diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..499d0ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+# Pick'n'Play
+
+Pick'n'Play is a .NET 10 ASP.NET Core Minimal API app with a static HTML/CSS/JS frontend and SQLite persistence.
+
+## Quick Start
+
+1. Restore and build:
+   `dotnet build GameList.sln`
+2. Run tests:
+   `dotnet test GameList.Tests/GameList.Tests.csproj`
+3. Run locally:
+   `dotnet run --project GameList.csproj`
+4. Open:
+   `http://localhost:5000` (or the URL shown by `dotnet run`)
+
+## Core Behavior
+
+- Authentication: username/password with HttpOnly `player` cookie.
+- Admin authorization: authenticated account with `IsAdmin=true`.
+- Gameplay phases: `Suggest`, `Vote`, `Results`.
+- Storage: SQLite database under `App_Data/gamelist.db`.
+
+## Module Ownership
+
+- `Program.cs`: startup wiring, middleware order, route registration.
+- `Endpoints/`: HTTP endpoint transport + request orchestration.
+- `Infrastructure/`: filters, middleware, identity helpers.
+- `Data/`: EF Core `DbContext` and migrations.
+- `Domain/`: entities and enums.
+- `Contracts/`: request/response DTOs.
+- `wwwroot/`: static frontend assets.
+- `GameList.Tests/`: integration and helper tests.
+- `scripts/`: deployment scripts.
+
+## Operations
+
+- API surface and endpoint contract: `API.md`
+- Product/feature expectations: `SPEC.md`
+- IIS deployment notes: `IIS.md`
+- Test strategy details: `TESTS.md`
+
+## CI
+
+GitHub Actions workflow: `.github/workflows/ci.yml`
+
+- Restores dependencies
+- Builds with warnings treated as errors
+- Runs `GameList.Tests`