diff --git a/examples/comparisons.ne b/examples/comparisons.ne
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..81d4a47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/comparisons.ne
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+// Comparisons — uses every comparison operator (==, !=, <, <=,
+// >, >=) to drive a different pip on screen. Each pip only
+// lights up when its corresponding comparison is true, so at
+// any given moment the set of visible pips is a direct readout
+// of which comparisons are passing.
+//
+// What this exercises end-to-end:
+//   - All six comparison operators in `if` conditions
+//   - Their lowering through `CmpKind::{Eq,Ne,Lt,LtEq,Gt,GtEq}`
+//     in `src/codegen/ir_codegen.rs::gen_cmp`
+//   - Each one correctly mapping to `BEQ`/`BNE`/`BCC`/`BCS` and
+//     producing the expected truth value in a branch
+//
+// The `value` variable ramps from 0 to 255 so the six
+// comparisons against MIDPOINT (=128) all fire across one cycle.
+//
+// Build: cargo run -- build examples/comparisons.ne
+
+game "Comparisons" {
+    mapper: NROM
+}
+
+const MIDPOINT: u8 = 128
+
+var value: u8 = 0
+
+on frame {
+    // Slowly ramp through 0..255 and wrap. At the wrap the u8
+    // overflow resets value to 0 — intentional, the pips will
+    // re-animate.
+    value += 1
+
+    // Always-visible player sprite so the harness has at least
+    // one solid OAM entry every frame. Its position reflects
+    // the current ramp value — easy to read at a glance.
+    draw Player at: (value, 120)
+
+    // Each comparison drives a pip at a fixed X position along
+    // the top. When its condition is true, the pip draws; when
+    // false, the draw is skipped and the cursor's next slot
+    // stays hidden from the OAM clear's $FE Y byte.
+    if value == MIDPOINT    { draw Pip at: ( 32, 16) }
+    if value != MIDPOINT    { draw Pip at: ( 64, 16) }
+    if value <  MIDPOINT    { draw Pip at: ( 96, 16) }
+    if value <= MIDPOINT    { draw Pip at: (128, 16) }
+    if value >  MIDPOINT    { draw Pip at: (160, 16) }
+    if value >= MIDPOINT    { draw Pip at: (192, 16) }
+}
+
+start Main
diff --git a/examples/function_chain.ne b/examples/function_chain.ne
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bf9d3e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/function_chain.ne
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+// Function Chain — exercises a deep call graph with parameter
+// passing and return values across multiple user functions.
+//
+// The analyzer caps call depth at 8 (hard NES stack limit for
+// a cooperative compiler). This example chains five functions:
+//
+//   frame -> compute -> scale -> clamp -> fold -> taper
+//
+// Each function takes its argument through the zero-page
+// parameter slots ($04-$07), computes a small transform, and
+// returns a value in A. The chained result is what drives the
+// player sprite's X position on screen each frame.
+//
+// What this exercises end-to-end:
+//   - Five levels of nested `JSR` without stack corruption
+//   - Parameter passing via `$04-$07` between callers
+//   - Return value propagation through A
+//   - `fun ... -> u8 { return ... }` — the full typed-function
+//     shape, including an early `return` inside an `if`
+//   - Interaction of function calls with handler-local vars
+//     (the `out` result ends up in a local that drives draw)
+//
+// Build: cargo run -- build examples/function_chain.ne
+
+game "Fn Chain" {
+    mapper: NROM
+}
+
+const SCREEN_MIN: u8 = 16
+const SCREEN_MAX: u8 = 232
+
+var tick: u8 = 0
+
+// Level 5: final transform — fold the input by reflecting any
+// overshoot back toward the middle. Pure function, returns u8.
+fun taper(v: u8) -> u8 {
+    if v > 200 {
+        return 200
+    }
+    return v
+}
+
+// Level 4: fold — bias the input toward the screen center.
+fun fold(v: u8) -> u8 {
+    var biased: u8 = v
+    if biased < SCREEN_MIN {
+        biased = SCREEN_MIN
+    }
+    return taper(biased)
+}
+
+// Level 3: clamp to the visible screen band.
+fun clamp(v: u8) -> u8 {
+    if v > SCREEN_MAX {
+        return fold(SCREEN_MAX)
+    }
+    return fold(v)
+}
+
+// Level 2: scale the tick into a pixel position. Uses a shift
+// instead of multiply so we don't pull in the soft multiply.
+fun scale(t: u8) -> u8 {
+    return clamp(t << 1)
+}
+
+// Level 1: top of the call chain. Takes the raw frame counter,
+// adds a small offset, and hands it to `scale`. The returned
+// value is the player's X position.
+fun compute(counter: u8) -> u8 {
+    var shifted: u8 = counter
+    shifted += 16
+    return scale(shifted)
+}
+
+on frame {
+    tick += 1
+
+    // Single call site that triggers the whole chain. If any
+    // link in the chain corrupts the param passing or stack,
+    // the player sprite starts jittering or disappears.
+    var x: u8 = compute(tick)
+
+    // Player Y is fixed; X comes from the chain. Visually the
+    // sprite sweeps across the screen as the chain holds.
+    draw Player at: (x, 112)
+
+    // Also draw a static reference marker so the smoke test
+    // always has at least one visible sprite even if the chain
+    // somehow returns 0.
+    draw Marker at: (8, 8)
+}
+
+start Main
diff --git a/examples/mmc3_per_state_split.ne b/examples/mmc3_per_state_split.ne
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d7c4f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/mmc3_per_state_split.ne
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+// MMC3 Per-State Scanline Split — proves the compiler's per-state
+// IRQ dispatch and reload logic. Two states each own their own
+// `on scanline(N)` handler at a different scanline; pressing START
+// transitions between them. Because the MMC3 IRQ latch is
+// reloaded from the *current* state's scanline each frame (via
+// the `__ir_mmc3_reload` helper), the visible split line moves
+// when the state changes.
+//
+// What this exercises end-to-end:
+//   - MMC3 scanline IRQ firing at the latched line
+//   - `__ir_mmc3_reload` walking the dispatch table to pick the
+//     latch value for the new state after a transition
+//   - `__irq_user` dispatching to the right per-state handler
+//   - scroll writes from inside an IRQ handler landing before the
+//     PPU renders the next visible scanline
+//
+// Controls:
+//   START — toggle between Upper-split and Lower-split states
+//
+// Build: cargo run -- build examples/mmc3_per_state_split.ne
+
+game "MMC3 Split" {
+    mapper: MMC3
+    mirroring: horizontal
+}
+
+// Scroll values for the two halves of the screen. `frame_scroll`
+// drifts every frame so the split is easy to see in motion — the
+// top half scrolls right, the bottom scrolls left.
+var top_scroll:    u8 = 0
+var bottom_scroll: u8 = 0
+
+// Tiny debouncer so one press of START doesn't cycle through the
+// states multiple times per frame.
+var debounce: u8 = 0
+
+// Shared drift counter — primarily for observability (the split
+// animation works from `top_scroll` / `bottom_scroll` directly).
+var _frame_counter: u8 = 0
+
+state Upper {
+    on enter {
+        // When we arrive, reset the scroll so the split is easy
+        // to see from the first frame onward.
+        top_scroll = 0
+        bottom_scroll = 0
+    }
+
+    on frame {
+        _frame_counter += 1
+        top_scroll += 1
+        bottom_scroll -= 1
+
+        // Initial scroll for the TOP half. The scanline handler
+        // below will rewrite scroll midway through the frame.
+        scroll(top_scroll, 0)
+
+        // Draw a marker at the top half and a player sprite in
+        // the bottom half so the split position is visually
+        // obvious.
+        draw Marker at: (40, 40)
+        draw Player at: (120, 140)
+
+        if debounce > 0 {
+            debounce -= 1
+        }
+        if button.start and debounce == 0 {
+            transition Lower
+            debounce = 30
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Split at line 80 — the top 80 rows use `top_scroll`, the
+    // rest use `bottom_scroll`.
+    on scanline(80) {
+        scroll(bottom_scroll, 0)
+    }
+}
+
+state Lower {
+    on enter {
+        top_scroll = 0
+        bottom_scroll = 0
+    }
+
+    on frame {
+        _frame_counter += 1
+        top_scroll += 1
+        bottom_scroll -= 1
+
+        scroll(top_scroll, 0)
+
+        draw Marker at: (40, 40)
+        draw Player at: (120, 140)
+
+        if debounce > 0 {
+            debounce -= 1
+        }
+        if button.start and debounce == 0 {
+            transition Upper
+            debounce = 30
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Split at line 160 — lower split, so the top 160 rows use
+    // `top_scroll` and only the last ~80 rows use `bottom_scroll`.
+    on scanline(160) {
+        scroll(bottom_scroll, 0)
+    }
+}
+
+start Upper
diff --git a/examples/two_player.ne b/examples/two_player.ne
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b2637b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/two_player.ne
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+// Two Player — proves the compiler can read both NES controllers.
+//
+// Player 1 input goes through `button.*` (the implicit default,
+// equivalent to `p1.button.*`); player 2 input goes through
+// `p2.button.*`. The language guide mentions both; until this
+// example, no runtime test actually exercised player 2.
+//
+// What this exercises end-to-end:
+//   - `p2.button.up/down/left/right/a` reads from the player-2
+//     ZP slot ($08) rather than player 1 ($01)
+//   - The runtime's NMI controller poll reads both $4016 and
+//     $4017 per frame and shifts the bits into $01 and $08
+//   - Two independently-controlled sprites sharing a frame
+//     handler's OAM cursor
+//
+// Controls:
+//   D-pad, A/B   — player 1 moves red sprite
+//   p2.D-pad,    — player 2 moves blue sprite
+//   p2.A/B       — p2 shoots "bullets" (visual marker)
+//
+// Build: cargo run -- build examples/two_player.ne
+
+game "Two Player" {
+    mapper: NROM
+}
+
+var p1x: u8 = 64
+var p1y: u8 = 112
+var p2x: u8 = 192
+var p2y: u8 = 112
+
+// A simple "shot" indicator for each player — when any button is
+// pressed this frame, we light up a pixel near the player.
+var p1_shot: u8 = 0
+var p2_shot: u8 = 0
+
+on frame {
+    // Player 1 — uses the implicit prefix.
+    if button.left  { p1x -= 1 }
+    if button.right { p1x += 1 }
+    if button.up    { p1y -= 1 }
+    if button.down  { p1y += 1 }
+    if button.a or button.b {
+        p1_shot = 1
+    } else {
+        p1_shot = 0
+    }
+
+    // Player 2 — explicit `p2.` prefix.
+    if p2.button.left  { p2x -= 1 }
+    if p2.button.right { p2x += 1 }
+    if p2.button.up    { p2y -= 1 }
+    if p2.button.down  { p2y += 1 }
+    if p2.button.a or p2.button.b {
+        p2_shot = 1
+    } else {
+        p2_shot = 0
+    }
+
+    // Draw each player, and a shot indicator above their head
+    // whenever they're holding a face button. Using separate
+    // `draw` statements so each gets its own OAM slot via the
+    // runtime cursor.
+    draw Player1 at: (p1x, p1y)
+    draw Player2 at: (p2x, p2y)
+    if p1_shot == 1 {
+        draw Shot at: (p1x, p1y - 8)
+    }
+    if p2_shot == 1 {
+        draw Shot at: (p2x, p2y - 8)
+    }
+}
+
+start Main
diff --git a/tests/emulator/run_examples.mjs b/tests/emulator/run_examples.mjs
index da6a556..8403d18 100644
--- a/tests/emulator/run_examples.mjs
+++ b/tests/emulator/run_examples.mjs
@@ -36,6 +36,13 @@ const EXAMPLE_FLOORS = {
   structs_enums_for: [200, "player + 4 enemies drawn by a `for` loop"],
   sprites_and_palettes: [60, "custom CHR tiles visible"],
   scanline_split: [80, "banner + player"],
+  mmc3_per_state_split: [80, "marker + player in the split-screen state"],
+  two_player: [100, "two player sprites drawn independently"],
+  function_chain: [100, "player swept by chained function return + a static marker"],
+  // `comparisons` has at least `value != MIDPOINT` true for 255 of
+  // 256 frames, plus either `<`/`<=` or `>`/`>=`, plus the player.
+  // That's 4+ sprites on most frames.
+  comparisons: [150, "player + pips for each true comparison against MIDPOINT"],
 };
 
 async function listRoms() {
diff --git a/tests/emulator/screenshots/comparisons.png b/tests/emulator/screenshots/comparisons.png
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