diff --git a/app/static/app.css b/app/static/app.css
index 3301c48..df34f94 100644
--- a/app/static/app.css
+++ b/app/static/app.css
@@ -79,6 +79,26 @@ body {
   border-radius: 4px;
 }
 
+.quick-join-form {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 8px;
+}
+
+.quick-join-form input {
+  width: 116px;
+  border: 1px solid var(--border);
+  border-radius: 4px;
+  padding: 9px 10px;
+  font: inherit;
+  text-transform: uppercase;
+  background: var(--surface);
+}
+
+.home-join {
+  margin-top: 10px;
+}
+
 .page-wrap {
   max-width: 1000px;
   margin: 0 auto;
@@ -329,6 +349,17 @@ h3 {
     text-align: center;
   }
 
+  .quick-join-form {
+    flex: 1;
+    min-width: 0;
+  }
+
+  .quick-join-form input {
+    flex: 1;
+    min-width: 0;
+    width: auto;
+  }
+
   .page-wrap {
     padding: 16px 14px 24px;
   }
diff --git a/app/static/js/play/app.js b/app/static/js/play/app.js
index 61062fe..d58ff42 100644
--- a/app/static/js/play/app.js
+++ b/app/static/js/play/app.js
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ export class PlayApp {
     this.displayBoardSize = 640;
     this.squareSize = 80;
     this.dpr = Math.max(1, window.devicePixelRatio || 1);
+    this.urlJoinConsumed = false;
 
     this.loadPieceImages();
     this.installControls();
@@ -127,6 +128,7 @@ export class PlayApp {
 
   installSocket() {
     this.socket = createWSClient({
+      onServerReady: () => this.consumeJoinCodeFromUrl(),
       onGameStarted: handleGameStarted,
       onP2Connected: handleP2Connected,
       onGameCreated: handleCodeGameCreated,
@@ -170,16 +172,7 @@ export class PlayApp {
     });
 
     this.joinBtn.addEventListener("click", () => {
-      const code = this.joinInput.value.trim().toUpperCase();
-      if (!code) {
-        this.showModal("Join game", "Enter a game code first.", [
-          { label: "OK" },
-        ]);
-        return;
-      }
-      this.gameCode = code;
-      this.socket.emit("join_code_game", { code });
-      this.setLobbyStatus("Joining game...");
+      this.joinCode(this.joinInput.value);
     });
 
     this.copyCodeBtn.addEventListener("click", async () => {
@@ -358,6 +351,40 @@ export class PlayApp {
     });
   }
 
+  joinCode(rawCode) {
+    const code = String(rawCode || "").trim().toUpperCase();
+    if (!code) {
+      this.showModal("Join game", "Enter a game code first.", [
+        { label: "OK" },
+      ]);
+      return false;
+    }
+
+    this.gameCode = code;
+    this.joinInput.value = code;
+    this.socket.emit("join_code_game", { code });
+    this.setLobbyStatus("Joining game...");
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  consumeJoinCodeFromUrl() {
+    if (this.urlJoinConsumed) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const url = new URL(window.location.href);
+    const code = url.searchParams.get("code");
+    if (!code) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    this.urlJoinConsumed = true;
+    url.searchParams.delete("code");
+    const nextUrl = `${url.pathname}${url.search}${url.hash}`;
+    window.history.replaceState({}, "", nextUrl);
+    this.joinCode(code);
+  }
+
   onCodeCreated(data) {
     this.gameCode = data.code;
     this.codeEl.textContent = data.code;
diff --git a/app/templates/home.html b/app/templates/home.html
index 06ad151..d58a7dd 100644
--- a/app/templates/home.html
+++ b/app/templates/home.html
@@ -10,4 +10,20 @@
     >Past games</a
   >
 </div>
+<div class="home-join">
+  <form
+    class="quick-join-form"
+    action="{{ url_for('main.play') }}"
+    method="get"
+  >
+    <input
+      type="text"
+      name="code"
+      maxlength="6"
+      placeholder="Game code"
+      aria-label="Join by code"
+    />
+    <button class="btn btn-secondary" type="submit">Join</button>
+  </form>
+</div>
 {% endblock %}