diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 1d50075..95184dd 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -67,6 +67,13 @@
             <version>3.45.1.0</version>
         </dependency>
 
+        <!-- WebSocket server for Unity/Godot client -->
+        <dependency>
+            <groupId>org.java-websocket</groupId>
+            <artifactId>Java-WebSocket</artifactId>
+            <version>1.5.6</version>
+        </dependency>
+
         <!-- Testing -->
         <dependency>
             <groupId>org.junit.jupiter</groupId>
diff --git a/src/main/java/commanderailab/bridge/GameSession.java b/src/main/java/commanderailab/bridge/GameSession.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..66bb004
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/commanderailab/bridge/GameSession.java
@@ -0,0 +1,235 @@
+package commanderailab.bridge;
+
+import com.google.gson.Gson;
+import com.google.gson.GsonBuilder;
+import com.google.gson.JsonObject;
+import com.google.gson.JsonParser;
+
+import java.util.*;
+import java.util.concurrent.BlockingQueue;
+import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
+import java.util.function.Consumer;
+
+/**
+ * GameSession — holds state for one live interactive Commander game.
+ *
+ * PHASE 1 STUB: generates synthetic game state so you can verify the full
+ * WebSocket contract round-trips correctly before wiring in real Forge IPC.
+ *
+ * Replace run() in Phase 2 once the contract is verified end-to-end.
+ */
+public class GameSession {
+
+    private static final Gson GSON = new GsonBuilder().setPrettyPrinting().create();
+
+    private final List<String> deckNames;
+    private final Long seed;
+    private final String forgeJarPath;
+    private final String forgeWorkDir;
+    private final BlockingQueue<String> humanActionQueue;
+
+    private volatile boolean running = false;
+    private volatile int turnNumber = 1;
+
+    // Mutable game state
+    private String phase = "UNTAP";
+    private int activePlayer = 0;
+    private int priorityPlayer = 0;
+    private final int[] life;
+    private final int[] poison;
+    private final List<String>[] hands;
+    private final List<String>[] battlefields;
+    private final List<String>[] graveyards;
+    private final List<String>[] commandZones;
+    private final int[] commanderTax;
+    private boolean awaitingHumanInput = false;
+
+    private static final String[] PHASES = {
+        "UNTAP", "UPKEEP", "DRAW",
+        "MAIN1", "BEGIN_COMBAT", "DECLARE_ATTACKERS",
+        "DECLARE_BLOCKERS", "DAMAGE", "END_COMBAT",
+        "MAIN2", "END", "CLEANUP"
+    };
+    private int phaseIndex = 0;
+
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    public GameSession(List<String> deckNames, Long seed,
+                       String forgeJarPath, String forgeWorkDir,
+                       BlockingQueue<String> humanActionQueue) {
+        this.deckNames = deckNames;
+        this.seed = seed;
+        this.forgeJarPath = forgeJarPath;
+        this.forgeWorkDir = forgeWorkDir;
+        this.humanActionQueue = humanActionQueue;
+
+        int seats = Math.min(deckNames.size(), 4);
+        life = new int[seats];
+        poison = new int[seats];
+        hands = new List[seats];
+        battlefields = new List[seats];
+        graveyards = new List[seats];
+        commandZones = new List[seats];
+        commanderTax = new int[seats];
+
+        for (int i = 0; i < seats; i++) {
+            life[i] = 40;
+            hands[i] = new ArrayList<>(List.of(
+                "card_stub_1", "card_stub_2", "card_stub_3",
+                "card_stub_4", "card_stub_5", "card_stub_6", "card_stub_7"
+            ));
+            battlefields[i] = new ArrayList<>();
+            graveyards[i] = new ArrayList<>();
+            commandZones[i] = new ArrayList<>(List.of(deckNames.get(i) + "_commander"));
+        }
+    }
+
+    public boolean isRunning() { return running; }
+    public int getTurnNumber() { return turnNumber; }
+
+    public void stop() {
+        running = false;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Run the game loop. Calls onStateChange after every action resolves.
+     * Blocks until the game ends or stop() is called.
+     *
+     * PHASE 1 STUB: advances through phases automatically; on MAIN1 of seat 0's
+     * turn, pauses and waits for the human client to send an action.
+     */
+    public void run(Consumer<Object> onStateChange) throws InterruptedException {
+        running = true;
+        Random rng = seed != null ? new Random(seed) : new Random();
+        System.out.println("[Session] Game started. Decks: " + deckNames);
+
+        while (running && !isGameOver()) {
+            String currentPhase = PHASES[phaseIndex];
+            phase = currentPhase;
+            activePlayer = (turnNumber - 1) % deckNames.size();
+
+            boolean isHumanTurn = (activePlayer == 0);
+            boolean isInteractivePhase = currentPhase.equals("MAIN1") || currentPhase.equals("MAIN2");
+
+            if (isHumanTurn && isInteractivePhase) {
+                awaitingHumanInput = true;
+                priorityPlayer = 0;
+                onStateChange.accept(buildStateSnapshot());
+
+                System.out.println("[Session] Awaiting human action for " + currentPhase + "...");
+                String actionJson = humanActionQueue.poll(120, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
+
+                if (actionJson == null) {
+                    System.out.println("[Session] Human timed out — auto passing.");
+                } else {
+                    applyAction(actionJson);
+                    System.out.println("[Session] Human action applied: " + actionJson);
+                }
+                awaitingHumanInput = false;
+            } else {
+                // AI turn — small delay for readability
+                Thread.sleep(300);
+                // Simulate AI occasionally dealing damage to human
+                if (!isHumanTurn && currentPhase.equals("DAMAGE") && life[0] > 5) {
+                    life[0] -= rng.nextInt(4);
+                }
+            }
+
+            // Advance phase
+            phaseIndex++;
+            if (phaseIndex >= PHASES.length) {
+                phaseIndex = 0;
+                turnNumber++;
+            }
+
+            onStateChange.accept(buildStateSnapshot());
+        }
+
+        running = false;
+        System.out.println("[Session] Game ended after " + turnNumber + " turns.");
+    }
+
+    private void applyAction(String actionJson) {
+        try {
+            JsonObject action = JsonParser.parseString(actionJson).getAsJsonObject();
+            String type = action.has("type") ? action.get("type").getAsString() : "PASS_PRIORITY";
+
+            switch (type) {
+                case "PLAY_LAND", "CAST_SPELL" -> {
+                    String cardId = action.has("cardId") ? action.get("cardId").getAsString() : null;
+                    if (cardId != null && hands[0].contains(cardId)) {
+                        hands[0].remove(cardId);
+                        battlefields[0].add(cardId);
+                    }
+                }
+                case "PASS_PRIORITY" -> { /* no-op, phase advances naturally */ }
+                default -> System.out.println("[Session] Unknown action type: " + type);
+            }
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            System.err.println("[Session] Failed to apply action: " + e.getMessage());
+        }
+    }
+
+    private boolean isGameOver() {
+        int alive = 0;
+        for (int lp : life) if (lp > 0) alive++;
+        // Phase 1 stub: end after 50 turns or only 1 player alive
+        return alive <= 1 || turnNumber > 50;
+    }
+
+    // ---------------------------------------------------------
+    // State serialization
+    // ---------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /** Returns a full { type: "STATE", state: {...} } JSON string. */
+    public String buildStateMessage() {
+        Map<String, Object> msg = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+        msg.put("type", "STATE");
+        msg.put("state", buildStateSnapshot());
+        return GSON.toJson(msg);
+    }
+
+    /** Returns the raw state snapshot map (serialized by caller). */
+    public Map<String, Object> buildStateSnapshot() {
+        Map<String, Object> state = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+        state.put("schema", "1.0.0");
+        state.put("phase", phase);
+        state.put("turnNumber", turnNumber);
+        state.put("activePlayer", activePlayer);
+        state.put("priorityPlayer", priorityPlayer);
+        state.put("awaitingInput", awaitingHumanInput);
+        state.put("inputPrompt", awaitingHumanInput ? "Choose an action or pass priority" : null);
+
+        List<Map<String, Object>> players = new ArrayList<>();
+        for (int i = 0; i < deckNames.size(); i++) {
+            Map<String, Object> p = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+            p.put("seat", i);
+            p.put("name", i == 0 ? "Human" : "AI-" + i);
+            p.put("isAI", i != 0);
+            p.put("deckName", deckNames.get(i));
+            p.put("life", life[i]);
+            p.put("poison", poison[i]);
+            p.put("commanderTax", commanderTax[i]);
+            p.put("handCount", hands[i].size());
+            p.put("hand", i == 0 ? hands[i] : List.of()); // hide opponent hands
+            p.put("battlefield", battlefields[i]);
+            p.put("graveyard", graveyards[i]);
+            p.put("commandZone", commandZones[i]);
+            p.put("manaPool", Map.of("W",0,"U",0,"B",0,"R",0,"G",0,"C",0));
+            players.add(p);
+        }
+        state.put("players", players);
+        state.put("stack", List.of());
+
+        // Legal actions — only populated when it's the human's turn
+        List<Map<String, Object>> legalActions = new ArrayList<>();
+        if (awaitingHumanInput) {
+            legalActions.add(Map.of("type", "PASS_PRIORITY", "label", "Pass Priority"));
+            for (String card : hands[0]) {
+                legalActions.add(Map.of("type", "CAST_SPELL", "cardId", card, "label", "Cast " + card));
+            }
+        }
+        state.put("legalActions", legalActions);
+
+        return state;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/commanderailab/bridge/GameWsServer.java b/src/main/java/commanderailab/bridge/GameWsServer.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0fbecbd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/commanderailab/bridge/GameWsServer.java
@@ -0,0 +1,204 @@
+package commanderailab.bridge;
+
+import com.google.gson.Gson;
+import com.google.gson.GsonBuilder;
+import com.google.gson.JsonObject;
+import com.google.gson.JsonParser;
+import org.java_websocket.WebSocket;
+import org.java_websocket.handshake.ClientHandshake;
+import org.java_websocket.server.WebSocketServer;
+
+import java.net.InetSocketAddress;
+import java.util.*;
+import java.util.concurrent.*;
+
+/**
+ * GameWsServer — WebSocket server that exposes the Forge engine to a Unity/Godot client.
+ *
+ * Connect at: ws://localhost:7654
+ *
+ * Protocol:
+ *   ENGINE -> CLIENT:  GameStateSnapshot JSON (pushed after every action resolves)
+ *   CLIENT -> ENGINE:  PlayerAction JSON
+ *
+ * Message types (CLIENT -> ENGINE):
+ *   { "type": "START_GAME",  "decks": ["DeckA","DeckB","DeckC","DeckD"], "seed": 12345 }
+ *   { "type": "PLAYER_ACTION", "action": { ... } }
+ *   { "type": "PING" }
+ *
+ * Message types (ENGINE -> CLIENT):
+ *   { "type": "STATE",  "state": { ... GameStateSnapshot ... } }
+ *   { "type": "ERROR",  "message": "..." }
+ *   { "type": "PONG" }
+ */
+public class GameWsServer extends WebSocketServer {
+
+    private static final int DEFAULT_PORT = 7654;
+    private static final Gson GSON = new GsonBuilder().setPrettyPrinting().create();
+
+    private final String forgeJarPath;
+    private final String forgeWorkDir;
+
+    // Active game session (one game at a time for Phase 1)
+    private volatile GameSession activeSession;
+
+    // Waiting-for-human-input: the session parks here until Unity sends an action
+    private final BlockingQueue<String> humanActionQueue = new LinkedBlockingQueue<>();
+
+    public GameWsServer(String forgeJarPath, String forgeWorkDir) {
+        super(new InetSocketAddress(DEFAULT_PORT));
+        this.forgeJarPath = forgeJarPath;
+        this.forgeWorkDir = forgeWorkDir;
+        setReuseAddr(true);
+    }
+
+    public GameWsServer(int port, String forgeJarPath, String forgeWorkDir) {
+        super(new InetSocketAddress(port));
+        this.forgeJarPath = forgeJarPath;
+        this.forgeWorkDir = forgeWorkDir;
+        setReuseAddr(true);
+    }
+
+    // ---------------------------------------------------------
+    // WebSocket lifecycle
+    // ---------------------------------------------------------
+
+    @Override
+    public void onOpen(WebSocket conn, ClientHandshake handshake) {
+        System.out.println("[WS] Client connected: " + conn.getRemoteSocketAddress());
+        // Send current state if a game is in progress
+        if (activeSession != null) {
+            conn.send(activeSession.buildStateMessage());
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void onClose(WebSocket conn, int code, String reason, boolean remote) {
+        System.out.println("[WS] Client disconnected: " + conn.getRemoteSocketAddress());
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void onMessage(WebSocket conn, String message) {
+        try {
+            JsonObject msg = JsonParser.parseString(message).getAsJsonObject();
+            String type = msg.get("type").getAsString();
+
+            switch (type) {
+                case "PING" -> conn.send(buildPong());
+                case "START_GAME" -> handleStartGame(conn, msg);
+                case "PLAYER_ACTION" -> handlePlayerAction(conn, msg);
+                case "STOP_GAME" -> {
+                    if (activeSession != null) activeSession.stop();
+                    activeSession = null;
+                    broadcast(buildInfo("Game stopped."));
+                }
+                default -> sendError(conn, "Unknown message type: " + type);
+            }
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            sendError(conn, "Parse error: " + e.getMessage());
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void onError(WebSocket conn, Exception ex) {
+        System.err.println("[WS] Error: " + ex.getMessage());
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void onStart() {
+        System.out.println("[WS] GameWsServer started on port " + getPort());
+        System.out.println("[WS] Connect Unity/Godot to: ws://localhost:" + getPort());
+    }
+
+    // ---------------------------------------------------------
+    // Message handlers
+    // ---------------------------------------------------------
+
+    private void handleStartGame(WebSocket conn, JsonObject msg) {
+        if (activeSession != null && activeSession.isRunning()) {
+            sendError(conn, "A game is already in progress. Send { type: 'STOP_GAME' } first.");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        List<String> decks = new ArrayList<>();
+        if (msg.has("decks")) {
+            msg.getAsJsonArray("decks").forEach(d -> decks.add(d.getAsString()));
+        }
+
+        if (decks.size() < 3) {
+            sendError(conn, "Need at least 3 deck names in 'decks' array.");
+            return;
+        }
+
+        Long seed = msg.has("seed") ? msg.get("seed").getAsLong() : null;
+
+        System.out.println("[WS] Starting game: " + decks + " seed=" + seed);
+
+        // Clear any stale actions from previous game
+        humanActionQueue.clear();
+
+        activeSession = new GameSession(decks, seed, forgeJarPath, forgeWorkDir, humanActionQueue);
+
+        // Push initial state immediately
+        broadcast(activeSession.buildStateMessage());
+
+        // Run the game loop on a background thread so WebSocket thread stays free
+        Thread gameThread = new Thread(() -> {
+            try {
+                activeSession.run(state -> broadcast(GSON.toJson(state)));
+                broadcast(buildInfo("Game over after " + activeSession.getTurnNumber() + " turns."));
+            } catch (Exception e) {
+                broadcastError("Game error: " + e.getMessage());
+                e.printStackTrace();
+            }
+        }, "game-loop");
+        gameThread.setDaemon(true);
+        gameThread.start();
+    }
+
+    private void handlePlayerAction(WebSocket conn, JsonObject msg) {
+        if (activeSession == null || !activeSession.isRunning()) {
+            sendError(conn, "No active game. Send START_GAME first.");
+            return;
+        }
+        if (!msg.has("action")) {
+            sendError(conn, "Missing 'action' field.");
+            return;
+        }
+        // Put the raw action JSON string onto the queue -- GameSession polls this
+        humanActionQueue.offer(msg.get("action").toString());
+    }
+
+    // ---------------------------------------------------------
+    // Broadcast helpers
+    // ---------------------------------------------------------
+
+    private void broadcastError(String message) {
+        broadcast(buildError(message));
+    }
+
+    private void sendError(WebSocket conn, String message) {
+        conn.send(buildError(message));
+    }
+
+    private static String buildError(String message) {
+        JsonObject obj = new JsonObject();
+        obj.addProperty("type", "ERROR");
+        obj.addProperty("message", message);
+        return obj.toString();
+    }
+
+    private static String buildInfo(String message) {
+        JsonObject obj = new JsonObject();
+        obj.addProperty("type", "INFO");
+        obj.addProperty("message", message);
+        return obj.toString();
+    }
+
+    private static String buildPong() {
+        JsonObject obj = new JsonObject();
+        obj.addProperty("type", "PONG");
+        obj.addProperty("ts", System.currentTimeMillis());
+        return obj.toString();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/commanderailab/cli/WsServerCommand.java b/src/main/java/commanderailab/cli/WsServerCommand.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..71c2d4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/commanderailab/cli/WsServerCommand.java
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+package commanderailab.cli;
+
+import commanderailab.bridge.GameWsServer;
+import picocli.CommandLine.Command;
+import picocli.CommandLine.Option;
+
+import java.util.concurrent.Callable;
+
+/**
+ * WsServerCommand — picocli subcommand that starts the interactive game WebSocket server.
+ *
+ * Usage:
+ *   java -jar commander-ai-lab.jar ws-server \
+ *     --forge-jar path/to/forge.jar \
+ *     --forge-dir path/to/forge-gui \
+ *     --port 7654
+ *
+ * Then connect Unity/Godot to ws://localhost:7654 and send:
+ *   { "type": "START_GAME", "decks": ["DeckA","DeckB","DeckC","DeckD"], "seed": 42 }
+ */
+@Command(
+    name = "ws-server",
+    mixinStandardHelpOptions = true,
+    description = "Start the interactive game WebSocket server for Unity/Godot clients."
+)
+public class WsServerCommand implements Callable<Integer> {
+
+    @Option(names = {"--forge-jar", "-F"}, required = true,
+            description = "Path to Forge desktop JAR (forge-gui-desktop-XXX-jar-with-dependencies.jar)")
+    private String forgeJarPath;
+
+    @Option(names = {"--forge-dir", "-W"}, required = true,
+            description = "Forge working directory (folder containing res/)")
+    private String forgeWorkDir;
+
+    @Option(names = {"--port", "-p"}, defaultValue = "7654",
+            description = "WebSocket port (default: 7654)")
+    private int port;
+
+    @Override
+    public Integer call() throws Exception {
+        System.out.println("╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════╗");
+        System.out.println("║    Commander AI Lab — Interactive WS Server      ║");
+        System.out.println("╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════╝");
+        System.out.println();
+        System.out.println("  Forge JAR : " + forgeJarPath);
+        System.out.println("  Forge Dir : " + forgeWorkDir);
+        System.out.println("  WS Port   : " + port);
+        System.out.println();
+
+        GameWsServer server = new GameWsServer(port, forgeJarPath, forgeWorkDir);
+        server.start();
+
+        System.out.println("  Ready — connect Unity/Godot to ws://localhost:" + port);
+        System.out.println("  Press Ctrl+C to stop.");
+        System.out.println();
+
+        // Block until killed
+        Thread.currentThread().join();
+        return 0;
+    }
+}