diff --git a/code/modules/casino/board_games/space_battle.dm b/code/modules/casino/board_games/space_battle.dm
index 8e8158e3bf6..d446badde3b 100644
--- a/code/modules/casino/board_games/space_battle.dm
+++ b/code/modules/casino/board_games/space_battle.dm
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
 		"current_player" = ui.user,
 		"player_one" = player_one_mob,
 		"player_two" = player_two_mob,
-		"all_placed" = ships_have_been_placed == (PLAYER_ONE_PLACED_SHIPS | PLAYER_TWO_PLACED_SHIPS),
+		"all_placed" = ships_have_been_placed,
 		"shots_fired_pone" = shots_fired_pone,
 		"shots_fired_ptwo" = shots_fired_ptwo,
 		"destroyed_ships_pone" = destroyed_ships_pone,
diff --git a/code/modules/tgui/states/board_game.dm b/code/modules/tgui/states/board_game.dm
index 7ced0b7ef03..2f97455aff4 100644
--- a/code/modules/tgui/states/board_game.dm
+++ b/code/modules/tgui/states/board_game.dm
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /**
  * tgui state: board_game_state
  *
- * Checks that the default living handling or if the user or the object are inside a belly
+ * Checks the distance only based on the turf, to allow interaction with devices held in hand or people inside a belly
  **/
 
 GLOBAL_DATUM_INIT(tgui_board_game_state, /datum/tgui_state/board_game_state, new)
@@ -9,10 +9,7 @@ GLOBAL_DATUM_INIT(tgui_board_game_state, /datum/tgui_state/board_game_state, new
 /datum/tgui_state/board_game_state/can_use_topic(atom/src_object, mob/user)
 	if(!isliving(user))
 		return STATUS_UPDATE
-	var/mob/living/living_user = user
-	if(isbelly(living_user.loc) || isbelly(src_object.loc))
-		return living_user.board_game_can_use_tgui_topic(src_object)
-	return living_user.default_can_use_tgui_topic(src_object)
+	return user.board_game_can_use_tgui_topic(src_object)
 
 /mob/proc/board_game_can_use_tgui_topic(atom/src_object)
 	return STATUS_CLOSE
@@ -23,4 +20,8 @@ GLOBAL_DATUM_INIT(tgui_board_game_state, /datum/tgui_state/board_game_state, new
 	var/dist = get_dist(get_turf(src_object), get_turf(src))
 	if(dist <= 1)
 		return STATUS_INTERACTIVE
+	else if(dist <= 2) // View only if 2-3 tiles away.
+		return STATUS_UPDATE
+	else if(dist <= 5) // Disable if 5 tiles away.
+		return STATUS_DISABLED
 	return STATUS_CLOSE
diff --git a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/ChessCheckers/PlayerMenu.tsx b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/ChessCheckers/PlayerMenu.tsx
index c7535e9ef41..105e9285976 100644
--- a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/ChessCheckers/PlayerMenu.tsx
+++ b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/ChessCheckers/PlayerMenu.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { useBackend } from 'tgui/backend';
 import { Box, Button, Section, Stack } from 'tgui-core/components';
+import { AnimatedArrows, AnimatedArrowsLeft } from '../common/AnimatedArrows';
 import { VorePanelTooltip } from '../VorePanel/VorePanelElements/VorePanelTooltip';
 import { gameTooltip } from './constants';
 import { gameStateToText, stateToColor } from './functions';
@@ -111,6 +112,9 @@ export const PlayerMenu = (props) => {
                 {gameStateToText(game_state, game_flags, winner)}
               </Box>
             </Stack.Item>
+            <Stack.Item>
+              <PlayerIndicator gameState={game_state} />
+            </Stack.Item>
           </Stack>
         </Stack.Item>
         <PlayerPanel
@@ -124,3 +128,14 @@ export const PlayerMenu = (props) => {
     </Section>
   );
 };
+
+export const PlayerIndicator = (props: { gameState: number }) => {
+  const { gameState } = props;
+  if (gameState === 1) {
+    return <AnimatedArrowsLeft on={true} />;
+  }
+  if (gameState === 2) {
+    return <AnimatedArrows on={true} />;
+  }
+  return null;
+};
diff --git a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/NineMen/PlayerMenu.tsx b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/NineMen/PlayerMenu.tsx
index 93738fbdeb9..c6d07f5f27b 100644
--- a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/NineMen/PlayerMenu.tsx
+++ b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/NineMen/PlayerMenu.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { useBackend } from 'tgui/backend';
 import { Box, Button, Section, Stack } from 'tgui-core/components';
+import { PlayerIndicator } from '../ChessCheckers/PlayerMenu';
 import { VorePanelTooltip } from '../VorePanel/VorePanelElements/VorePanelTooltip';
 import { gameTooltip, phastToText } from './constants';
 import { gameStateToText, stateToColor } from './functions';
@@ -110,6 +111,9 @@ export const PlayerMenu = (props) => {
               </Box>
             </Stack.Item>
             <Stack.Item>{phastToText[phase]}</Stack.Item>
+            <Stack.Item>
+              <PlayerIndicator gameState={game_state} />
+            </Stack.Item>
           </Stack>
         </Stack.Item>
         <PlayerPanel
diff --git a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/SpaceBattle/GameArea.tsx b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/SpaceBattle/GameArea.tsx
index d35672c2afe..8a5a4085bb8 100644
--- a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/SpaceBattle/GameArea.tsx
+++ b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/SpaceBattle/GameArea.tsx
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { useBackend } from 'tgui/backend';
 import { Box, Button, Section, Stack } from 'tgui-core/components';
-import type { BooleanLike } from 'tgui-core/react';
+import { type BooleanLike, classes } from 'tgui-core/react';
 import { numToLetter } from './constants';
-import { generateShipCoordinates } from './functions';
+import { generateShipCoordinates, mapDisabled } from './functions';
 import type { Data, Ship } from './types';
 
 export const GameArea = (props: {
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ export const GameArea = (props: {
         <Stack.Item>
           <Playfield
             player={1}
-            isOponent={current_player === player_two}
+            isOpponent={current_player === player_two}
             isSelf={current_player === player_one}
             shotsFired={shots_fired_ptwo}
             destroyedShips={destroyed_ships_ptwo}
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ export const GameArea = (props: {
         <Stack.Item>
           <Playfield
             player={2}
-            isOponent={current_player === player_one}
+            isOpponent={current_player === player_one}
             isSelf={current_player === player_two}
             shotsFired={shots_fired_pone}
             destroyedShips={destroyed_ships_pone}
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ export const GameArea = (props: {
 
 const Playfield = (props: {
   player: number;
-  isOponent: boolean;
+  isOpponent: boolean;
   isSelf: boolean;
   shotsFired: Record<string, BooleanLike>;
   destroyedShips: Ship[];
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ const Playfield = (props: {
   const { game_state, ship_sizes, visible_ships } = data;
   const {
     player,
-    isOponent,
+    isOpponent,
     isSelf,
     shotsFired,
     destroyedShips,
@@ -167,7 +167,12 @@ const Playfield = (props: {
 
   function getCellStyle(x: number, y: number) {
     const key = `${x},${y}`;
-    let cellStyle: React.CSSProperties = {};
+    let cellStyle: {
+      backgroundColor?: string;
+      icon?: string;
+      disabled?: boolean;
+      classes: string[];
+    } = { classes: [] };
 
     if (visible_ships) {
       for (const ship of visible_ships) {
@@ -184,16 +189,21 @@ const Playfield = (props: {
       const shot = shotsFired[key];
       if (shot === 1) {
         cellStyle.backgroundColor = 'red';
+        cellStyle.icon = 'explosion';
+        cellStyle.disabled = true;
       } else if (shot === 0) {
         cellStyle.backgroundColor = 'white';
+        cellStyle.icon = 'water';
+        cellStyle.disabled = true;
       }
     }
 
     for (const ship of destroyedShips) {
       if (ship.coords?.some((coord) => coord[0] === x && coord[1] === y)) {
         cellStyle = {
-          border: '2px solid gold',
-          backgroundColor: 'maroon',
+          icon: 'burst',
+          classes: ['SpaceBattle__ShipSunk'],
+          disabled: true,
         };
       }
     }
@@ -227,11 +237,10 @@ const Playfield = (props: {
                   ) : (
                     <div onMouseEnter={() => handleButtonHover(x, y)}>
                       <Button
+                        className={classes(getCellStyle(x, y).classes)}
                         disabled={
-                          ((game_state === 2 && isOponent) ||
-                            isSelf ||
-                            game_state === 4) &&
-                          !(isSelf && isOponent)
+                          mapDisabled(game_state, isSelf, isOpponent) ||
+                          getCellStyle(x, y).disabled
                         }
                         onClick={(_) => {
                           if (game_state === 1) {
@@ -253,14 +262,20 @@ const Playfield = (props: {
                             });
                           }
                         }}
+                        icon={getCellStyle(x, y).icon}
+                        color={
+                          !isHighlighted && getCellStyle(x, y).backgroundColor
+                        }
                         style={{
                           backgroundColor: isHighlighted
                             ? invalidCells
                               ? 'rgba(255, 0, 0, 0.5)'
                               : 'rgba(76, 175, 80, 0.5)'
-                            : getCellStyle(x, y).backgroundColor,
-                          border: getCellStyle(x, y).border,
+                            : undefined,
                         }}
+                        lineHeight="75px"
+                        iconColor="black"
+                        iconSize={2.5}
                         width={5}
                         height={5}
                       />
diff --git a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/SpaceBattle/PlayerMenu.tsx b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/SpaceBattle/PlayerMenu.tsx
index 82d02cf1d55..0554edd104e 100644
--- a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/SpaceBattle/PlayerMenu.tsx
+++ b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/SpaceBattle/PlayerMenu.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { useBackend } from 'tgui/backend';
 import { Box, Button, Section, Stack } from 'tgui-core/components';
+import { AnimatedArrows, AnimatedArrowsLeft } from '../common/AnimatedArrows';
 import { VorePanelTooltip } from '../VorePanel/VorePanelElements/VorePanelTooltip';
 import { gameStateToText, gameTooltip } from './constants';
 import { stateToColor } from './functions';
@@ -83,17 +84,20 @@ export const PlayerMenu = (props: {
                 </Stack.Item>
               </>
             ))}
-          {game_state === 1 && !!player_one && !!player_two && !!all_placed && (
-            <Stack.Item>
-              <Button.Confirm
-                onClick={() => {
-                  act('start_game');
-                }}
-              >
-                Start Game
-              </Button.Confirm>
-            </Stack.Item>
-          )}
+          {game_state === 1 &&
+            !!player_one &&
+            !!player_two &&
+            all_placed === 3 && (
+              <Stack.Item>
+                <Button.Confirm
+                  onClick={() => {
+                    act('start_game');
+                  }}
+                >
+                  Start Game
+                </Button.Confirm>
+              </Stack.Item>
+            )}
           {!!player_one && !!player_two && game_state === 4 && (
             <>
               <Stack.Item>
@@ -147,6 +151,9 @@ export const PlayerMenu = (props: {
                 {gameStateToText[game_state] ?? `${winner} Won`}
               </Box>
             </Stack.Item>
+            <Stack.Item>
+              <PlayerIndicator gameState={game_state} allPlaced={all_placed} />
+            </Stack.Item>
           </Stack>
         </Stack.Item>
         <PlayerPanel
@@ -164,3 +171,30 @@ export const PlayerMenu = (props: {
     </Section>
   );
 };
+
+const PlayerIndicator = (props: { gameState: number; allPlaced: number }) => {
+  const { gameState, allPlaced } = props;
+  if (gameState === 1) {
+    return (
+      <Stack justify="center">
+        {(allPlaced & 0x1) === 0 && (
+          <Stack.Item>
+            <AnimatedArrowsLeft on={true} />
+          </Stack.Item>
+        )}
+        {(allPlaced & 0x2) === 0 && (
+          <Stack.Item>
+            <AnimatedArrows on={true} />
+          </Stack.Item>
+        )}
+      </Stack>
+    );
+  }
+  if (gameState === 2) {
+    return <AnimatedArrowsLeft on={true} />;
+  }
+  if (gameState === 3) {
+    return <AnimatedArrows on={true} />;
+  }
+  return null;
+};
diff --git a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/SpaceBattle/functions.ts b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/SpaceBattle/functions.ts
index 1a25ee8eaf2..68bee1dd0bd 100644
--- a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/SpaceBattle/functions.ts
+++ b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/SpaceBattle/functions.ts
@@ -38,3 +38,29 @@ export function getNextAvailableShip(
   }
   return null;
 }
+
+export function mapDisabled(
+  state: number,
+  self: boolean,
+  opponent: boolean,
+): boolean {
+  if (!self && !opponent) {
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  switch (state) {
+    case 0:
+    case 4:
+      return true;
+
+    case 1:
+      return opponent && self ? false : opponent;
+
+    case 2:
+    case 3:
+      return opponent && self ? false : self;
+
+    default:
+      return false;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/SpaceBattle/types.ts b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/SpaceBattle/types.ts
index 8a48e4718a4..578a14c95d2 100644
--- a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/SpaceBattle/types.ts
+++ b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/SpaceBattle/types.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ export type Data = {
   total_ships: Record<string, number>;
   player_one: string;
   player_two: string;
-  ships_have_been_placed: BooleanLike;
+  all_placed: number;
   shots_fired_pone: Record<string, number>;
   shots_fired_ptwo: Record<string, number>;
   destroyed_ships_pone: Ship[];
diff --git a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/VorePanel/functions.ts b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/VorePanel/functions.ts
index 472fbac2c2e..1915c8a3ee6 100644
--- a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/VorePanel/functions.ts
+++ b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/VorePanel/functions.ts
@@ -27,31 +27,32 @@ export function calcLineHeight(lim: number, height: number): string {
 }
 
 export function fixCorruptedData(
-  toSanitize:
-    | string
-    | string[]
-    | null
-    | Record<string | number, string | number>,
+  toSanitize: string | string[] | null | Record<string, string | number>,
 ): { corrupted?: boolean; data: string | string[] } {
-  if (toSanitize === null) {
+  if (toSanitize == null) {
     return { data: '' };
   }
-  if (typeof toSanitize === 'string') {
+
+  if (typeof toSanitize === 'string' || Array.isArray(toSanitize)) {
     return { data: toSanitize };
   }
-  if (Array.isArray(toSanitize)) {
-    return { data: toSanitize };
-  }
-  const clearedData = Object.entries(toSanitize).map((entry) => {
-    if (typeof entry[0] === 'string') {
-      return entry[0];
-    } else if (typeof entry[1] === 'string') {
-      return entry[1];
-    } else {
-      return '';
+
+  const isNumeric = (v: string) => /^\d+$/.test(v);
+
+  const clearedData = Object.entries(toSanitize).map(([key, value]) => {
+    if (!isNumeric(value.toString())) {
+      return value.toString();
     }
+    if (!isNumeric(key)) {
+      return key;
+    }
+    return '';
   });
-  return { corrupted: true, data: clearedData || [] };
+
+  return {
+    corrupted: true,
+    data: clearedData,
+  };
 }
 
 export function bellyTemperatureToColor(temp: number): string | undefined {
diff --git a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/VorePanel/types.ts b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/VorePanel/types.ts
index 71d6f3904be..ab960d16375 100644
--- a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/VorePanel/types.ts
+++ b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/VorePanel/types.ts
@@ -419,11 +419,7 @@ export type AestMessageData = {
   possible_messages: string[];
   aest_subtab: string;
   max_length: number;
-  active_message:
-    | string
-    | string[]
-    | null
-    | Record<string | number, string | number>; // The record is an ancient data corruption, it's not valid!
+  active_message: string | string[] | null | Record<string, string | number>; // The record is an ancient data corruption, it's not valid!
   set_action: string;
   tooltip: string;
   sub_action?: string;
diff --git a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/common/AnimatedArrows.tsx b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/common/AnimatedArrows.tsx
index cb56833872d..e99c72dc5dd 100644
--- a/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/common/AnimatedArrows.tsx
+++ b/tgui/packages/tgui/interfaces/common/AnimatedArrows.tsx
@@ -35,3 +35,38 @@ export const AnimatedArrows = (
     </Box>
   );
 };
+
+export const AnimatedArrowsLeft = (
+  props: { on: boolean } & ComponentProps<typeof Box>,
+) => {
+  const { on, ...rest } = props;
+
+  const [activeArrow, setActiveArrow] = useState(0);
+
+  // Lower to make it animate faster
+  const SPEED = 200;
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const id = setInterval(() => {
+      setActiveArrow((arrow) => (arrow - 1 + 3) % 3);
+    }, SPEED);
+    return () => clearInterval(id);
+  }, []);
+
+  return (
+    <Box {...rest}>
+      <Icon
+        color={!on ? 'gray' : activeArrow === 0 ? 'green' : 'white'}
+        name="chevron-left"
+      />
+      <Icon
+        color={!on ? 'gray' : activeArrow === 1 ? 'green' : 'white'}
+        name="chevron-left"
+      />
+      <Icon
+        color={!on ? 'gray' : activeArrow === 2 ? 'green' : 'white'}
+        name="chevron-left"
+      />
+    </Box>
+  );
+};
diff --git a/tgui/packages/tgui/styles/interfaces/SpaceBattle.scss b/tgui/packages/tgui/styles/interfaces/SpaceBattle.scss
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e83fb1cb50f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tgui/packages/tgui/styles/interfaces/SpaceBattle.scss
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+.SpaceBattle__ShipSunk {
+  background-color: #800000 !important;
+  border: 2px solid gold;
+}
diff --git a/tgui/packages/tgui/styles/main.scss b/tgui/packages/tgui/styles/main.scss
index d9f22f04b54..f60a3df5f2a 100644
--- a/tgui/packages/tgui/styles/main.scss
+++ b/tgui/packages/tgui/styles/main.scss
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
 @include meta.load-css('./interfaces/RIGSuit.scss');
 @include meta.load-css('./interfaces/Roulette.scss');
 @include meta.load-css('./interfaces/Safe.scss');
+@include meta.load-css('./interfaces/SpaceBattle.scss');
 @include meta.load-css('./interfaces/TachyonArray.scss');
 @include meta.load-css('./interfaces/Techweb.scss');
 @include meta.load-css('./interfaces/IDCard.scss');