diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9fbb116..626cf9c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ still runs offline with a personal local board.
   crystals), volatile (chain explosion) and splitter (splits on approach).
 - Crystal shop: trails, ship skins and titles. Cosmetic-only; no ranked
   advantage.
-- Settings: colour-blind flare cues, reduced motion (including no full-screen flash overlays), low-FX mode, music and SFX.
+- Settings: colour-blind flare cues, reduced motion (no screen shake, full-screen flash overlays, or impact hit-stop pauses), low-FX mode, music and SFX.
 - Share result cards (PNG) and challenge links, plus PWA install prompt and
   manifest shortcuts.
 - Local analytics counters plus server event logging for the run/board/install
diff --git a/web/game.js b/web/game.js
index e540ad4..1473739 100644
--- a/web/game.js
+++ b/web/game.js
@@ -185,11 +185,13 @@ function comboMilestoneText(combo) {
 function shouldRenderScreenFlash(settings = {}) {
   return settings.reducedMotion !== true;
 }
+function shouldApplyHitStop(settings = {}) {
+  return settings.reducedMotion !== true;
+}
 function campaignPauseHint(sectorId) {
   const sector = CAMPAIGN_SECTORS.find(item => item.id === sectorId);
-  return sector ? `${sector.name} — ${sector.objective}` : "";
+  return sector ? `${sector.name} - ${sector.objective}` : "";
 }
-
 function segDist(px, py, x1, y1, x2, y2) {
   const dx = x2 - x1, dy = y2 - y1;
   const len2 = dx * dx + dy * dy;
@@ -2163,7 +2165,12 @@ class Game {
     this.time += dt; this.ads.update(dt);
     this.flash = Math.max(0, this.flash - dt);
     if (this.paused) return;
-    if (this.hitStop > 0) { this.hitStop = Math.max(0, this.hitStop - dt); return; }
+    if (this.hitStop > 0 && shouldApplyHitStop(this.save.settings)) {
+      this.hitStop = Math.max(0, this.hitStop - dt);
+      return;
+    }
+    // Reduced Motion skips the brief simulation freeze used for impact emphasis.
+    this.hitStop = 0;
     this.shake = Math.max(0, this.shake - dt);
     this.parts = this.parts.filter(p => { p.x += p.vx * dt; p.y += p.vy * dt; p.vx *= .96; p.vy *= .96; return (p.life -= dt) > 0; });
     this.floats = this.floats.filter(f => { f.y -= 50 * dt; return (f.life -= dt) > 0; });
@@ -3475,5 +3482,5 @@ if (typeof module !== "undefined" && module.exports)
   module.exports = { Game, MockAdProvider, AdMobProvider, createAdProvider, Save, Sfx, Social, Leaderboard,
     CAMPAIGN_SECTORS, STORY_ENTRIES, EXPLORATION_OBJECTIVES, freshCampaign, sanitizeCampaign, DemoIapProvider, DisabledIapProvider, CdvIapProvider, createIapProvider, GEM_PACKS, CONTINUE_BASE_COST,
     SHIPS, CONTRACTS, MISSION_POOL, BIOMES, METEOR_TYPES, SHOP_ITEMS,
-    dateKey, weekKey, mulberry32, difficultyProfile, flareWarningText, bossWarningText, comboMilestoneText, shouldRenderScreenFlash, campaignPauseHint, W, H };
+    dateKey, weekKey, mulberry32, difficultyProfile, flareWarningText, bossWarningText, comboMilestoneText, shouldRenderScreenFlash, shouldApplyHitStop, campaignPauseHint, W, H };
 else window.addEventListener("load", boot);
diff --git a/web/sw.js b/web/sw.js
index 83fc774..0550b61 100644
--- a/web/sw.js
+++ b/web/sw.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // Service worker: caches the game so it works offline once installed.
 // Bump CACHE whenever the game files change. Navigation is network-first so a
 // deployed update is picked up as soon as the player is online.
-const CACHE = "orbit-runner-v17";
+const CACHE = "orbit-runner-v18";
 const FILES = ["./", "./index.html", "./config.js", "./game.js", "./manifest.json", "./icon-192.png", "./icon-512.png"];
 
 self.addEventListener("install", e => {
diff --git a/web/test/game.test.js b/web/test/game.test.js
index 4629a7d..4c6f55e 100644
--- a/web/test/game.test.js
+++ b/web/test/game.test.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ const test = require("node:test");
 const assert = require("node:assert/strict");
 const { Game, MockAdProvider, AdMobProvider, Save, Social, Leaderboard, MISSION_POOL, CONTRACTS,
   BIOMES, SHOP_ITEMS, GEM_PACKS, DemoIapProvider, dateKey, weekKey, CAMPAIGN_SECTORS, STORY_ENTRIES, EXPLORATION_OBJECTIVES, freshCampaign,
-  sanitizeCampaign, difficultyProfile, flareWarningText, comboMilestoneText, shouldRenderScreenFlash, campaignPauseHint } = require("../game.js");
+  sanitizeCampaign, difficultyProfile, flareWarningText, comboMilestoneText, shouldRenderScreenFlash, shouldApplyHitStop, campaignPauseHint } = require("../game.js");
 
 function localStore() {
   const store = {};
@@ -675,7 +675,7 @@ test("replaying an already-charted sector does not trigger the campaign ending a
 
 test("campaign pause hint explains the selected sector objective and ignores unknown sectors", () => {
   assert.equal(campaignPauseHint("sol-frontier"),
-    "SOL FRONTIER — Complete a run here to chart the frontier.");
+    "SOL FRONTIER - Complete a run here to chart the frontier.");
   assert.equal(campaignPauseHint("not-a-sector"), "");
   assert.equal(campaignPauseHint(null), "");
 });
@@ -687,6 +687,12 @@ test("reduced motion disables full-screen flash overlays without changing defaul
   assert.equal(shouldRenderScreenFlash(), true);
 });
 
+test("reduced motion skips hit-stop pauses while normal settings retain them", () => {
+  assert.equal(shouldApplyHitStop({ reducedMotion: true }), false);
+  assert.equal(shouldApplyHitStop({ reducedMotion: false }), true);
+  assert.equal(shouldApplyHitStop(), true);
+});
+
 test("combo milestone copy names the streak tiers clearly and rejects invalid values", () => {
   assert.equal(comboMilestoneText(2), "x2 WARM STREAK");
   assert.equal(comboMilestoneText(4), "x4 HOT STREAK");