diff --git a/frontend/src/components/SimulationList.tsx b/frontend/src/components/SimulationList.tsx
index 3bc42c8..a158a23 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/SimulationList.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/SimulationList.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { useRef, useState } from 'react';
 import { Link, useNavigate } from 'react-router-dom';
-import { ChevronDown } from 'lucide-react';
+import { ChevronDown, Plus } from 'lucide-react';
 import { extractApiError } from '@/api/client';
 import type { SimulationTemplate } from '@/api/types';
 import { useAuth } from '@/hooks/useAuth';
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ function NewSimulationDropdown({ engagementId }: { engagementId: number }): JSX.
           onClick={handleBlank}
           data-testid="new-simulation-btn"
         >
-          New simulation
+          <Plus size={14} aria-hidden /> New
         </button>
         <button
           type="button"
@@ -75,13 +75,13 @@ function NewSimulationDropdown({ engagementId }: { engagementId: number }): JSX.
 
       {open ? (
         <div
-          className="absolute right-0 top-full mt-xxs bg-canvas border border-hairline rounded-md shadow-floating z-20 min-w-[180px]"
+          className="absolute right-0 top-full mt-xxs bg-canvas border border-hairline rounded-md shadow-floating dark:shadow-floating-dark z-20 min-w-[180px]"
           role="menu"
         >
           <button
             type="button"
             role="menuitem"
-            className="w-full text-left px-md py-sm text-[14px] text-ink hover:bg-cloud"
+            className="w-full text-left px-md py-sm text-[14px] text-ink hover:bg-cloud dark:hover:bg-fog"
             onClick={handleBlank}
           >
             Blank
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ function NewSimulationDropdown({ engagementId }: { engagementId: number }): JSX.
           <button
             type="button"
             role="menuitem"
-            className="w-full text-left px-md py-sm text-[14px] text-ink hover:bg-cloud"
+            className="w-full text-left px-md py-sm text-[14px] text-ink hover:bg-cloud dark:hover:bg-fog"
             onClick={handleFromTemplate}
             data-testid="from-template-btn"
           >