diff --git a/resources/lang/en.json b/resources/lang/en.json
index a9663b2b0..5f76bd3b2 100644
--- a/resources/lang/en.json
+++ b/resources/lang/en.json
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@
     "infinite_gold": "Infinite gold",
     "infinite_troops": "Infinite troops",
     "compact_map": "Compact Map",
+    "crowded": "Crowded",
     "max_timer": "Game length (minutes)",
     "max_timer_placeholder": "Mins",
     "max_timer_invalid": "Please enter a valid max timer value (1-120 minutes)",
@@ -421,6 +422,7 @@
   "public_game_modifier": {
     "random_spawn": "Random Spawn",
     "compact_map": "Compact Map",
+    "crowded": "Crowded",
     "starting_gold": "5M Starting Gold"
   },
   "select_lang": {
diff --git a/src/client/PublicLobby.ts b/src/client/PublicLobby.ts
index 4c895ab8f..e7610672e 100644
--- a/src/client/PublicLobby.ts
+++ b/src/client/PublicLobby.ts
@@ -374,6 +374,9 @@ export class PublicLobby extends LitElement {
     if (publicGameModifiers.isCompact) {
       labels.push(translateText("public_game_modifier.compact_map"));
     }
+    if (publicGameModifiers.isCrowded) {
+      labels.push(translateText("public_game_modifier.crowded"));
+    }
     if (publicGameModifiers.startingGold) {
       labels.push(translateText("public_game_modifier.starting_gold"));
     }
diff --git a/src/core/Schemas.ts b/src/core/Schemas.ts
index d225857c5..9255156c1 100644
--- a/src/core/Schemas.ts
+++ b/src/core/Schemas.ts
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ export const GameConfigSchema = z.object({
     .object({
       isCompact: z.boolean(),
       isRandomSpawn: z.boolean(),
+      isCrowded: z.boolean(),
       startingGold: z.number().int().min(0).optional(),
     })
     .optional(),
diff --git a/src/core/game/Game.ts b/src/core/game/Game.ts
index 1c56d5d46..7e613e0c5 100644
--- a/src/core/game/Game.ts
+++ b/src/core/game/Game.ts
@@ -211,6 +211,7 @@ export enum GameMapSize {
 export interface PublicGameModifiers {
   isCompact: boolean;
   isRandomSpawn: boolean;
+  isCrowded: boolean;
   startingGold?: number;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/server/MapPlaylist.ts b/src/server/MapPlaylist.ts
index 5bbc11b00..b54aa54ff 100644
--- a/src/server/MapPlaylist.ts
+++ b/src/server/MapPlaylist.ts
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ export class MapPlaylist {
 
     const modifiers = this.getRandomPublicGameModifiers();
     const { startingGold } = modifiers;
-    let { isCompact, isRandomSpawn } = modifiers;
+    let { isCompact, isRandomSpawn, isCrowded } = modifiers;
 
     // Duos, Trios, and Quads should not get random spawn (as it defeats the purpose)
     if (
@@ -108,8 +108,8 @@ export class MapPlaylist {
       isRandomSpawn = false;
     }
 
-    // Maps with smallest player count < 50 don't support compact map in team games
-    // The smallest player count is the 3rd number in the player counts array
+    // Maps with smallest player count (third number of calculateMapPlayerCounts) < 50 don't support compact map in team games
+    // (not enough players after 75% player reduction for compact maps)
     if (
       mode === GameMode.Team &&
       !(await this.supportsCompactMapForTeams(map))
@@ -117,15 +117,34 @@ export class MapPlaylist {
       isCompact = false;
     }
 
+    // Crowded modifier: if the map's biggest player count (first number of calculateMapPlayerCounts) is 60 or lower (small maps),
+    // set player count to 125 (or 60 if compact map is also enabled)
+    let crowdedMaxPlayers: number | undefined;
+    if (isCrowded) {
+      crowdedMaxPlayers = await this.getCrowdedMaxPlayers(map, isCompact);
+      if (crowdedMaxPlayers === undefined) {
+        isCrowded = false;
+      } else {
+        crowdedMaxPlayers = this.adjustForTeams(crowdedMaxPlayers, playerTeams);
+      }
+    }
+
     // Create the default public game config (from your GameManager)
     return {
       donateGold: mode === GameMode.Team,
       donateTroops: mode === GameMode.Team,
       gameMap: map,
-      maxPlayers: await this.lobbyMaxPlayers(map, mode, playerTeams, isCompact),
+      maxPlayers:
+        crowdedMaxPlayers ??
+        (await this.lobbyMaxPlayers(map, mode, playerTeams, isCompact)),
       gameType: GameType.Public,
       gameMapSize: isCompact ? GameMapSize.Compact : GameMapSize.Normal,
-      publicGameModifiers: { isCompact, isRandomSpawn, startingGold },
+      publicGameModifiers: {
+        isCompact,
+        isRandomSpawn,
+        isCrowded,
+        startingGold,
+      },
       startingGold,
       difficulty:
         playerTeams === HumansVsNations ? Difficulty.Medium : Difficulty.Easy,
@@ -209,18 +228,31 @@ export class MapPlaylist {
     return {
       isRandomSpawn: Math.random() < 0.1, // 10% chance
       isCompact: Math.random() < 0.05, // 5% chance
+      isCrowded: Math.random() < 0.05, // 5% chance
       startingGold: Math.random() < 0.05 ? 5_000_000 : undefined, // 5% chance
     };
   }
 
+  // Maps with smallest player count (third number of calculateMapPlayerCounts) < 50 don't support compact map in team games
+  // (not enough players after 75% player reduction for compact maps)
   private async supportsCompactMapForTeams(map: GameMapType): Promise<boolean> {
-    // Maps with smallest player count < 50 don't support compact map in team games
-    // The smallest player count is the 3rd number in the player counts array
     const landTiles = await getMapLandTiles(map);
     const [, , smallest] = this.calculateMapPlayerCounts(landTiles);
     return smallest >= 50;
   }
 
+  private async getCrowdedMaxPlayers(
+    map: GameMapType,
+    isCompact: boolean,
+  ): Promise<number | undefined> {
+    const landTiles = await getMapLandTiles(map);
+    const [firstPlayerCount] = this.calculateMapPlayerCounts(landTiles);
+    if (firstPlayerCount <= 60) {
+      return isCompact ? 60 : 125;
+    }
+    return undefined;
+  }
+
   private async lobbyMaxPlayers(
     map: GameMapType,
     mode: GameMode,
@@ -236,7 +268,15 @@ export class MapPlaylist {
     if (isCompactMap) {
       p = Math.max(3, Math.floor(p * 0.25));
     }
-    if (numPlayerTeams === undefined) return p;
+    return this.adjustForTeams(p, numPlayerTeams);
+  }
+
+  private adjustForTeams(
+    playerCount: number,
+    numPlayerTeams: TeamCountConfig | undefined,
+  ): number {
+    if (numPlayerTeams === undefined) return playerCount;
+    let p = playerCount;
     switch (numPlayerTeams) {
       case Duos:
         p -= p % 2;
diff --git a/tests/util/TestServerConfig.ts b/tests/util/TestServerConfig.ts
index 6a879ccd5..94b625943 100644
--- a/tests/util/TestServerConfig.ts
+++ b/tests/util/TestServerConfig.ts
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ export class TestServerConfig implements ServerConfig {
     throw new Error("Method not implemented.");
   }
   getRandomPublicGameModifiers(): PublicGameModifiers {
-    return { isCompact: false, isRandomSpawn: false };
+    return { isCompact: false, isRandomSpawn: false, isCrowded: false };
   }
   async supportsCompactMapForTeams(): Promise<boolean> {
     throw new Error("Method not implemented.");