diff --git a/hud.gd b/hud.gd
index d9ce37b..d30db83 100644
--- a/hud.gd
+++ b/hud.gd
@@ -14,9 +14,10 @@ const _ABILITY_ICONS: Array[String] = [
 ]
 const _ABILITY_ACTIONS: Array[StringName] = [&"ability_kick", &"ability_slam", &"ability_dash"]
 
-var _controls_visible: bool = true
+var _controls_visible: bool = false
 var _controls_panel: PanelContainer
 var _toggle_btn: Button
+var _tab_hint: Label
 var _spawner: Node
 var _player: Node = null
 var _cd_overlays: Array[ColorRect] = []
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 	layer = 11
 	process_mode = Node.PROCESS_MODE_ALWAYS
 	_build_controls_panel()
+	_build_tab_hint()
 	_build_ability_bar()
 	_build_health_bar()
 	_find_spawner.call_deferred()
@@ -81,6 +83,7 @@ func _return_to_menu() -> void:
 func _toggle_controls() -> void:
 	_controls_visible = not _controls_visible
 	_controls_panel.visible = _controls_visible
+	_tab_hint.visible = not _controls_visible
 	_toggle_btn.text = "Hide controls" if _controls_visible else "Show controls"
 
 
@@ -225,6 +228,21 @@ func _build_ability_slot(idx: int) -> Control:
 	return vbox
 
 
+func _build_tab_hint() -> void:
+	_tab_hint = Label.new()
+	_tab_hint.text = "Press 'Tab' to see controls"
+	_tab_hint.anchor_left   = 0.0
+	_tab_hint.anchor_top    = 1.0
+	_tab_hint.anchor_right  = 0.0
+	_tab_hint.anchor_bottom = 1.0
+	_tab_hint.grow_vertical = Control.GROW_DIRECTION_BEGIN
+	_tab_hint.offset_left   = 20.0
+	_tab_hint.offset_bottom = -20.0
+	_tab_hint.add_theme_color_override("font_color", _MUTED)
+	_tab_hint.add_theme_font_size_override("font_size", 12)
+	add_child(_tab_hint)
+
+
 func _build_controls_panel() -> void:
 	_controls_panel = PanelContainer.new()
 
@@ -252,6 +270,7 @@ func _build_controls_panel() -> void:
 	_controls_panel.grow_vertical = Control.GROW_DIRECTION_BEGIN
 	_controls_panel.offset_left   = 20.0
 	_controls_panel.offset_bottom = -20.0
+	_controls_panel.visible = false
 	add_child(_controls_panel)
 
 	var vbox := VBoxContainer.new()
@@ -287,7 +306,7 @@ func _build_controls_panel() -> void:
 	hbox.add_theme_constant_override("separation", 8)
 	vbox.add_child(hbox)
 
-	_toggle_btn = _make_button("Hide controls")
+	_toggle_btn = _make_button("Show controls")
 	_toggle_btn.pressed.connect(_toggle_controls)
 	hbox.add_child(_toggle_btn)