diff --git a/src/k_menudraw.c b/src/k_menudraw.c
index 100d1dcc9..b3b750f45 100644
--- a/src/k_menudraw.c
+++ b/src/k_menudraw.c
@@ -4819,6 +4819,8 @@ static void M_DrawChallengePreview(INT32 x, INT32 y)
 	}
 }
 
+#define challengetransparentstrength 8
+
 void M_DrawChallenges(void)
 {
 	INT32 x = currentMenu->x, explodex, selectx;
@@ -4855,6 +4857,8 @@ void M_DrawChallenges(void)
 		goto challengedesc;
 	}
 
+	V_DrawFadeFill(0, y-2, BASEVIDWIDTH, 90, 0, 31, challengetransparentstrength);
+
 	x -= 16;
 
 	x += challengesmenu.offset;
@@ -4939,6 +4943,12 @@ challengedesc:
 	{
 		y = 120;
 
+		V_DrawScaledPatch(0, y,
+			(10-challengetransparentstrength)<<V_ALPHASHIFT,
+			W_CachePatchName("MENUHINT", PU_CACHE));
+
+		V_DrawFadeFill(0, y+27, BASEVIDWIDTH, BASEVIDHEIGHT - (y+27), 0, 31, challengetransparentstrength);
+
 		if (challengesmenu.currentunlock < MAXUNLOCKABLES)
 		{
 			str = unlockables[challengesmenu.currentunlock].name;
@@ -4978,6 +4988,8 @@ challengedesc:
 	}
 }
 
+#undef challengetransparentstrength
+
 // Statistics menu
 
 #define STATSSTEP 10