diff --git a/docs/game_thread_safety.md b/docs/game_thread_safety.md
index c1d3871..192f46a 100644
--- a/docs/game_thread_safety.md
+++ b/docs/game_thread_safety.md
@@ -180,6 +180,24 @@ game::GameThread::Execute([&] {
 
 `Execute()` releases the script's `GameReadLock` so the game thread can acquire `GameWriteLock` to drain the task queue.
 
+## Per-frame events (`render`)
+
+The `render` event is a signal, not a queued event. `GameLoop::OnDraw` (the backend's `onDraw` callback, once
+per rendered frame, in and out of game) only increments a global frame counter (`events::FrameCounter`,
+`components/events/FrameCounter.h`) before `Drawable::DrawAll`; it queues nothing and never waits on a script,
+so a frame costs one atomic increment whether or not any script listens. Each pass of a script's event loop
+(`Script::ExecuteEvents`, i.e. inside `delay()`) compares the counter with the frame the script last fired
+`render` for and, if it moved and the script listens for `render`, fires the listeners once with the latest frame
+number. No wake-up is
+needed: the loop already polls every `IdleSleepIntervalMs`, the same latency as any cross-thread posted event. A
+slow script just sees a bigger jump in `frame`; there is no backlog to drain. The loop never fires `render` inside a `render`
+handler: a handler that calls `delay()` would otherwise see a new frame and nest one level deeper every frame.
+
+Handlers run on the script's thread, so a frame is usually already being drawn by then: a drawable change made
+in a `render` handler typically shows from the next frame. Drawable fields are atomics, so the handler needs no
+game lock to change them; reading game state from it takes the usual `GameReadLock`, which waits for the game
+thread's sleep window.
+
 ## Lock Releasers
 
 ### GameWriteLockReleaser
diff --git a/src/contract/game/GameCallbacks.h b/src/contract/game/GameCallbacks.h
index 306ac52..e7973cb 100644
--- a/src/contract/game/GameCallbacks.h
+++ b/src/contract/game/GameCallbacks.h
@@ -105,8 +105,9 @@ struct GameCallbacks {
     //     the game thread (pass through to real Sleep).
     void (*onSleep)(std::chrono::milliseconds duration) = nullptr;
 
-    // Called from the game's render function.
-    // Framework flushes drawables so overlays composite with the current frame.
+    // Called from the game's render function, once per rendered frame (in and out of game).
+    // Framework counts the frame for the script "render" event, then flushes drawables so
+    // overlays composite with the current frame.
     void (*onDraw)() = nullptr;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/runtime/components/events/Events.h b/src/runtime/components/events/Events.h
index 0edc755..2bcb840 100644
--- a/src/runtime/components/events/Events.h
+++ b/src/runtime/components/events/Events.h
@@ -520,6 +520,30 @@ class BroadcastEvent : public BaseEvent {
     std::vector<std::vector<uint8_t>> values_;
 };
 
+// ============================================================================
+// Render Event
+// ============================================================================
+
+/// @event A frame was rendered (in game and out of game). Fires at most once per frame, so handlers can move or
+/// restyle drawables every frame. Handlers run on the script's own thread whenever its event loop runs (inside
+/// delay()), so a change usually shows from the next frame. A script that falls behind fires once for all the frames
+/// it missed rather than once per frame; render never fires inside its own handler, so a delay() there skips the frames
+/// drawn meanwhile.
+/// @param frame {number} - the number of the most recently rendered frame, counted from load; compare with the previous
+/// call's to see how many frames were skipped
+class RenderEvent : public BaseEvent {
+   protected:
+    std::vector<v8::Local<v8::Value>> MakeArgs(v8::Isolate* isolate) const override {
+        return {api::convert::ToJS(isolate, static_cast<double>(frame))};
+    }
+
+   public:
+    explicit RenderEvent(uint64_t frame) : frame(frame) {}
+    const uint64_t frame;
+    static constexpr std::string_view EVENT_NAME = "render";
+    [[nodiscard]] std::string_view Name() const override { return EVENT_NAME; }
+};
+
 // ============================================================================
 // Screen Hook Events
 // ============================================================================
diff --git a/src/runtime/components/events/FrameCounter.h b/src/runtime/components/events/FrameCounter.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..453de1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/runtime/components/events/FrameCounter.h
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <atomic>
+#include <cstdint>
+
+namespace d2bs::runtime::events {
+
+// Rendered frames since load. The game thread counts each frame; each script fires its "render"
+// listeners from its own event loop when the count has moved past the frame it last fired for, so
+// nothing is queued per frame and a script that falls behind just sees a bigger jump.
+class FrameCounter {
+    inline static std::atomic<uint64_t> count_ = 0;
+
+   public:
+    // Game thread, once per rendered frame.
+    static void Increment() { count_.fetch_add(1, std::memory_order_relaxed); }
+
+    // Any thread. The number of the most recently rendered frame (the first is 1).
+    static uint64_t Current() { return count_.load(std::memory_order_relaxed); }
+};
+
+}  // namespace d2bs::runtime::events
diff --git a/src/runtime/components/gameloop/GameLoop.cpp b/src/runtime/components/gameloop/GameLoop.cpp
index 97920d3..34069d6 100644
--- a/src/runtime/components/gameloop/GameLoop.cpp
+++ b/src/runtime/components/gameloop/GameLoop.cpp
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "components/drawing/Drawable.h"
 #include "components/drawing/VersionBanner.h"
 #include "components/events/EventDispatch.h"
+#include "components/events/FrameCounter.h"
 #include "components/profile/ProfileService.h"
 #include "components/script/Script.h"
 #include "components/script/ScriptEngine.h"
@@ -209,6 +210,7 @@ void GameLoop::OnSleep(std::chrono::milliseconds duration) {
 void GameLoop::OnDraw() const {
     // Fires from the render function, before the next OnSleep has taken a new
     // snapshot - previous_.state is the most recently observed game state.
+    events::FrameCounter::Increment();
     drawing::Drawable::DrawAll(previous_.state);
     // Always-on "d2bsng <version>" corner banner (carries the update-available
     // marker). Drawn after script drawables so it stays on top.
diff --git a/src/runtime/components/gameloop/GameLoop.h b/src/runtime/components/gameloop/GameLoop.h
index ef439ba..5a814cf 100644
--- a/src/runtime/components/gameloop/GameLoop.h
+++ b/src/runtime/components/gameloop/GameLoop.h
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ class GameLoop {
     // left held on exit so the next frame body starts under the write lock.
     void OnSleep(std::chrono::milliseconds duration);
 
-    // Called from the game's render function. Flushes drawables for the most
-    // recently observed game state.
+    // Called from the game's render function. Counts the frame for the script
+    // "render" event, then flushes drawables for the most recently observed game state.
     void OnDraw() const;
 
     // Attributes the caller's scope to `phase` on the game thread's timeline. Inert on other
diff --git a/src/runtime/components/script/Script.cpp b/src/runtime/components/script/Script.cpp
index be96430..fa392f4 100644
--- a/src/runtime/components/script/Script.cpp
+++ b/src/runtime/components/script/Script.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "components/events/DelayedEvent.h"
 #include "components/events/EventDispatch.h"
 #include "components/events/Events.h"
+#include "components/events/FrameCounter.h"
 #include "components/inspector/ScriptInspector.h"
 #include "components/script/CompileSource.h"
 #include "components/script/NativeCallHook.h"
@@ -73,7 +74,8 @@ Script::Script(std::filesystem::path path, ScriptMode mode, std::vector<std::vec
       idle_(IDLE_TIMELINE),
       mode_(mode),
       args_(std::move(args)),
-      logger_(utils::GetLogger(path_.filename().string())) {}
+      logger_(utils::GetLogger(path_.filename().string())),
+      lastRenderFrame_(events::FrameCounter::Current()) {}
 
 std::shared_ptr<spdlog::logger> GetLogger(v8::Isolate* isolate) {
     if (auto* script = ScriptEngine::Instance().GetScript(isolate)) {
@@ -887,6 +889,8 @@ void Script::ExecuteEvents(std::chrono::milliseconds duration) {
             inspector_->DrainIncoming();
         }
 
+        FireRenderEventIfNewFrame();
+
         // steady_clock::now() is QueryPerformanceCounter on MSVC, so each read
         // routes through the speedhack hook: take one reading per pass and reuse it
         // for the heap-stat throttle, the deadline check, and the wait.
@@ -918,6 +922,23 @@ void Script::ExecuteEvents(std::chrono::milliseconds duration) {
     }
 }
 
+void Script::FireRenderEventIfNewFrame() {
+    // A render handler that calls delay() runs this event loop again, and a frame drawn during that delay would
+    // fire render inside itself, nesting deeper every frame. Each script has its own thread, so this is per script.
+    static thread_local bool isInRenderHandler = false;
+    if (isInRenderHandler) {
+        return;
+    }
+    const auto current = events::FrameCounter::Current();
+    if (current <= lastRenderFrame_ || !IsEventRegistered(events::RenderEvent::EVENT_NAME)) {
+        return;
+    }
+    lastRenderFrame_ = current;
+    isInRenderHandler = true;
+    const utils::DeferGuard leaveHandler([] { isInRenderHandler = false; });
+    ExecuteEvent(std::make_shared<events::RenderEvent>(current));
+}
+
 bool Script::ExecuteEvent(const std::shared_ptr<events::BaseEvent>& event) {
     auto* iso = isolate_.load().get();
     if (!iso)
diff --git a/src/runtime/components/script/Script.h b/src/runtime/components/script/Script.h
index ba47c1b..b32e5af 100644
--- a/src/runtime/components/script/Script.h
+++ b/src/runtime/components/script/Script.h
@@ -229,6 +229,10 @@ class Script : public std::enable_shared_from_this<Script> {
     // Drops every handler and its listener counts. Caller holds eventFunctionsMutex_.
     void ClearEventFunctionsLocked();
 
+    // Script thread, each event-loop pass. Fires the "render" listeners once if a frame was rendered
+    // since they last fired (see events::FrameCounter).
+    void FireRenderEventIfNewFrame();
+
     void ThreadMain(const std::stop_token& stopToken);
     void SetupIsolate();
     void TeardownIsolate();
@@ -249,6 +253,8 @@ class Script : public std::enable_shared_from_this<Script> {
     std::vector<std::vector<uint8_t>> args_;
     std::atomic<ScriptState> state_{ScriptState::Stopped};
     std::shared_ptr<spdlog::logger> logger_;
+    // The frame this script last fired "render" for. Script-thread-only.
+    uint64_t lastRenderFrame_;
 
     std::jthread thread_;
     // Shared ownership prevents use-after-dispose: Stop() and PostEvent() (called
diff --git a/src/runtime/runtime.vcxproj b/src/runtime/runtime.vcxproj
index d07b27f..7663fc6 100644
--- a/src/runtime/runtime.vcxproj
+++ b/src/runtime/runtime.vcxproj
@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@
     <ClInclude Include="components\events\DelayedEvent.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="components\events\Events.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="components\events\EventDispatch.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="components\events\FrameCounter.h" />
     <!-- Console -->
     <ClInclude Include="components\console\ConsoleSink.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="components\console\Console.h" />
diff --git a/tests/runtime/events/FrameCounterTest.cpp b/tests/runtime/events/FrameCounterTest.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..772bf29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/runtime/events/FrameCounterTest.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#include <doctest/doctest.h>
+
+#include "components/events/FrameCounter.h"
+
+using d2bs::runtime::events::FrameCounter;
+
+TEST_CASE("FrameCounter counts rendered frames") {
+    const auto before = FrameCounter::Current();
+    FrameCounter::Increment();
+    CHECK(FrameCounter::Current() == before + 1);
+    FrameCounter::Increment();
+    CHECK(FrameCounter::Current() == before + 2);
+}
diff --git a/tests/runtime/fakes/GameLoopCollaborators.cpp b/tests/runtime/fakes/GameLoopCollaborators.cpp
index 1f0451f..30972ce 100644
--- a/tests/runtime/fakes/GameLoopCollaborators.cpp
+++ b/tests/runtime/fakes/GameLoopCollaborators.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "components/drawing/Drawable.h"
 #include "components/drawing/VersionBanner.h"
 #include "components/events/EventDispatch.h"
+#include "components/events/FrameCounter.h"
 #include "components/script/ScriptEngine.h"
 #include "config/AppConfig.h"
 
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ void Drawable::DrawAll(game::GameState state) {
     auto& s = test::State();
     ++s.drawAllCount;
     s.lastDrawState = state;
+    s.frameAtDraw = events::FrameCounter::Current();
 }
 
 // GameLoop::OnDraw also draws the version banner; the real implementation pulls
diff --git a/tests/runtime/fakes/GameLoopCollaborators.h b/tests/runtime/fakes/GameLoopCollaborators.h
index 85d8148..f07bce6 100644
--- a/tests/runtime/fakes/GameLoopCollaborators.h
+++ b/tests/runtime/fakes/GameLoopCollaborators.h
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ struct GameLoopState {
     std::vector<uint32_t> playerAssignEvents;
     int32_t exitGameCount = 0;
     int32_t drawAllCount = 0;
+    // FrameCounter::Current() when DrawAll last ran.
+    uint64_t frameAtDraw = 0;
     std::optional<d2bs::game::GameState> lastDrawState;
 };
 
diff --git a/tests/runtime/gameloop/GameLoopTest.cpp b/tests/runtime/gameloop/GameLoopTest.cpp
index d78b4b9..a151b20 100644
--- a/tests/runtime/gameloop/GameLoopTest.cpp
+++ b/tests/runtime/gameloop/GameLoopTest.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <system_error>
 #include <thread>
 
+#include "components/events/FrameCounter.h"
 #include "components/gameloop/GameLoop.h"
 #include "components/profile/ProfileService.h"
 #include "components/script/Commands.h"
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@
 #include "utils/utils.h"
 
 using d2bs::game::GameState;
+using d2bs::runtime::events::FrameCounter;
 using d2bs::runtime::gameloop::GameLoop;
 
 namespace {
@@ -258,6 +260,23 @@ TEST_CASE_FIXTURE(GameLoopFixture, "OnDraw paints drawables with most recently o
     // NOLINTEND(bugprone-unchecked-optional-access)
 }
 
+TEST_CASE_FIXTURE(GameLoopFixture, "OnDraw counts the render frame once per frame, before the drawables") {
+    auto& s = d2bs::test::State();
+
+    GameLoop::Instance().OnSleep(std::chrono::milliseconds{0});
+    const auto before = FrameCounter::Current();
+
+    GameLoop::Instance().OnDraw();
+    CHECK(FrameCounter::Current() == before + 1);
+    CHECK(s.frameAtDraw == before + 1);
+    CHECK(s.drawAllCount == 1);
+
+    GameLoop::Instance().OnDraw();
+    CHECK(FrameCounter::Current() == before + 2);
+    CHECK(s.frameAtDraw == before + 2);
+    CHECK(s.drawAllCount == 2);
+}
+
 TEST_CASE_FIXTURE(GameLoopFixture, "waitForProfile disables script lifecycle") {
     auto& cfg = d2bs::core::config::GetAppConfig();
     cfg.waitForProfile.store(true);
diff --git a/tests/runtime/js_tests.vcxproj b/tests/runtime/js_tests.vcxproj
index 9afbe99..90d9ae5 100644
--- a/tests/runtime/js_tests.vcxproj
+++ b/tests/runtime/js_tests.vcxproj
@@ -155,6 +155,8 @@
     <ClCompile Include="api\LockedHandleTest.cpp" />
     <!-- GameLoop tests -->
     <ClCompile Include="gameloop\GameLoopTest.cpp" />
+    <!-- Render event coalescing tests -->
+    <ClCompile Include="events\FrameCounterTest.cpp" />
   </ItemGroup>
   <PropertyGroup Label="Vcpkg">
     <VcpkgEnabled>true</VcpkgEnabled>