diff --git a/src/mudlib/mob_ai.py b/src/mudlib/mob_ai.py
index dfe51f8..490459a 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/mob_ai.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/mob_ai.py
@@ -6,13 +6,22 @@ import time
 from mudlib.combat.encounter import CombatState
 from mudlib.combat.engine import get_encounter
 from mudlib.combat.moves import CombatMove
+from mudlib.commands.movement import (
+    OPPOSITE_DIRECTIONS,
+    get_direction_name,
+    send_nearby_message,
+)
 from mudlib.mobs import mobs
 from mudlib.render.colors import colorize
 from mudlib.render.pov import render_pov
+from mudlib.zone import Zone
 
 # Seconds between mob actions (gives player time to read and react)
 MOB_ACTION_COOLDOWN = 1.0
 
+# Seconds between mob pathfinding movements
+MOB_MOVEMENT_COOLDOWN = 3.0
+
 
 async def process_mobs(combat_moves: dict[str, CombatMove]) -> None:
     """Called once per game loop tick. Handles mob combat decisions."""
@@ -123,3 +132,104 @@ def _try_defend(mob, encounter, combat_moves, now):
 
     encounter.defend(chosen)
     mob.stamina -= chosen.stamina_cost
+
+
+async def process_mob_movement() -> None:
+    """Move mobs back toward their home regions if they've strayed.
+
+    Called once per game loop tick. For each mob:
+    - Skip if in combat/encounter
+    - Skip if no home region set
+    - Skip if already inside home region
+    - Skip if not enough time has passed since last move (throttle)
+    - Calculate direction toward home region center
+    - Move one tile in that direction (prefer axis with larger distance)
+    - Check passability before moving
+    - Broadcast movement to nearby players
+    """
+    now = time.monotonic()
+
+    for mob in mobs[:]:  # copy list in case of modification
+        if not mob.alive:
+            continue
+
+        # Skip if mob is in combat
+        encounter = get_encounter(mob)
+        if encounter is not None:
+            continue
+
+        # Skip if no home region set
+        if (
+            mob.home_x_min is None
+            or mob.home_x_max is None
+            or mob.home_y_min is None
+            or mob.home_y_max is None
+        ):
+            continue
+
+        # Skip if already inside home region
+        if (
+            mob.home_x_min <= mob.x <= mob.home_x_max
+            and mob.home_y_min <= mob.y <= mob.home_y_max
+        ):
+            continue
+
+        # Skip if not enough time has passed (throttle)
+        if now < mob.next_action_at:
+            continue
+
+        # Calculate center of home region
+        center_x = (mob.home_x_min + mob.home_x_max) // 2
+        center_y = (mob.home_y_min + mob.home_y_max) // 2
+
+        # Calculate direction toward center
+        dx = center_x - mob.x
+        dy = center_y - mob.y
+
+        # Move one tile (prefer axis with larger distance, ties prefer x)
+        move_x = 0
+        move_y = 0
+        if abs(dx) >= abs(dy):
+            move_x = 1 if dx > 0 else -1 if dx < 0 else 0
+        else:
+            move_y = 1 if dy > 0 else -1 if dy < 0 else 0
+
+        # Check if target is passable
+        zone = mob.location
+        assert isinstance(zone, Zone), "Mob must be in a zone to move"
+
+        target_x = mob.x + move_x
+        target_y = mob.y + move_y
+
+        # Handle toroidal wrapping if needed
+        if zone.toroidal:
+            target_x, target_y = zone.wrap(target_x, target_y)
+
+        if not zone.is_passable(target_x, target_y):
+            # Can't move that way, skip this tick
+            continue
+
+        # Send departure message
+        direction_name = get_direction_name(move_x, move_y)
+        if direction_name:
+            await send_nearby_message(
+                mob, mob.x, mob.y, f"{mob.name} wanders {direction_name}.\r\n"
+            )
+
+        # Update position
+        mob.x = target_x
+        mob.y = target_y
+
+        # Send arrival message (use opposite direction)
+        if direction_name:
+            opposite = OPPOSITE_DIRECTIONS.get(direction_name, "")
+            if opposite:
+                await send_nearby_message(
+                    mob,
+                    mob.x,
+                    mob.y,
+                    f"{mob.name} wanders in from the {opposite}.\r\n",
+                )
+
+        # Set next move time
+        mob.next_action_at = now + MOB_MOVEMENT_COOLDOWN
diff --git a/src/mudlib/server.py b/src/mudlib/server.py
index 3b16fb7..f548f1a 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/server.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/server.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ from mudlib.gmcp import (
     send_room_info,
 )
 from mudlib.if_session import broadcast_to_spectators
-from mudlib.mob_ai import process_mobs
+from mudlib.mob_ai import process_mob_movement, process_mobs
 from mudlib.mobs import load_mob_templates, mob_templates
 from mudlib.player import Player, players
 from mudlib.prompt import render_prompt
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ async def game_loop() -> None:
         clear_expired()
         await process_combat()
         await process_mobs(mudlib.combat.commands.combat_moves)
+        await process_mob_movement()
         await process_resting()
         await process_unconscious()
         await process_decomposing()
diff --git a/tests/test_mob_pathfinding.py b/tests/test_mob_pathfinding.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8bfee19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_mob_pathfinding.py
@@ -0,0 +1,259 @@
+"""Tests for mob pathfinding back to home region."""
+
+import time
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock
+
+import pytest
+
+from mudlib.entity import Mob
+from mudlib.mob_ai import process_mob_movement
+from mudlib.mobs import mobs
+from mudlib.zone import Zone
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def clear_mobs():
+    """Clear global mobs list before each test."""
+    mobs.clear()
+    yield
+    mobs.clear()
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def zone():
+    """Create a simple test zone."""
+    terrain = [
+        [".", ".", ".", ".", "."],
+        [".", ".", "#", ".", "."],
+        [".", ".", ".", ".", "."],
+        [".", ".", "#", ".", "."],
+        [".", ".", ".", ".", "."],
+    ]
+    return Zone(
+        name="test",
+        description="Test Zone",
+        width=5,
+        height=5,
+        terrain=terrain,
+        toroidal=False,
+        impassable={"#"},
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_mob_outside_home_region_moves_toward_it(zone):
+    """Mob outside home region should move one tile toward center."""
+    # Create mob at (4, 4) with home region center at (1, 1)
+    mob = Mob(
+        name="test_mob",
+        location=zone,
+        x=4,
+        y=4,
+        home_x_min=0,
+        home_x_max=2,
+        home_y_min=0,
+        home_y_max=2,
+    )
+    mobs.append(mob)
+
+    # First movement should happen immediately
+    await process_mob_movement()
+
+    # Mob should move toward home (prefer larger distance axis)
+    # Distance to center (1,1): dx=3, dy=3 — equal, so prefer x-axis
+    assert mob.x == 3 and mob.y == 4
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_mob_inside_home_region_does_not_move(zone):
+    """Mob already inside home region should not move."""
+    mob = Mob(
+        name="test_mob",
+        location=zone,
+        x=1,
+        y=1,
+        home_x_min=0,
+        home_x_max=2,
+        home_y_min=0,
+        home_y_max=2,
+    )
+    mobs.append(mob)
+
+    await process_mob_movement()
+
+    # Position should not change
+    assert mob.x == 1 and mob.y == 1
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_mob_with_no_home_region_does_not_move(zone):
+    """Mob with no home region should not move."""
+    mob = Mob(
+        name="test_mob",
+        location=zone,
+        x=2,
+        y=2,
+    )
+    mobs.append(mob)
+
+    await process_mob_movement()
+
+    # Position should not change
+    assert mob.x == 2 and mob.y == 2
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_mob_in_combat_does_not_move(zone):
+    """Mob in an encounter should not move."""
+    from mudlib.combat.encounter import CombatEncounter
+
+    mob = Mob(
+        name="test_mob",
+        location=zone,
+        x=4,
+        y=4,
+        home_x_min=0,
+        home_x_max=2,
+        home_y_min=0,
+        home_y_max=2,
+    )
+    mobs.append(mob)
+
+    # Create a mock player for the encounter
+    from mudlib.player import Player
+
+    mock_writer = MagicMock()
+    mock_writer.is_closing.return_value = False
+    mock_writer.drain = AsyncMock()
+
+    player = Player(
+        name="test_player",
+        location=zone,
+        x=4,
+        y=4,
+        writer=mock_writer,
+        reader=MagicMock(),
+    )
+
+    # Create encounter
+    from mudlib.combat.engine import active_encounters
+
+    encounter = CombatEncounter(attacker=mob, defender=player)
+    active_encounters.append(encounter)
+
+    try:
+        await process_mob_movement()
+
+        # Mob should not move
+        assert mob.x == 4 and mob.y == 4
+    finally:
+        active_encounters.clear()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_movement_is_throttled(zone):
+    """Mob should not move on every tick (throttle ~3 seconds)."""
+    mob = Mob(
+        name="test_mob",
+        location=zone,
+        x=4,
+        y=4,
+        home_x_min=0,
+        home_x_max=2,
+        home_y_min=0,
+        home_y_max=2,
+    )
+    mobs.append(mob)
+
+    # First move should happen
+    await process_mob_movement()
+    first_x, first_y = mob.x, mob.y
+    assert (first_x, first_y) != (4, 4)  # Moved
+
+    # Immediate second call should not move
+    await process_mob_movement()
+    assert mob.x == first_x and mob.y == first_y
+
+    # After waiting 3 seconds, should move again
+    time.sleep(3.1)
+    await process_mob_movement()
+    assert mob.x != first_x or mob.y != first_y
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_mob_respects_impassable_terrain(zone):
+    """Mob should not move into impassable terrain."""
+    # Position mob at (1, 0) with home at (3, 0)
+    # There's a wall at (2, 1) but path around it
+    mob = Mob(
+        name="test_mob",
+        location=zone,
+        x=1,
+        y=0,
+        home_x_min=3,
+        home_x_max=4,
+        home_y_min=0,
+        home_y_max=1,
+    )
+    mobs.append(mob)
+
+    await process_mob_movement()
+
+    # Mob should move toward home (east)
+    assert mob.x == 2 and mob.y == 0
+
+    # Try to move south from (2,0) — wall at (2,1)
+    mob.x = 2
+    mob.y = 0
+    mob.home_x_min = 2
+    mob.home_x_max = 2
+    mob.home_y_min = 2
+    mob.home_y_max = 4
+    time.sleep(3.1)  # Wait for throttle
+
+    await process_mob_movement()
+
+    # Should not have moved into wall (2,1 is '#')
+    # Should stay at (2, 0) since target (2,1) is blocked
+    assert mob.x == 2 and mob.y == 0
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_movement_broadcasts_to_nearby_players(zone):
+    """Mob movement should broadcast to nearby players."""
+    from mudlib.player import Player
+
+    mob = Mob(
+        name="test_mob",
+        location=zone,
+        x=2,
+        y=2,
+        home_x_min=0,
+        home_x_max=1,
+        home_y_min=0,
+        home_y_max=1,
+    )
+    mobs.append(mob)
+
+    # Create a player nearby
+    mock_writer = MagicMock()
+    mock_writer.is_closing.return_value = False
+    mock_writer.drain = AsyncMock()
+
+    player = Player(
+        name="test_player",
+        location=zone,
+        x=2,
+        y=2,
+        writer=mock_writer,
+        reader=MagicMock(),
+    )
+
+    await process_mob_movement()
+
+    # Player should receive a movement message
+    assert player.writer.write.called
+    # Check that message contains mob name and direction
+    call_args = [call[0][0] for call in player.writer.write.call_args_list]
+    movement_msg = "".join(call_args)
+    assert "test_mob" in movement_msg