diff --git a/client/__tests__/CalendarPage.test.tsx b/client/__tests__/CalendarPage.test.tsx
index 5869f298..51600eab 100644
--- a/client/__tests__/CalendarPage.test.tsx
+++ b/client/__tests__/CalendarPage.test.tsx
@@ -144,6 +144,29 @@ describe("CalendarPage", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it("greys out past months and past releases in the year view", async () => {
+    mockGamesFetch([
+      { ...baseGame, id: "game-5", title: "April Game", releaseDate: "2026-04-10" },
+      { ...baseGame, id: "game-6", title: "Early May Game", releaseDate: "2026-05-03" },
+      { ...baseGame, id: "game-7", title: "June Game", releaseDate: "2026-06-02" },
+      { ...baseGame, id: "game-8", title: "Datetime Game", releaseDate: "2026-05-10T12:00:00Z" },
+    ]);
+
+    renderPage();
+
+    const aprilGame = await screen.findByText("April Game");
+    const aprilCard = screen.getByRole("heading", { name: "April" }).closest(".bg-card");
+    const juneCard = screen.getByRole("heading", { name: "June" }).closest(".bg-card");
+
+    expect(aprilCard).toHaveClass("opacity-50");
+    expect(juneCard).not.toHaveClass("opacity-50");
+    // Inside a past month the card is already dimmed, so its badges stay as-is.
+    expect(aprilGame.closest("button")).not.toHaveClass("opacity-50");
+    expect(screen.getByText("Early May Game").closest("button")).toHaveClass("opacity-50");
+    expect(screen.getByText("June Game").closest("button")).not.toHaveClass("opacity-50");
+    expect(screen.getByText("Datetime Game").closest("button")).toHaveClass("opacity-50");
+  });
+
   it("switches to week view and opens the download dialog from a visible game", async () => {
     mockGamesFetch([{ ...baseGame, id: "game-4", title: "Week Hero", releaseDate: "2026-05-29" }]);
 
diff --git a/client/src/pages/calendar.tsx b/client/src/pages/calendar.tsx
index 8407aad0..e408cb32 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/calendar.tsx
+++ b/client/src/pages/calendar.tsx
@@ -32,6 +32,12 @@ export function formatDate(date: Date): string {
   return `${y}-${m}-${d}`;
 }
 
+// Release dates are usually date-only ("YYYY-MM-DD"), but a claimed download can carry a full
+// ISO datetime. Map those to the viewer's local calendar day before comparing with today.
+function toLocalDateKey(releaseDate: string): string {
+  return /^\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}$/.test(releaseDate) ? releaseDate : formatDate(new Date(releaseDate));
+}
+
 function getMonthName(month: number): string {
   return new Date(2000, month, 1).toLocaleDateString(undefined, { month: "long" });
 }
@@ -262,6 +268,7 @@ export default function CalendarPage() {
                   currentDate={currentDate}
                   gamesByDate={gamesByDate}
                   onGameClick={handleGameClick}
+                  today={today}
                 />
               )}
               {viewMode === "month" && (
@@ -305,13 +312,17 @@ function YearView({
   currentDate,
   gamesByDate,
   onGameClick,
+  today,
 }: {
   currentDate: Date;
   gamesByDate: GamesByDate;
   onGameClick: (game: Game) => void;
+  today: Date;
 }) {
   const year = currentDate.getFullYear();
   const months = Array.from({ length: 12 }, (_, i) => i);
+  const todayKey = formatDate(today);
+  const currentMonthPrefix = todayKey.slice(0, 8);
 
   // Pre-calculate entries once outside the render loop
   const allGamesEntries = useMemo(() => Object.entries(gamesByDate), [gamesByDate]);
@@ -332,8 +343,16 @@ function YearView({
           }
         }
 
+        const isPastMonth = monthPrefix < currentMonthPrefix;
+
         return (
-          <div key={month} className="bg-card border rounded-lg p-4">
+          <div
+            key={month}
+            className={cn(
+              "bg-card border rounded-lg p-4",
+              isPastMonth && "opacity-50 grayscale-[0.3]"
+            )}
+          >
             <div className="flex items-center justify-between mb-3">
               <h3 className="font-semibold">{getMonthName(month)}</h3>
               {gameCount > 0 && (
@@ -353,7 +372,12 @@ function YearView({
                       })}
                     </div>
                     {games.map((game) => (
-                      <GameBadge key={game.id} game={game} onClick={() => onGameClick(game)} />
+                      <GameBadge
+                        key={game.id}
+                        game={game}
+                        muted={!isPastMonth && toLocalDateKey(date) < todayKey}
+                        onClick={() => onGameClick(game)}
+                      />
                     ))}
                   </div>
                 ))