diff --git a/apps/web/.claude/settings.local.json b/apps/web/.claude/settings.local.json
index 58061b7f..75923598 100644
--- a/apps/web/.claude/settings.local.json
+++ b/apps/web/.claude/settings.local.json
@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@
       "Bash(pnpm remove:*)",
       "Bash(gh run view:*)",
       "Bash(pnpm install:*)",
-      "Bash(git checkout:*)"
+      "Bash(git checkout:*)",
+      "Bash(node server.js:*)"
     ],
     "deny": [],
     "ask": []
diff --git a/apps/web/src/app/arcade/know-your-world/page.tsx b/apps/web/src/app/arcade/know-your-world/page.tsx
index 288e029c..2e064e45 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/app/arcade/know-your-world/page.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/app/arcade/know-your-world/page.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@ import { knowYourWorldGame } from '@/arcade-games/know-your-world'
 
 const { Provider, GameComponent } = knowYourWorldGame
 
+// Opt-out of static generation due to ES module dependencies in map data
+export const dynamic = 'force-dynamic'
+
 export default function KnowYourWorldPage() {
   return (
     <Provider>
diff --git a/apps/web/src/arcade-games/know-your-world/Validator.ts b/apps/web/src/arcade-games/know-your-world/Validator.ts
index 50f2f476..f1cf6f34 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/arcade-games/know-your-world/Validator.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/arcade-games/know-your-world/Validator.ts
@@ -5,19 +5,27 @@ import type {
   KnowYourWorldState,
   GuessRecord,
 } from './types'
-import { getMapData, getFilteredMapData } from './maps'
+
+/**
+ * Lazy-load map functions to avoid importing ES modules at module init time
+ * This is critical for server-side usage where ES modules can't be required
+ */
+async function getFilteredMapDataLazy(...args: Parameters<typeof import('./maps').getFilteredMapData>) {
+  const { getFilteredMapData } = await import('./maps')
+  return getFilteredMapData(...args)
+}
 
 export class KnowYourWorldValidator
   implements GameValidator<KnowYourWorldState, KnowYourWorldMove>
 {
-  validateMove(state: KnowYourWorldState, move: KnowYourWorldMove): ValidationResult {
+  async validateMove(state: KnowYourWorldState, move: KnowYourWorldMove): Promise<ValidationResult> {
     switch (move.type) {
       case 'START_GAME':
-        return this.validateStartGame(state, move.data)
+        return await this.validateStartGame(state, move.data)
       case 'CLICK_REGION':
         return this.validateClickRegion(state, move.playerId, move.data)
       case 'NEXT_ROUND':
-        return this.validateNextRound(state)
+        return await this.validateNextRound(state)
       case 'END_GAME':
         return this.validateEndGame(state)
       case 'END_STUDY':
@@ -39,42 +47,21 @@ export class KnowYourWorldValidator
     }
   }
 
-  private validateStartGame(state: KnowYourWorldState, data: any): ValidationResult {
+  private async validateStartGame(state: KnowYourWorldState, data: any): Promise<ValidationResult> {
     if (state.gamePhase !== 'setup') {
       return { valid: false, error: 'Can only start from setup phase' }
     }
 
     const { activePlayers, playerMetadata, selectedMap, gameMode, difficulty } = data
 
-    console.log('[KnowYourWorld Validator] Starting game with:', {
-      selectedMap,
-      gameMode,
-      difficulty,
-      studyDuration: state.studyDuration,
-      activePlayers: activePlayers?.length,
-    })
-
     if (!activePlayers || activePlayers.length === 0) {
       return { valid: false, error: 'Need at least 1 player' }
     }
 
     // Get map data and shuffle regions (with continent and difficulty filters)
-    const mapData = getFilteredMapData(selectedMap, state.selectedContinent, difficulty)
-    console.log('[KnowYourWorld Validator] Map data loaded:', {
-      map: mapData.id,
-      continent: state.selectedContinent,
-      difficulty,
-      regionsCount: mapData.regions.length,
-      regionIds: mapData.regions.map((r) => r.id).slice(0, 10),
-      regionNames: mapData.regions.map((r) => r.name).slice(0, 10),
-    })
+    const mapData = await getFilteredMapDataLazy(selectedMap, state.selectedContinent, difficulty)
     const regionIds = mapData.regions.map((r) => r.id)
     const shuffledRegions = this.shuffleArray([...regionIds])
-    console.log('[KnowYourWorld Validator] First region to find:', {
-      id: shuffledRegions[0],
-      name: mapData.regions.find((r) => r.id === shuffledRegions[0])?.name,
-      totalShuffled: shuffledRegions.length,
-    })
 
     // Initialize scores and attempts
     const scores: Record<string, number> = {}
@@ -225,13 +212,13 @@ export class KnowYourWorldValidator
     }
   }
 
-  private validateNextRound(state: KnowYourWorldState): ValidationResult {
+  private async validateNextRound(state: KnowYourWorldState): Promise<ValidationResult> {
     if (state.gamePhase !== 'results') {
       return { valid: false, error: 'Can only start next round from results' }
     }
 
     // Get map data and shuffle regions (with continent and difficulty filters)
-    const mapData = getFilteredMapData(state.selectedMap, state.selectedContinent, state.difficulty)
+    const mapData = await getFilteredMapDataLazy(state.selectedMap, state.selectedContinent, state.difficulty)
     const regionIds = mapData.regions.map((r) => r.id)
     const shuffledRegions = this.shuffleArray([...regionIds])
 
diff --git a/apps/web/src/lib/arcade/session-manager.ts b/apps/web/src/lib/arcade/session-manager.ts
index 6819ff47..fb44f25f 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/lib/arcade/session-manager.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/lib/arcade/session-manager.ts
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ export async function applyGameMove(
   }
 
   // Validate the move with authorization context (use internal userId, not guestId)
-  const validationResult = validator.validateMove(session.gameState, move, {
+  const validationResult = await validator.validateMove(session.gameState, move, {
     userId: internalUserId || userId, // Use internal userId for room-based games
     playerOwnership,
   })
diff --git a/apps/web/src/lib/arcade/validation/types.ts b/apps/web/src/lib/arcade/validation/types.ts
index 00b53342..d3059330 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/lib/arcade/validation/types.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/lib/arcade/validation/types.ts
@@ -68,11 +68,12 @@ export interface ValidationContext {
 export interface GameValidator<TState = unknown, TMove extends GameMove = GameMove> {
   /**
    * Validate a game move and return the new state if valid
+   * Can be async to support lazy-loaded dependencies (e.g., ES modules)
    * @param state Current game state
    * @param move The move to validate
    * @param context Optional validation context for authorization checks
    */
-  validateMove(state: TState, move: TMove, context?: ValidationContext): ValidationResult
+  validateMove(state: TState, move: TMove, context?: ValidationContext): ValidationResult | Promise<ValidationResult>
 
   /**
    * Check if the game is in a terminal state (completed)