diff --git a/packages/backend/src/graphql/resolvers/comments.ts b/packages/backend/src/graphql/resolvers/comments.ts
index fc8ee3a..ade2c26 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/graphql/resolvers/comments.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/graphql/resolvers/comments.ts
@@ -59,9 +59,10 @@ builder.mutationField("createCommentForVideo", (t) =>
         })
         .returning();
 
-      // Gamification
-      await awardPoints(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser.id, "COMMENT_CREATE");
-      await checkAchievements(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser.id, "social");
+      // Gamification (non-blocking)
+      awardPoints(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser.id, "COMMENT_CREATE")
+        .then(() => checkAchievements(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser!.id, "social"))
+        .catch((e) => console.error("Gamification error on comment:", e));
 
       const user = await ctx.db
         .select({
diff --git a/packages/backend/src/graphql/resolvers/recordings.ts b/packages/backend/src/graphql/resolvers/recordings.ts
index 885187f..8015f75 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/graphql/resolvers/recordings.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/graphql/resolvers/recordings.ts
@@ -122,10 +122,11 @@ builder.mutationField("createRecording", (t) =>
 
       const recording = newRecording[0];
 
-      // Gamification: award points if published
+      // Gamification (non-blocking)
       if (recording.status === "published") {
-        await awardPoints(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser.id, "RECORDING_CREATE", recording.id);
-        await checkAchievements(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser.id, "recordings");
+        awardPoints(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser.id, "RECORDING_CREATE", recording.id)
+          .then(() => checkAchievements(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser!.id, "recordings"))
+          .catch((e) => console.error("Gamification error on recording create:", e));
       }
 
       return recording;
@@ -179,14 +180,15 @@ builder.mutationField("updateRecording", (t) =>
 
       const recording = updated[0];
 
-      // Gamification: if newly published
+      // Gamification (non-blocking)
       if (args.status === "published" && existing[0].status !== "published") {
-        await awardPoints(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser.id, "RECORDING_CREATE", recording.id);
-        await checkAchievements(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser.id, "recordings");
-      }
-      if (args.status === "published" && recording.featured && !existing[0].featured) {
-        await awardPoints(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser.id, "RECORDING_FEATURED", recording.id);
-        await checkAchievements(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser.id, "recordings");
+        awardPoints(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser.id, "RECORDING_CREATE", recording.id)
+          .then(() => checkAchievements(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser!.id, "recordings"))
+          .catch((e) => console.error("Gamification error on recording publish:", e));
+      } else if (args.status === "published" && recording.featured && !existing[0].featured) {
+        awardPoints(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser.id, "RECORDING_FEATURED", recording.id)
+          .then(() => checkAchievements(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser!.id, "recordings"))
+          .catch((e) => console.error("Gamification error on recording feature:", e));
       }
 
       return recording;
@@ -288,10 +290,11 @@ builder.mutationField("recordRecordingPlay", (t) =>
         })
         .returning({ id: recording_plays.id });
 
-      // Gamification
+      // Gamification (non-blocking)
       if (ctx.currentUser && recording[0].user_id !== ctx.currentUser.id) {
-        await awardPoints(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser.id, "RECORDING_PLAY", args.recordingId);
-        await checkAchievements(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser.id, "playback");
+        awardPoints(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser.id, "RECORDING_PLAY", args.recordingId)
+          .then(() => checkAchievements(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser!.id, "playback"))
+          .catch((e) => console.error("Gamification error on recording play:", e));
       }
 
       return { success: true, play_id: play[0].id };
@@ -326,14 +329,11 @@ builder.mutationField("updateRecordingPlay", (t) =>
         })
         .where(eq(recording_plays.id, args.playId));
 
+      // Gamification (non-blocking)
       if (args.completed && !wasCompleted && ctx.currentUser) {
-        await awardPoints(
-          ctx.db,
-          ctx.currentUser.id,
-          "RECORDING_COMPLETE",
-          existing[0].recording_id,
-        );
-        await checkAchievements(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser.id, "playback");
+        awardPoints(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser.id, "RECORDING_COMPLETE", existing[0].recording_id)
+          .then(() => checkAchievements(ctx.db, ctx.currentUser!.id, "playback"))
+          .catch((e) => console.error("Gamification error on recording complete:", e));
       }
 
       return true;