diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7acdef6..5e707e1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,11 +1,17 @@
 # lib-core.panel
 
-Generic overlay-panel framework. Manages a single active widget at a time,
-handles input dispatch (mouse click + wheel, edge-detected), renders a
-titled panel overlay, and supports a context-menu layer. Designed as the
-glue layer between game modules and the engine render/input surfaces.
+Generic overlay-panel framework. v0.2.0 supports multiple panels open at
+the same time with 11 named layout-slot templates + custom-fn hook for
+bespoke positioning. Handles input dispatch (mouse click + wheel,
+edge-detected with reverse-open-order hit-test), renders titled panel
+overlays, and supports a context-menu layer on top. Designed as the glue
+layer between game modules and the engine render/input surfaces.
 
-**Version:** 0.1.1
+The single-active model from v0.1.1 is preserved as a backward-
+compatibility shim — `panel.open(id)`, `panel.close()`, `panel.is_open()`
+without an id-arg keep their old semantics.
+
+**Version:** 0.2.0
 **Lib-ID:** lib-core.panel
 **Requires:** engine.render.*, engine.input.*, lib-core.input (lazy, for default-trigger)
 **Tags:** panel, overlay, ui, input, context-menu
@@ -45,9 +51,11 @@ v0.1 ships a minimal single-active-widget panel system:
 
 ## API
 
-### `panel.register(widget_id, widget_def)`
+### `panel.register(widget_id, widget_def, opts?)`
 
-**Syntax:** `panel.register(widget_id: string, widget_def: table) -> void`
+**Syntax:** `panel.register(widget_id: string, widget_def: table, opts?: table) -> void`
+
+`opts` is optional. Accepted keys: `layout` (slot-name string or `function(sw, sh) -> {x,y,w,h}`; defaults to `"center"`) and `z_tier` (`"normal"`; v0.2.0 only the normal tier is exposed). See the [Multi-Active + Layout-Slots](#v020--multi-active--layout-slots) section below for the full slot table.
 
 **Example:**
 ```lua
@@ -86,16 +94,20 @@ closes the panel (sets active to nil, clears any open context-menu).
 
 **Syntax:** `panel.open(widget_id: string) -> void`
 
-Sets `widget_id` as the active widget. Loud-error if `widget_id` has not
-been registered.
+Opens `widget_id`. The window is pushed onto the top of `open_order`
+(becomes focused). Other open windows remain open. If `widget_id` is
+already open, it is brought to the front (re-focused). Loud-error if
+`widget_id` has not been registered.
 
 ---
 
-### `panel.close()`
+### `panel.close(widget_id?)`
 
-**Syntax:** `panel.close() -> void`
+**Syntax:** `panel.close(widget_id?: string) -> void`
 
-Closes the active widget and clears any open context-menu.
+With `widget_id`: closes that specific window. Without arg (v0.1.1
+bw-compat): closes the focused (last-opened) window. Clears any open
+context-menu when the last open window is closed.
 
 ---
 
@@ -103,16 +115,18 @@ Closes the active widget and clears any open context-menu.
 
 **Syntax:** `panel.toggle(widget_id: string) -> void`
 
-If `widget_id` is currently active, closes it. Otherwise opens it. Handy
+If `widget_id` is currently open, closes it. Otherwise opens it. Handy
 for key-binding toggle semantics without manual state tracking.
 
 ---
 
-### `panel.is_open()`
+### `panel.is_open(widget_id?)`
 
-**Syntax:** `panel.is_open() -> bool`
+**Syntax:** `panel.is_open(widget_id?: string) -> bool`
 
-Returns `true` if any widget is currently active.
+With `widget_id`: returns `true` iff that specific window is currently
+open. Without arg (v0.1.1 bw-compat): returns `true` if ANY window is
+open.
 
 ---
 
@@ -120,9 +134,9 @@ Returns `true` if any widget is currently active.
 
 **Syntax:** `panel.is_pausing() -> bool`
 
-Returns `true` if the active widget has `pause_on_open = true`. Modules
-can use this to gate their update loop (skip physics/AI while panel is
-open).
+Returns `true` if ANY currently-open window has `pause_on_open = true`.
+Modules can use this to gate their update loop (skip physics/AI while a
+pausing panel is open).
 
 ---
 
@@ -220,6 +234,85 @@ Direct passthrough to the internal `_dispatch_event` function. Allows
 test-modules to simulate input events without a running game loop (since
 `M.update` is not exercised headless).
 
+---
+
+## v0.2.0 — Multi-Active + Layout-Slots
+
+Multiple panels can now be open at the same time. The previous
+single-active model is preserved as the default for v0.1.1 callers via
+a backward-compatibility shim.
+
+### Layout-Slots
+
+`panel.register(id, widget_def, {layout = ...})` accepts:
+
+- `nil` → `"center"` default.
+- One of the 11 named templates (see table below).
+- A custom function `function(sw, sh) -> {x, y, w, h}` for bespoke
+  positioning (HP-bar, status-display, etc.).
+
+| Slot | x | y | w | h |
+|---|---|---|---|---|
+| `"center"` (default) | 25% sw | 20% sh | 50% sw | 60% sh |
+| `"left"` | 0 | 0 | 40% sw | sh |
+| `"right"` | 60% sw | 0 | 40% sw | sh |
+| `"top"` | 0 | 0 | sw | 30% sh |
+| `"bottom"` | 0 | 70% sh | sw | 30% sh |
+| `"top-left"` | 0 | 0 | 40% sw | 50% sh |
+| `"top-right"` | 60% sw | 0 | 40% sw | 50% sh |
+| `"bottom-left"` | 0 | 50% sh | 40% sw | 50% sh |
+| `"bottom-right"` | 60% sw | 50% sh | 40% sw | 50% sh |
+| `"left-half"` | 0 | 0 | 50% sw | sh |
+| `"right-half"` | 50% sw | 0 | 50% sw | sh |
+
+Unknown slot-name strings raise a loud-error at `panel.register` (so
+typos surface immediately, not in the next frame's render). Custom
+functions that error at runtime fall back to `"center"` with an
+`engine.print` warning.
+
+Bounds are re-resolved every render frame, so layout-slots react to
+screen-resizes automatically.
+
+### Multi-Active API
+
+- `panel.open(id)` — opens; does NOT close other open panels. If already
+  open, brings to front (re-focused).
+- `panel.close(id)` — closes that specific id.
+- `panel.close()` — bw-compat: closes the focused (last-opened) panel.
+- `panel.is_open(id)` — id-specific.
+- `panel.is_open()` — bw-compat: any panel open.
+- `panel.is_pausing()` — true if ANY open panel has `pause_on_open=true`.
+
+### Hit-Test Order
+
+Input events dispatch through panels in **reverse open-order** (last-
+opened first). A click that hits a panel's bounds is consumed by that
+panel and not propagated further. A click that misses all panels is
+dropped (v0.2.0 does not route to game; v0.3+ may add that).
+
+Wheel events route to the focused (last-opened) panel only.
+
+### Bw-Compat Guarantee
+
+All v0.1.1 callers (`register(id, widget)` without opts, `open(id)`,
+`close()`, `is_open()`) keep their existing semantics. The one
+behavioral change: `panel.open(A)` followed by `panel.open(B)` now
+leaves BOTH open instead of replacing A.
+
+If you relied on the v0.1.1 "open(B) closes A" behavior, call
+`panel.close()` before `panel.open(B)` to keep the single-active idiom.
+
+### Test backdoors (v0.2.0 additions)
+
+- `panel._test_reset_all()` — clears widgets + windows + open_order +
+  ctx_menu (theme + triggers preserved).
+- `panel._test_get_open_ids()` — array of currently-open ids in
+  open-order (last = focused).
+- `panel._test_get_focused_id()` — last-opened id, or nil.
+- `panel._test_get_window_bounds(id)` — resolved `{x,y,w,h}` for an open
+  window, or nil if not open.
+- `panel._test_get_screen_size()` — current screen size used by layouts.
+
 ## Theme Schema
 
 | Key | Default | Description |
diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index e94b80e..c1ca7f0 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -1,13 +1,20 @@
 -- =====================================================================
--- lib-core.panel v0.1.0 — Generic overlay-panel framework
+-- lib-core.panel v0.2.0 — Generic overlay-panel framework (Multi-Active)
 --
--- Provides a single-active-widget panel system with:
+-- v0.2.0 evolves the v0.1 single-active model into a multi-active
+-- window-manager with 11 named layout-slots + custom-fn hook. All
+-- v0.1.1 callers keep their semantics via a backward-compatibility
+-- shim (open/close/is_open without id-arg operate on the focused panel
+-- = last-opened).
+--
+-- Provides:
 --   - Widget registry + lifecycle (register, open, close, toggle)
---   - Centrally-rendered overlay with configurable theme
---   - Per-frame input dispatch (mouse click + wheel, edge-detected)
---   - Context-menu (show, hit-test, auto-close)
+--   - Multi-active open_order (last-opened = focused = topmost)
+--   - 11 named layout-slot templates + opts.layout = function(sw, sh)
+--   - Per-frame input dispatch with reverse-open-order hit-test
+--   - Context-menu (show, hit-test, auto-close) on top of windows
 --   - Default-trigger binding via lib-core.input (lazy-required)
---   - Optional pause-gate (pause_on_open=true widget makes is_pausing()=true)
+--   - Optional pause-gate (any open widget with pause_on_open=true)
 --
 -- Engine surfaces used:
 --   - engine.input.get_mouse_pos()  → x, y
@@ -20,12 +27,13 @@
 --   - engine.render.measure_text(text, font_size) → w, h
 --
 -- Screen-size limitation: engine.render does NOT expose get_screen_size()
--- to Lua (GetScreenWidth/GetScreenHeight are C-only). v0.1 falls back to
--- 1280x720 constants matching the default Sporel window config.
+-- to Lua (GetScreenWidth/GetScreenHeight are C-only). v0.2 still falls
+-- back to 1280x720 constants matching the default Sporel window config.
 --
--- DEFERRED (v0.1 non-goals):
---   - Multi-widget z-order / stacking
---   - Always-on HUD widgets (non-modal overlays)
+-- DEFERRED (v0.2 non-goals):
+--   - Persistent panels (always-on HUD widgets) → v0.3
+--   - z_tier other than "normal" (modal, hud, system) → v0.4
+--   - Drag + resize → v0.4
 --   - Keyboard navigation within widgets
 --   - Panel animation (fade in/out)
 -- =====================================================================
@@ -39,8 +47,11 @@
 -- still land further down once the public surface section starts.
 local M = {}
 
-local widgets             = {}      -- widget_id (string) → widget_def table
-local active              = nil     -- active widget_id or nil
+local widgets             = {}      -- widget_id (string) → widget_def table (legacy registry, preserved)
+-- v0.2.0: replaced single `active` scalar with multi-active model.
+-- windows[id] = { widget_def, opts, open, _close_button_rect?, _content_bounds? }
+local windows             = {}      -- widget_id → window-record
+local open_order          = {}      -- array of open widget_ids; last = focused = topmost
 local theme               = {}      -- merged DEFAULT_THEME + overrides
 local ctx_menu            = nil     -- context-menu state table or nil
 -- Default-trigger bindings: array of {action_name, widget_id}. Multiple
@@ -92,6 +103,14 @@ local function get_screen_size()
     return FALLBACK_SCREEN_W, FALLBACK_SCREEN_H
 end
 
+--- Find the (first) index of val in array arr, or nil.
+local function find_in_array(arr, val)
+    for i, v in ipairs(arr) do
+        if v == val then return i end
+    end
+    return nil
+end
+
 --- Estimate menu width from action labels (rough; render can refine via
 --- measure_text, but context-menu render in v0.1 uses this pre-computed w).
 local function estimate_menu_width(actions, padding)
@@ -106,6 +125,65 @@ local function estimate_menu_width(actions, padding)
     return max_w
 end
 
+-- =====================================================================
+-- v0.2.0 — Layout slots (per Phase Panel-WM spec §4.1)
+-- =====================================================================
+
+local LAYOUT_SLOTS = {
+    ["center"]       = function(sw, sh) return {x=sw*0.25, y=sh*0.20, w=sw*0.50, h=sh*0.60} end,
+    ["left"]         = function(sw, sh) return {x=0,       y=0,       w=sw*0.40, h=sh}        end,
+    ["right"]        = function(sw, sh) return {x=sw*0.60, y=0,       w=sw*0.40, h=sh}        end,
+    ["top"]          = function(sw, sh) return {x=0,       y=0,       w=sw,      h=sh*0.30}   end,
+    ["bottom"]       = function(sw, sh) return {x=0,       y=sh*0.70, w=sw,      h=sh*0.30}   end,
+    ["top-left"]     = function(sw, sh) return {x=0,       y=0,       w=sw*0.40, h=sh*0.50}   end,
+    ["top-right"]    = function(sw, sh) return {x=sw*0.60, y=0,       w=sw*0.40, h=sh*0.50}   end,
+    ["bottom-left"]  = function(sw, sh) return {x=0,       y=sh*0.50, w=sw*0.40, h=sh*0.50}   end,
+    ["bottom-right"] = function(sw, sh) return {x=sw*0.60, y=sh*0.50, w=sw*0.40, h=sh*0.50}   end,
+    ["left-half"]    = function(sw, sh) return {x=0,       y=0,       w=sw*0.50, h=sh}        end,
+    ["right-half"]   = function(sw, sh) return {x=sw*0.50, y=0,       w=sw*0.50, h=sh}        end,
+}
+
+-- Known-slot list (for error message + completeness check)
+local KNOWN_SLOT_NAMES = {
+    "center","left","right","top","bottom",
+    "top-left","top-right","bottom-left","bottom-right",
+    "left-half","right-half",
+}
+
+--- Resolves a layout specifier to {x, y, w, h} bounds.
+--- Accepts: nil (defaults to "center"), string (slot-name), or function.
+--- Loud-error on unknown string-slot. pcall-wraps custom function for
+--- safety (returns "center" fallback + engine.print warning on error).
+local function resolve_bounds(layout, sw, sh)
+    if layout == nil then
+        return LAYOUT_SLOTS["center"](sw, sh)
+    end
+    if type(layout) == "string" then
+        local fn = LAYOUT_SLOTS[layout]
+        if fn == nil then
+            error(string.format(
+                "panel.register: unknown layout slot '%s' (known: %s)",
+                layout, table.concat(KNOWN_SLOT_NAMES, ", ")), 3)
+        end
+        return fn(sw, sh)
+    end
+    if type(layout) == "function" then
+        local ok, result = pcall(layout, sw, sh)
+        if not ok then
+            if engine and engine.print then
+                engine.print(string.format(
+                    "[WARN] panel: custom layout fn errored: %s (falling back to center)",
+                    tostring(result)))
+            end
+            return LAYOUT_SLOTS["center"](sw, sh)
+        end
+        return result
+    end
+    error(string.format(
+        "panel.register: layout must be nil, string, or function (got %s)",
+        type(layout)), 3)
+end
+
 -- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 -- Internal: context-menu dispatch + render helpers
 -- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -135,14 +213,8 @@ local function safe_mouse_pos()
     return 0, 0
 end
 
--- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
--- Internal: event dispatch
--- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
-
---- _dispatch_event(event): route a synthetic or real input event.
---- event = {kind="click", x, y, button="left"|"right"} or {kind="wheel", dy}
 -- Close-button rect in the top-right of the title bar. Same math is used
--- by render() (draw the × glyph) and _dispatch_event (hit-test left-click).
+-- by render() (draw the X glyph) and _dispatch_event (hit-test left-click).
 local function close_button_rect(panel_x, panel_y, panel_w, padding, font_size_title)
     local size = font_size_title + padding
     return {
@@ -153,59 +225,44 @@ local function close_button_rect(panel_x, panel_y, panel_w, padding, font_size_t
     }
 end
 
-local function _dispatch_event(event)
-    -- Close-button intercept (top-right ×): left-click closes the active panel
-    -- before the click is forwarded to the widget or context-menu.
-    if active and event.kind == "click" and event.button == "left" then
-        local screen_w, screen_h = get_screen_size()
-        local panel_w = screen_w * theme.panel_width_frac
-        local panel_h = screen_h * theme.panel_height_frac
-        local panel_x = (screen_w - panel_w) / 2
-        local panel_y = (screen_h - panel_h) / 2
-        local cb = close_button_rect(panel_x, panel_y, panel_w, theme.padding, theme.font_size_title)
-        if event.x >= cb.x and event.x < cb.x + cb.w
-           and event.y >= cb.y and event.y < cb.y + cb.h then
-            M.close()
-            return
-        end
-    end
+-- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- Internal: per-window render helper (extracted from v0.1 render())
+-- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-    -- Context-menu intercept: any click is consumed by the menu.
-    if ctx_menu and event.kind == "click" then
-        -- Hit-test rows
-        build_ctx_menu_row_rects()
-        local hit = false
-        for i, rect in ipairs(ctx_menu.row_rects) do
-            if event.x >= rect.x and event.x < rect.x + rect.w
-            and event.y >= rect.y and event.y < rect.y + rect.h then
-                hit = true
-                local action = ctx_menu.actions[i]
-                ctx_menu = nil  -- close menu before callback (re-entrant safety)
-                if action and action.callback then
-                    action.callback({ close_menu = function() ctx_menu = nil end })
-                end
-                break
-            end
-        end
-        if not hit then
-            -- Click outside context-menu area → auto-close
-            ctx_menu = nil
-        end
-        return
-    end
-
-    -- Normal dispatch to active widget
-    if not active or not widgets[active] then return end
-
-    local screen_w, screen_h = get_screen_size()
-    local panel_w = screen_w * theme.panel_width_frac
-    local panel_h = screen_h * theme.panel_height_frac
-    local panel_x = (screen_w - panel_w) / 2
-    local panel_y = (screen_h - panel_h) / 2
+local function render_one_window(widget_id, win, sw, sh)
+    local widget_def = win.widget_def
+    local bounds = resolve_bounds(win.opts.layout, sw, sh)
+    local panel_x, panel_y, panel_w, panel_h = bounds.x, bounds.y, bounds.w, bounds.h
     local padding = theme.padding
-    local title_area_h = theme.font_size_title + padding * 2
 
-    local content_bounds = {
+    -- Background
+    engine.render.draw_rect(panel_x, panel_y, panel_w, panel_h, theme.bg_color)
+
+    -- Border
+    engine.render.draw_rect_lines(panel_x, panel_y, panel_w, panel_h,
+                                  theme.border_color, 2)
+
+    -- Title
+    engine.render.draw_text(widget_def.title,
+                            panel_x + padding,
+                            panel_y + padding,
+                            theme.font_size_title,
+                            theme.text_color)
+
+    -- Close button (X) in top-right of title bar. Hit-tested in _dispatch_event.
+    local cb = close_button_rect(panel_x, panel_y, panel_w, padding, theme.font_size_title)
+    engine.render.draw_text("X",
+                            cb.x + math.floor(cb.w / 4),
+                            cb.y,
+                            theme.font_size_title,
+                            theme.text_color)
+
+    -- Stash close-button rect on the window record so hit-test can find it
+    win._close_button_rect = cb
+
+    -- Content area (below title bar)
+    local title_area_h = theme.font_size_title + padding * 2
+    win._content_bounds = {
         x = panel_x + padding,
         y = panel_y + title_area_h,
         w = panel_w - padding * 2,
@@ -213,12 +270,153 @@ local function _dispatch_event(event)
     }
 
     local widget_ctx = {
-        bounds     = content_bounds,
+        bounds     = win._content_bounds,
         theme      = M.get_theme(),    -- shallow copy; widget cannot mutate panel state
-        is_focused = true,
+        is_focused = (widget_id == open_order[#open_order]),
     }
 
-    widgets[active].handle_input(widget_ctx, event)
+    widget_def.render(widget_ctx)
+end
+
+local function render_context_menu()
+    local mx, my = safe_mouse_pos()
+    -- Menu background
+    engine.render.draw_rect(ctx_menu.x, ctx_menu.y,
+                            ctx_menu.w, ctx_menu.h,
+                            theme.context_menu_bg)
+
+    build_ctx_menu_row_rects()
+    for i, action in ipairs(ctx_menu.actions) do
+        local rect   = ctx_menu.row_rects[i]
+        local row_bg = theme.context_menu_bg
+
+        -- Hover highlight: mouse y within this row
+        if my >= rect.y and my < rect.y + rect.h
+        and mx >= rect.x and mx < rect.x + rect.w then
+            row_bg = theme.context_menu_hover
+            engine.render.draw_rect(rect.x, rect.y, rect.w, rect.h, row_bg)
+        end
+
+        -- Label
+        engine.render.draw_text(action.label,
+                                rect.x + theme.padding,
+                                rect.y + (theme.row_height - theme.font_size_body) / 2,
+                                theme.font_size_body,
+                                theme.text_color)
+    end
+end
+
+-- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- Internal: event dispatch
+-- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+--- Returns true if the event was consumed by the context-menu.
+local function dispatch_context_menu_event(event)
+    if event.kind == "click" then
+        build_ctx_menu_row_rects()
+        for i, rect in ipairs(ctx_menu.row_rects or {}) do
+            if event.x >= rect.x and event.x < rect.x + rect.w
+            and event.y >= rect.y and event.y < rect.y + rect.h then
+                local action = ctx_menu.actions[i]
+                ctx_menu = nil  -- close menu before callback (re-entrant safety)
+                if action and action.callback then
+                    action.callback({ close_menu = function() ctx_menu = nil end })
+                end
+                return true
+            end
+        end
+        -- Clicked outside the menu: dismiss
+        ctx_menu = nil
+        return true
+    end
+    return false
+end
+
+--- _dispatch_event(event): route a synthetic or real input event.
+--- event = {kind="click", x, y, button="left"|"right"} or {kind="wheel", dy}
+local function _dispatch_event(event)
+    -- Context-menu always wins if open (consumes the next click).
+    if ctx_menu then
+        if dispatch_context_menu_event(event) then return end
+    end
+
+    -- Iterate reverse-open-order (last-opened = topmost gets first crack).
+    local sw, sh = get_screen_size()
+    for i = #open_order, 1, -1 do
+        local widget_id = open_order[i]
+        local win = windows[widget_id]
+        if win and win.open then
+            local b = resolve_bounds(win.opts.layout, sw, sh)
+
+            -- Click events use hit-test against window bounds.
+            if event.kind == "click" then
+                if event.x and event.y
+                and event.x >= b.x and event.x < b.x + b.w
+                and event.y >= b.y and event.y < b.y + b.h then
+                    -- Close-button intercept (top-right X): left-click closes
+                    -- the window before forwarding to the widget.
+                    if event.button == "left" then
+                        local cb = win._close_button_rect
+                        if not cb then
+                            -- Render hasn't run yet (e.g. test-mode); compute now
+                            cb = close_button_rect(b.x, b.y, b.w, theme.padding, theme.font_size_title)
+                        end
+                        if event.x >= cb.x and event.x < cb.x + cb.w
+                        and event.y >= cb.y and event.y < cb.y + cb.h then
+                            M.close(widget_id)
+                            return
+                        end
+                    end
+
+                    -- Route click to widget
+                    local content = win._content_bounds
+                    if not content then
+                        -- Render hasn't run; compute content bounds now
+                        local padding = theme.padding
+                        local title_area_h = theme.font_size_title + padding * 2
+                        content = {
+                            x = b.x + padding,
+                            y = b.y + title_area_h,
+                            w = b.w - padding * 2,
+                            h = b.h - title_area_h - padding,
+                        }
+                    end
+                    local widget_ctx = {
+                        bounds     = content,
+                        theme      = M.get_theme(),
+                        is_focused = (widget_id == open_order[#open_order]),
+                    }
+                    win.widget_def.handle_input(widget_ctx, event)
+                    return
+                end
+                -- v0.2.0: no input_block tiers yet — miss falls through to next window
+                -- (v0.3.0 will add modal-blocking)
+            elseif event.kind == "wheel" then
+                -- Wheel events route to the focused window (last-opened).
+                if widget_id == open_order[#open_order] then
+                    local content = win._content_bounds
+                    if not content then
+                        local padding = theme.padding
+                        local title_area_h = theme.font_size_title + padding * 2
+                        content = {
+                            x = b.x + padding,
+                            y = b.y + title_area_h,
+                            w = b.w - padding * 2,
+                            h = b.h - title_area_h - padding,
+                        }
+                    end
+                    local widget_ctx = {
+                        bounds     = content,
+                        theme      = M.get_theme(),
+                        is_focused = true,
+                    }
+                    win.widget_def.handle_input(widget_ctx, event)
+                    return
+                end
+            end
+        end
+    end
+    -- v0.2.0: events that hit no panel are dropped (no game-routing yet)
 end
 
 -- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -228,13 +426,19 @@ end
 -- Registry / Lifecycle
 -- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
---- M.register(widget_id, widget_def)
+--- M.register(widget_id, widget_def, opts?)
 --- Registers a new widget. widget_def must have:
----   .render(ctx)        — function, called each render frame when widget is active
+---   .render(ctx)        — function, called each render frame when widget is open
 ---   .handle_input(ctx, event) — function, called for each input event
 ---   .title              — string, displayed in the panel title bar
 --- Optional: .pause_on_open = true — makes is_pausing() return true while open.
-function M.register(widget_id, widget_def)
+---
+--- opts is OPTIONAL. Accepted keys:
+---   layout = "center" (default) | "left" | "right" | "top" | "bottom" |
+---            "top-left" | "top-right" | "bottom-left" | "bottom-right" |
+---            "left-half" | "right-half" | function(sw, sh) -> {x,y,w,h}
+---   z_tier = "normal" (default; v0.2.0 only "normal" exposed)
+function M.register(widget_id, widget_def, opts)
     if type(widget_id) ~= "string" then
         error("panel.register: widget_id must be a string, got " .. type(widget_id))
     end
@@ -253,57 +457,111 @@ function M.register(widget_id, widget_def)
     if widgets[widget_id] ~= nil then
         error("panel.register: duplicate widget_id '" .. widget_id .. "'")
     end
+    opts = opts or {}
+    -- Validate opts.layout eagerly (so unknown-slot errors surface at register, not later).
+    local sw, sh = get_screen_size()
+    local _validation_bounds = resolve_bounds(opts.layout, sw, sh)
+    _ = _validation_bounds  -- discard; bounds re-resolved per-frame to react to screen-resize
+
     widgets[widget_id] = widget_def
+    windows[widget_id] = {
+        widget_def = widget_def,
+        opts = {
+            layout = opts.layout,                  -- nil OR string OR fn
+            z_tier = opts.z_tier or "normal",
+        },
+        open = false,
+    }
 end
 
 --- M.unregister(widget_id)
---- Removes a widget from the registry. If the widget is currently active,
---- closes the panel first (clears active + ctx_menu).
+--- Removes a widget from the registry. If the widget is currently open,
+--- closes the panel first (removes from open_order; clears ctx_menu if
+--- this was the last-open window).
 function M.unregister(widget_id)
-    if active == widget_id then
-        active   = nil
-        ctx_menu = nil
+    if windows[widget_id] and windows[widget_id].open then
+        M.close(widget_id)
     end
     widgets[widget_id] = nil
+    windows[widget_id] = nil
 end
 
 --- M.open(widget_id)
---- Sets widget_id as the active (displayed) widget. Loud-error if not registered.
+--- Opens widget_id (adds to open_order; makes it the focused/topmost).
+--- If already open, brings it to the front (re-pushes onto open_order top).
+--- Loud-error if not registered.
 function M.open(widget_id)
     if widgets[widget_id] == nil then
         error("panel.open: unknown widget_id '" .. tostring(widget_id) .. "' (register before open)")
     end
-    active = widget_id
+    local w = windows[widget_id]
+    if w.open then
+        -- Already open: bring to front (focus) within open_order.
+        local idx = find_in_array(open_order, widget_id)
+        if idx then
+            table.remove(open_order, idx)
+        end
+    end
+    open_order[#open_order + 1] = widget_id
+    w.open = true
 end
 
---- M.close()
---- Closes the active panel and clears any open context-menu.
-function M.close()
-    active   = nil
-    ctx_menu = nil
+--- M.close(widget_id?)
+--- With id: closes that specific widget. Without id: closes the focused
+--- (= last-opened) for v0.1.1 bw-compat.
+function M.close(widget_id)
+    if widget_id == nil then
+        -- bw-compat: close focused
+        if #open_order == 0 then
+            -- v0.1.1: close() also cleared ctx_menu unconditionally
+            ctx_menu = nil
+            return
+        end
+        widget_id = open_order[#open_order]
+    end
+    local w = windows[widget_id]
+    if not w or not w.open then return end
+    w.open = false
+    local idx = find_in_array(open_order, widget_id)
+    if idx then table.remove(open_order, idx) end
+    -- Context-menu was attached to whatever was on top — clear it if our close
+    -- removed the focused window.
+    if #open_order == 0 then
+        ctx_menu = nil
+    end
 end
 
 --- M.toggle(widget_id)
---- If widget_id is currently active, closes it. Otherwise opens it.
+--- If widget_id is currently open, closes it. Otherwise opens it.
 function M.toggle(widget_id)
-    if active == widget_id then
-        M.close()
+    if M.is_open(widget_id) then
+        M.close(widget_id)
     else
         M.open(widget_id)
     end
 end
 
---- M.is_open() → bool
---- Returns true if any widget is currently active.
-function M.is_open()
-    return active ~= nil
+--- M.is_open(widget_id?) → bool
+--- With id: is that specific widget open?
+--- Without id: is any widget open? (v0.1.1 bw-compat)
+function M.is_open(widget_id)
+    if widget_id == nil then
+        return #open_order > 0
+    end
+    local w = windows[widget_id]
+    return w ~= nil and w.open == true
 end
 
 --- M.is_pausing() → bool
---- Returns true if the active widget has pause_on_open=true.
+--- Returns true if ANY open widget has pause_on_open=true.
 function M.is_pausing()
-    return active ~= nil and widgets[active] ~= nil
-        and widgets[active].pause_on_open == true
+    for _, id in ipairs(open_order) do
+        local w = windows[id]
+        if w and w.widget_def.pause_on_open == true then
+            return true
+        end
+    end
+    return false
 end
 
 -- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -426,7 +684,7 @@ function M.update(dt)
         end
     end
 
-    if not active then
+    if #open_order == 0 then
         -- Still need to update last_mouse_* state even when closed so that
         -- opening mid-frame doesn't produce a spurious edge on the next frame.
         if engine and engine.input then
@@ -468,98 +726,27 @@ end
 -- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 --- M.render()
---- Must be called each render frame. Draws the active widget's panel
---- (background, border, title bar) then invokes widget_def.render(ctx).
---- If a context-menu is open, renders it on top.
---- No-op if no widget is active.
+--- Must be called each render frame. Iterates open_order bottom-up
+--- (last = focused = topmost) and draws each window. Renders any open
+--- context-menu on top of all windows. No-op if nothing is open.
 function M.render()
-    if not active then return end
-
-    local widget_def = widgets[active]
-    if not widget_def then return end
-
-    -- Screen size: fallback to 1280x720 (engine.render has no Lua-accessible
-    -- get_screen_size; see module header for explanation)
-    local screen_w, screen_h = get_screen_size()
-
-    local panel_w = screen_w * theme.panel_width_frac
-    local panel_h = screen_h * theme.panel_height_frac
-    local panel_x = (screen_w - panel_w) / 2
-    local panel_y = (screen_h - panel_h) / 2
-    local padding = theme.padding
-
-    -- Background
-    engine.render.draw_rect(panel_x, panel_y, panel_w, panel_h, theme.bg_color)
-
-    -- Border
-    engine.render.draw_rect_lines(panel_x, panel_y, panel_w, panel_h,
-                                  theme.border_color, 2)
-
-    -- Title
-    local title = widget_def.title
-    engine.render.draw_text(title,
-                            panel_x + padding,
-                            panel_y + padding,
-                            theme.font_size_title,
-                            theme.text_color)
-
-    -- Close button (×) in top-right of title bar. Hit-tested in _dispatch_event.
-    local cb = close_button_rect(panel_x, panel_y, panel_w, padding, theme.font_size_title)
-    engine.render.draw_text("X",
-                            cb.x + math.floor(cb.w / 4),
-                            cb.y,
-                            theme.font_size_title,
-                            theme.text_color)
-
-    -- Content area (below title bar)
-    local title_area_h = theme.font_size_title + padding * 2
-    local content_bounds = {
-        x = panel_x + padding,
-        y = panel_y + title_area_h,
-        w = panel_w - padding * 2,
-        h = panel_h - title_area_h - padding,
-    }
-
-    local widget_ctx = {
-        bounds     = content_bounds,
-        theme      = M.get_theme(),    -- shallow copy; widget cannot mutate panel state
-        is_focused = true,
-    }
-
-    widget_def.render(widget_ctx)
-
-    -- Context-menu (rendered on top of widget content)
-    if ctx_menu then
-        local mx, my = safe_mouse_pos()
-        -- Menu background
-        engine.render.draw_rect(ctx_menu.x, ctx_menu.y,
-                                ctx_menu.w, ctx_menu.h,
-                                theme.context_menu_bg)
-
-        build_ctx_menu_row_rects()
-        for i, action in ipairs(ctx_menu.actions) do
-            local rect   = ctx_menu.row_rects[i]
-            local row_bg = theme.context_menu_bg
-
-            -- Hover highlight: mouse y within this row
-            if my >= rect.y and my < rect.y + rect.h
-            and mx >= rect.x and mx < rect.x + rect.w then
-                row_bg = theme.context_menu_hover
-                engine.render.draw_rect(rect.x, rect.y, rect.w, rect.h, row_bg)
-            end
-
-            -- Label
-            engine.render.draw_text(action.label,
-                                    rect.x + padding,
-                                    rect.y + (theme.row_height - theme.font_size_body) / 2,
-                                    theme.font_size_body,
-                                    theme.text_color)
+    if #open_order == 0 then return end
+    local sw, sh = get_screen_size()
+    for _, widget_id in ipairs(open_order) do
+        local w = windows[widget_id]
+        if w and w.open then
+            render_one_window(widget_id, w, sw, sh)
         end
     end
+
+    -- Context-menu (rendered on top of all windows)
+    if ctx_menu then
+        render_context_menu()
+    end
 end
 
 -- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
--- Test backdoor
+-- Test backdoors (v0.1.0 + v0.2.0 additions)
 -- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 --- M._dispatch_event_for_test(event) — for tests only.
@@ -569,4 +756,42 @@ function M._dispatch_event_for_test(event)
     _dispatch_event(event)
 end
 
+--- M._test_reset_all() — clears widgets + windows + open_order + ctx_menu.
+--- Note: theme + triggers preserved across reset; tests that need
+--- those reset should do it explicitly.
+function M._test_reset_all()
+    widgets = {}
+    windows = {}
+    open_order = {}
+    ctx_menu = nil
+end
+
+--- M._test_get_open_ids() — returns array of currently-open ids in
+--- open-order (last = focused).
+function M._test_get_open_ids()
+    local out = {}
+    for i, id in ipairs(open_order) do out[i] = id end
+    return out
+end
+
+--- M._test_get_focused_id() — last-opened id, or nil.
+function M._test_get_focused_id()
+    if #open_order == 0 then return nil end
+    return open_order[#open_order]
+end
+
+--- M._test_get_window_bounds(widget_id) — resolved bounds for an open
+--- window, or nil if not open.
+function M._test_get_window_bounds(widget_id)
+    local w = windows[widget_id]
+    if not w or not w.open then return nil end
+    local sw, sh = get_screen_size()
+    return resolve_bounds(w.opts.layout, sw, sh)
+end
+
+--- M._test_get_screen_size() — current screen size used by layouts.
+function M._test_get_screen_size()
+    return get_screen_size()
+end
+
 return M
diff --git a/manifest.lib b/manifest.lib
index def1ccf..c986dbf 100644
--- a/manifest.lib
+++ b/manifest.lib
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{"id":"lib-core.panel","version":"0.1.1","api_min":"0.1","deps":[]}
+{"id":"lib-core.panel","version":"0.2.0","api_min":"0.1","deps":[]}