diff --git a/client/public/sparkle_1.png b/client/public/sparkle_1.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f3dc617
Binary files /dev/null and b/client/public/sparkle_1.png differ
diff --git a/client/public/sparkle_2.png b/client/public/sparkle_2.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..87e8d37
Binary files /dev/null and b/client/public/sparkle_2.png differ
diff --git a/client/public/sparkle_3.png b/client/public/sparkle_3.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2e90eae
Binary files /dev/null and b/client/public/sparkle_3.png differ
diff --git a/client/src/components/ui/Explosion.tsx b/client/src/components/ui/Explosion.tsx
index 7867978..1e1940a 100644
--- a/client/src/components/ui/Explosion.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/ui/Explosion.tsx
@@ -1,95 +1,57 @@
-import Image from "next/image";
-import React, { useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
+import { motion } from "framer-motion";
 
-import { ExplosionPosition } from "../../hooks/useExplosions";
-import { Crater } from "./Crater";
-import { DebrisBurst } from "./DebrisBurst";
-import { Smoke } from "./Smoke";
+type ExplosionProps = {
+  colour1: string;
+  colour2: string;
+  // looks better with odd numbers
+  count: number;
+  // can optionally take offsets to adjust exact position
+  yOffset?: number;
+  xOffset?: number;
+};
 
-interface ExplosionProps {
-  explosion: ExplosionPosition;
-}
-
-/**
- * Renders a single explosion at a specific position.
- * Position is defined as a percentage of the parent container.
- */
-export const Explosion = React.memo(function Explosion({
-  explosion,
+export function Explosion({
+  colour1,
+  colour2,
+  count,
+  yOffset = 0,
+  xOffset = 0,
 }: ExplosionProps) {
-  const containerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
-  const [debrisPosition, setDebrisPosition] = useState<{
-    x: number;
-    y: number;
-  } | null>(null);
-
-  // Convert percentage position to pixel coordinates for DebrisBurst
-  useEffect(() => {
-    if (!containerRef.current) return;
-    const container = containerRef.current.closest(
-      '[class*="relative"]',
-    ) as HTMLElement;
-    if (!container) {
-      // Fallback: use window if no relative container found
-      const x = (explosion.x / 100) * window.innerWidth;
-      const y = (explosion.y / 100) * window.innerHeight;
-      setDebrisPosition({ x, y });
-      return;
-    }
-
-    const rect = container.getBoundingClientRect();
-    const x = rect.left + (explosion.x / 100) * rect.width;
-    const y = rect.top + (explosion.y / 100) * rect.height;
-    setDebrisPosition({ x, y });
-  }, [explosion.x, explosion.y]);
+  const particles = Array.from({ length: count });
 
   return (
-    <div ref={containerRef}>
-      {/* SVG Crater with depth shading */}
-      <div
-        className="pointer-events-none absolute z-40"
-        style={{
-          left: `${explosion.x}%`,
-          top: `${explosion.y}%`,
-          transform: "translate(-50%, -50%)",
-          animation: "crater-fade 2.5s ease-out forwards",
-          willChange: "opacity",
-        }}
-      >
-        <Crater size={110} intensity={0.95} />
-      </div>
-      {/* Physics-based debris burst */}
-      {debrisPosition && (
-        <DebrisBurst
-          x={debrisPosition.x}
-          y={debrisPosition.y}
-          count={6}
-          power={400}
-          spreadDeg={360}
-          gravity={1000}
-          bounce={0.25}
-        />
-      )}
-      {/* The actual explosion GIF */}
-      <div
-        className="pointer-events-none absolute z-50"
-        style={{
-          left: `${explosion.x}%`,
-          top: `${explosion.y}%`,
-          transform: "translate(-50%, -50%)",
-        }}
-      >
-        <Image
-          src="/explosions/samj_cartoon_explosion.gif"
-          alt="Explosion"
-          width={150}
-          height={150}
-          className="animate-fade-in"
-          unoptimized // GIFs need unoptimized to animate
-        />
-      </div>
-      {/* Rising smoke effect */}
-      <Smoke x={explosion.x} y={explosion.y} duration={1800} />
+    <div className="pointer-events-none absolute inset-0 z-0 flex items-center justify-center">
+      {particles.map((_, i) => {
+        const individualSize = Math.random() * 0.1 + 4;
+        const randomDisplacement = Math.random() * 10;
+
+        // for every particle return a particle with a different size
+        return (
+          <motion.div
+            key={i}
+            initial={{
+              x: xOffset,
+              y: yOffset,
+              opacity: 1,
+              scale: individualSize,
+            }}
+            animate={{
+              x: Math.cos(i + randomDisplacement) * 150 + xOffset,
+              y: Math.sin(i + randomDisplacement) * 150 + yOffset,
+              opacity: 0,
+              scale: 0,
+            }}
+            transition={{ duration: 0.6, ease: "easeOut" }}
+            className="absolute h-4 w-4 rounded-none"
+            style={{
+              backgroundColor: i % 2 === 0 ? colour1 : colour2,
+              boxShadow: `0 0 10px ${colour1}`,
+            }}
+          />
+        );
+      })}
     </div>
   );
-});
+}
+
+export default Explosion;
diff --git a/client/src/components/ui/eventHighlightCard.tsx b/client/src/components/ui/eventHighlightCard.tsx
index 378b03e..4445895 100644
--- a/client/src/components/ui/eventHighlightCard.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/ui/eventHighlightCard.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import { Play } from "lucide-react";
 import Image from "next/image";
+import { useState } from "react";
 
 export type eventHighlightCardImage = {
   url: string;
@@ -17,6 +18,13 @@ export type eventHighlightCardType = {
   row: number;
 };
 
+export type sparkleIndexOverlay = {
+  card: eventHighlightCardType;
+  indexes: number[];
+};
+
+const sparkleImages = ["/sparkle_1.png", "/sparkle_2.png", "/sparkle_3.png"];
+
 // Purple card header section.
 const renderCardHeader = (card: eventHighlightCardType) => {
   // Renders differently if we want the techno border.
@@ -41,7 +49,6 @@ const renderCardHeader = (card: eventHighlightCardType) => {
       </div>
     );
   }
-
   return (
     <div className="rounded-md border border-accent bg-dark_alt px-4 py-2 font-jersey10 text-2xl font-semibold">
       {card.title}
@@ -49,6 +56,34 @@ const renderCardHeader = (card: eventHighlightCardType) => {
   );
 };
 
+// only render sparkles on specific cards
+const renderSparkleOverlay = (sparkle: sparkleIndexOverlay) => {
+  switch (sparkle.card.id) {
+    case 2:
+      return (
+        <Image
+          src={sparkleImages[sparkle.indexes[0]]}
+          width={15}
+          height={17}
+          alt="sparkle"
+          className="absolute bottom-0 right-0 h-10 w-10 [image-rendering:pixelated]"
+        />
+      );
+    case 3:
+      return (
+        <Image
+          src={sparkleImages[sparkle.indexes[0]]}
+          width={15}
+          height={17}
+          alt="sparkle"
+          className="absolute bottom-0 left-0 h-10 w-10 [image-rendering:pixelated]"
+        />
+      );
+    default:
+      return null;
+  }
+};
+
 export function EventHighlightCard({
   id,
   title,
@@ -57,11 +92,21 @@ export function EventHighlightCard({
   image,
   row,
 }: eventHighlightCardType) {
+  const [indexes] = useState(() => {
+    const first = Math.floor(Math.random() * sparkleImages.length);
+    let second = Math.floor(Math.random() * sparkleImages.length);
+
+    if (second === first) {
+      second = (first + 1) % sparkleImages.length;
+    }
+    return [first, second];
+  });
+
   return (
     <div key={id} className="flex flex-col">
       {renderCardHeader({ id, title, description, type, image, row })}
 
-      <div className="mt-4 rounded-md border border-muted bg-landingCard p-4 text-gray-200">
+      <div className="relative mt-4 rounded-md border border-muted bg-landingCard p-4 text-gray-200">
         <div className="flex gap-2">
           <span className="flex h-6 w-6 flex-shrink-0 items-center justify-center">
             <Play
@@ -81,7 +126,13 @@ export function EventHighlightCard({
             />
           )}
         </div>
+        {renderSparkleOverlay({
+          card: { id, title, description, type, image, row },
+          indexes,
+        })}
       </div>
     </div>
   );
 }
+
+// render sparkle overlay function takes a card and index to then return a sparkle on the specified indexes
diff --git a/client/src/pages/index.tsx b/client/src/pages/index.tsx
index 979246e..aa0378d 100644
--- a/client/src/pages/index.tsx
+++ b/client/src/pages/index.tsx
@@ -9,32 +9,24 @@ import {
   EventHighlightCard,
   eventHighlightCardType,
 } from "@/components/ui/eventHighlightCard";
+import Explosion from "@/components/ui/Explosion";
 import LandingGames from "@/components/ui/landingGames";
-import { useExplosionContext } from "@/contexts/ExplosionContext";
 import { UiEvent, useEvents } from "@/hooks/useEvents";
 
 export default function Landing() {
+  const [showExplosion, setShowExplosion] = useState(false);
   const [isShaking, setIsShaking] = useState(false);
-  const { triggerExplosionAt } = useExplosionContext();
-
-  const handleBombClick = (e: React.MouseEvent) => {
-    // Trigger multiple explosions across the page
-    for (let i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
-      setTimeout(() => {
-        // Random position with 10% margin from edges
-        const x = window.innerWidth * (0.1 + Math.random() * 0.8);
-        const y = window.innerHeight * (0.1 + Math.random() * 0.8);
-        triggerExplosionAt(x, y);
-      }, i * 50); // Stagger by 50ms
-    }
 
+  const handleExplode = () => {
+    if (showExplosion) return;
+
+    setShowExplosion(true);
+    setTimeout(() => setShowExplosion(false), 700);
     // Trigger screen shake
     setIsShaking(true);
     setTimeout(() => setIsShaking(false), 400);
-
-    // Prevent event bubbling
-    e.stopPropagation();
   };
+
   const { data, isPending, isError, isFetching } = useEvents({
     type: "upcoming",
     pageSize: 100,
@@ -132,48 +124,63 @@ export default function Landing() {
               alt="placeholder"
               className="retroBorder min-w-80"
             />
-            <Image
-              src="/bomb.png"
-              width={96}
-              height={156}
-              alt="Bomb - click to explode!"
-              className="absolute bottom-0 left-0 h-auto w-[20%] -translate-x-1/4 -translate-y-4 cursor-pointer transition-transform [image-rendering:pixelated] hover:scale-110"
-              onClick={handleBombClick}
-            />
+            <div
+              className="absolute bottom-0 left-0 h-auto w-[20%] -translate-x-1/4 -translate-y-4 cursor-pointer"
+              onClick={handleExplode}
+            >
+              {showExplosion && (
+                <Explosion
+                  colour1="#ef4444"
+                  colour2="#f59e0b"
+                  count={11}
+                  yOffset={40}
+                />
+              )}
+              <Image
+                src="/bomb.png"
+                width={96}
+                height={156}
+                alt="bomb"
+                className="h-auto w-full transition-transform [image-rendering:pixelated] active:scale-90"
+              />
+            </div>
           </div>
         </div>
       </section>
 
       <section className="-mt-8 bg-dark_3 py-16 [clip-path:polygon(0%_0%,20%_0%,calc(20%+32px)_32px,100%_32px,100%_100%,0%_100%)] [overflow:clip]">
         <div className="container mx-auto px-6 lg:px-12">
-          <div className="grid grid-cols-1 gap-10 md:grid-cols-2">
-            {eventCards
-              .filter((card) => card.row === 1)
-              .map((card) => (
-                <EventHighlightCard key={card.id} {...card} />
-              ))}
+          <div className="relative">
+            <div className="grid grid-cols-1 gap-10 md:grid-cols-2">
+              {eventCards
+                .filter((card) => card.row === 1)
+                .map((card) => (
+                  <EventHighlightCard key={card.id} {...card} />
+                ))}
+            </div>
           </div>
 
-          <div className="mt-10 grid grid-cols-1 gap-10 md:grid-cols-[23fr_27fr_11fr]">
-            {eventCards
-              .filter((card) => card.row === 2)
-              .map((card) => (
-                <EventHighlightCard key={card.id} {...card} />
-              ))}
-
-            <div className="flex flex-row items-center justify-center gap-4 md:hidden lg:flex lg:flex-col lg:items-start">
-              {gameLogoImages.map((logo, index) => (
-                <Image
-                  key={index}
-                  src={logo.url}
-                  width={135}
-                  height={46}
-                  alt={logo.alt}
-                  className={`${index < gameLogoImages.length - 1 ? "lg:mb-5" : ""} ${
-                    logo.position === "end" ? "lg:self-end" : ""
-                  }`}
-                />
-              ))}
+          <div className="relative">
+            <div className="mt-10 grid grid-cols-1 gap-10 md:grid-cols-[23fr_27fr_11fr]">
+              {eventCards
+                .filter((card) => card.row === 2)
+                .map((card) => (
+                  <EventHighlightCard key={card.id} {...card} />
+                ))}
+              <div className="flex flex-row items-center justify-center gap-4 md:hidden lg:flex lg:flex-col lg:items-start">
+                {gameLogoImages.map((logo, index) => (
+                  <Image
+                    key={index}
+                    src={logo.url}
+                    width={135}
+                    height={46}
+                    alt={logo.alt}
+                    className={`${index < gameLogoImages.length - 1 ? "lg:mb-5" : ""} ${
+                      logo.position === "end" ? "lg:self-end" : ""
+                    }`}
+                  />
+                ))}
+              </div>
             </div>
           </div>
         </div>