diff --git a/charmap.asm b/charmap.asm
index 8efb59029..86e9fa6ca 100644
--- a/charmap.asm
+++ b/charmap.asm
@@ -180,3 +180,8 @@ pushc
 	charmap "\n", $0a
 	charmap "\r", $0d
 popc
+
+; Special tiles
+DEF OVERWORLD_FRAME_FIRST_TILE EQU "┌"
+DEF BOARD_MENU_BG_FIRST_TILE EQU "A"
+DEF BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE EQU BOARD_MENU_BG_FIRST_TILE + 18 * 3
diff --git a/constants/menu_constants.asm b/constants/menu_constants.asm
index a037e2861..69189f787 100644
--- a/constants/menu_constants.asm
+++ b/constants/menu_constants.asm
@@ -119,4 +119,4 @@ DEF NUM_NAME_TYPES EQU const_value
 	const BOARDMENUITEM_BAG
 	const BOARDMENUITEM_POKEGEAR
 	const BOARDMENUITEM_EXIT
-DEF NUM_BOARD_MENU_ITEMS EQU const_value
\ No newline at end of file
+DEF NUM_BOARD_MENU_ITEMS EQU const_value
diff --git a/constants/wram_constants.asm b/constants/wram_constants.asm
index f96d34061..484a61914 100644
--- a/constants/wram_constants.asm
+++ b/constants/wram_constants.asm
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ DEF AUTO_INPUT EQU $ff
 	const DEBUG_BATTLE_F
 	const DEBUG_FIELD_F
 
+; wDisplaySecondarySprites
+	const_def
+	const SECONDARYSPRITES_BOARD_MENU_F	; 0
+
 ; wCurDexMode::
 	const_def
 	const DEXMODE_NEW
diff --git a/data/sprites/secondary_sprites.asm b/data/sprites/secondary_sprites.asm
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..dd0a1456c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/sprites/secondary_sprites.asm
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+BoardMenuOAM:
+; BOARDMENUITEM_DIE
+	dbsprite  2, 16, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE,      PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite  3, 16, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE +  1, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite  4, 16, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE +  2, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite  2, 17, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE +  3, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite  3, 17, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE +  4, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite  4, 17, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE +  5, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite  2, 18, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE +  6, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite  3, 18, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE +  7, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite  4, 18, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE +  8, PAL_OW_MISC
+; BOARDMENUITEM_POKEMON
+	dbsprite  6, 16, 0, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE +  9, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite  7, 16, 0, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 10, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite  8, 16, 0, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 11, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite  6, 17, 0, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 12, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite  7, 17, 0, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 13, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite  8, 17, 0, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 14, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite  6, 18, 0, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 15, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite  7, 18, 0, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 16, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite  8, 18, 0, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 17, PAL_OW_MISC
+; BOARDMENUITEM_BAG
+	dbsprite  9, 16, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 18, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 10, 16, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 19, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 11, 16, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 20, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite  9, 17, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 21, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 10, 17, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 22, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 11, 17, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 23, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite  9, 18, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 24, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 10, 18, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 25, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 11, 18, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 26, PAL_OW_MISC
+; BOARDMENUITEM_POKEGEAR
+	dbsprite 13, 16, 0, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 27, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 14, 16, 0, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 28, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 15, 16, 0, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 29, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 13, 17, 0, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 30, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 14, 17, 0, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 31, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 15, 17, 0, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 32, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 13, 18, 0, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 33, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 14, 18, 0, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 34, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 15, 18, 0, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 35, PAL_OW_MISC
+; BOARDMENUITEM_EXIT
+	dbsprite 16, 16, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 36, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 17, 16, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 37, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 18, 16, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 38, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 16, 17, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 39, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 17, 17, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 40, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 18, 17, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 41, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 16, 18, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 42, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 17, 18, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 43, PAL_OW_MISC
+	dbsprite 18, 18, 4, 0, BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE + 44, PAL_OW_MISC
diff --git a/engine/board/menu.asm b/engine/board/menu.asm
index 81e2e3b8e..9715aed35 100755
--- a/engine/board/menu.asm
+++ b/engine/board/menu.asm
@@ -1,16 +1,23 @@
-DEF BOARD_MENU_BG_FIRST_TILE EQU "A"
-DEF BOARD_MENU_OAM_FIRST_TILE EQU BOARD_MENU_BG_FIRST_TILE + 18 * 3
-
 BoardMenu::
 ; returns the selected menu item (BOARDMENUITEM_*) in wScriptVar upon exit
 	ld a, [wBoardMenuLastCursorPosition]
+	cp NUM_BOARD_MENU_ITEMS
+	jr c, .ok
+	ld a, BOARDMENUITEM_DIE
+.ok
 	ld [wBoardMenuCursorPosition], a
+; refresh overworld sprites to hide those behind textbox before drawing new graphics
+	call UpdateSprites
 	farcall LoadBoardMenuGFX
 	call DrawBoardMenuTiles
+	call ApplyBoardMenuSpritePalette
+; allow Pal update to complete, then apply the tilemap
+	call DelayFrame
 	call ApplyTilemap
+; update sprites again to display the sprites of the selected menu item
+	ld hl, wDisplaySecondarySprites
+	set SECONDARYSPRITES_BOARD_MENU_F, [hl]
 	call UpdateSprites
-; draw board menu OAM after overworld sprites
-	call DrawBoardMenuOAM
 
 .loop
 	call GetBoardMenuSelection
@@ -21,12 +28,15 @@ BoardMenu::
 	jr z, .loop
 
 ; menu item change: refresh board menu OAM and save cursor position
-	call DrawBoardMenuOAM
+	call ApplyBoardMenuSpritePalette
+	call UpdateSprites
 	ld a, [wBoardMenuCursorPosition]
 	ld [wBoardMenuLastCursorPosition], a
 	jr .loop
 
 .done
+	ld hl, wDisplaySecondarySprites
+	res SECONDARYSPRITES_BOARD_MENU_F, [hl]
 	ld a, [wBoardMenuCursorPosition]
 	ld [wScriptVar], a
 	ret
@@ -37,9 +47,9 @@ DrawBoardMenuTiles:
 	lb bc, 3, 18
 	jp FillBoxWithConsecutiveBytes
 
-DrawBoardMenuOAM:
+ApplyBoardMenuSpritePalette:
 	ld hl, BoardMenuItemPals
-	ld a, [wBoardMenuLastCursorPosition]
+	ld a, [wBoardMenuCursorPosition]
 	ld bc, PALETTE_SIZE
 	call AddNTimes
  ; set wOBPals2 directly rather than wOBPals1 to avoid calling ApplyPals and overwriting other overworld pals
@@ -47,28 +57,51 @@ DrawBoardMenuOAM:
 	ld bc, PALETTE_SIZE
 	ld a, BANK(wOBPals2)
 	call FarCopyWRAM
-
-	ld hl, .OAM
-	ld a, [wBoardMenuCursorPosition]
-	ld bc, 3 * 3 * SPRITEOAMSTRUCT_LENGTH
-	call AddNTimes
-; find the beginning of free space in OAM, and assure there's space for 3 * 3 objects
-	ldh a, [hUsedSpriteIndex]
-	cp (NUM_SPRITE_OAM_STRUCTS * SPRITEOAMSTRUCT_LENGTH) - (3 * 3 * SPRITEOAMSTRUCT_LENGTH)
-	jr nc, .oam_full
-; copy the sprite data (3 * 3 objects) of that item to the available space in OAM
-	ld e, a
-	ld d, HIGH(wShadowOAM)
-	ld bc, 3 * 3 * SPRITEOAMSTRUCT_LENGTH
-	call CopyBytes
-.oam_full
+	ld a, TRUE
+	ldh [hCGBPalUpdate], a
 	ret
 
-.OAM:
-
 GetBoardMenuSelection:
+	call JoyTextDelay
+	call GetMenuJoypad
+	bit A_BUTTON_F, a
+	jr nz, .a_button
+	bit D_RIGHT_F, a
+	jr nz, .d_right
+	bit D_LEFT_F, a
+	jr nz, .d_left
+	xor a
+	ret ; nc
+
+.a_button
+	call PlayClickSFX
+	call WaitSFX
 	scf
 	ret
 
+.d_right
+	call PlayClickSFX
+	ld a, [wBoardMenuCursorPosition]
+	inc a
+	cp NUM_BOARD_MENU_ITEMS
+	jr c, .right_dont_wrap_around
+	ld a, BOARDMENUITEM_DIE
+.right_dont_wrap_around
+	ld [wBoardMenuCursorPosition], a
+	xor a
+	ret ; nc
+
+.d_left
+	call PlayClickSFX
+	ld a, [wBoardMenuCursorPosition]
+	dec a
+	cp -1
+	jr nz, .left_dont_wrap_around
+	ld a, NUM_BOARD_MENU_ITEMS - 1 ; BOARDMENUITEM_EXIT
+.left_dont_wrap_around
+	ld [wBoardMenuCursorPosition], a
+	xor a
+	ret ; nc
+
 BoardMenuItemPals:
 INCLUDE "gfx/board/menu.pal"
diff --git a/engine/gfx/load_overworld_font.asm b/engine/gfx/load_overworld_font.asm
index 683d8752f..16c043387 100644
--- a/engine/gfx/load_overworld_font.asm
+++ b/engine/gfx/load_overworld_font.asm
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ _LoadOverworldFontAndFrame::
 	call AddNTimes
 	ld d, h
 	ld e, l
-	ld hl, vTiles0 tile "┌" ; $f0
+	ld hl, vTiles0 tile OVERWORLD_FRAME_FIRST_TILE ; $f0
 	lb bc, BANK(.OverworldFrames), OW_TEXTBOX_FRAME_TILES
 	call Get2bppViaHDMA
 	ret
diff --git a/engine/gfx/overworld_textbox.asm b/engine/gfx/overworld_textbox.asm
index 5f27386a2..dfb43cd61 100755
--- a/engine/gfx/overworld_textbox.asm
+++ b/engine/gfx/overworld_textbox.asm
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-	const_def "┌" ; $f0
+	const_def OVERWORLD_FRAME_FIRST_TILE ; $f0
 	const OW_TEXTBOX_FRAME_WHITE
 	const OW_TEXTBOX_FRAME_TOP_LEFT_CORNER
 	const OW_TEXTBOX_FRAME_TOP_2
diff --git a/engine/overworld/map_objects.asm b/engine/overworld/map_objects.asm
index 990d7f838..061795e47 100644
--- a/engine/overworld/map_objects.asm
+++ b/engine/overworld/map_objects.asm
@@ -2810,6 +2810,7 @@ DEF PRIORITY_NORM EQU $20
 DEF PRIORITY_HIGH EQU $30
 
 InitSprites:
+	call InitSecondarySprites
 	call .DeterminePriorities
 	ld c, PRIORITY_HIGH
 	call .InitSpritesByPriority
@@ -3042,3 +3043,36 @@ InitSprites:
 	dw wObject10Struct
 	dw wObject11Struct
 	dw wObject12Struct
+
+InitSecondarySprites:
+	ld a, [wDisplaySecondarySprites]
+	bit SECONDARYSPRITES_BOARD_MENU_F, a
+	call nz, .InitBoardMenuSprites
+	ret
+
+.InitBoardMenuSprites:
+	push af
+
+	ld hl, BoardMenuOAM
+	ld a, [wBoardMenuCursorPosition]
+	ld bc, 3 * 3 * SPRITEOAMSTRUCT_LENGTH
+	call AddNTimes
+; find the beginning of free space in OAM, and assure there's space for 3 * 3 objects
+	ldh a, [hUsedSpriteIndex]
+	cp (NUM_SPRITE_OAM_STRUCTS * SPRITEOAMSTRUCT_LENGTH) - (3 * 3 * SPRITEOAMSTRUCT_LENGTH) + 1
+	jr nc, .oam_full
+; copy the sprite data (3 * 3 objects) of that item to the available space in OAM
+	ld e, a
+	ld d, HIGH(wShadowOAM)
+	ld bc, 3 * 3 * SPRITEOAMSTRUCT_LENGTH
+	call CopyBytes
+
+	ldh a, [hUsedSpriteIndex]
+	add (3 * 3 * SPRITEOAMSTRUCT_LENGTH)
+	ldh [hUsedSpriteIndex], a
+
+.oam_full
+	pop af
+	ret
+
+INCLUDE "data/sprites/secondary_sprites.asm"
diff --git a/engine/overworld/scripting.asm b/engine/overworld/scripting.asm
index ff27a751d..10d34bb36 100644
--- a/engine/overworld/scripting.asm
+++ b/engine/overworld/scripting.asm
@@ -2208,7 +2208,6 @@ Script_refreshscreen:
 
 Script_writeunusedbyte:
 	call GetScriptByte
-	ld [wUnusedScriptByte], a
 	ret
 
 Script_closetext:
diff --git a/ram/wram.asm b/ram/wram.asm
index f877c4730..f813778ef 100644
--- a/ram/wram.asm
+++ b/ram/wram.asm
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ wDebugFlags:: db
 wGameLogicPaused:: db
 wSpriteUpdatesEnabled:: db
 
-wUnusedScriptByte:: db
+wDisplaySecondarySprites:: db
 
 wMapTimeOfDay:: db