diff --git a/frontend/index.html b/frontend/index.html
index e1d859d..c29d298 100644
--- a/frontend/index.html
+++ b/frontend/index.html
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
         </span>
         <h1>Theme<span>Guess</span></h1>
       </div>
+
+      <div id="solo-timer-mount"></div>
       <button id="help-btn" class="theme-badge" title="Change theme / how to play">
         🎮 <strong id="theme-name-badge">Gruvbox Dark</strong>
       </button>
@@ -68,8 +70,46 @@
         <section id="menu-solo" class="menu-section" aria-label="Solo">
           <h3>🧑‍💻 SOLO</h3>
           <p class="menu-section-desc">Click any word to color it, then reveal how close your palette lands to the real theme.</p>
-          <p class="pick-theme-label">▼ PICK A THEME ▼</p>
-          <div id="theme-grid" class="theme-grid"></div>
+
+          <div class="solo-config-group">
+            <p class="solo-config-label">⏱ TIME</p>
+            <div class="solo-radio-row">
+              <label class="solo-radio"><input type="radio" name="solo-time-mode" value="1min" checked />1 MIN</label>
+              <label class="solo-radio"><input type="radio" name="solo-time-mode" value="2min" />2 MIN</label>
+              <label class="solo-radio"><input type="radio" name="solo-time-mode" value="none" />NO LIMIT</label>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
+          <div class="solo-config-group">
+            <p class="solo-config-label">🎨 THEME</p>
+            <div class="solo-radio-row">
+              <label class="solo-radio"><input type="radio" name="solo-theme-mode" value="random" checked />RANDOM</label>
+              <label class="solo-radio"><input type="radio" name="solo-theme-mode" value="choose" />CHOOSE</label>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
+          <div id="solo-theme-picker" class="hidden">
+            <p class="pick-theme-label">▼ PICK A THEME ▼</p>
+            <div id="theme-grid" class="theme-grid"></div>
+          </div>
+
+          <div class="solo-config-group">
+            <p class="solo-config-label">🤖 OPPONENT</p>
+            <div class="solo-radio-row">
+              <label class="solo-radio"><input type="radio" name="solo-opponent-mode" value="alone" checked />ALONE</label>
+              <label class="solo-radio"><input type="radio" name="solo-opponent-mode" value="bot" />VS BOT</label>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
+          <div id="solo-bot-difficulty" class="hidden">
+            <p class="solo-config-label">DIFFICULTY</p>
+            <div class="solo-radio-row">
+              <label class="solo-radio"><input type="radio" name="solo-bot-difficulty" value="easy" checked />EASY</label>
+              <label class="solo-radio"><input type="radio" name="solo-bot-difficulty" value="medium" />MEDIUM</label>
+              <label class="solo-radio"><input type="radio" name="solo-bot-difficulty" value="hard" />HARD</label>
+            </div>
+          </div>
+
           <div class="menu-section-actions">
             <button id="start-btn" class="btn primary">▶ PLAY</button>
           </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/main.ts b/frontend/src/main.ts
index 61cac04..e5f9ca0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/main.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/main.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { THEMES } from './data/themes';
 import { sound } from './engine/sound';
 import { createThemeGrid } from './ui/themeGrid';
 import { runThemePreview } from './ui/previewFlow';
-import type { ThemeId } from './types';
+import { createSoloConfigFlow } from './ui/soloConfigFlow';
 
 function requireEl<T extends HTMLElement>(id: string): T {
   const el = document.getElementById(id);
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ function requireEl<T extends HTMLElement>(id: string): T {
 const menuModal = requireEl<HTMLElement>('intro-modal');
 const resultModal = requireEl<HTMLElement>('result-modal');
 const themeGridEl = requireEl<HTMLElement>('theme-grid');
+const menuSoloSection = requireEl<HTMLElement>('menu-solo');
+const soloThemePickerWrap = requireEl<HTMLElement>('solo-theme-picker');
+const soloBotDifficultyWrap = requireEl<HTMLElement>('solo-bot-difficulty');
+const soloTimerMount = requireEl<HTMLElement>('solo-timer-mount');
 const startBtn = requireEl<HTMLButtonElement>('start-btn');
 const enterCodeBtn = requireEl<HTMLButtonElement>('enter-code-btn');
 const createRoomBtn = requireEl<HTMLButtonElement>('create-room-btn');
@@ -51,21 +55,30 @@ let game: ThemeGuessGame | null = null;
 
 const themeGrid = createThemeGrid(themeGridEl, 'gruvbox', () => sound.playOpen());
 
-// Solo is the only flow this ticket wires end-to-end. Ticket #17 will
-// replace this direct "pick a theme, hit play" shortcut with a fuller solo
-// config flow inside #menu-solo; keep it working in the meantime.
-function playSolo(): void {
-  const themeId: ThemeId = themeGrid.selected;
-  showView(null);
-  runThemePreview(previewElements, themeId, () => {
-    if (game) game.setTheme(themeId);
-    else game = new ThemeGuessGame(themeId);
-    themeNameBadge.textContent = THEMES[themeId].name;
-    sound.playApply();
-  }, () => sound.playOpen());
-}
-
-startBtn.addEventListener('click', playSolo);
+const soloConfigFlow = createSoloConfigFlow(
+  {
+    section: menuSoloSection,
+    themePickerWrap: soloThemePickerWrap,
+    botDifficultyWrap: soloBotDifficultyWrap,
+    playBtn: startBtn,
+    timerMount: soloTimerMount,
+  },
+  themeGrid,
+  (config) => {
+    showView(null);
+    runThemePreview(previewElements, config.themeId, () => {
+      if (game) {
+        game.setTheme(config.themeId);
+        game.setSnippet(config.snippetIndex);
+      } else {
+        game = new ThemeGuessGame(config.themeId, config.snippetIndex);
+      }
+      themeNameBadge.textContent = THEMES[config.themeId].name;
+      sound.playApply();
+      soloConfigFlow.startTimer(config.timeMode);
+    }, () => sound.playOpen());
+  },
+);
 
 // TODO(#17/#15/#14): wire real flow
 enterCodeBtn.addEventListener('click', () => console.log('[menu] enter code clicked (not implemented yet)'));
diff --git a/frontend/src/style.css b/frontend/src/style.css
index 622ba30..c82e754 100644
--- a/frontend/src/style.css
+++ b/frontend/src/style.css
@@ -131,6 +131,21 @@ body {
 }
 .icon-btn:hover { transform: translate(-1px, -1px); }
 
+.solo-timer-hud {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 8px;
+  font-family: var(--pixel);
+  font-size: 9px;
+  color: var(--fg);
+  background: var(--panel-2);
+  border: 3px solid var(--ink);
+  padding: 8px 12px;
+  box-shadow: 3px 3px 0 var(--ink);
+}
+.solo-timer-hud.hidden { display: none; }
+.solo-timer-badge { color: var(--cyan); }
+
 /* ---------- progress ---------- */
 
 .progress-wrap {
@@ -419,6 +434,27 @@ body {
 
 #menu-solo .theme-grid { margin-bottom: 0; }
 
+.solo-config-group { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 6px; }
+.solo-config-label { margin: 0; font-family: var(--pixel); font-size: 9px; color: var(--fg-dim); letter-spacing: .5px; }
+.solo-radio-row { display: flex; gap: 6px; flex-wrap: wrap; }
+.solo-radio {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+  gap: 5px;
+  flex: 1 1 auto;
+  background: var(--panel);
+  border: 2px solid var(--ink);
+  padding: 6px 8px;
+  font-size: 10px;
+  color: var(--fg-dim);
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
+.solo-radio:has(input:checked) { background: var(--panel-3); color: var(--fg); border-color: var(--yellow); }
+.solo-radio input { accent-color: var(--yellow); margin: 0; }
+
+#solo-theme-picker.hidden, #solo-bot-difficulty.hidden { display: none; }
+
 @media (max-width: 640px) {
   .menu-sections { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/ui/soloConfigFlow.ts b/frontend/src/ui/soloConfigFlow.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f586cef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/ui/soloConfigFlow.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+import { THEMES } from '../data/themes';
+import { pickRandomSnippetIndex } from '../data/snippets';
+import type { BotDifficulty, BotTimeMode } from '../engine/bot';
+import type { ThemeId } from '../types';
+import type { ThemeGrid } from './themeGrid';
+
+/** Reuses `engine/bot`'s time-mode vocabulary so a solo config can be
+ * handed straight to `computeBotSchedule` once the bot opponent path
+ * (#19) is wired up. */
+export type SoloTimeMode = BotTimeMode;
+export type SoloOpponent = 'alone' | 'bot';
+type SoloThemeMode = 'random' | 'choose';
+
+export interface SoloConfig {
+  themeId: ThemeId;
+  snippetIndex: number;
+  timeMode: SoloTimeMode;
+  opponent: SoloOpponent;
+  botDifficulty: BotDifficulty;
+}
+
+export interface SoloConfigFlowElements {
+  /** Root of the #menu-solo section; radios are looked up inside it by
+   * `name` so this module owns its own markup instead of main.ts wiring
+   * every individual input. */
+  section: HTMLElement;
+  /** Wrapper around the reused theme grid, shown only in "choose" mode. */
+  themePickerWrap: HTMLElement;
+  /** Wrapper around the difficulty radios, shown only in "vs bot" mode. */
+  botDifficultyWrap: HTMLElement;
+  playBtn: HTMLButtonElement;
+  /** Empty mount point (outside the menu modal) the inline timer/mode
+   * badge HUD renders itself into. */
+  timerMount: HTMLElement;
+}
+
+export interface SoloConfigFlow {
+  /** Starts the inline countdown/elapsed-time HUD for a just-started
+   * round. Call once the round is actually live (e.g. after the theme
+   * preview finishes), not at Play-click time. */
+  startTimer(mode: SoloTimeMode): void;
+}
+
+const TIME_MODE_DEADLINE_MS: Record<Exclude<SoloTimeMode, 'none'>, number> = {
+  '1min': 60_000,
+  '2min': 120_000,
+};
+
+const TIME_MODE_LABEL: Record<SoloTimeMode, string> = {
+  '1min': '1 MIN',
+  '2min': '2 MIN',
+  none: 'NO LIMIT',
+};
+
+function formatClock(ms: number): string {
+  const totalSeconds = Math.max(0, Math.round(ms / 1000));
+  const m = Math.floor(totalSeconds / 60);
+  const s = totalSeconds % 60;
+  return `${String(m).padStart(2, '0')}:${String(s).padStart(2, '0')}`;
+}
+
+function radios(section: HTMLElement, name: string): HTMLInputElement[] {
+  return Array.from(section.querySelectorAll<HTMLInputElement>(`input[name="${name}"]`));
+}
+
+function checkedValue<T extends string>(inputs: HTMLInputElement[], fallback: T): T {
+  return (inputs.find((input) => input.checked)?.value as T | undefined) ?? fallback;
+}
+
+/** Minimal inline countdown (1/2 minute modes) or elapsed-time counter
+ * ("no limit") plus a mode badge, rendered into `mount`. Purely a
+ * display: it never forces a reveal, since `ThemeGuessGame.reveal()`
+ * stays manually triggered by the existing Reveal button in every time
+ * mode, "no limit" included.
+ * TODO: replace with shared timerHud module once available. */
+function createTimerHud(mount: HTMLElement): SoloConfigFlow['startTimer'] {
+  mount.innerHTML = `
+    <div class="solo-timer-hud hidden">
+      <span class="solo-timer-badge"></span>
+      <span class="solo-timer-clock">00:00</span>
+    </div>`;
+  const root = mount.querySelector<HTMLElement>('.solo-timer-hud')!;
+  const badge = mount.querySelector<HTMLElement>('.solo-timer-badge')!;
+  const clock = mount.querySelector<HTMLElement>('.solo-timer-clock')!;
+  let intervalId: number | null = null;
+
+  function stop(): void {
+    if (intervalId !== null) {
+      window.clearInterval(intervalId);
+      intervalId = null;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return function startTimer(mode: SoloTimeMode): void {
+    stop();
+    root.classList.remove('hidden');
+    badge.textContent = TIME_MODE_LABEL[mode];
+    const startedAt = performance.now();
+
+    function tick(): void {
+      const elapsed = performance.now() - startedAt;
+      if (mode === 'none') {
+        clock.textContent = formatClock(elapsed);
+        return;
+      }
+      const remaining = TIME_MODE_DEADLINE_MS[mode] - elapsed;
+      clock.textContent = formatClock(remaining);
+      if (remaining <= 0) stop();
+    }
+
+    tick();
+    intervalId = window.setInterval(tick, 250);
+  };
+}
+
+/** Wires the Solo menu section's config form (time mode / theme mode /
+ * opponent, with the theme grid and bot difficulty picker revealed
+ * conditionally) and its inline timer HUD. Fires `onStart` with the
+ * resolved config once the player clicks Play. */
+export function createSoloConfigFlow(
+  elements: SoloConfigFlowElements,
+  themeGrid: ThemeGrid,
+  onStart: (config: SoloConfig) => void,
+): SoloConfigFlow {
+  const themeModeInputs = radios(elements.section, 'solo-theme-mode');
+  const opponentInputs = radios(elements.section, 'solo-opponent-mode');
+  const timeModeInputs = radios(elements.section, 'solo-time-mode');
+  const botDifficultyInputs = radios(elements.section, 'solo-bot-difficulty');
+  const startTimer = createTimerHud(elements.timerMount);
+
+  function syncThemePicker(): void {
+    const mode = checkedValue<SoloThemeMode>(themeModeInputs, 'random');
+    elements.themePickerWrap.classList.toggle('hidden', mode !== 'choose');
+  }
+
+  function syncBotDifficulty(): void {
+    const opponent = checkedValue<SoloOpponent>(opponentInputs, 'alone');
+    elements.botDifficultyWrap.classList.toggle('hidden', opponent !== 'bot');
+  }
+
+  for (const input of themeModeInputs) input.addEventListener('change', syncThemePicker);
+  for (const input of opponentInputs) input.addEventListener('change', syncBotDifficulty);
+  syncThemePicker();
+  syncBotDifficulty();
+
+  elements.playBtn.addEventListener('click', () => {
+    const timeMode = checkedValue<SoloTimeMode>(timeModeInputs, '1min');
+    const themeMode = checkedValue<SoloThemeMode>(themeModeInputs, 'random');
+    const opponent = checkedValue<SoloOpponent>(opponentInputs, 'alone');
+    const botDifficulty = checkedValue<BotDifficulty>(botDifficultyInputs, 'easy');
+
+    const themeIds = Object.keys(THEMES) as ThemeId[];
+    const themeId = themeMode === 'choose'
+      ? themeGrid.selected
+      : themeIds[Math.floor(Math.random() * themeIds.length)];
+
+    // TODO(#19): wire bot engine — opponent/botDifficulty are captured
+    // and handed off here, but nothing yet drives a live bot opponent
+    // from them; "vs Bot" currently plays identically to "Alone".
+    onStart({
+      themeId,
+      snippetIndex: pickRandomSnippetIndex(),
+      timeMode,
+      opponent,
+      botDifficulty,
+    });
+  });
+
+  return { startTimer };
+}