diff --git a/achievement.cpp b/achievement.cpp
index 1fc27434..db1bc281 100644
--- a/achievement.cpp
+++ b/achievement.cpp
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ EX bool wrongMode(char flags) {
   if(cheater) return true;
   if(casual) return true;
   if(flags == rg::global) return false;
+  if(flags == rg::fail) return true;
   if(bow::weapon) return true;
 
   if(flags != rg::special_geometry && flags != rg::special_geometry_nicewalls) {
@@ -131,6 +132,7 @@ EX bool wrongMode(char flags) {
   if(tour::on) return true;
 #endif
   eLandStructure dls = lsNiceWalls;
+  if(flags == rg::princess && !princess::challenge) return true;
   if(flags == rg::special_geometry || flags == rg::princess)
     dls = lsSingle;
   if(flags == rg::chaos)
@@ -160,6 +162,25 @@ EX void achievement_gain_once(const string& s, char flags IS(0)) {
   achievement_gain(s.c_str(), flags);
   }
 
+namespace rg {
+  char check(bool b, char val = special_geometry) { return b ? val : fail; }
+  };
+
+EX char specgeom_zebra() { return rg::check(geometry == gZebraQuotient && !disksize && BITRUNCATED && firstland == laDesert); }
+EX char specgeom_lovasz() { return rg::check(geometry == gKleinQuartic && variation == eVariation::untruncated && gp::param == gp::loc(1,1) && !disksize && in_lovasz()); }
+EX char specgeom_halloween() { return rg::check((geometry == gSphere || geometry == gElliptic) && BITRUNCATED && !disksize && firstland == laHalloween); }
+EX char specgeom_heptagonal() { return rg::check(PURE && geometry == gNormal && !disksize, rg::special_geometry_nicewalls); }
+EX char specgeom_euclid_gen() { return rg::check(geometry == gEuclid && !disksize && firstland == laMirrorOld); }
+EX char specgeom_crystal1() { return rg::check(PURE && cryst && ginf[gCrystal].sides == 8 && ginf[gCrystal].vertex == 4 && !crystal::used_compass_inside && !disksize && firstland == laCamelot); }
+EX char specgeom_crystal2() { return rg::check(BITRUNCATED && cryst && ginf[gCrystal].sides == 8 && ginf[gCrystal].vertex == 3 && !crystal::used_compass_inside && !disksize && firstland == laCamelot); }
+
+EX vector<std::function<char()>> all_specgeom_checks = { specgeom_zebra, specgeom_lovasz, specgeom_halloween, specgeom_heptagonal, specgeom_crystal1, specgeom_crystal2, specgeom_euclid_gen };
+
+EX char any_specgeom() {
+  for(auto chk: all_specgeom_checks) if(chk() != rg::fail) return chk();
+  return rg::fail;
+  }
+
 EX void achievement_log(const char* s, char flags) {
 
   if(wrongMode(flags)) {
@@ -230,11 +251,11 @@ EX void achievement_collection2(eItem it, int q) {
   if(randomPatternsMode) return;
   LATE( achievement_collection2(it, q); )
 
-  if(it == itTreat && q == 50 && (geometry == gSphere || geometry == gElliptic) && BITRUNCATED && !disksize)
-    achievement_gain("HALLOWEEN1", rg::special_geometry);
+  if(it == itTreat && q == 50)
+    achievement_gain("HALLOWEEN1", specgeom_halloween());
 
-  if(it == itTreat && q == 100 && (geometry == gSphere || geometry == gElliptic) && BITRUNCATED && !disksize)
-    achievement_gain("HALLOWEEN2", rg::special_geometry);
+  if(it == itTreat && q == 100)
+    achievement_gain("HALLOWEEN2", specgeom_halloween());
 
   if(q == 1) {
     if(it == itDiamond) achievement_gain("DIAMOND1");
@@ -314,13 +335,10 @@ EX void achievement_collection2(eItem it, int q) {
   // 32
   if(it == itHolyGrail) {
     if(q == 1) achievement_gain("GRAIL2");
-    if(PURE && geometry == gNormal && !disksize)
-      achievement_gain("GRAILH", rg::special_geometry_nicewalls);
+    achievement_gain("GRAILH", specgeom_heptagonal());
     #if CAP_CRYSTAL
-    if(PURE && cryst && ginf[gCrystal].sides == 8 && ginf[gCrystal].vertex == 4 && !crystal::used_compass_inside && !disksize)
-      achievement_gain("GRAIL4D", rg::special_geometry);
-    if(BITRUNCATED && cryst && ginf[gCrystal].sides == 8 && ginf[gCrystal].vertex == 3 && !crystal::used_compass_inside && !disksize)
-      achievement_gain("GRAIL4D2", rg::special_geometry);
+    achievement_gain("GRAIL4D", specgeom_crystal1());
+    achievement_gain("GRAIL4D2", specgeom_crystal2());
     #endif
     if(q == 3) achievement_gain("GRAIL3");
     if(q == 8) achievement_gain("GRAIL4");
@@ -604,8 +622,8 @@ EX void achievement_count(const string& s, int current, int prev) {
     achievement_gain("LIGHTNING2");
   if(s == "LIGHTNING" && current-prev >= 10)
     achievement_gain("LIGHTNING3");
-  if(s == "MIRAGE" && current >= 35 && geometry == gEuclid && !disksize)
-    achievement_gain("MIRAGE", rg::special_geometry);
+  if(s == "MIRAGE" && current >= 35)
+    achievement_gain("MIRAGE", specgeom_euclid_gen());
   if(s == "ORB" && current >= 10)
     achievement_gain("ORB3");
   if(s == "BUG" && current >= 1000)
diff --git a/menus.cpp b/menus.cpp
index dcfc8f5b..b9ad5127 100644
--- a/menus.cpp
+++ b/menus.cpp
@@ -381,6 +381,39 @@ EX void showCreative() {
   dialog::display();
   }
 
+EX void show_achievement_eligibility() {
+  // #if CAP_ACHIEVE
+  dialog::addBreak(100);
+  dialog::addInfo(XLAT("achievement/leaderboard eligiblity:"), 0xFF8000);
+  if(!wrongMode(0))
+    dialog::addInfo(XLAT("eligible for most"), 0x00FF00);
+  else if(!wrongMode(rg::racing))
+    dialog::addInfo(XLAT("eligible for racing"), 0xFFFF00);
+  else if(!wrongMode(rg::shmup))
+    dialog::addInfo(XLAT("eligible for shmup"), 0xFFFF00);
+  else if(!wrongMode(rg::multi))
+    dialog::addInfo(XLAT("eligible for multiplayer"), 0xFFFF00);
+  else if(!wrongMode(rg::chaos))
+    dialog::addInfo(XLAT("eligible for Chaos mode"), 0xFFFF00);
+  else if(!wrongMode(rg::princess))
+    dialog::addInfo(XLAT("eligible for Princess Challenge"), 0xFFFF00);
+  else if(!wrongMode(specgeom_heptagonal()))
+    dialog::addInfo(XLAT("eligible for heptagonal"), 0xFFFF00);
+  else if(!wrongMode(any_specgeom())) /* the player probably knows what they are aiming at */
+    dialog::addInfo(XLAT("eligible for special geometry"), 0xFFFF00);
+  #if CAP_DAILY
+  else if(daily::on && !daily::historical)
+    dialog::addInfo(XLAT("eligible for Strange Challenge"), 0xFFFF00);
+  #endif
+  else if(cheater) dialog::addInfo(XLAT("disabled in cheat mode"), 0xC00000);
+  else if(casual) dialog::addInfo(XLAT("disabled in casual mode"), 0xC00000);
+  else if(ineligible_starting_land)
+    dialog::addInfo(XLAT("this starting land is not eligible for achievements"), 0xC00000);
+  else
+    dialog::addInfo(XLAT("not eligible due to current mode settings"), 0XC00000);
+  // #endif
+  }
+
 EX void show_chaos() {
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
   gamescreen();
@@ -420,19 +453,7 @@ EX void show_chaos() {
   dialog::addSelItem(XLAT("land"), XLAT1(linf[specialland].name), 'l');
   dialog::add_action(activate_ge_land_selection);
 
-  dialog::addBreak(100);
-  if(ineligible_starting_land)
-    dialog::addInfo(XLAT("this starting land is not eligible for achievements"));
-  else if(land_structure == lsNiceWalls)
-    dialog::addInfo(XLAT("eligible for most achievements"));
-  else if(land_structure == lsChaos)
-    dialog::addInfo(XLAT("eligible for Chaos mode achievements"));
-  else if(land_structure == lsSingle)
-    dialog::addInfo(XLAT("eligible for special achievements"));
-  else
-    dialog::addInfo(XLAT("not eligible for achievements"));
-  if(cheater) dialog::addInfo(XLAT("(but the cheat mode is on)"));
-  if(casual) dialog::addInfo(XLAT("(but the casual mode is on)"));
+  show_achievement_eligibility();
 
   dialog::addBreak(100);
   if(ls::horodisk_structure())
@@ -716,8 +737,9 @@ EX void showChangeMode() {
   dialog::add_action(racing::configure_race);
 #endif  
 
-  dialog::addBreak(50);
+  show_achievement_eligibility();
 
+  dialog::addBreak(50);
   dialog::addItem(XLAT("highlights & achievements"), 'h');
   dialog::add_action_push(mode_higlights);
   
diff --git a/monstermove.cpp b/monstermove.cpp
index 102233bc..107b10f7 100644
--- a/monstermove.cpp
+++ b/monstermove.cpp
@@ -887,8 +887,7 @@ EX void moveWorm(cell *c) {
       else
         addMessage(XLAT("The sandworm explodes!"));
       playSound(NULL, "explosion");
-      if(geometry == gZebraQuotient)
-        achievement_gain_once("ZEBRAWORM", rg::special_geometry);
+      achievement_gain_once("ZEBRAWORM", specgeom_zebra());
       }
     return;
     }
diff --git a/quit.cpp b/quit.cpp
index 90faacb2..b4865427 100644
--- a/quit.cpp
+++ b/quit.cpp
@@ -369,8 +369,7 @@ EX void showGameMenu() {
       }
     dialog::addInfo(XLAT("Dropped floors: %1/%2", its(score), its(all)));
     if(score == all) dialog::addInfo(XLAT("CONGRATULATIONS!"), iinf[itOrbYendor].color);
-    if(score == all && geometry == gKleinQuartic && variation == eVariation::untruncated && gp::param == gp::loc(1,1) && !disksize)
-      achievement_gain_once("LOVASZ", rg::special_geometry);      
+    if(score == all) achievement_gain_once("LOVASZ", specgeom_lovasz());
     }
   else {  
     if(0)
diff --git a/system.cpp b/system.cpp
index 29f2b7ef..95cec637 100644
--- a/system.cpp
+++ b/system.cpp
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ namespace rg {
   static constexpr char special_geometry = 'g';
   /** \brief wrongmode only -- mark achievements for special geometries/variations */
   static constexpr char special_geometry_nicewalls = 'G';
+  /** \brief wrongmode only -- specgeom returns 'fail' if the special geometry is not correct */
+  static constexpr char fail = 'X';
   }
 #endif