diff --git a/web/src/app.css b/web/src/app.css
index bc223e7..dd943b3 100644
--- a/web/src/app.css
+++ b/web/src/app.css
@@ -175,3 +175,18 @@ html.dark {
 ::view-transition-new(page-content) {
   animation: vt-slide-from-right 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4, 0, 0.2, 1) both;
 }
+
+/* Media mask for project card background images/videos - fades from transparent (left) to solid (right) */
+.media-mask-fade-left {
+  mask-image: linear-gradient(
+    to right,
+    transparent 0%,
+    /* Non-linear stops to help breakup the gradient better  */
+    rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.08) 12%,
+    rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 22%,
+    rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4) 32%,
+    rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.65) 42%,
+    rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85) 52%,
+    black 65%
+  );
+}
diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/OverflowPill.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/OverflowPill.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f54a06e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/OverflowPill.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
+
+  interface Props {
+    count: number;
+    hiddenTagNames: string[];
+    class?: string;
+  }
+
+  let { count, hiddenTagNames, class: className }: Props = $props();
+
+  const tooltipText = $derived(hiddenTagNames.join(", "));
+</script>
+
+<span
+  class={cn(
+    "inline-flex items-center rounded-sm bg-zinc-200/50 dark:bg-zinc-600/30 px-2 sm:px-1.5 py-1 sm:py-0.75 text-sm sm:text-xs text-zinc-500 dark:text-zinc-400",
+    className,
+  )}
+  title={tooltipText}
+>
+  +{count}
+</span>
diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/ProjectCard.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/ProjectCard.svelte
index b3d4433..44c4d10 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/components/ProjectCard.svelte
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/ProjectCard.svelte
@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
 <script lang="ts">
   import { cn } from "$lib/utils";
   import { telemetry } from "$lib/telemetry";
-  import TagChip from "./TagChip.svelte";
+  import TagList from "./TagList.svelte";
   import type { AdminProject } from "$lib/admin-types";
 
+  // Extended tag type with icon SVG for display
+  type ProjectTag = { iconSvg?: string; name: string; color?: string };
+
   interface Props {
     project: AdminProject & {
-      tags: Array<{ iconSvg?: string; name: string; color?: string }>;
+      tags: ProjectTag[];
       clockIconSvg?: string;
     };
     class?: string;
@@ -27,6 +30,60 @@
     project.demoUrl ? "demo_click" : project.githubRepo ? "github_click" : null,
   );
 
+  // Random seed generated once per component instance (changes on each page load)
+  const randomSeed = Math.floor(Math.random() * 1000);
+
+  // Randomly decide if this card shows video or image (~60% video)
+  const isVideo = randomSeed % 10 < 6;
+
+  // Sample video URLs
+  const sampleVideos = [
+    "https://storage.googleapis.com/gtv-videos-bucket/sample/ForBiggerBlazes.mp4",
+    "https://storage.googleapis.com/gtv-videos-bucket/sample/ForBiggerEscapes.mp4",
+    "https://storage.googleapis.com/gtv-videos-bucket/sample/ForBiggerFun.mp4",
+    "https://storage.googleapis.com/gtv-videos-bucket/sample/ForBiggerJoyrides.mp4",
+    "https://storage.googleapis.com/gtv-videos-bucket/sample/ForBiggerMeltdowns.mp4",
+    "https://storage.googleapis.com/gtv-videos-bucket/sample/SubaruOutbackOnStreetAndDirt.mp4",
+    "https://storage.googleapis.com/gtv-videos-bucket/sample/WeAreGoingOnBullrun.mp4",
+    "https://res.cloudinary.com/demo/video/upload/w_640,h_360,c_fill/samples/elephants.mp4",
+    "https://res.cloudinary.com/demo/video/upload/w_640,h_360,c_fill/samples/sea-turtle.mp4",
+    "https://res.cloudinary.com/demo/video/upload/w_640,h_360,c_fill/dog.mp4",
+    "https://res.cloudinary.com/demo/video/upload/w_640,h_360,c_fill/ski_jump.mp4",
+    "https://res.cloudinary.com/demo/video/upload/w_640,h_360,c_fill/snow_horses.mp4",
+  ];
+
+  const videoUrl = sampleVideos[randomSeed % sampleVideos.length];
+
+  // Randomized aspect ratios for images: [width, height]
+  const aspectRatios: [number, number][] = [
+    [400, 300], // 4:3 landscape
+    [300, 400], // 3:4 portrait
+    [400, 400], // 1:1 square
+    [480, 270], // 16:9 landscape
+    [270, 480], // 9:16 portrait
+    [400, 240], // 5:3 wide landscape
+    [240, 400], // 3:5 tall portrait
+  ];
+  const aspectIndex = randomSeed % aspectRatios.length;
+  const [imgWidth, imgHeight] = aspectRatios[aspectIndex];
+
+  const imageUrl = `https://picsum.photos/seed/${randomSeed}/${imgWidth}/${imgHeight}`;
+
+  // Video element reference for play/pause control
+  let videoElement: HTMLVideoElement | null = $state(null);
+
+  function handleMouseEnter() {
+    if (videoElement) {
+      videoElement.play();
+    }
+  }
+
+  function handleMouseLeave() {
+    if (videoElement) {
+      videoElement.pause();
+    }
+  }
+
   function handleClick() {
     if (clickAction && projectUrl) {
       telemetry.track({
@@ -41,6 +98,10 @@
     }
   }
 
+  // Shared classes for background media (image/video)
+  const mediaBaseClasses =
+    "media-mask-fade-left absolute right-0 top-0 h-full w-3/4 object-cover object-center";
+
   function formatDate(dateString: string): string {
     const date = new Date(dateString);
     const now = new Date();
@@ -65,15 +126,45 @@
   target={isLink ? "_blank" : undefined}
   rel={isLink ? "noopener noreferrer" : undefined}
   onclick={handleClick}
+  onmouseenter={handleMouseEnter}
+  onmouseleave={handleMouseLeave}
   role={isLink ? undefined : "article"}
   class={cn(
-    "flex h-44 flex-col gap-2.5 rounded-lg border border-zinc-200 dark:border-zinc-800 bg-zinc-50 dark:bg-zinc-900/50 p-3",
-    isLink &&
-      "group transition-all hover:border-zinc-300 dark:hover:border-zinc-700 hover:bg-zinc-100 dark:hover:bg-zinc-800/70",
-    className,
+    "group relative flex h-44 flex-col gap-2.5 rounded-lg border border-zinc-200 dark:border-zinc-800 bg-zinc-50 dark:bg-zinc-900/50 p-3 overflow-hidden",
+    {
+      "transition-all hover:border-zinc-300 dark:hover:border-zinc-700 hover:bg-zinc-100/80 dark:hover:bg-zinc-800/50":
+        isLink,
+      className: true,
+    },
   )}
 >
-  <div class="flex flex-col gap-1">
+  <!-- Background media layer -->
+  <div
+    class="pointer-events-none absolute inset-0 opacity-25 group-hover:opacity-40"
+    style="transition: opacity 300ms ease-in-out;"
+    aria-hidden="true"
+  >
+    {#if isVideo}
+      <video
+        bind:this={videoElement}
+        src={videoUrl}
+        class={cn(mediaBaseClasses, "grayscale group-hover:grayscale-0")}
+        style="transition: filter 300ms ease-in-out;"
+        muted
+        loop
+        playsinline
+        preload="metadata"
+      ></video>
+    {:else}
+      <img src={imageUrl} alt="" class={mediaBaseClasses} loading="lazy" />
+    {/if}
+  </div>
+
+  <!-- Content layer -->
+  <div
+    class="relative z-10 flex flex-col gap-1 group-hover:opacity-80"
+    style="transition: opacity 300ms ease-in-out;"
+  >
     <div class="flex items-start justify-between gap-2">
       <h3
         class={cn(
@@ -95,10 +186,11 @@
     </p>
   </div>
 
-  <!-- TODO: Add link to project search with tag filtering -->
-  <div class="mt-auto flex flex-row-reverse flex-wrap-reverse gap-1">
-    {#each project.tags as tag (tag.name)}
-      <TagChip name={tag.name} color={tag.color} iconSvg={tag.iconSvg} />
-    {/each}
-  </div>
+  <!-- Tags layer -->
+  <TagList
+    tags={project.tags}
+    maxRows={2}
+    class="relative z-10 mt-auto group-hover:opacity-90"
+    style="transition: opacity 300ms ease-in-out;"
+  />
 </svelte:element>
diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/TagChip.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/TagChip.svelte
index 6d59bd3..921f24a 100644
--- a/web/src/lib/components/TagChip.svelte
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/TagChip.svelte
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
   let { name, color, iconSvg, href, class: className }: Props = $props();
 
   const baseClasses =
-    "inline-flex items-center gap-1.25 rounded-r-sm rounded-l-xs bg-zinc-200/80 dark:bg-zinc-700/50 px-2 sm:px-1.5 py-1 sm:py-0.75 text-sm sm:text-xs text-zinc-700 dark:text-zinc-300 border-l-3";
+    "inline-flex items-center gap-1.25 rounded-r-sm rounded-l-xs bg-zinc-200/80 dark:bg-zinc-700/50 px-2 sm:px-1.5 py-1 sm:py-0.75 text-sm sm:text-xs text-zinc-700 dark:text-zinc-300 border-l-3 shadow-sm";
   const linkClasses =
     "hover:bg-zinc-300/80 dark:hover:bg-zinc-600/50 transition-colors";
 </script>
diff --git a/web/src/lib/components/TagList.svelte b/web/src/lib/components/TagList.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e70cf00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/src/lib/components/TagList.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+  import TagChip from "./TagChip.svelte";
+  import OverflowPill from "./OverflowPill.svelte";
+
+  export type Tag = { iconSvg?: string; name: string; color?: string };
+
+  interface Props {
+    tags: Tag[];
+    maxRows?: number;
+    class?: string;
+    style?: string;
+  }
+
+  let { tags, maxRows = 2, class: className, style }: Props = $props();
+
+  // Tag overflow detection
+  let tagsContainer: HTMLDivElement | null = $state(null);
+  let visibleTagCount: number | null = $state(null); // null = show all
+
+  // Derived visible and hidden tags based on overflow calculation
+  const effectiveVisibleCount = $derived(visibleTagCount ?? tags.length);
+  const visibleTags = $derived(tags.slice(0, effectiveVisibleCount));
+  const hiddenTags = $derived(tags.slice(effectiveVisibleCount));
+  const hiddenTagNames = $derived(hiddenTags.map((t) => t.name));
+
+  // Measure and calculate tag overflow
+  function calculateOverflow() {
+    if (!tagsContainer || tags.length === 0) return;
+
+    const container = tagsContainer;
+    const children = Array.from(container.children) as HTMLElement[];
+    if (children.length === 0) return;
+
+    // Get computed gap from container
+    const containerStyle = getComputedStyle(container);
+    const gap = parseFloat(containerStyle.gap) || 4;
+
+    // Measure first tag to get line height
+    const firstTag = children[0];
+    if (!firstTag) return;
+    const lineHeight = firstTag.offsetHeight;
+    const maxHeight = lineHeight * maxRows + gap * (maxRows - 1);
+
+    // If container fits within max height, show all tags
+    if (container.scrollHeight <= maxHeight + 1) {
+      visibleTagCount = null; // Show all
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // Binary search to find optimal visible count
+    let low = 1;
+    let high = tags.length;
+    let result = 1;
+
+    while (low <= high) {
+      const mid = Math.floor((low + high) / 2);
+
+      // Temporarily show only 'mid' tags to measure
+      visibleTagCount = mid;
+
+      // Force reflow to get accurate measurement
+      // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unused-expressions
+      container.offsetHeight;
+
+      // Measure based on children positions
+      const currentHiddenCount = tags.length - mid;
+      const visibleChildren = Array.from(container.children).slice(
+        0,
+        mid + (currentHiddenCount > 0 ? 1 : 0),
+      ) as HTMLElement[];
+
+      if (visibleChildren.length === 0) {
+        low = mid + 1;
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      // Calculate actual height based on child positions
+      let minTop = Infinity;
+      let maxBottom = 0;
+      for (const child of visibleChildren) {
+        const rect = child.getBoundingClientRect();
+        const containerRect = container.getBoundingClientRect();
+        const relativeTop = rect.top - containerRect.top;
+        const relativeBottom = rect.bottom - containerRect.top;
+        minTop = Math.min(minTop, relativeTop);
+        maxBottom = Math.max(maxBottom, relativeBottom);
+      }
+      const actualHeight = maxBottom - minTop;
+
+      if (actualHeight <= maxHeight + 1) {
+        result = mid;
+        low = mid + 1;
+      } else {
+        high = mid - 1;
+      }
+    }
+
+    // Set final visible count
+    if (result < tags.length) {
+      visibleTagCount = result;
+    } else {
+      visibleTagCount = null; // Show all
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Run overflow calculation after mount and on resize
+  $effect(() => {
+    if (!tagsContainer) return;
+
+    // Initial calculation
+    calculateOverflow();
+
+    // Set up resize observer
+    const resizeObserver = new ResizeObserver(() => {
+      // Reset to show all tags first, then recalculate
+      visibleTagCount = null;
+      // Use requestAnimationFrame to ensure DOM has updated
+      requestAnimationFrame(() => {
+        calculateOverflow();
+      });
+    });
+
+    resizeObserver.observe(tagsContainer);
+
+    return () => {
+      resizeObserver.disconnect();
+    };
+  });
+</script>
+
+<div
+  bind:this={tagsContainer}
+  class="flex flex-row-reverse flex-wrap-reverse gap-1 {className}"
+  {style}
+>
+  {#each visibleTags as tag (tag.name)}
+    <TagChip name={tag.name} color={tag.color} iconSvg={tag.iconSvg} />
+  {/each}
+  {#if hiddenTags.length > 0}
+    <OverflowPill count={hiddenTags.length} {hiddenTagNames} />
+  {/if}
+</div>