diff --git a/src/deh_soc.c b/src/deh_soc.c
index 1cf6f5d57..a4bd8dc77 100644
--- a/src/deh_soc.c
+++ b/src/deh_soc.c
@@ -2290,6 +2290,8 @@ void readunlockable(MYFILE *f, INT32 num)
 						unlockables[num].type = SECRET_BREAKTHECAPSULES;
 					else if (fastcmp(word2, "SPECIALATTACK"))
 						unlockables[num].type = SECRET_SPECIALATTACK;
+					else if (fastcmp(word2, "ONLINE"))
+						unlockables[num].type = SECRET_ONLINE;
 					else if (fastcmp(word2, "SOUNDTEST"))
 						unlockables[num].type = SECRET_SOUNDTEST;
 					else if (fastcmp(word2, "ALTTITLE"))
diff --git a/src/k_menu.h b/src/k_menu.h
index 3adbf25de..9145027ae 100644
--- a/src/k_menu.h
+++ b/src/k_menu.h
@@ -704,6 +704,7 @@ boolean M_CharacterSelectHandler(INT32 choice);
 void M_CharacterSelectTick(void);
 boolean M_CharacterSelectQuit(void);
 
+void M_SetupPlayMenu(INT32 choice);
 void M_SetupGametypeMenu(INT32 choice);
 void M_SetupRaceMenu(INT32 choice);
 
diff --git a/src/k_menudraw.c b/src/k_menudraw.c
index 5ad49a066..7f2fa0f7e 100644
--- a/src/k_menudraw.c
+++ b/src/k_menudraw.c
@@ -801,6 +801,8 @@ void M_DrawKartGamemodeMenu(void)
 
 	for (i = 0; i < currentMenu->numitems; i++)
 	{
+		INT32 type;
+
 		if (currentMenu->menuitems[i].status == IT_DISABLED)
 		{
 			continue;
@@ -817,9 +819,12 @@ void M_DrawKartGamemodeMenu(void)
 			}
 		}
 
-		switch (currentMenu->menuitems[i].status & IT_DISPLAY)
+		type = (currentMenu->menuitems[i].status & IT_DISPLAY);
+
+		switch (type)
 		{
 			case IT_STRING:
+			case IT_TRANSTEXT2:
 				{
 					UINT8 *colormap = NULL;
 
@@ -833,7 +838,13 @@ void M_DrawKartGamemodeMenu(void)
 					}
 
 					V_DrawFixedPatch(x*FRACUNIT, y*FRACUNIT, FRACUNIT, 0, W_CachePatchName("MENUPLTR", PU_CACHE), colormap);
-					V_DrawGamemodeString(x + 16, y - 3, V_ALLOWLOWERCASE, colormap, currentMenu->menuitems[i].text);
+					V_DrawGamemodeString(x + 16, y - 3,
+						(type == IT_TRANSTEXT2
+							? V_TRANSLUCENT
+							: 0
+						)|V_ALLOWLOWERCASE,
+						colormap,
+						currentMenu->menuitems[i].text);
 				}
 				break;
 		}
@@ -4716,6 +4727,7 @@ static void M_DrawChallengeTile(INT16 i, INT16 j, INT32 x, INT32 y, boolean hili
 			case SECRET_ENCORE:
 				categoryid = '5';
 				break;
+			case SECRET_ONLINE:
 			case SECRET_ALTTITLE:
 			case SECRET_SOUNDTEST:
 				categoryid = '6';
@@ -4783,6 +4795,9 @@ static void M_DrawChallengeTile(INT16 i, INT16 j, INT32 x, INT32 y, boolean hili
 				iconid = 5;
 				break;
 
+			case SECRET_ONLINE:
+				iconid = 10;
+				break;
 			case SECRET_ALTTITLE:
 				iconid = 6;
 				break;
@@ -5036,12 +5051,21 @@ static void M_DrawChallengePreview(INT32 x, INT32 y)
 			specialmap = mastermapcache;
 			break;
 		}
+		case SECRET_ONLINE:
+		{
+			V_DrawFixedPatch(-3*FRACUNIT, (y-40)*FRACUNIT,
+				FRACUNIT,
+				0, W_CachePatchName("EGGASTLA", PU_CACHE),
+				NULL);
+			break;
+		}
 		case SECRET_ALTTITLE:
 		{
 			x = 8;
 			y = BASEVIDHEIGHT-16;
 			V_DrawGamemodeString(x, y - 32, V_ALLOWLOWERCASE, R_GetTranslationColormap(TC_RAINBOW, SKINCOLOR_PLAGUE, GTC_MENUCACHE), cv_alttitle.string);
 			V_DrawThinString(x, y, V_6WIDTHSPACE|V_ALLOWLOWERCASE|highlightflags, "Press (A)");
+			break;
 		}
 		default:
 		{
diff --git a/src/k_menufunc.c b/src/k_menufunc.c
index 05d282e7f..ab4cca6bc 100644
--- a/src/k_menufunc.c
+++ b/src/k_menufunc.c
@@ -447,6 +447,7 @@ menu_t *M_SpecificMenuRestore(menu_t *torestore)
 	}
 
 	// One last catch.
+	M_SetupPlayMenu(-1);
 	PLAY_CharSelectDef.prevMenu = &MainDef;
 
 	return torestore;
diff --git a/src/m_cond.h b/src/m_cond.h
index 01f055758..dafbf8048 100644
--- a/src/m_cond.h
+++ b/src/m_cond.h
@@ -126,6 +126,9 @@ typedef enum
 	SECRET_TIMEATTACK,			// Permit Time attack
 	SECRET_BREAKTHECAPSULES,	// Permit SP Capsule attack
 	SECRET_SPECIALATTACK,		// Permit Special attack (You're blue now!)
+
+	// Option restrictions
+	SECRET_ONLINE,				// Permit netplay (ankle-high barrier to jumping in the deep end)
 	SECRET_SOUNDTEST,			// Permit Sound Test
 	SECRET_ALTTITLE,			// Permit alternate titlescreen
 
diff --git a/src/menus/play-1.c b/src/menus/play-1.c
index d4c8ee099..53ca72dc3 100644
--- a/src/menus/play-1.c
+++ b/src/menus/play-1.c
@@ -2,16 +2,42 @@
 /// \brief Play Menu
 
 #include "../k_menu.h"
+#include "../m_cond.h"
 
 menuitem_t PLAY_MainMenu[] =
 {
 	{IT_STRING | IT_CALL, "Local Play", "Play only on this computer.",
 		NULL, {.routine = M_SetupGametypeMenu}, 0, 0},
 
-	{IT_STRING | IT_CALL, "Online", "Connect to other computers.",
+	{IT_STRING | IT_CALL, "Online", NULL,
 		NULL, {.routine = M_MPOptSelectInit}, /*M_MPRoomSelectInit,*/ 0, 0},
 
 	{IT_STRING | IT_CALL, "Back", NULL, NULL, {.routine = M_GoBack}, 0, 0},
 };
 
 menu_t PLAY_MainDef = KARTGAMEMODEMENU(PLAY_MainMenu, &PLAY_CharSelectDef);
+
+void M_SetupPlayMenu(INT32 choice)
+{
+#ifdef TESTERS
+	(void)choice;
+#else
+	if (choice != -1)
+		PLAY_MainDef.prevMenu = currentMenu;
+
+	// Enable/disable online play.
+	if (!M_SecretUnlocked(SECRET_ONLINE, true))
+	{
+		PLAY_MainMenu[1].status = IT_TRANSTEXT2 | IT_CALL;
+		PLAY_MainMenu[1].tooltip = "You'll need experience to play over the internet!";
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		PLAY_MainMenu[1].status = IT_STRING | IT_CALL;
+		PLAY_MainMenu[1].tooltip = "Connect to other computers over the internet.";
+	}
+
+	if (choice != -1)
+		M_SetupNextMenu(&PLAY_MainDef, false);
+#endif
+}
diff --git a/src/menus/play-char-select.c b/src/menus/play-char-select.c
index a6ac59d1a..d7d1d4e44 100644
--- a/src/menus/play-char-select.c
+++ b/src/menus/play-char-select.c
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "../r_skins.h"
 #include "../s_sound.h"
 #include "../k_grandprix.h" // K_CanChangeRules
+#include "../m_cond.h" // Condition Sets
 
 menuitem_t PLAY_CharSelect[] =
 {
@@ -1491,7 +1492,7 @@ void M_CharacterSelectTick(void)
 				#if defined (TESTERS)
 					M_MPOptSelectInit(0);
 				#else
-					M_SetupNextMenu(&PLAY_MainDef, false);
+					M_SetupPlayMenu(0);
 				#endif
 				
 			}
diff --git a/src/menus/play-online-1.c b/src/menus/play-online-1.c
index e48154648..e146926b1 100644
--- a/src/menus/play-online-1.c
+++ b/src/menus/play-online-1.c
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 /// \brief MULTIPLAYER OPTION SELECT
 
 #include "../k_menu.h"
+#include "../m_cond.h"
+#include "../s_sound.h"
 
 #if defined (TESTERS)
 	#define IT_STRING_CALL_NOTESTERS IT_DISABLED
@@ -62,6 +64,15 @@ void M_MPOptSelectInit(INT32 choice)
 	INT16 arrcpy[3][3] = {{0,68,0}, {0,12,0}, {0,74,0}};
 	const UINT32 forbidden = GTR_FORBIDMP;
 
+#ifndef TESTERS
+	if (choice != -1 && !M_SecretUnlocked(SECRET_ONLINE, true))
+	{
+		M_StartMessage("Online play is ""\x8B""not yet unlocked""\x80"".\n\nYou'll want experience in ""\x8B""Grand Prix""\x80""\nbefore even thinking about facing\nopponents from across the world.\n\nPress (B)", NULL, MM_NOTHING);
+		S_StartSound(NULL, sfx_s3k36);
+		return;
+	}
+#endif
+
 	mpmenu.modechoice = 0;
 	mpmenu.ticker = 0;