diff --git a/scripts/smoke-secondary-journeys.js b/scripts/smoke-secondary-journeys.js
index e8158268..1864a164 100644
--- a/scripts/smoke-secondary-journeys.js
+++ b/scripts/smoke-secondary-journeys.js
@@ -2440,11 +2440,7 @@ async function smokeLevel(session, route, sceneName, exceptions, {
                 scene?.levelStarted ||
                 scene?.gameStarted
             ),
-            mobileControls: Boolean(
-                scene?.mobileControls ||
-                scene?.platformerMobileControls ||
-                scene?.mobileControlElements?.length
-            ),
+            mobileControls: scene?.platformerControlsVisible === true,
             interactiveCount: scene?.input?._list?.length || 0,
             displayCount: scene?.children?.list?.length || 0,
             enemyCount: scene?.enemies?.getChildren?.()
@@ -2772,6 +2768,9 @@ async function smokeLevel(session, route, sceneName, exceptions, {
     if (!state.entryAccepted) {
         throw new Error(`${sceneName} did not accept entry input: ${JSON.stringify(state)}`);
     }
+    if (!state.mobileControls) {
+        throw new Error(`${sceneName} entered gameplay without touch controls: ${JSON.stringify(state)}`);
+    }
     if (!state.canvasWidth || !state.canvasHeight) {
         throw new Error(`${sceneName} rendered a blank-sized canvas`);
     }
diff --git a/src/__tests__/ExpeditionControlLifecycle.test.js b/src/__tests__/ExpeditionControlLifecycle.test.js
index 06577a35..8fe94eae 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/ExpeditionControlLifecycle.test.js
+++ b/src/__tests__/ExpeditionControlLifecycle.test.js
@@ -10,19 +10,34 @@ const LEVEL_FILES = [
     'FinalVoidLevel.js'
 ];
 
+const readLevel = fileName => fs.readFileSync(
+    path.join(__dirname, '../scenes/levels', fileName),
+    'utf8'
+);
+
 describe('expedition control lifecycle', () => {
     test.each(LEVEL_FILES)(
         '%s restores touch controls after its entry overlay',
         (fileName) => {
-            const source = fs.readFileSync(
-                path.join(__dirname, '../scenes/levels', fileName),
-                'utf8'
-            );
+            const source = readLevel(fileName);
 
             expect(source).toContain('this.showPlatformerMobileControls()');
         }
     );
 
+    test.each(LEVEL_FILES)(
+        '%s exposes touch controls in its direct boss QA route',
+        (fileName) => {
+            const source = readLevel(fileName);
+            const methodStart = source.indexOf('startTestMode() {');
+            const methodEnd = source.indexOf('\n    }', methodStart);
+            const method = source.slice(methodStart, methodEnd);
+
+            expect(methodStart).toBeGreaterThan(-1);
+            expect(method).toContain('this.showPlatformerMobileControls()');
+        }
+    );
+
     test('local level-entry previews can force the real touch-control layout', () => {
         const gameSource = fs.readFileSync(
             path.join(__dirname, '../game.js'),
@@ -63,4 +78,18 @@ describe('expedition control lifecycle', () => {
             /hidePauseMenu\(\)[\s\S]*this\.showPlatformerMobileControls\(\)/
         );
     });
+
+    test('release interaction smoke requires visible touch controls in every level', () => {
+        const smokeSource = fs.readFileSync(
+            path.join(__dirname, '../../scripts/smoke-secondary-journeys.js'),
+            'utf8'
+        );
+
+        expect(smokeSource).toContain(
+            'mobileControls: scene?.platformerControlsVisible === true'
+        );
+        expect(smokeSource).toContain(
+            'entered gameplay without touch controls'
+        );
+    });
 });
diff --git a/src/scenes/levels/CrystalCavesLevel.js b/src/scenes/levels/CrystalCavesLevel.js
index 11880e98..d4a19caa 100644
--- a/src/scenes/levels/CrystalCavesLevel.js
+++ b/src/scenes/levels/CrystalCavesLevel.js
@@ -329,6 +329,8 @@ class CrystalCavesLevel extends PlatformerLevelScene {
             this.player.setPosition(this.levelWidth - 900, this.levelHeight - 200);
         }
 
+        this.showPlatformerMobileControls();
+
         this.time.delayedCall(300, () => {
             this.crystalCoreFound = true;
             this.startBossFight();
diff --git a/src/scenes/levels/FinalVoidLevel.js b/src/scenes/levels/FinalVoidLevel.js
index af097d75..c226b59d 100644
--- a/src/scenes/levels/FinalVoidLevel.js
+++ b/src/scenes/levels/FinalVoidLevel.js
@@ -315,6 +315,8 @@ class FinalVoidLevel extends PlatformerLevelScene {
             );
         }
 
+        this.showPlatformerMobileControls();
+
         this.time.delayedCall(500, () => this.startBossFight());
 
         if (this.highPowerPreview) {
diff --git a/src/scenes/levels/ReefLevel.js b/src/scenes/levels/ReefLevel.js
index 8fc17e04..d26000b9 100644
--- a/src/scenes/levels/ReefLevel.js
+++ b/src/scenes/levels/ReefLevel.js
@@ -311,6 +311,8 @@ class ReefLevel extends PlatformerLevelScene {
             this.player.setPosition(this.levelWidth - 900, this.levelHeight - 200);
         }
 
+        this.showPlatformerMobileControls();
+
         this.time.delayedCall(300, () => {
             this.startBossFight();
         });