diff --git a/rogueviz/ascending-descending.cpp b/rogueviz/ascending-descending.cpp
index 2e35116c..c82ea919 100644
--- a/rogueviz/ascending-descending.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/ascending-descending.cpp
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ bool draw_ply() {
 
 void show() {
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init(XLAT("Ascending & Descending"), 0xFFFFFFFF, 150, 0);
 
   dialog::addSelItem("advance", fts(advance), 'a');
diff --git a/rogueviz/dpgen.cpp b/rogueviz/dpgen.cpp
index 3fd0bb28..9a97e14b 100644
--- a/rogueviz/dpgen.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/dpgen.cpp
@@ -199,7 +199,8 @@ bool hide_random = false;
 int last_seed = 0;
   
 EX void show_menu() {
-  gamescreen(1);
+  cmode = sm::DARKEN;
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init(XLAT("dual geometry puzzles"));
   dialog::addHelp(XLAT("move both characters to marked squares at once!"));
   dialog::addBreak(100);
diff --git a/rogueviz/fifteen.cpp b/rogueviz/fifteen.cpp
index 6e167481..f7f16294 100644
--- a/rogueviz/fifteen.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/fifteen.cpp
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ void edit_fifteen() {
 
   auto ss = mapstream::save_start();
   ss->item = itGold;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   ss->item = itNone;
   
   dialog::init("Fifteen Puzzle", iinf[itPalace].color, 150, 100);
diff --git a/rogueviz/flocking.cpp b/rogueviz/flocking.cpp
index afa0efb5..384138b5 100644
--- a/rogueviz/flocking.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/flocking.cpp
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ namespace flocking {
 
   void show() {
     cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
-    gamescreen(0);
+    gamescreen();
     dialog::init(XLAT("flocking"), iinf[itPalace].color, 150, 0);
     
     dialog::addSelItem("initial speed", fts(ini_speed), 'i');
diff --git a/rogueviz/functions.cpp b/rogueviz/functions.cpp
index b4b8b665..4d07c66b 100644
--- a/rogueviz/functions.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/functions.cpp
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ int editwhich = -1;
 
 void show_graph() {
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
-  gamescreen(0);  
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init(XLAT("graph"));
   for(int i=0; i<isize(formula); i++) {
     if(editwhich == i) {
diff --git a/rogueviz/gobot.cpp b/rogueviz/gobot.cpp
index 92aba055..0d01a18a 100644
--- a/rogueviz/gobot.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/gobot.cpp
@@ -516,9 +516,8 @@ void go_discord() {
 void go_menu() {
 
   getcstat = '-';
-  cmode = 0;
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::DIALOG_STRICT_X;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
 
   dialog::init("HyperGo", iinf[itPalace].color, 150, 100);
   
diff --git a/rogueviz/heatx.cpp b/rogueviz/heatx.cpp
index cb89203b..dc6ae2d1 100644
--- a/rogueviz/heatx.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/heatx.cpp
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ void advance_heat_wave() {
 
 void show() {
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init(XLAT("heat transfer simulation"), 0xFFFFFFFF, 150, 0);
   add_edit(delta);
   add_edit(qsteps);
diff --git a/rogueviz/hyperbolic-analogs.cpp b/rogueviz/hyperbolic-analogs.cpp
index 681a3206..052c7368 100644
--- a/rogueviz/hyperbolic-analogs.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/hyperbolic-analogs.cpp
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ int current_index = -1;
 
 void choose_projection() {
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init(XLAT("choose projection"), 0xFFFFFFFF, 150, 0);
   for(int i=0; i<isize(models_to_use); i++) {
     hypername = "";
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ void choose_projection() {
 
 void show() {
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init(XLAT("hyperbolic analogs"), 0xFFFFFFFF, 150, 0);
   add_edit(prec);
   dialog::addItem("choose a projection", 'p');
diff --git a/rogueviz/inner-maps.cpp b/rogueviz/inner-maps.cpp
index 524533a4..eb40c9db 100644
--- a/rogueviz/inner-maps.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/inner-maps.cpp
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ void shift() {
 
 void show() {
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init(XLAT("inner maps"), 0xFFFFFFFF, 150, 0);
   add_edit(texture_alpha);
   add_edit(inner_alpha);
diff --git a/rogueviz/newconf.cpp b/rogueviz/newconf.cpp
index 3a927daa..ce24db37 100644
--- a/rogueviz/newconf.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/newconf.cpp
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ void pick_algorithm() {
   dialog::addItem("visualize (fast)", 'b');
   dialog::add_action([] { nconf_prepare(true); popScreen(); });
   dialog::addSelItem("visualization speed", its(algo_speed), 'v');
-  dialog::add_action([] { dialog::editNumber(algo_speed, 100, 1000000, 0.1, 10000, "", ""), dialog::scaleLog(), dialog::dialogflags = 0, dialog::numberdark = dialog::DONT_SHOW; });
+  dialog::add_action([] { dialog::editNumber(algo_speed, 100, 1000000, 0.1, 10000, "", ""), dialog::scaleLog(), dialog::dialogflags = sm::NOSCR; });
   dialog::addBreak(50);
   dialog::addBoolItem_action("pretty corners", pretty, 'p');
   dialog::addBreak(50);
@@ -824,7 +824,7 @@ void ncee_work() {
 
   calcparam();
   
-  if(ncee_map_prepared < 5) { cmode = sm::NORMAL; ncee_map_prepared++; if(ncee_map_prepared == 5) prepare_ncee_map(); gamescreen(2); return; }
+  if(ncee_map_prepared < 5) { cmode = sm::NORMAL | sm::DARKEN; ncee_map_prepared++; if(ncee_map_prepared == 5) prepare_ncee_map(); gamescreen(); return; }
 
   #if CAP_NCONF
   if(in_visualization) 
@@ -907,7 +907,7 @@ void ncee() {
     if(uni == 's') show_mapping = !show_mapping;
     if(uni == 'g') show_mgrid = !show_mgrid;
     if(uni == 't') pushScreen(conf_shapes);
-    if(uni == 'y') dialog::editNumber(mapping_split, 0, 1, 0.05, 0.75, "", ""), dialog::dialogflags = 0, dialog::numberdark = dialog::DONT_SHOW;
+    if(uni == 'y') dialog::editNumber(mapping_split, 0, 1, 0.05, 0.75, "", ""), dialog::dialogflags = sm::NOSCR;
     if(uni == '-') {
       int x = (mousex - cd->xcenter - xc - x0) / siz;
       int y = (mousey - cd->ycenter - yc - y0) / siz;
diff --git a/rogueviz/nilrider/nilrider.cpp b/rogueviz/nilrider/nilrider.cpp
index 278d1099..39c1fd09 100644
--- a/rogueviz/nilrider/nilrider.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/nilrider/nilrider.cpp
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ void run() {
     cmode |= sm::SHOWCURSOR;
   if(aimspeed_mouse_x == 0 && aimspeed_mouse_y == 0)
     cmode |= sm::SHOWCURSOR;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   if(planning_mode && !view_replay) {
     curlev->draw_planning_screen();
     if(!holdmouse) {
diff --git a/rogueviz/notknot.cpp b/rogueviz/notknot.cpp
index f5f158e9..fac3e6ff 100644
--- a/rogueviz/notknot.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/notknot.cpp
@@ -1271,13 +1271,13 @@ void launch_solv() {
 
 void show() {
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init(XLAT("notknot"), 0xFFFFFFFF, 150, 0);
   
   dialog::addItem("available scenes", 'a');
   dialog::add_action_push([] {
     cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
-    gamescreen(0);
+    gamescreen();
 
     dialog::init(XLAT("notknot scenes"), 0xFFFFFFFF, 150, 0);
     
diff --git a/rogueviz/objmodels.cpp b/rogueviz/objmodels.cpp
index 77eb3de0..753fce4d 100644
--- a/rogueviz/objmodels.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/objmodels.cpp
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ void add_model_settings() {
 auto cf = addHook(hooks_configfile, 100, [] {
   param_f(prec, "obj_prec")
   ->editable(1, 100, 1, "3D model precision", "higher-precision models take more time to load and to render.", 'p')
-  ->set_sets([] { dialog::numberdark = dialog::DONT_SHOW; })
+  ->set_sets([] { cmode = sm::NOSCR; })
   ; 
   param_b(shift_to_ctr, "shift_to_ctr");
   });
diff --git a/rogueviz/pentagonal.cpp b/rogueviz/pentagonal.cpp
index 52699cde..0219685a 100644
--- a/rogueviz/pentagonal.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/pentagonal.cpp
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ void rugframe() {
 
 void show() {
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init("Pentagonal Exploration");
   auto add_key = [] (char c, int a, int b) {
     dialog::addBoolItem(lalign(0, "based on {",a,",",b,"}"), global_v == a && global_w == b, c);
diff --git a/rogueviz/planets.cpp b/rogueviz/planets.cpp
index d99d4f3f..ddf20f9c 100644
--- a/rogueviz/planets.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/planets.cpp
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ EX void compare() {
 
 void choose_projection() {
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init(XLAT("choose projection"), 0xFFFFFFFF, 150, 0);
   dynamicval<int> di(index);
   for(int i=0; i<8; i++) {
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ void choose_projection() {
 
 void choose_planet(texture::texture_data *& t) {
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init(XLAT("choose the planet"), 0xFFFFFFFF, 150, 0);
   for(auto opt: {&earth, &moon, &sun, &mars, &neptune}) {
     dialog::addSelItem(pname[opt], its(radius[opt]) + " km", key[opt]);
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ void choose_planet(texture::texture_data *& t) {
 
 void show() {
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init(XLAT("projections between planets"), 0xFFFFFFFF, 150, 0);
   add_edit(alpha);
   add_edit(latit);
diff --git a/rogueviz/platformer.cpp b/rogueviz/platformer.cpp
index 8f2dbcb6..2ad0c33c 100644
--- a/rogueviz/platformer.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/platformer.cpp
@@ -694,7 +694,7 @@ void run() {
   sprite_vertices.tvertices.clear();
   if(map_on) {
     render_room(current_room);
-    gamescreen(0);
+    gamescreen();
     }
   else {
     draw_room();
diff --git a/rogueviz/playing-with-impossibility.cpp b/rogueviz/playing-with-impossibility.cpp
index b063d9cc..65005a3d 100644
--- a/rogueviz/playing-with-impossibility.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/playing-with-impossibility.cpp
@@ -608,7 +608,8 @@ slide dmv_slides[] = {
       empty_screen(mode);
       show_picture(mode, "rogueviz/nil/penrose-triangle.png");
       add_stat(mode, [] {
-        gamescreen(2);
+        cmode |= sm::DARKEN;
+        gamescreen();
         dialog::init();
         dialog::addBreak(400);
         dialog::addTitle("playing with impossibility", dialog::dialogcolor, 150);
diff --git a/rogueviz/presentation.cpp b/rogueviz/presentation.cpp
index 894db91b..4f53394b 100644
--- a/rogueviz/presentation.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/presentation.cpp
@@ -323,7 +323,8 @@ void show_animation(presmode mode, string s, int sx, int sy, int frames, int fps
   }
 
 void choose_presentation() {
-  gamescreen(2);
+  cmode = sm::NOSCR;
+  gamescreen();
 
   getcstat = ' ';
   
diff --git a/rogueviz/random-walk.cpp b/rogueviz/random-walk.cpp
index e4b4c983..7636eb95 100644
--- a/rogueviz/random-walk.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/random-walk.cpp
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ int args() {
 
 void show() {
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init(XLAT("random walk"), 0xFFFFFFFF, 150, 0);
 
   dialog::addSelItem("step size", fts(step_size), 'd');
diff --git a/rogueviz/rogueviz.cpp b/rogueviz/rogueviz.cpp
index f6f9dccb..8af44dfb 100644
--- a/rogueviz/rogueviz.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/rogueviz.cpp
@@ -1062,7 +1062,7 @@ int readArgs() {
 void configure_edge_display() {
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK | sm::DIALOG_STRICT_X;
   static int mode = 0;
-  gamescreen(0);  
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init(XLAT("rogueviz edges"));
   for(int i=0; i<isize(edgetypes); i++) {
     auto t = edgetypes[i];
@@ -1122,7 +1122,7 @@ void search_marker() {
 
 void showVertexSearch() {
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK | sm::DIALOG_STRICT_X;
-  gamescreen(0); search_for = -1;
+  gamescreen(); search_for = -1;
 
   dialog::init(XLAT("vertex search"));
   dialog::v.clear();
@@ -1156,7 +1156,7 @@ void showVertexSearch() {
 void showMenu() {
   if(callhandlers(false, hooks_rvmenu_replace)) return;
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK | sm::DIALOG_STRICT_X;
-  gamescreen(0);  
+  gamescreen();
 
   dialog::init(XLAT("rogueviz configuration"));
 
diff --git a/rogueviz/smoothcam.cpp b/rogueviz/smoothcam.cpp
index 07100153..e4c67996 100644
--- a/rogueviz/smoothcam.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/smoothcam.cpp
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ transmatrix try_harder_relative_matrix(cell *at, cell *from) {
 
 void edit_segment(int aid) {
   cmode = sm::PANNING;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init(XLAT("animation segment"), 0xFFFFFFFF, 150, 0);
   dialog::addSelItem("interval", fts(anims[aid].start_interval), 'i');
   edit_interval(anims[aid].start_interval);
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ void generate_trace();
 
 void edit_step(animation& anim, int id) {
   cmode = 0;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init(XLAT("animation step"), 0xFFFFFFFF, 150, 0);
   auto& f = anim.frames[id];
   dialog::addSelItem("title", f.title, 't');
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ void handle_animation(ld t);
 
 void show() {
   cmode = 0;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   draw_crosshair();
   dialog::init(XLAT("smooth camera"), 0xFFFFFFFF, 150, 0);
   char key = 'A';
diff --git a/rogueviz/snow.cpp b/rogueviz/snow.cpp
index 5471c028..f2f83fe0 100644
--- a/rogueviz/snow.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/snow.cpp
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ void snow_slide(vector<tour::slide>& v, string title, string desc, reaction_t t)
 
 void show() {
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init(XLAT("snowballs"), 0xFFFFFFFF, 150, 0);
 
   dialog::addSelItem("lambda", fts(snow_lambda), 'l');
diff --git a/rogueviz/som/kohonen.cpp b/rogueviz/som/kohonen.cpp
index 42424423..7b9dc6f0 100644
--- a/rogueviz/som/kohonen.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/som/kohonen.cpp
@@ -1041,8 +1041,8 @@ namespace levelline {
 
   void show() {
     if(levellines.size() == 0) create();
-    gamescreen(0);
     cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
+    gamescreen();
     dialog::init("level lines");
     char nx = 'a';
     for(auto &l : levellines) {
diff --git a/rogueviz/staircase.cpp b/rogueviz/staircase.cpp
index 8e2e5b52..96b15a3f 100644
--- a/rogueviz/staircase.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/staircase.cpp
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ void make_staircase() {
 
 void showMenu() {
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init(XLAT("Spiral Staircase"), iinf[itPalace].color, 150, 0);
   
   add_edit(scurvature);
diff --git a/rogueviz/sumotron.cpp b/rogueviz/sumotron.cpp
index 53247493..37bd2ead 100644
--- a/rogueviz/sumotron.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/sumotron.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ void sumotron_puzzle() {
   cmode = 0;
   if(dialog_shown) cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::DIALOG_STRICT_X | sm::MAYDARK;
   dynamicval<bool> dp(mapeditor::drawplayer, false);
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
 
   initquickqueue();
   for(auto p: value) {
diff --git a/rogueviz/sunflower.cpp b/rogueviz/sunflower.cpp
index b4a0f435..80ca7f06 100644
--- a/rogueviz/sunflower.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/sunflower.cpp
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ int readArgs() {
 
 void show() {
   cmode = sm::SIDE | sm::MAYDARK;
-  gamescreen(0);
+  gamescreen();
   dialog::init(XLAT("sunflower spirals"), 0xFFFFFFFF, 150, 0);
   
   dialog::addSelItem("density", fts(zdensity), 'd');