diff --git a/apps/svelte.dev/src/lib/components/ModalDropdown.svelte b/apps/svelte.dev/src/lib/components/ModalDropdown.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c5456c24ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/svelte.dev/src/lib/components/ModalDropdown.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+	import { afterNavigate } from '$app/navigation';
+	import { page } from '$app/stores';
+	import { focusable_children, trap } from '@sveltejs/site-kit/actions';
+	import { Icon } from '@sveltejs/site-kit/components';
+	import type { Snippet } from 'svelte';
+
+	let { children, label }: { children: Snippet; label: string } = $props();
+
+	let open = $state(false);
+
+	afterNavigate(() => {
+		open = false;
+	});
+</script>
+
+<svelte:window
+	onkeydown={(e) => {
+		if (e.key === 'Escape') {
+			open = false;
+		}
+	}}
+/>
+
+<!-- svelte-ignore a11y_no_noninteractive_element_interactions -->
+<details
+	class="examples-select"
+	bind:open
+	ontogglecapture={(e) => {
+		const details = e.target as HTMLDetailsElement;
+
+		if (details === e.currentTarget || !details.open) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		details.scrollIntoView();
+	}}
+	ontoggle={(e) => {
+		const details = e.currentTarget;
+		if (!details.open) return;
+
+		// close all details elements...
+		for (const child of details.querySelectorAll('details[open]')) {
+			(child as HTMLDetailsElement).open = false;
+		}
+
+		// except parents of the current one
+		const current = details.querySelector(`[href="${$page.url.pathname}"]`) as HTMLAnchorElement | null;
+		if (!current) return;
+
+		let node = current as Element;
+
+		while ((node = (node.parentNode) as Element) && node !== details) {
+			if (node.nodeName === 'DETAILS') {
+				(node as HTMLDetailsElement).open = true;
+			}
+		}
+
+		current.scrollIntoView();
+		current.focus();
+	}}
+	onkeydown={(e) => {
+		if (e.key === 'ArrowDown' || e.key === 'ArrowUp') {
+			const children = focusable_children(e.currentTarget);
+
+			if (e.key === 'ArrowDown') {
+				children.next();
+			} else {
+				children.prev();
+			}
+		}
+
+		if (document.activeElement?.nodeName === 'SUMMARY' && (e.key === 'ArrowLeft' || e.key === 'ArrowRight')) {
+			(document.activeElement.parentNode as HTMLDetailsElement).open = e.key === 'ArrowRight';
+		}
+	}}
+>
+	<summary class="raised icon" aria-label={label}><Icon name="menu" /></summary>
+
+	<div class="contents" use:trap>
+		{@render children()}
+	</div>
+</details>
+
+<style>
+	details {
+		position: relative;
+
+		&:has(:focus-visible) .raised.icon {
+			outline: 2px solid var(--sk-fg-accent);
+			border-radius: var(--sk-border-radius);
+		}
+
+		span {
+			pointer-events: none;
+		}
+	}
+
+	summary {
+		position: absolute;
+		display: flex;
+		align-items: center;
+		justify-content: center;
+		user-select: none;
+	}
+
+	details[open] summary::before {
+		content: '';
+		position: fixed;
+		left: 0;
+		top: 0;
+		width: 100%;
+		height: 100%;
+		background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.3);
+		backdrop-filter: grayscale(0.7) blur(3px);
+		z-index: 9998;
+	}
+
+	.contents {
+		position: absolute;
+		z-index: 9999;
+		background: var(--sk-bg-2);
+		padding: 1rem;
+		border-radius: var(--sk-border-radius);
+		filter: var(--sk-shadow);
+		max-height: calc(100vh - 16rem);
+		overflow-y: auto;
+	}
+
+	.icon {
+		position: relative;
+		color: var(--sk-fg-3);
+		line-height: 1;
+		background-size: 1.8rem;
+		z-index: 9999;
+	}
+
+	.icon:hover,
+	.icon:focus-visible {
+		opacity: 1;
+	}
+</style>
diff --git a/apps/svelte.dev/src/lib/components/SelectIcon.svelte b/apps/svelte.dev/src/lib/components/SelectIcon.svelte
deleted file mode 100644
index 991221459b..0000000000
--- a/apps/svelte.dev/src/lib/components/SelectIcon.svelte
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,60 +0,0 @@
-<script lang="ts">
-	import { Icon } from '@sveltejs/site-kit/components';
-	import type { Snippet } from 'svelte';
-	import type { HTMLSelectAttributes } from 'svelte/elements';
-
-	let { children, value, ...props }: HTMLSelectAttributes & { children: Snippet } = $props();
-
-	export { value }; // allow it to be temporarily overwritten
-</script>
-
-<div class="examples-select">
-	<span class="raised icon"><Icon name="menu" /></span>
-	<select {...props} {value}>
-		{@render children()}
-	</select>
-</div>
-
-<style>
-	.examples-select {
-		position: relative;
-
-		&:has(select:focus-visible) .raised.icon {
-			outline: 2px solid var(--sk-fg-accent);
-			border-radius: var(--sk-border-radius);
-		}
-
-		span {
-			pointer-events: none;
-		}
-	}
-
-	select {
-		opacity: 0.0001;
-		position: absolute;
-		top: 0;
-		left: 0;
-		width: 100%;
-		height: 100%;
-	}
-
-	span.icon {
-		display: flex;
-		align-items: center;
-		justify-content: center;
-		user-select: none;
-	}
-
-	.icon {
-		position: relative;
-		color: var(--sk-fg-3);
-		line-height: 1;
-		background-size: 1.8rem;
-		z-index: 999;
-	}
-
-	.icon:hover,
-	.icon:focus-visible {
-		opacity: 1;
-	}
-</style>
diff --git a/apps/svelte.dev/src/routes/(authed)/playground/[id]/AppControls.svelte b/apps/svelte.dev/src/routes/(authed)/playground/[id]/AppControls.svelte
index 7a894ffc35..a1b6917141 100644
--- a/apps/svelte.dev/src/routes/(authed)/playground/[id]/AppControls.svelte
+++ b/apps/svelte.dev/src/routes/(authed)/playground/[id]/AppControls.svelte
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-	import { goto } from '$app/navigation';
+	import { page } from '$app/stores';
 	import UserMenu from './UserMenu.svelte';
 	import { Icon } from '@sveltejs/site-kit/components';
 	import { isMac } from '$lib/utils/compat.js';
 	import { get_app_context } from '../../app-context';
 	import type { Gist, User } from '$lib/db/types';
 	import { browser } from '$app/environment';
-	import SelectIcon from '$lib/components/SelectIcon.svelte';
+	import ModalDropdown from '$lib/components/ModalDropdown.svelte';
 	import { untrack } from 'svelte';
 	import SecondaryNav from '$lib/components/SecondaryNav.svelte';
 	import type { File } from 'editor';
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 	let saving = $state(false);
 	let justSaved = $state(false);
 	let justForked = $state(false);
-	let select: ReturnType<typeof SelectIcon>;
+	let select: ReturnType<typeof ModalDropdown>;
 
 	function wait(ms: number) {
 		return new Promise((f) => setTimeout(f, ms));
@@ -180,15 +180,31 @@
 <svelte:window on:keydown={handleKeydown} />
 
 <SecondaryNav>
-	<SelectIcon
-		bind:this={select}
-		title="examples"
-		value={gist.id}
-		onchange={async (e) => {
-			goto(`/playground/${e.currentTarget.value}`);
-		}}
-	>
-		<option value="untitled">Create new</option>
+	<ModalDropdown label="Examples">
+		<div class="secondary-nav-dropdown">
+			<a class="create-new" href="/playground/untitled">Create new</a>
+
+			{#each examples as section}
+				<details>
+					<summary>{section.title}</summary>
+
+					<ul>
+						{#each section.examples as example}
+							<li>
+								<a
+									href="/playground/{example.slug}"
+									aria-current={$page.params.id === example.slug ? 'page' : undefined}
+								>
+									{example.title}
+								</a>
+							</li>
+						{/each}
+					</ul>
+				</details>
+			{/each}
+		</div>
+
+		<!-- <option value="untitled">Create new</option>
 		<option disabled selected value="">or choose an example</option>
 		{#each examples as section}
 			<optgroup label={section.title}>
@@ -196,8 +212,8 @@
 					<option value={example.slug}>{example.title}</option>
 				{/each}
 			</optgroup>
-		{/each}
-	</SelectIcon>
+		{/each} -->
+	</ModalDropdown>
 
 	<input
 		bind:value={name}
@@ -324,4 +340,8 @@
 		top: -0.2rem;
 		right: -0.2rem;
 	}
+
+	.create-new {
+		margin-bottom: 1rem;
+	}
 </style>
diff --git a/apps/svelte.dev/src/routes/tutorial/[...slug]/Controls.svelte b/apps/svelte.dev/src/routes/tutorial/[...slug]/Controls.svelte
index 14ff90479d..17e04eb2f3 100644
--- a/apps/svelte.dev/src/routes/tutorial/[...slug]/Controls.svelte
+++ b/apps/svelte.dev/src/routes/tutorial/[...slug]/Controls.svelte
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <script lang="ts">
-	import { goto } from '$app/navigation';
+	import { page } from '$app/stores';
 	import SecondaryNav from '$lib/components/SecondaryNav.svelte';
-	import SelectIcon from '$lib/components/SelectIcon.svelte';
+	import ModalDropdown from '$lib/components/ModalDropdown.svelte';
 	import type { Exercise, PartStub } from '$lib/tutorial';
 	import { Icon } from '@sveltejs/site-kit/components';
 
@@ -13,33 +13,37 @@
 	}
 
 	let { index, exercise, completed, toggle }: Props = $props();
-
-	// TODO this really sucks, why is `exercise.slug` not the slug?
-	let actual_slug = $derived.by(() => {
-		const parts = exercise.slug.split('/');
-		return `${parts[1].includes('kit') ? 'kit' : 'svelte'}/${parts[3]}`;
-	});
 </script>
 
 <SecondaryNav>
-	<SelectIcon
-		value={actual_slug}
-		onchange={(e) => {
-			goto(`/tutorial/${e.currentTarget.value}`);
-		}}
-	>
-		{#each index as part}
-			<optgroup label={part.title}>
-				{#each part.chapters as chapter}
-					<option disabled>{chapter.title}</option>
+	<ModalDropdown label="Menu">
+		<div class="secondary-nav-dropdown">
+			{#each index as part}
+				<details>
+					<summary>{part.title}</summary>
+
+					{#each part.chapters as chapter}
+						<details>
+							<summary>{chapter.title}</summary>
 
-					{#each chapter.exercises as exercise}
-						<option value={exercise.slug}>{exercise.title}</option>
+							<ul>
+								{#each chapter.exercises as exercise}
+									<li value={exercise.slug}>
+										<a
+											aria-current={$page.url.pathname === `/tutorial/${exercise.slug}`
+												? 'page'
+												: undefined}
+											href="/tutorial/{exercise.slug}">{exercise.title}</a
+										>
+									</li>
+								{/each}
+							</ul>
+						</details>
 					{/each}
-				{/each}
-			</optgroup>
-		{/each}
-	</SelectIcon>
+				</details>
+			{/each}
+		</div>
+	</ModalDropdown>
 
 	<a
 		href={exercise.prev ? `/tutorial/${exercise.prev?.slug}` : undefined}
@@ -77,6 +81,10 @@
 			opacity: 0.1;
 			cursor: default;
 		}
+
+		&[aria-current='page'] {
+			color: var(--sk-fg-accent);
+		}
 	}
 
 	.breadcrumbs {
diff --git a/packages/site-kit/src/lib/actions/focus.ts b/packages/site-kit/src/lib/actions/focus.ts
index b0f434d95a..77d7b825e5 100644
--- a/packages/site-kit/src/lib/actions/focus.ts
+++ b/packages/site-kit/src/lib/actions/focus.ts
@@ -7,8 +7,10 @@ export function forcefocus(node: HTMLInputElement) {
 
 export function focusable_children(node: HTMLElement) {
 	const nodes: HTMLElement[] = Array.from(
+		// this rather intimating selector selects elements that aren't children of closed <details> elements,
+		// except for the <summary> elements that are their direct children
 		node.querySelectorAll(
-			'a[href], button, input, textarea, select, summary, [tabindex]:not([tabindex="-1"])'
+			':where(a[href], button, input, textarea, select, summary, [tabindex]:not([tabindex="-1"])):not(details:not([open]) *), summary:not(details:not([open]) details *)'
 		)
 	);
 
@@ -31,10 +33,6 @@ export function focusable_children(node: HTMLElement) {
 		while ((node = reordered[i])) {
 			i += d;
 
-			if (node.matches('details:not([open]) *')) {
-				continue;
-			}
-
 			if (!selector || node.matches(selector)) {
 				node.focus();
 				return;
diff --git a/packages/site-kit/src/lib/styles/index.css b/packages/site-kit/src/lib/styles/index.css
index e336fe3089..af9bf0c95a 100644
--- a/packages/site-kit/src/lib/styles/index.css
+++ b/packages/site-kit/src/lib/styles/index.css
@@ -12,4 +12,5 @@
 @import './text.css';
 @import './utils/buttons.css';
 @import './utils/dividers.css';
+@import './utils/nav.css';
 @import './utils/twoslash.css';
diff --git a/packages/site-kit/src/lib/styles/utils/nav.css b/packages/site-kit/src/lib/styles/utils/nav.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f5ef788bd4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/site-kit/src/lib/styles/utils/nav.css
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+.secondary-nav-dropdown {
+	max-height: 50rem;
+	width: 30rem;
+	max-width: calc(100vw - 2 * var(--sk-page-padding-side) - 2rem);
+	font: var(--sk-font-ui-medium);
+
+	details {
+		padding-left: 1rem;
+
+		summary {
+			position: relative;
+			font: inherit;
+			display: block;
+			user-select: none;
+
+			&::before {
+				content: '';
+				position: absolute;
+				top: 0.3rem;
+				left: -2rem;
+				width: 1.8rem;
+				height: 1.8rem;
+				background: url($lib/icons/chevron.svg) no-repeat 50% 50%;
+				background-size: 100%;
+				rotate: -90deg;
+			}
+
+			[open] > &::before {
+				rotate: none;
+			}
+		}
+
+		ul {
+			font: inherit;
+			list-style: none;
+			margin: 0;
+			padding-left: 1rem;
+		}
+	}
+
+	& > details {
+		padding-left: 2rem;
+	}
+
+	a:not([aria-current='page']) {
+		color: inherit;
+	}
+
+	/* necessary for reasons i don't fully understand */
+	& > details[open]:last-child:not(:has([aria-current='page'])) {
+		padding-bottom: 1rem;
+	}
+}