diff --git a/server/services/gameplay_tracking.py b/server/services/gameplay_tracking.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b012f64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/services/gameplay_tracking.py
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+from quart_common.web.logger import await_log, logging
+
+from server.database import GameplayDatabase
+from server.GameBoard import GameBoard
+
+class GameplayTrackingService:
+  def __init__(self, gameplay_database:GameplayDatabase, snake_type:str, snake_version:str, logger:logging):
+    self.gameplay_database = gameplay_database
+    self.snake_type = snake_type
+    self.snake_version = snake_version
+    self.logger = logger
+
+  async def record_gameplay_start(self, game_state:dict) -> None:
+    if self.gameplay_database is None:
+      return
+    try:
+      await self.gameplay_database.record_game_start(
+        game_state,
+        snake_type=self.snake_type,
+        snake_version=self.snake_version,
+      )
+    except Exception as error:
+      await await_log(self.logger.warning(f"Gameplay DB start record failed:{error}"))
+
+  async def record_gameplay_turn(self, game_state:dict, my_move:str, game_board:GameBoard) -> None:
+    if self.gameplay_database is None:
+      return
+    try:
+      thinking = self._extract_latest_snake_thinking(game_board)
+      await self.gameplay_database.record_turn(game_state, my_move, thinking)
+    except Exception as error:
+      await await_log(self.logger.warning(f"Gameplay DB turn record failed:{error}"))
+
+  async def record_gameplay_end(self, game_state:dict) -> None:
+    if self.gameplay_database is None:
+      return
+    try:
+      await self.gameplay_database.record_game_end(game_state)
+    except Exception as error:
+      await await_log(self.logger.warning(f"Gameplay DB end record failed:{error}"))
+
+  def _extract_latest_snake_thinking(self, game_board:GameBoard) -> dict|None:
+    try:
+      history = game_board.snake_class.get_history()
+    except Exception:
+      return None
+    if not isinstance(history, list) or len(history) == 0:
+      return None
+    latest = history[-1]
+    return latest if isinstance(latest, dict) else None