diff --git a/backend/app/models/world.py b/backend/app/models/world.py
index d10e896..89226ed 100644
--- a/backend/app/models/world.py
+++ b/backend/app/models/world.py
@@ -21,7 +21,12 @@ class World(Base):
     description = Column(Text, nullable=True)
     owner_id = Column(Integer, ForeignKey("users.id"), nullable=False)
     visibility = Column(
-        ENUM(WorldVisibility, name="world_visibility", create_type=False),
+        ENUM(
+            WorldVisibility,
+            name="world_visibility",
+            create_type=False,
+            values_callable=lambda enum_cls: [e.value for e in enum_cls],
+        ),
         default=WorldVisibility.PUBLIC,
     )
     created_at = Column(DateTime(timezone=True), server_default=func.now())
diff --git a/backend/app/routers/worlds.py b/backend/app/routers/worlds.py
index 7f3aadd..83419ae 100644
--- a/backend/app/routers/worlds.py
+++ b/backend/app/routers/worlds.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """Worlds router - CRUD for game worlds."""
 
+from datetime import datetime
 from typing import Annotated
 
 from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends, HTTPException, Query
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ class WorldResponse(BaseModel):
     description: str | None
     visibility: WorldVisibility
     owner_id: int
-    created_at: str | None = None
+    created_at: datetime | None = None
 
     model_config = {"from_attributes": True}
 
diff --git a/scenes/world_list.tscn b/scenes/world_list.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e2138e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scenes/world_list.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://scripts/world_list.gd" id="1_wl"]
+
+[node name="WorldList" type="Control"]
+anchors_preset = 15
+anchor_right = 1.0
+anchor_bottom = 1.0
+grow_horizontal = 2
+grow_vertical = 2
+script = ExtResource("1_wl")
+
+[node name="VBoxContainer" type="VBoxContainer" parent="."]
+layout_mode = 3
+theme_override_constants/separation = 8
+size_flags_horizontal = 4
+size_flags_vertical = 4
+
+[node name="HeaderHBox" type="HBoxContainer" parent="VBoxContainer"]
+layout_mode = 3
+size_flags_horizontal = 4
+theme_override_constants/separation = 16
+
+[node name="BackButton" type="Button" parent="VBoxContainer/HeaderHBox"]
+layout_mode = 3
+text = "< Back"
+size_flags_horizontal = 0
+
+[node name="TitleLabel" type="Label" parent="VBoxContainer/HeaderHBox"]
+layout_mode = 3
+text = "Browse Worlds"
+horizontal_alignment = 1
+size_flags_horizontal = 4
+theme_override_font_sizes/font_size = 28
+
+[node name="RefreshButton" type="Button" parent="VBoxContainer/HeaderHBox"]
+layout_mode = 3
+text = "Refresh"
+size_flags_horizontal = 0
+
+[node name="ScrollContainer" type="ScrollContainer" parent="VBoxContainer"]
+layout_mode = 3
+size_flags_horizontal = 4
+size_flags_vertical = 4
+horizontal_mode = 2
+vertical_mode = 2
+
+[node name="WorldList" type="VBoxContainer" parent="VBoxContainer/ScrollContainer"]
+layout_mode = 3
+size_flags_horizontal = 4
+size_flags_vertical = 4
+theme_override_constants/separation = 8
+
+[node name="LoadingLabel" type="Label" parent="VBoxContainer"]
+layout_mode = 3
+text = "Loading worlds..."
+visible = false
+horizontal_alignment = 1
+theme_override_font_sizes/font_size = 18
+
+[node name="ErrorLabel" type="Label" parent="VBoxContainer"]
+layout_mode = 3
+text = ""
+visible = false
+horizontal_alignment = 1
+theme_override_font_sizes/font_size = 18
+
+[node name="EmptyLabel" type="Label" parent="VBoxContainer"]
+layout_mode = 3
+text = ""
+visible = false
+horizontal_alignment = 1
+theme_override_font_sizes/font_size = 18
+
+[connection signal="pressed" from="VBoxContainer/HeaderHBox/BackButton" to="." method="_on_back_button_pressed"]
+[connection signal="pressed" from="VBoxContainer/HeaderHBox/RefreshButton" to="." method="_on_refresh_button_pressed"]
diff --git a/scripts/main_menu.gd b/scripts/main_menu.gd
index 08a0487..1f5d8c3 100644
--- a/scripts/main_menu.gd
+++ b/scripts/main_menu.gd
@@ -61,8 +61,9 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 func _on_play_button_pressed() -> void:
 	if _play_button.disabled:
 		return
-	# TODO: transition to the worlds / gameplay scene once it exists.
-	print("Play pressed — transitioning to game")
+	# Browse worlds is the first real screen past login -- actual gameplay
+	# (joining a world) doesn't exist yet, browsing does.
+	get_tree().change_scene_to_file("res://scenes/world_list.tscn")
 
 
 func _on_quit_button_pressed() -> void:
diff --git a/scripts/smoke_test_world_list.gd b/scripts/smoke_test_world_list.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..951d6f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/smoke_test_world_list.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+extends SceneTree
+## Headless smoke test for the world list screen.
+##
+## Run with:
+##     godot --headless --path . --script res://scripts/smoke_test_world_list.gd
+##
+## Requires the backend to be running (default base URL
+## `application/agp/api_base_url` -> http://127.0.0.1:8000, override with
+## AGP_API_BASE_URL).
+##
+## Unlike a pure API-level test, this actually instantiates scenes/
+## world_list.tscn as a real scene and adds it to the tree -- catches
+## @onready node-path bugs (a node reference pointing at the wrong path
+## errors right here, not just "looks right" from reading the script) that
+## an API-only test would miss entirely.
+##
+## Tests:
+##   1. Register + log in a fresh user (so get_worlds() has a valid token).
+##   2. Instantiate world_list.tscn, add to tree -- @onready resolution
+##      must not error.
+##   3. Wait for _refresh_worlds()'s awaited request to complete.
+##   4. Confirm the screen reached a real end state (world cards, or the
+##      empty-list message -- either is fine, a crash/stuck-loading isn't).
+##
+## Exits 0 on full pass, 1 on any failure.
+
+const WORLD_LIST_SCENE := "res://scenes/world_list.tscn"
+
+
+func _initialize() -> void:
+	_run()
+
+
+func _run() -> void:
+	await process_frame
+
+	var api := root.get_node("ApiClient")
+	assert(api != null, "ApiClient autoload not found")
+
+	var passed: int = 0
+	var failed: int = 0
+
+	# --- Setup: register + log in so the world list has a valid token ---
+	print("\n=== Setup: register + login ===")
+	randomize()
+	var unique_id: int = int(Time.get_unix_time_from_system() * 1000) + randi() % 100000
+	var username := "worldlist_smoke_%d" % unique_id
+	var email := "worldlist_smoke_%d@test.example.com" % unique_id
+	var reg_result: Dictionary = await api.register(username, email, "SmokeTest123!", "2000-01-01")
+	if not _check("setup: register succeeded", reg_result.ok):
+		print("  detail: ", reg_result.detail)
+		quit(1)
+		return
+
+	# --- Test 1: Instantiate the real scene ---
+	print("\n=== Test 1: Instantiate world_list.tscn ===")
+	var packed_scene: PackedScene = load(WORLD_LIST_SCENE)
+	if not _check("scene loads", packed_scene != null):
+		quit(1)
+		return
+
+	var instance: Control = packed_scene.instantiate()
+	if not _check("scene instantiates", instance != null):
+		quit(1)
+		return
+
+	root.add_child(instance)
+	# One frame for _ready() (and its @onready resolution) to run. A wrong
+	# node path in an @onready var errors during this, not silently.
+	await process_frame
+
+	if _check("scene added to tree without error", is_instance_valid(instance)):
+		passed += 1
+	else:
+		failed += 1
+
+	# --- Test 2: Wait for the world fetch to resolve, check a real end state ---
+	print("\n=== Test 2: World fetch reaches a real end state ===")
+	# _refresh_worlds() runs from _ready(); give its awaited HTTP call time
+	# to complete rather than a fixed sleep -- poll for either end state.
+	var world_list_node: VBoxContainer = instance.get_node("VBoxContainer/ScrollContainer/WorldList")
+	var empty_label: Label = instance.get_node("VBoxContainer/EmptyLabel")
+	var error_label: Label = instance.get_node("VBoxContainer/ErrorLabel")
+
+	var settled := false
+	for i in range(50):  # up to ~5s at 100ms/frame-ish via process_frame waits
+		await process_frame
+		if world_list_node.visible or empty_label.visible or error_label.visible:
+			settled = true
+			break
+
+	if _check("reached a real end state (cards, empty, or error) not stuck loading", settled):
+		passed += 1
+	else:
+		failed += 1
+		print("  world_list.visible=%s empty_label.visible=%s error_label.visible=%s" % [
+			world_list_node.visible, empty_label.visible, error_label.visible
+		])
+
+	if error_label.visible:
+		printerr("  Note: ended in error state: ", error_label.text)
+	elif world_list_node.visible:
+		print("  Note: rendered %d world card(s)" % world_list_node.get_child_count())
+	elif empty_label.visible:
+		print("  Note: ended in empty-list state")
+
+	# --- Summary ---
+	print("\n=== SMOKE RESULT: %d/%d passed ===" % [passed, passed + failed])
+	if failed > 0:
+		quit(1)
+	else:
+		print("SMOKE RESULT: ALL PASS")
+		quit(0)
+
+
+func _check(description: String, condition: bool) -> bool:
+	if condition:
+		print("  PASS: ", description)
+		return true
+	else:
+		printerr("  FAIL: ", description)
+		return false
diff --git a/scripts/world_list.gd b/scripts/world_list.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9f7bee6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/world_list.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+extends Control
+## World list screen — browses public worlds via GET /api/worlds.
+##
+## Displays a scrollable list of world cards (name + description).
+## Handles loading, empty list, errors, and refresh.
+
+
+# UI references
+@onready var scroll_container: ScrollContainer = $VBoxContainer/ScrollContainer
+@onready var world_list: VBoxContainer = $VBoxContainer/ScrollContainer/WorldList
+@onready var loading_label: Label = $VBoxContainer/LoadingLabel
+@onready var error_label: Label = $VBoxContainer/ErrorLabel
+@onready var refresh_button: Button = $VBoxContainer/HeaderHBox/RefreshButton
+@onready var back_button: Button = $VBoxContainer/HeaderHBox/BackButton
+@onready var empty_label: Label = $VBoxContainer/EmptyLabel
+
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	refresh_button.disabled = false
+	back_button.disabled = false
+	loading_label.visible = false
+	error_label.visible = false
+	empty_label.visible = false
+	world_list.visible = false
+	_refresh_worlds()
+
+
+func _on_refresh_button_pressed() -> void:
+	_refresh_worlds()
+
+
+func _on_back_button_pressed() -> void:
+	get_tree().change_scene_to_file("res://scenes/main_menu.tscn")
+
+
+## Fetch the world list from the backend and update the UI.
+func _refresh_worlds() -> void:
+	# Reset UI state
+	loading_label.visible = true
+	error_label.visible = false
+	empty_label.visible = false
+	world_list.visible = false
+	refresh_button.disabled = true
+
+	# Clear previous world cards
+	for child in world_list.get_children():
+		child.queue_free()
+
+	var result := await ApiClient.get_worlds()
+
+	loading_label.visible = false
+	refresh_button.disabled = false
+
+	if not result.ok:
+		# Show error message (401, network failure, etc.)
+		error_label.text = "Error: %s" % result.detail
+		error_label.visible = true
+		empty_label.visible = false
+		world_list.visible = false
+		return
+
+	var data = result.data
+	if not data is Array:
+		error_label.text = "Unexpected response format."
+		error_label.visible = true
+		empty_label.visible = false
+		world_list.visible = false
+		return
+
+	if data.is_empty():
+		empty_label.text = "No worlds yet. Check back later!"
+		empty_label.visible = true
+		error_label.visible = false
+		world_list.visible = false
+		return
+
+	# Render world cards
+	world_list.visible = true
+	empty_label.visible = false
+	error_label.visible = false
+
+	for world_dict in data:
+		if not world_dict is Dictionary:
+			continue
+		var card := _create_world_card(world_dict)
+		world_list.add_child(card)
+
+
+## Create a visual card for a single world entry.
+func _create_world_card(world_dict: Dictionary) -> Control:
+	var card := VBoxContainer.new()
+	card.size_flags_horizontal = Control.SIZE_FILL
+	card.custom_minimum_size = Vector2(0, 80)
+	card.add_theme_constant_override("separation", 4)
+
+	var name_label := Label.new()
+	name_label.text = world_dict.get("name", "Unnamed World")
+	name_label.autowrap_mode = TextServer.AUTOWRAP_WORD
+	name_label.size_flags_horizontal = Control.SIZE_FILL
+	name_label.size_flags_vertical = Control.SIZE_SHRINK_BEGIN
+	name_label.add_theme_font_size_override("font_size", 18)
+
+	var desc_label := Label.new()
+	var description: String = str(world_dict.get("description", ""))
+	desc_label.text = description if description != "" else "No description."
+	desc_label.autowrap_mode = TextServer.AUTOWRAP_WORD
+	desc_label.size_flags_horizontal = Control.SIZE_FILL
+	desc_label.size_flags_vertical = Control.SIZE_EXPAND_FILL
+	desc_label.add_theme_font_size_override("font_size", 14)
+	desc_label.add_theme_color_override("font_color", Color(0.7, 0.7, 0.7, 1.0))
+
+	var meta_label := Label.new()
+	var visibility: String = str(world_dict.get("visibility", "public"))
+	var created: String = str(world_dict.get("created_at", ""))
+	meta_label.text = "Visibility: %s%s" % [visibility, " | Created: " + created if created != "" else ""]
+	meta_label.autowrap_mode = TextServer.AUTOWRAP_WORD
+	meta_label.size_flags_horizontal = Control.SIZE_FILL
+	meta_label.size_flags_vertical = Control.SIZE_SHRINK_BEGIN
+	meta_label.add_theme_font_size_override("font_size", 12)
+	meta_label.add_theme_color_override("font_color", Color(0.5, 0.5, 0.5, 1.0))
+
+	card.add_child(name_label)
+	card.add_child(desc_label)
+	card.add_child(meta_label)
+
+	# Subtle background for the card
+	var bg := ColorRect.new()
+	bg.color = Color(0.15, 0.15, 0.15, 1.0)
+	bg.size_flags_horizontal = Control.SIZE_FILL
+	bg.size_flags_vertical = Control.SIZE_FILL
+	bg.custom_minimum_size = Vector2(0, 80)
+	card.add_child(bg)
+	card.move_child(bg, 0)
+
+	return card