diff --git a/src/mudlib/render/ansi.py b/src/mudlib/render/ansi.py
index 177faad..e423ce0 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/render/ansi.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/render/ansi.py
@@ -51,3 +51,63 @@ def colorize_map(grid: list[list[str]]) -> str:
         colored_row = "".join(colorize_terrain(char) for char in row)
         lines.append(colored_row)
     return "\n".join(lines)
+
+
+def fg_256(n: int) -> str:
+    """Generate 256-color foreground escape code.
+
+    Args:
+        n: Color index (0-255). Values outside range are clamped.
+
+    Returns:
+        ANSI escape sequence for 256-color foreground.
+    """
+    clamped = max(0, min(255, n))
+    return f"\033[38;5;{clamped}m"
+
+
+def bg_256(n: int) -> str:
+    """Generate 256-color background escape code.
+
+    Args:
+        n: Color index (0-255). Values outside range are clamped.
+
+    Returns:
+        ANSI escape sequence for 256-color background.
+    """
+    clamped = max(0, min(255, n))
+    return f"\033[48;5;{clamped}m"
+
+
+def fg_rgb(r: int, g: int, b: int) -> str:
+    """Generate truecolor foreground escape code.
+
+    Args:
+        r: Red component (0-255). Values outside range are clamped.
+        g: Green component (0-255). Values outside range are clamped.
+        b: Blue component (0-255). Values outside range are clamped.
+
+    Returns:
+        ANSI escape sequence for truecolor foreground.
+    """
+    r_clamped = max(0, min(255, r))
+    g_clamped = max(0, min(255, g))
+    b_clamped = max(0, min(255, b))
+    return f"\033[38;2;{r_clamped};{g_clamped};{b_clamped}m"
+
+
+def bg_rgb(r: int, g: int, b: int) -> str:
+    """Generate truecolor background escape code.
+
+    Args:
+        r: Red component (0-255). Values outside range are clamped.
+        g: Green component (0-255). Values outside range are clamped.
+        b: Blue component (0-255). Values outside range are clamped.
+
+    Returns:
+        ANSI escape sequence for truecolor background.
+    """
+    r_clamped = max(0, min(255, r))
+    g_clamped = max(0, min(255, g))
+    b_clamped = max(0, min(255, b))
+    return f"\033[48;2;{r_clamped};{g_clamped};{b_clamped}m"
diff --git a/tests/test_ansi.py b/tests/test_ansi.py
index 370d923..e1bee99 100644
--- a/tests/test_ansi.py
+++ b/tests/test_ansi.py
@@ -1,4 +1,12 @@
-from mudlib.render.ansi import RESET, colorize_map, colorize_terrain
+from mudlib.render.ansi import (
+    RESET,
+    bg_256,
+    bg_rgb,
+    colorize_map,
+    colorize_terrain,
+    fg_256,
+    fg_rgb,
+)
 
 
 def test_colorize_terrain_grass():
@@ -45,3 +53,63 @@ def test_colorize_map():
 
     # should have ANSI codes
     assert "\033[" in result
+
+
+def test_fg_256_basic():
+    """Generate 256-color foreground code."""
+    assert fg_256(0) == "\033[38;5;0m"
+    assert fg_256(15) == "\033[38;5;15m"
+    assert fg_256(42) == "\033[38;5;42m"
+    assert fg_256(255) == "\033[38;5;255m"
+
+
+def test_bg_256_basic():
+    """Generate 256-color background code."""
+    assert bg_256(0) == "\033[48;5;0m"
+    assert bg_256(15) == "\033[48;5;15m"
+    assert bg_256(42) == "\033[48;5;42m"
+    assert bg_256(255) == "\033[48;5;255m"
+
+
+def test_fg_256_clamping():
+    """Clamp 256-color values to valid range (0-255)."""
+    assert fg_256(-1) == "\033[38;5;0m"
+    assert fg_256(256) == "\033[38;5;255m"
+    assert fg_256(999) == "\033[38;5;255m"
+
+
+def test_bg_256_clamping():
+    """Clamp 256-color values to valid range (0-255)."""
+    assert bg_256(-1) == "\033[48;5;0m"
+    assert bg_256(256) == "\033[48;5;255m"
+    assert bg_256(999) == "\033[48;5;255m"
+
+
+def test_fg_rgb_basic():
+    """Generate truecolor foreground code."""
+    assert fg_rgb(0, 0, 0) == "\033[38;2;0;0;0m"
+    assert fg_rgb(255, 255, 255) == "\033[38;2;255;255;255m"
+    assert fg_rgb(128, 64, 192) == "\033[38;2;128;64;192m"
+
+
+def test_bg_rgb_basic():
+    """Generate truecolor background code."""
+    assert bg_rgb(0, 0, 0) == "\033[48;2;0;0;0m"
+    assert bg_rgb(255, 255, 255) == "\033[48;2;255;255;255m"
+    assert bg_rgb(128, 64, 192) == "\033[48;2;128;64;192m"
+
+
+def test_fg_rgb_clamping():
+    """Clamp RGB values to valid range (0-255)."""
+    assert fg_rgb(-1, 0, 0) == "\033[38;2;0;0;0m"
+    assert fg_rgb(0, 300, 0) == "\033[38;2;0;255;0m"
+    assert fg_rgb(0, 0, 999) == "\033[38;2;0;0;255m"
+    assert fg_rgb(-10, 300, 500) == "\033[38;2;0;255;255m"
+
+
+def test_bg_rgb_clamping():
+    """Clamp RGB values to valid range (0-255)."""
+    assert bg_rgb(-1, 0, 0) == "\033[48;2;0;0;0m"
+    assert bg_rgb(0, 300, 0) == "\033[48;2;0;255;0m"
+    assert bg_rgb(0, 0, 999) == "\033[48;2;0;0;255m"
+    assert bg_rgb(-10, 300, 500) == "\033[48;2;0;255;255m"