diff --git a/src/entities/Player.ts b/src/entities/Player.ts
index 85f9a6f..438a626 100644
--- a/src/entities/Player.ts
+++ b/src/entities/Player.ts
@@ -73,6 +73,20 @@ export class Player extends Phaser.GameObjects.Container {
     this.body.setOffset(-radius, -radius); // Center the body on the container
     this.body.setCollideWorldBounds(true);
 
+    // Set up physics-based movement
+    // Max velocity based on speed attribute (e.g., speed 80 -> 8 m/s = 160 px/s)
+    const maxSpeed = (this.attributes.speed / 10) * SCALE;
+    this.body.setMaxVelocity(maxSpeed, maxSpeed);
+
+    // Drag simulates ice friction (higher = more friction)
+    // Lower drag = more gliding (realistic for ice)
+    this.body.setDrag(100, 100);
+
+    // Acceleration determines how quickly player reaches max speed
+    // Higher skill = better acceleration control
+    const acceleration = (this.attributes.skill / 10) * SCALE * 10;
+    this.body.setAcceleration(0, 0); // Will be set each frame based on target
+
     this.createSprite();
   }
 
@@ -148,31 +162,9 @@ export class Player extends Phaser.GameObjects.Container {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Update player movement each frame
+   * Update player movement each frame (physics-based)
    */
   public update(_delta: number) {
-    // Calculate distance to target
-    const dx = this.targetX - this.gameX;
-    const dy = this.targetY - this.gameY;
-    const distance = Math.sqrt(dx * dx + dy * dy);
-
-    // If close enough to target, stop
-    if (distance < 0.1) {
-      this.body.setVelocity(0, 0);
-      return;
-    }
-
-    // Calculate velocity based on speed attribute
-    // speed attribute (0-100) maps to actual m/s (e.g., 80 -> 8 m/s)
-    const baseSpeed = (this.attributes.speed / 10) * SCALE; // Convert to pixels/s
-    const speed = baseSpeed * this.speedMultiplier; // Apply speed multiplier
-
-    // Normalize direction and apply speed
-    const dirX = dx / distance;
-    const dirY = dy / distance;
-
-    this.body.setVelocity(dirX * speed, -dirY * speed); // Negative Y because screen coords
-
     // Update game position based on physics body center
     const centerX = (this.scene.game.config.width as number) / 2;
     const centerY = (this.scene.game.config.height as number) / 2;
@@ -180,5 +172,28 @@ export class Player extends Phaser.GameObjects.Container {
     const bodyY = this.body.y + this.body.height / 2;
     this.gameX = (bodyX - centerX) / SCALE;
     this.gameY = -(bodyY - centerY) / SCALE;
+
+    // Calculate distance to target
+    const dx = this.targetX - this.gameX;
+    const dy = this.targetY - this.gameY;
+    const distance = Math.sqrt(dx * dx + dy * dy);
+
+    // If close enough to target, reduce acceleration (coast)
+    if (distance < 1.0) {
+      this.body.setAcceleration(0, 0);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // Calculate acceleration direction toward target
+    const dirX = dx / distance;
+    const dirY = dy / distance;
+
+    // Acceleration magnitude based on skill attribute and speed multiplier
+    // Higher skill = better acceleration (more responsive)
+    const baseAcceleration = (this.attributes.skill / 10) * SCALE * 10;
+    const acceleration = baseAcceleration * this.speedMultiplier;
+
+    // Apply acceleration toward target (negative Y for screen coords)
+    this.body.setAcceleration(dirX * acceleration, -dirY * acceleration);
   }
 }