diff --git a/common/components/search_select.py b/common/components/search_select.py
index 4addc9c..4108b38 100644
--- a/common/components/search_select.py
+++ b/common/components/search_select.py
@@ -26,9 +26,13 @@ class SearchSelectOption(TypedDict):
 
 # removed border and border-default-medium, see later if it's needed
 _CONTAINER_CLASS = "relative rounded-base bg-neutral-secondary-medium"
-_PILLS_CLASS = "flex flex-wrap gap-1 p-2 empty:hidden"
+# The pills and the search box share one flex-wrap row so the widget reads as a
+# single field; the pills wrapper uses `contents` so its pills/hidden inputs
+# flow as direct participants of that row, inline with the search input.
+_FIELD_CLASS = "flex flex-wrap items-center gap-1 p-2"
+_PILLS_CLASS = "contents"
 _SEARCH_CLASS = (
-    "block w-full border-0 bg-transparent text-sm text-heading p-2 "
+    "flex-1 min-w-[8rem] border-0 bg-transparent text-sm text-heading "
     "focus:ring-0 focus:outline-hidden placeholder:text-body"
 )
 _OPTIONS_CLASS = (
@@ -99,17 +103,27 @@ def SearchSelect(
     options = [_normalize_option(o) for o in (options or [])]
 
     # ── Pills + their hidden inputs (the submitted channel) ──
+    # Multi-select renders a removable Pill per value; single-select renders no
+    # pill — the committed label shows inside the search box instead, with a
+    # lone hidden input carrying the value. Both keep the hidden input(s) inside
+    # `[data-ss-pills]` so the JS reads/writes values uniformly.
     pills_children: list[SafeText] = []
-    for option in selected:
-        pills_children.append(
-            Pill(
-                option["label"],
-                value=str(option["value"]),
-                removable=True,
-                attributes=_data_attributes(option["data"]),
+    search_value = ""
+    if multi_select:
+        for option in selected:
+            pills_children.append(
+                Pill(
+                    option["label"],
+                    value=str(option["value"]),
+                    removable=True,
+                    attributes=_data_attributes(option["data"]),
+                )
             )
-        )
+            pills_children.append(_hidden_input(name, option["value"]))
+    elif selected:
+        option = selected[0]
         pills_children.append(_hidden_input(name, option["value"]))
+        search_value = option["label"]
 
     pills = Component(
         tag_name="div",
@@ -118,15 +132,22 @@ def SearchSelect(
     )
 
     # ── Search box (NO name — the query is never submitted) ──
-    search = Component(
-        tag_name="input",
-        attributes=[
-            ("data-ss-search", ""),
-            ("type", "text"),
-            ("placeholder", placeholder),
-            ("autocomplete", "off"),
-            ("class", _SEARCH_CLASS),
-        ],
+    search_attrs: list[HTMLAttribute] = [
+        ("data-ss-search", ""),
+        ("type", "text"),
+        ("placeholder", placeholder),
+        ("autocomplete", "off"),
+        ("class", _SEARCH_CLASS),
+    ]
+    if search_value:
+        search_attrs.append(("value", search_value))
+    search = Component(tag_name="input", attributes=search_attrs)
+
+    # ── Field row: pills + search box combined into one visual field ──
+    field = Component(
+        tag_name="div",
+        attributes=[("data-ss-field", ""), ("class", _FIELD_CLASS)],
+        children=[pills, search],
     )
 
     # ── Options panel (pre-rendered only when there is no search_url) ──
@@ -164,7 +185,7 @@ def SearchSelect(
     return Component(
         tag_name="div",
         attributes=container_attrs,
-        children=[pills, search, options_panel],
+        children=[field, options_panel],
     )
 
 
diff --git a/games/static/base.css b/games/static/base.css
index 0279af6..f5b7945 100644
--- a/games/static/base.css
+++ b/games/static/base.css
@@ -293,85 +293,27 @@
     --leading-5: 20px;
     --radius-base: 12px;
     --color-body: var(--color-gray-600);
-    --color-body-subtle: var(--color-gray-500);
     --color-heading: var(--color-gray-900);
-    --color-fg-brand-subtle: var(--color-blue-200);
     --color-fg-brand: var(--color-blue-700);
-    --color-fg-brand-strong: var(--color-blue-900);
-    --color-fg-success: var(--color-emerald-700);
-    --color-fg-success-strong: var(--color-emerald-900);
-    --color-fg-danger: var(--color-rose-700);
-    --color-fg-danger-strong: var(--color-rose-900);
-    --color-fg-warning-subtle: var(--color-orange-600);
-    --color-fg-warning: var(--color-orange-900);
-    --color-fg-yellow: var(--color-yellow-400);
     --color-fg-disabled: var(--color-gray-400);
-    --color-fg-purple: var(--color-purple-600);
-    --color-fg-cyan: var(--color-cyan-600);
-    --color-fg-indigo: var(--color-indigo-600);
-    --color-fg-pink: var(--color-pink-600);
-    --color-fg-lime: var(--color-lime-600);
     --color-neutral-primary-soft: var(--color-white);
     --color-neutral-primary: var(--color-white);
     --color-neutral-primary-medium: var(--color-white);
-    --color-neutral-primary-strong: var(--color-white);
     --color-neutral-secondary-soft: var(--color-gray-50);
     --color-neutral-secondary: var(--color-gray-50);
     --color-neutral-secondary-medium: var(--color-gray-50);
     --color-neutral-secondary-strong: var(--color-gray-50);
-    --color-neutral-secondary-strongest: var(--color-gray-50);
-    --color-neutral-tertiary-soft: var(--color-gray-100);
     --color-neutral-tertiary: var(--color-gray-100);
     --color-neutral-tertiary-medium: var(--color-gray-100);
     --color-neutral-quaternary: var(--color-gray-200);
-    --color-neutral-quaternary-medium: var(--color-gray-200);
-    --color-gray: var(--color-gray-300);
-    --color-brand-softer: var(--color-blue-50);
     --color-brand-soft: var(--color-blue-100);
     --color-brand: var(--color-blue-700);
     --color-brand-medium: var(--color-blue-200);
     --color-brand-strong: var(--color-blue-800);
-    --color-success-soft: var(--color-emerald-50);
-    --color-success: var(--color-emerald-700);
-    --color-success-medium: var(--color-emerald-100);
-    --color-success-strong: var(--color-emerald-800);
-    --color-danger-soft: var(--color-rose-50);
-    --color-danger: var(--color-rose-700);
-    --color-danger-medium: var(--color-rose-100);
-    --color-danger-strong: var(--color-rose-800);
-    --color-warning-soft: var(--color-orange-50);
-    --color-warning: var(--color-orange-500);
-    --color-warning-medium: var(--color-orange-100);
-    --color-warning-strong: var(--color-orange-700);
-    --color-dark-soft: var(--color-gray-800);
     --color-dark: var(--color-gray-800);
-    --color-dark-strong: var(--color-gray-900);
-    --color-disabled: var(--color-gray-100);
-    --color-purple: var(--color-purple-500);
-    --color-sky: var(--color-sky-500);
-    --color-teal: var(--color-teal-600);
-    --color-pink: var(--color-pink-600);
-    --color-cyan: var(--color-cyan-500);
-    --color-fuchsia: var(--color-fuchsia-600);
-    --color-indigo: var(--color-indigo-600);
-    --color-orange: var(--color-orange-400);
-    --color-buffer: var(--color-white);
-    --color-buffer-medium: var(--color-white);
-    --color-buffer-strong: var(--color-white);
-    --color-muted: var(--color-gray-50);
-    --color-light-subtle: var(--color-gray-100);
     --color-light: var(--color-gray-100);
-    --color-light-medium: var(--color-gray-100);
-    --color-default-subtle: var(--color-gray-200);
     --color-default: var(--color-gray-200);
     --color-default-medium: var(--color-gray-200);
-    --color-default-strong: var(--color-gray-200);
-    --color-success-subtle: var(--color-emerald-200);
-    --color-danger-subtle: var(--color-rose-200);
-    --color-warning-subtle: var(--color-orange-200);
-    --color-brand-subtle: var(--color-blue-200);
-    --color-brand-light: var(--color-blue-600);
-    --color-dark-subtle: var(--color-gray-800);
     --color-dark-backdrop: var(--color-gray-950);
     --color-accent: #7c3aed;
   }
@@ -878,18 +820,12 @@
   .start-0 {
     inset-inline-start: calc(var(--spacing) * 0);
   }
-  .end-1 {
-    inset-inline-end: calc(var(--spacing) * 1);
-  }
   .end-1\.5 {
     inset-inline-end: calc(var(--spacing) * 1.5);
   }
   .top-0 {
     top: calc(var(--spacing) * 0);
   }
-  .top-1 {
-    top: calc(var(--spacing) * 1);
-  }
   .top-1\/2 {
     top: calc(1 / 2 * 100%);
   }
@@ -911,9 +847,6 @@
   .bottom-0 {
     bottom: calc(var(--spacing) * 0);
   }
-  .bottom-1 {
-    bottom: calc(var(--spacing) * 1);
-  }
   .bottom-1\.5 {
     bottom: calc(var(--spacing) * 1.5);
   }
@@ -1482,6 +1415,9 @@
   .block {
     display: block;
   }
+  .contents {
+    display: contents;
+  }
   .flex {
     display: flex;
   }
@@ -1540,15 +1476,9 @@
   .h-full {
     height: 100%;
   }
-  .max-h-40 {
-    max-height: calc(var(--spacing) * 40);
-  }
   .max-h-full {
     max-height: 100%;
   }
-  .min-h-\[28px\] {
-    min-height: 28px;
-  }
   .min-h-screen {
     min-height: 100vh;
   }
@@ -1617,15 +1547,9 @@
       text-align: center;
     }
   }
-  .w-1 {
-    width: calc(var(--spacing) * 1);
-  }
   .w-1\/2 {
     width: calc(1 / 2 * 100%);
   }
-  .w-2 {
-    width: calc(var(--spacing) * 2);
-  }
   .w-2\.5 {
     width: calc(var(--spacing) * 2.5);
   }
@@ -1722,6 +1646,9 @@
       border-color: var(--color-brand);
     }
   }
+  .min-w-\[8rem\] {
+    min-width: 8rem;
+  }
   .flex-1 {
     flex: 1;
   }
@@ -1734,9 +1661,6 @@
   .shrink-0 {
     flex-shrink: 0;
   }
-  .border-collapse {
-    border-collapse: collapse;
-  }
   .-translate-x-full {
     --tw-translate-x: -100%;
     translate: var(--tw-translate-x) var(--tw-translate-y);
@@ -1753,10 +1677,6 @@
     --tw-translate-x: 100%;
     translate: var(--tw-translate-x) var(--tw-translate-y);
   }
-  .-translate-y-1 {
-    --tw-translate-y: calc(var(--spacing) * -1);
-    translate: var(--tw-translate-x) var(--tw-translate-y);
-  }
   .-translate-y-1\/2 {
     --tw-translate-y: calc(calc(1 / 2 * 100%) * -1);
     translate: var(--tw-translate-x) var(--tw-translate-y);
@@ -1799,9 +1719,6 @@
   .list-disc {
     list-style-type: disc;
   }
-  .appearance-none {
-    appearance: none;
-  }
   .grid-cols-1 {
     grid-template-columns: repeat(1, minmax(0, 1fr));
   }
@@ -2145,9 +2062,6 @@
   .bg-amber-50 {
     background-color: var(--color-amber-50);
   }
-  .bg-black {
-    background-color: var(--color-black);
-  }
   .bg-black\/70 {
     background-color: color-mix(in srgb, #000 70%, transparent);
     @supports (color: color-mix(in lab, red, red)) {
@@ -2172,9 +2086,6 @@
       background-color: color-mix(in oklab, var(--color-brand) 15%, transparent);
     }
   }
-  .bg-dark-backdrop {
-    background-color: var(--color-dark-backdrop);
-  }
   .bg-dark-backdrop\/70 {
     background-color: color-mix(in srgb, oklch(13% 0.028 261.692) 70%, transparent);
     @supports (color: color-mix(in lab, red, red)) {
@@ -2193,18 +2104,12 @@
   .bg-gray-500 {
     background-color: var(--color-gray-500);
   }
-  .bg-gray-800 {
-    background-color: var(--color-gray-800);
-  }
   .bg-gray-800\/20 {
     background-color: color-mix(in srgb, oklch(27.8% 0.033 256.848) 20%, transparent);
     @supports (color: color-mix(in lab, red, red)) {
       background-color: color-mix(in oklab, var(--color-gray-800) 20%, transparent);
     }
   }
-  .bg-gray-900 {
-    background-color: var(--color-gray-900);
-  }
   .bg-gray-900\/50 {
     background-color: color-mix(in srgb, oklch(21% 0.034 264.665) 50%, transparent);
     @supports (color: color-mix(in lab, red, red)) {
@@ -2319,18 +2224,6 @@
       fill: white !important;
     }
   }
-  .apexcharts-gridline {
-    stroke: var(--color-default) !important;
-    .dark & {
-      stroke: var(--color-default) !important;
-    }
-  }
-  .apexcharts-xcrosshairs {
-    stroke: var(--color-default) !important;
-    .dark & {
-      stroke: var(--color-default) !important;
-    }
-  }
   .apexcharts-ycrosshairs {
     stroke: var(--color-default) !important;
     .dark & {
@@ -2389,9 +2282,6 @@
   .px-6 {
     padding-inline: calc(var(--spacing) * 6);
   }
-  .py-0 {
-    padding-block: calc(var(--spacing) * 0);
-  }
   .py-0\.5 {
     padding-block: calc(var(--spacing) * 0.5);
   }
@@ -2453,9 +2343,6 @@
       color: heading !important;
     }
   }
-  .pb-1 {
-    padding-bottom: calc(var(--spacing) * 1);
-  }
   .pb-16 {
     padding-bottom: calc(var(--spacing) * 16);
   }
@@ -2622,9 +2509,6 @@
   .text-balance {
     text-wrap: balance;
   }
-  .text-wrap {
-    text-wrap: wrap;
-  }
   .whitespace-nowrap {
     white-space: nowrap;
   }
@@ -2751,9 +2635,6 @@
   .italic {
     font-style: italic;
   }
-  .no-underline {
-    text-decoration-line: none;
-  }
   .no-underline\! {
     text-decoration-line: none !important;
   }
@@ -2817,10 +2698,6 @@
     -webkit-backdrop-filter: var(--tw-backdrop-blur,) var(--tw-backdrop-brightness,) var(--tw-backdrop-contrast,) var(--tw-backdrop-grayscale,) var(--tw-backdrop-hue-rotate,) var(--tw-backdrop-invert,) var(--tw-backdrop-opacity,) var(--tw-backdrop-saturate,) var(--tw-backdrop-sepia,);
     backdrop-filter: var(--tw-backdrop-blur,) var(--tw-backdrop-brightness,) var(--tw-backdrop-contrast,) var(--tw-backdrop-grayscale,) var(--tw-backdrop-hue-rotate,) var(--tw-backdrop-invert,) var(--tw-backdrop-opacity,) var(--tw-backdrop-saturate,) var(--tw-backdrop-sepia,);
   }
-  .backdrop-filter {
-    -webkit-backdrop-filter: var(--tw-backdrop-blur,) var(--tw-backdrop-brightness,) var(--tw-backdrop-contrast,) var(--tw-backdrop-grayscale,) var(--tw-backdrop-hue-rotate,) var(--tw-backdrop-invert,) var(--tw-backdrop-opacity,) var(--tw-backdrop-saturate,) var(--tw-backdrop-sepia,);
-    backdrop-filter: var(--tw-backdrop-blur,) var(--tw-backdrop-brightness,) var(--tw-backdrop-contrast,) var(--tw-backdrop-grayscale,) var(--tw-backdrop-hue-rotate,) var(--tw-backdrop-invert,) var(--tw-backdrop-opacity,) var(--tw-backdrop-saturate,) var(--tw-backdrop-sepia,);
-  }
   .transition {
     transition-property: color, background-color, border-color, outline-color, text-decoration-color, fill, stroke, --tw-gradient-from, --tw-gradient-via, --tw-gradient-to, opacity, box-shadow, transform, translate, scale, rotate, filter, -webkit-backdrop-filter, backdrop-filter, display, content-visibility, overlay, pointer-events;
     transition-timing-function: var(--tw-ease, var(--default-transition-timing-function));
@@ -2985,11 +2862,6 @@
       background-color: var(--color-gray-50);
     }
   }
-  .empty\:hidden {
-    &:empty {
-      display: none;
-    }
-  }
   .hover\:scale-110 {
     &:hover {
       @media (hover: hover) {
@@ -4042,51 +3914,6 @@
       }
     }
   }
-  .\[\&\:\:-webkit-slider-thumb\]\:relative {
-    &::-webkit-slider-thumb {
-      position: relative;
-    }
-  }
-  .\[\&\:\:-webkit-slider-thumb\]\:z-10 {
-    &::-webkit-slider-thumb {
-      z-index: 10;
-    }
-  }
-  .\[\&\:\:-webkit-slider-thumb\]\:z-20 {
-    &::-webkit-slider-thumb {
-      z-index: 20;
-    }
-  }
-  .\[\&\:\:-webkit-slider-thumb\]\:h-4 {
-    &::-webkit-slider-thumb {
-      height: calc(var(--spacing) * 4);
-    }
-  }
-  .\[\&\:\:-webkit-slider-thumb\]\:w-4 {
-    &::-webkit-slider-thumb {
-      width: calc(var(--spacing) * 4);
-    }
-  }
-  .\[\&\:\:-webkit-slider-thumb\]\:cursor-pointer {
-    &::-webkit-slider-thumb {
-      cursor: pointer;
-    }
-  }
-  .\[\&\:\:-webkit-slider-thumb\]\:appearance-none {
-    &::-webkit-slider-thumb {
-      appearance: none;
-    }
-  }
-  .\[\&\:\:-webkit-slider-thumb\]\:rounded-full {
-    &::-webkit-slider-thumb {
-      border-radius: calc(infinity * 1px);
-    }
-  }
-  .\[\&\:\:-webkit-slider-thumb\]\:bg-brand {
-    &::-webkit-slider-thumb {
-      background-color: var(--color-brand);
-    }
-  }
   .\[\&\:first-of-type_button\]\:rounded-s-lg {
     &:first-of-type button {
       border-start-start-radius: var(--radius-lg);
diff --git a/games/static/js/search_select.js b/games/static/js/search_select.js
index 99cc7c0..654ecf9 100644
--- a/games/static/js/search_select.js
+++ b/games/static/js/search_select.js
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 /**
  * SearchSelect widget — a search box paired with a dropdown of options.
- * Single/multi select; chosen items render as removable pills, each backed by a
- * hidden <input> so existing Django form validation keeps working.
+ * Multi-select renders chosen items as removable pills (inline with the search
+ * box), each backed by a hidden <input>. Single-select renders no pill: the
+ * committed label lives inside the search box (which doubles as a combobox —
+ * focus clears it to search, picking an option fills it), with a lone hidden
+ * <input> carrying the value. Both keep hidden inputs so Django validation works.
  *
  * Mirrors selectable_filter.js: initAll() on DOMContentLoaded + htmx:afterSwap,
  * each widget guarded with el._ssInit.
@@ -120,8 +123,44 @@
       }
     }
 
-    search.addEventListener("focus", runSearch);
-    search.addEventListener("input", runSearch);
+    // ── Single-select combobox: the search box shows the committed label;
+    //    focusing clears it to search, blurring restores it (or deselects). ──
+    if (!multi) container._ssLabel = search.value;
+
+    search.addEventListener("focus", function () {
+      if (!multi) {
+        // Hide the committed label so the box becomes a fresh search field.
+        search.value = "";
+        container._ssDirty = false;
+      }
+      runSearch();
+    });
+    search.addEventListener("input", function () {
+      if (!multi) container._ssDirty = true;
+      runSearch();
+    });
+    if (!multi) {
+      search.addEventListener("blur", function () {
+        // Defer so an option click (which fires before blur settles) wins.
+        setTimeout(function () {
+          if (container._ssDirty && search.value.trim() === "") {
+            // User intentionally cleared the box → deselect.
+            pills.innerHTML = "";
+            container._ssLabel = "";
+            emitChange(null);
+          } else {
+            // Focused-and-left, or typed a partial query without picking →
+            // restore the committed label (no-op right after a selection).
+            search.value = container._ssLabel || "";
+          }
+        }, 120);
+      });
+    }
+
+    // Clicking an option must not blur the input before the click selects.
+    options.addEventListener("mousedown", function (e) {
+      e.preventDefault();
+    });
 
     // ── Option click → select ──
     options.addEventListener("click", function (e) {
@@ -152,9 +191,13 @@
           addPill(option);
         }
       } else {
+        // Single-select: no pill — show the label in the search box and keep a
+        // lone hidden input under [data-ss-pills] for submission.
         pills.innerHTML = "";
-        addPill(option);
+        pills.appendChild(buildHidden(option.value));
         search.value = option.label;
+        container._ssLabel = option.label;
+        container._ssDirty = false;
         hidePanel();
       }
       emitChange(option);
diff --git a/tests/test_search_select.py b/tests/test_search_select.py
index 1f6599a..9b82672 100644
--- a/tests/test_search_select.py
+++ b/tests/test_search_select.py
@@ -63,9 +63,10 @@ class SearchSelectComponentTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn('data-search-url="/api/games/search"', html)
         self.assertIn('data-multi="true"', html)
 
-    def test_selected_renders_pills_and_hidden_inputs(self):
+    def test_multi_selected_renders_pills_and_hidden_inputs(self):
         html = SearchSelect(
             name="games",
+            multi_select=True,
             selected=[{"value": 7, "label": "Game A", "data": {"platform": "2"}}],
         )
         self.assertIn("data-pill", html)
@@ -75,6 +76,18 @@ class SearchSelectComponentTest(unittest.TestCase):
         # name. The leading space avoids matching the container's data-name.
         self.assertEqual(html.count(' name="games"'), 1)
 
+    def test_single_selected_has_no_pill_and_value_in_search_box(self):
+        html = SearchSelect(
+            name="games",
+            selected=[{"value": 7, "label": "Game A", "data": {"platform": "2"}}],
+        )
+        # single-select renders no pill — the label lives in the search box
+        self.assertNotIn("data-pill", html)
+        self.assertIn('value="Game A"', html)
+        # the value is still submitted via a lone hidden input
+        self.assertIn('<input type="hidden" name="games" value="7">', html)
+        self.assertEqual(html.count(' name="games"'), 1)
+
     def test_search_box_has_no_name(self):
         html = SearchSelect(name="games")
         self.assertIn("data-ss-search", html)