<div class="tile">
    <strong>Hover me. No pseudo, baby!</strong>
</div>

/**
 * tile screen color overlay with NO pseudo-element
 */


.tile {
    --duration: 300ms;
    --easing: cubic-bezier(0.165, 0.840, 0.440, 1);
    --overlay: rgb(250 255 0 / 0.675);
    --overlay-hover: rgb(0 191 255 / 0.675);
    --duration: 150ms;
    
    align-items: flex-end;
    aspect-ratio: 400 / 240;
    background-blend-mode: overlay;
    background-color: var(--overlay);
    /* photo: https://unsplash.com/photos/Gk7enstVtGE */
    background-image: url(https://marcel.imarc.host/900x540.jpg);
    display: flex;
    padding: 1rem;
    transition: background-color var(--duration) var(--easing);
}

.tile:hover {
    background-color: var(--overlay-hover);
    transition: background-color var(--duration) var(--easing);
}


/**
 * demo styles
 */

* {
    box-sizing: border-box;
    margin: 0;
    padding: 0;
}

body {
    background-color: ghostwhite;
    font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, sans-serif;
    line-height: 1.5;
    max-width: 500px;
    padding: 1rem;
}