diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2d62e74..892be9d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ A fully original Bomberman-style browser game built from scratch.
 - Startup menu with mode selection (`Single Player` / `Multiplayer`) and music toggle
 - Multiplayer name setting from menu (`Name: ...`) with local persistence
 - Multiplayer lobby with host-controlled start (can start with 1-4 players)
+- Lobby shows when a match is currently running; waiting players auto-join the next round
 - After each multiplayer round, host can start the next round directly (no lobby required)
 - Host-authoritative multiplayer sync via WebSocket backend
 
diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index e074cb6..1063c9d 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -211,6 +211,18 @@ function handleMessage(client, msg) {
     return;
   }
 
+  if (msg.type === "lobby_next_round") {
+    if (lobby.phase !== "game") {
+      return;
+    }
+    if (client.id !== lobby.hostId) {
+      send(client.ws, { type: "error", message: "Only the host can start the next round." });
+      return;
+    }
+    startMatch();
+    return;
+  }
+
   if (msg.type === "player_input") {
     if (lobby.phase !== "game") {
       return;
diff --git a/src/game.js b/src/game.js
index cd55702..2ca84a6 100644
--- a/src/game.js
+++ b/src/game.js
@@ -86,6 +86,10 @@ const state = {
   lobbyMenu: {
     selectedIndex: 0,
   },
+  notification: {
+    text: "",
+    expiresAt: 0,
+  },
 };
 
 const images = {};
@@ -127,6 +131,7 @@ const network = {
   lastInputSentAt: 0,
   activeRoster: [],
   lastPingAt: 0,
+  lobbyPhase: "lobby",
   hasReceivedSnapshot: false,
 };
 
@@ -203,6 +208,14 @@ function now() {
   return performance.now() / 1000;
 }
 
+function showMatchNotification(text, duration = 3) {
+  if (typeof text !== "string" || !text.trim()) {
+    return;
+  }
+  state.notification.text = text.trim();
+  state.notification.expiresAt = now() + duration;
+}
+
 function loadImage(path) {
   return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
     const img = new Image();
@@ -431,19 +444,8 @@ function restartMultiplayerRoundAsHost() {
   if (state.mode !== "multiplayer" || state.screen !== "game" || !network.isHost) {
     return;
   }
-  const roster = state.players
-    .filter((player) => typeof player.ownerId === "string" && player.ownerId)
-    .map((player) => ({
-      id: player.ownerId,
-      name: player.name,
-    }));
-  if (roster.length < 1) {
-    return;
-  }
-  network.activeRoster = roster.slice(0, MAX_PLAYERS);
-  resetRoundMultiplayer(network.activeRoster);
-  network.lastSnapshotSentAt = 0;
-  broadcastSnapshot();
+  sendSocketMessage("lobby_next_round");
+  state.message = "Starting next round...";
 }
 
 function activateMenuSelection() {
@@ -505,11 +507,11 @@ function getMainMenuItems() {
 }
 
 function getLobbyMenuItems() {
-  const canStart = network.isHost && network.lobbyPlayers.length >= 1;
+  const canStart = network.lobbyPhase === "lobby" && network.isHost && network.lobbyPlayers.length >= 1;
   return [
     {
       id: "start",
-      label: canStart ? "Start Match" : "Waiting For Host",
+      label: canStart ? "Start Match" : network.lobbyPhase === "game" ? "Game In Progress" : "Waiting For Host",
       disabled: !canStart,
     },
     { id: "music", label: `Music: ${audio && audio.isMusicEnabled() ? "On" : "Off"}` },
@@ -609,6 +611,7 @@ function ensureSocketConnection() {
     network.isHost = false;
     network.hostId = null;
     network.lobbyPlayers = [];
+    network.lobbyPhase = "lobby";
     if (state.screen === "lobby") {
       network.inLobby = true;
       state.message = "Disconnected. Reconnecting...";
@@ -663,9 +666,30 @@ function handleSocketMessage(raw) {
   }
 
   if (msg.type === "lobby_state") {
+    const previousLobbyPlayers = network.lobbyPlayers.slice();
+    const nextLobbyPlayers = normalizeLobbyPlayers(msg.players || []);
+
     network.hostId = msg.hostId || null;
     network.isHost = network.hostId === network.clientId;
-    network.lobbyPlayers = normalizeLobbyPlayers(msg.players || []);
+    network.lobbyPhase = msg.phase === "game" ? "game" : "lobby";
+    network.lobbyPlayers = nextLobbyPlayers;
+
+    if (state.mode === "multiplayer" && state.screen === "game" && msg.phase === "game") {
+      const activeMatchIds = new Set(network.activeRoster.map((player) => player.id));
+      const previousIds = new Set(previousLobbyPlayers.map((player) => player.id));
+      const newlyWaiting = nextLobbyPlayers.filter(
+        (player) => !previousIds.has(player.id) && !activeMatchIds.has(player.id),
+      );
+      if (newlyWaiting.length === 1) {
+        showMatchNotification(newlyWaiting[0].name + " is waiting in lobby.");
+      } else if (newlyWaiting.length > 1) {
+        showMatchNotification(String(newlyWaiting.length) + " players are waiting in lobby.");
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (state.screen === "lobby" && network.lobbyPhase === "game") {
+      state.message = "Match running. You will join next round.";
+    }
     if (state.mode === "multiplayer" && state.screen === "game" && msg.phase === "lobby") {
       state.screen = "lobby";
       state.status = "idle";
@@ -678,6 +702,7 @@ function handleSocketMessage(raw) {
   if (msg.type === "lobby_start") {
     network.hostId = msg.hostId;
     network.isHost = msg.hostId === network.clientId;
+    network.lobbyPhase = "game";
     network.activeRoster = normalizeLobbyPlayers(msg.roster || []);
     startMultiplayerMatch(network.activeRoster);
     return;
@@ -710,6 +735,7 @@ function startSinglePlayerFromMenu() {
 function startMultiplayerMatch(roster) {
   network.activeRoster = roster.slice(0, MAX_PLAYERS);
   network.inLobby = false;
+  network.lobbyPhase = "game";
   network.lastSnapshotAt = now();
   network.lastInputSentAt = 0;
   network.hasReceivedSnapshot = network.isHost;
@@ -732,6 +758,7 @@ function enterLobbyScreen() {
   network.inLobby = true;
   network.isHost = false;
   network.hostId = null;
+  network.lobbyPhase = "lobby";
   network.lobbyPlayers = [];
   network.remoteInputs.clear();
   network.remoteBombPrev.clear();
@@ -745,10 +772,13 @@ function leaveLobbyInternals() {
   network.inLobby = false;
   network.isHost = false;
   network.hostId = null;
+  network.lobbyPhase = "lobby";
   network.lobbyPlayers = [];
   network.remoteInputs.clear();
   network.remoteBombPrev.clear();
   network.activeRoster = [];
+  state.notification.text = "";
+  state.notification.expiresAt = 0;
   network.inputStateAtClient = { dir: null, bomb: false };
   network.lastInputSentAt = 0;
   network.hasReceivedSnapshot = false;
@@ -766,7 +796,7 @@ function leaveMultiplayerToMainMenu() {
 }
 
 function hostStartMatchFromLobby() {
-  if (!network.isHost || network.lobbyPlayers.length < 1) {
+  if (!network.isHost || network.lobbyPhase !== "lobby" || network.lobbyPlayers.length < 1) {
     return;
   }
   sendSocketMessage("lobby_start");
@@ -1837,7 +1867,11 @@ function drawLobby() {
   ctx.fillText("Multiplayer Lobby", canvas.width / 2, panelY + 48);
   ctx.fillStyle = "#b6ddff";
   ctx.font = "bold 14px Trebuchet MS";
-  ctx.fillText("Host can start with any number of players (1-4).", canvas.width / 2, panelY + 74);
+  const lobbyHint =
+    network.lobbyPhase === "game"
+      ? "Match currently running. You will join next round."
+      : "Host can start with any number of players (1-4).";
+  ctx.fillText(lobbyHint, canvas.width / 2, panelY + 74);
 
   ctx.textAlign = "left";
   ctx.font = "bold 17px Trebuchet MS";
@@ -1866,6 +1900,40 @@ function drawLobby() {
   });
 }
 
+function drawMatchNotification() {
+  if (state.screen !== "game" || !state.notification.text) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const remaining = state.notification.expiresAt - now();
+  if (remaining <= 0) {
+    state.notification.text = "";
+    state.notification.expiresAt = 0;
+    return;
+  }
+
+  const fade = clamp(remaining < 0.35 ? remaining / 0.35 : 1, 0, 1);
+  const panelWidth = Math.min(canvas.width - 36, 520);
+  const panelHeight = 34;
+  const panelX = (canvas.width - panelWidth) / 2;
+  const panelY = 14;
+
+  ctx.save();
+  ctx.globalAlpha = 0.96 * fade;
+  ctx.fillStyle = "#071421db";
+  ctx.strokeStyle = "#8acfff99";
+  ctx.lineWidth = 2;
+  ctx.fillRect(panelX, panelY, panelWidth, panelHeight);
+  ctx.strokeRect(panelX, panelY, panelWidth, panelHeight);
+
+  ctx.fillStyle = "#e7f4ff";
+  ctx.textAlign = "center";
+  ctx.textBaseline = "middle";
+  ctx.font = "bold 16px Trebuchet MS";
+  ctx.fillText(state.notification.text, canvas.width / 2, panelY + panelHeight / 2 + 1);
+  ctx.restore();
+}
+
 function drawFrame() {
   if (state.screen === "mainMenu") {
     drawMainMenu();
@@ -1883,6 +1951,7 @@ function drawFrame() {
   drawBombs();
   drawExplosions();
   drawPlayers();
+  drawMatchNotification();
   drawMenu();
 
   ctx.strokeStyle = "#86cef91f";