diff --git a/scenes/worlds/test_level.tscn b/scenes/worlds/test_level.tscn
index 9935db9..f9ab25b 100644
--- a/scenes/worlds/test_level.tscn
+++ b/scenes/worlds/test_level.tscn
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-[gd_scene load_steps=1 format=3]
+[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3]
+
+[ext_resource type="PackedScene" path="res://scenes/player.tscn" id="1_player"]
 
 [node name="TestLevel" type="Node3D"]
 
@@ -44,6 +46,10 @@ environment = SubResource("env_bg")
 [node name="PlayerSpawn" type="Marker3D" parent="."]
 position = Vector3(0, 1.0, 0)
 
+[node name="Player" type="CharacterBody3D" parent="."]
+position = Vector3(0, 1.0, 0)
+script = ExtResource("1_player")
+
 [sub_resource type="BoxMesh" id="mesh_ground"]
 size = Vector3(40, 1, 40)
 
diff --git a/scripts/smoke_test_player.gd b/scripts/smoke_test_player.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..04d63b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/smoke_test_player.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+extends SceneTree
+## Smoke test for the player character scene and its spawn behavior.
+##
+## Run with:
+##     godot --headless --path . --script res://scripts/smoke_test_player.gd
+##
+## Loads the test level, verifies the player is present, spawned at the
+## PlayerSpawn marker, and has the expected CharacterBody3D structure.
+
+var passed := 0
+var failed := 0
+
+
+func _initialize() -> void:
+	_run()
+
+
+func _run() -> void:
+	await process_frame
+
+	# Load the test level scene (which now includes the player).
+	var packed: PackedScene = load("res://scenes/worlds/test_level.tscn")
+	var level: Node3D = packed.instantiate()
+	root.add_child(level)
+	await process_frame
+
+	# 1. Verify the player node exists in the scene tree.
+	var player := level.get_node("Player")
+	_check("Player node exists in test level", player != null)
+	_check("Player is a CharacterBody3D", player is CharacterBody3D)
+
+	# 2. Verify the player has the expected child structure.
+	var collision := player.get_node("CollisionShape3D")
+	_check("Player has CollisionShape3D", collision != null)
+	_check("CollisionShape3D has a shape", collision.shape != null)
+
+	var mesh := player.get_node("CapsuleMesh")
+	_check("Player has CapsuleMesh", mesh != null)
+	_check("CapsuleMesh has a mesh", mesh.mesh != null)
+
+	# 3. Verify the player spawned at the PlayerSpawn marker position.
+	var spawn_marker := level.get_node("PlayerSpawn")
+	_check("PlayerSpawn marker exists", spawn_marker != null)
+
+	# The player's _ready() should have moved it to the spawn marker's
+	# global position.  Since both are direct children of the root, their
+	# global positions equal their local positions.
+	var expected_pos := spawn_marker.global_position
+	_check("Player spawned at PlayerSpawn position",
+		   player.global_position == expected_pos)
+
+	# 4. Verify the player script class_name is correct.
+	var script := player.get_script()
+	_check("Player has a script attached", script != null)
+	_check("Player script is Player class", script is GDScript)
+
+	# 5. Verify the player has movement constants defined.
+	_check("Player has WALK_SPEED constant",
+		   script.get_constant("WALK_SPEED") != null)
+	_check("Player has GRAVITY constant",
+		   script.get_constant("GRAVITY") != null)
+	_check("Player has JUMP_VELOCITY constant",
+		   script.get_constant("JUMP_VELOCITY") != null)
+
+	print("\n=== SMOKE RESULT: %d/%d passed ===" % [passed, passed + failed])
+	quit(0 if failed == 0 else 1)
+
+
+func _check(description: String, condition: bool) -> void:
+	if condition:
+		print("  PASS: ", description)
+		passed += 1
+	else:
+		printerr("  FAIL: ", description)
+		failed += 1