diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index ae487bf4..071b717e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -227,8 +227,8 @@ jobs:
           -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS="/Dgoogle_protobuf_undef_DWORD=1" `
           -DYAZE_BUILD_TESTS=ON `
           -DYAZE_BUILD_EMU=OFF `
-          -DYAZE_MINIMAL_BUILD=ON `
           -DYAZE_ENABLE_ROM_TESTS=OFF 2>&1 | Tee-Object -FilePath cmake_config.log
+        # Note: Full-featured build to match release configuration
         # Note: YAZE_BUILD_EMU=OFF disables standalone emulator executable
         #       but yaze_emulator library is still built for main app/tests
         
@@ -252,9 +252,9 @@ jobs:
           -DCMAKE_CXX_COMPILER=${{ matrix.cxx }} \
           -DYAZE_BUILD_TESTS=ON \
           -DYAZE_BUILD_EMU=OFF \
-          -DYAZE_MINIMAL_BUILD=ON \
           -DYAZE_ENABLE_ROM_TESTS=OFF 2>&1 | tee cmake_config.log
         echo "::endgroup::"
+        # Note: Full-featured build to match release configuration
         # Note: YAZE_BUILD_EMU=OFF disables standalone emulator executable
         #       but yaze_emulator library is still built for main app/tests
     
@@ -428,7 +428,8 @@ jobs:
         echo "- **Platform**: ${{ matrix.os }}" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
         echo "- **Compiler**: ${{ matrix.cc }}/${{ matrix.cxx }}" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
         echo "- **Build Type**: ${{ env.BUILD_TYPE }}" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
-        echo "- **Build Mode**: Full (same as release)" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+        echo "- **Build Mode**: Full (matches release)" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
+        echo "- **Features**: gRPC, JSON, AI, ImGui Test Engine" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
         if [[ "${{ runner.os }}" == "Windows" ]]; then
           echo "- **vcpkg Triplet**: x64-windows-static" >> $GITHUB_STEP_SUMMARY
           if [[ "${{ steps.vcpkg.outcome }}" != "" ]]; then
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index 4a04d15d..6708bcca 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -211,8 +211,10 @@ jobs:
             -DVCPKG_TARGET_TRIPLET=x64-windows-static `
             -DVCPKG_MANIFEST_MODE=ON `
             -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS="/Dgoogle_protobuf_undef_DWORD=1" `
-            -DYAZE_MINIMAL_BUILD=OFF `
-            -DYAZE_BUILD_TESTS=OFF 2>&1 | Tee-Object -FilePath cmake_config.log
+            -DYAZE_BUILD_TESTS=ON `
+            -DYAZE_ENABLE_ROM_TESTS=OFF 2>&1 | Tee-Object -FilePath cmake_config.log
+          # Note: Tests enabled for pre-1.0 releases to catch issues before publishing
+          # ROM tests disabled (require test ROM file)
 
           if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) {
             Write-Host "::error::CMake configuration failed with exit code $LASTEXITCODE"
@@ -232,11 +234,12 @@ jobs:
             -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${{ env.BUILD_TYPE }} \
             -DCMAKE_OSX_ARCHITECTURES=${{ matrix.mac_arch }} \
             -DYAZE_BUILD_EMU=OFF \
-            -DYAZE_MINIMAL_BUILD=OFF \
-            -DYAZE_BUILD_TESTS=OFF 2>&1 | tee cmake_config.log
+            -DYAZE_BUILD_TESTS=ON \
+            -DYAZE_ENABLE_ROM_TESTS=OFF 2>&1 | tee cmake_config.log
           echo "::endgroup::"
           # Note: YAZE_BUILD_EMU=OFF disables standalone emulator executable
           #       but yaze_emulator library is still built for main app
+          # Note: Tests enabled for pre-1.0 releases to catch issues before publishing
 
       - name: "Configure (Linux)"
         if: runner.os == 'Linux'
@@ -248,11 +251,12 @@ jobs:
           cmake -B build -G Ninja \
             -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${{ env.BUILD_TYPE }} \
             -DYAZE_BUILD_EMU=OFF \
-            -DYAZE_MINIMAL_BUILD=OFF \
-            -DYAZE_BUILD_TESTS=OFF 2>&1 | tee cmake_config.log
+            -DYAZE_BUILD_TESTS=ON \
+            -DYAZE_ENABLE_ROM_TESTS=OFF 2>&1 | tee cmake_config.log
           echo "::endgroup::"
           # Note: YAZE_BUILD_EMU=OFF disables standalone emulator executable
           #       but yaze_emulator library is still built for main app
+          # Note: Tests enabled for pre-1.0 releases to catch issues before publishing
 
       - name: "Report Configure Failure"
         if: |