diff --git a/src/app/App.cs b/src/app/App.cs
index 5c19821a..cc421c37 100644
--- a/src/app/App.cs
+++ b/src/app/App.cs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 using Chickensoft.GodotNodeInterfaces;
 using Chickensoft.Introspection;
 using Godot;
-using System.Linq;
+using System.Threading;
 
 namespace GameJamDungeon
 {
@@ -25,28 +25,54 @@ namespace GameJamDungeon
     public IAppLogic AppLogic { get; set; } = default!;
     public AppLogic.IBinding AppBinding { get; set; } = default!;
 
+    [Node] public IMenu Menu { get; set; } = default!;
+
     [Node] public ISubViewport GameWindow { get; set; } = default!;
 
+    [Node] public IAnimationPlayer AnimationPlayer { get; set; } = default!;
+
     public void Initialize()
     {
       Instantiator = new Instantiator(GetTree());
       AppRepo = new AppRepo();
       AppLogic = new AppLogic();
       AppLogic.Set(AppRepo);
-
+      Menu.NewGame += OnNewGame;
+      Menu.Quit += OnQuit;
+      AnimationPlayer.AnimationFinished += AnimationPlayer_AnimationFinished;
       this.Provide();
     }
 
     public void OnReady()
     {
-      Game = Instantiator.LoadAndInstantiate<Game>(GAME_SCENE_PATH);
-      GameWindow.AddChildEx(Game);
       AppBinding = AppLogic.Bind();
-      AppLogic.Start();
 
-      Instantiator.SceneTree.Paused = false;
+      AppBinding
+        .Handle((in AppLogic.Output.ShowLoadingScreen _) =>
+        {
+          Menu.Hide();
+          AnimationPlayer.Play("load");
+        })
+        .Handle((in AppLogic.Output.SetupGameScene _) =>
+        {
+          Instantiator.SceneTree.Paused = true;
+          Game = Instantiator.LoadAndInstantiate<Game>(GAME_SCENE_PATH);
+          GameWindow.AddChildEx(Game);
+        })
+        .Handle((in AppLogic.Output.ShowGame _) =>
+        {
+          Instantiator.SceneTree.Paused = false;
+          Game.Show();
+        });
+
+
+      AppLogic.Start();
     }
 
+    private void AnimationPlayer_AnimationFinished(StringName animName)
+    {
+      AppLogic.Input(new AppLogic.Input.LoadGameFinished());
+    }
 
     public void OnNewGame() => AppLogic.Input(new AppLogic.Input.NewGame());
 
diff --git a/src/app/App.tscn b/src/app/App.tscn
index 9aa409be..7d1fe637 100644
--- a/src/app/App.tscn
+++ b/src/app/App.tscn
@@ -1,6 +1,68 @@
-[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3 uid="uid://cagfc5ridmteu"]
+[gd_scene load_steps=6 format=3 uid="uid://cagfc5ridmteu"]
 
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://src/app/App.cs" id="1_rt73h"]
+[ext_resource type="PackedScene" uid="uid://rfvnddfqufho" path="res://src/menu/Menu.tscn" id="2_kvwo1"]
+
+[sub_resource type="Animation" id="Animation_fa8xf"]
+resource_name = "load"
+length = 5.0
+tracks/0/type = "value"
+tracks/0/imported = false
+tracks/0/enabled = true
+tracks/0/path = NodePath("LoadScreen:modulate")
+tracks/0/interp = 1
+tracks/0/loop_wrap = true
+tracks/0/keys = {
+"times": PackedFloat32Array(0, 0.466667, 4.03333, 5),
+"transitions": PackedFloat32Array(1, 1, 1, 1),
+"update": 0,
+"values": [Color(0, 0, 0, 0), Color(0, 0, 0, 1), Color(0, 0, 0, 1), Color(0, 0, 0, 0)]
+}
+tracks/1/type = "value"
+tracks/1/imported = false
+tracks/1/enabled = true
+tracks/1/path = NodePath("SubViewportContainer:visible")
+tracks/1/interp = 1
+tracks/1/loop_wrap = true
+tracks/1/keys = {
+"times": PackedFloat32Array(0, 4.03333),
+"transitions": PackedFloat32Array(1, 1),
+"update": 1,
+"values": [false, true]
+}
+
+[sub_resource type="Animation" id="Animation_mbxap"]
+length = 0.001
+tracks/0/type = "value"
+tracks/0/imported = false
+tracks/0/enabled = true
+tracks/0/path = NodePath("LoadScreen:modulate")
+tracks/0/interp = 1
+tracks/0/loop_wrap = true
+tracks/0/keys = {
+"times": PackedFloat32Array(0),
+"transitions": PackedFloat32Array(1),
+"update": 0,
+"values": [Color(1, 1, 1, 0)]
+}
+tracks/1/type = "value"
+tracks/1/imported = false
+tracks/1/enabled = true
+tracks/1/path = NodePath("SubViewportContainer:visible")
+tracks/1/interp = 1
+tracks/1/loop_wrap = true
+tracks/1/keys = {
+"times": PackedFloat32Array(0),
+"transitions": PackedFloat32Array(1),
+"update": 1,
+"values": [true]
+}
+
+[sub_resource type="AnimationLibrary" id="AnimationLibrary_vkd35"]
+_data = {
+"RESET": SubResource("Animation_mbxap"),
+"load": SubResource("Animation_fa8xf")
+}
 
 [node name="App" type="CanvasLayer"]
 process_mode = 3
@@ -21,3 +83,21 @@ handle_input_locally = false
 audio_listener_enable_3d = true
 size = Vector2i(1920, 1080)
 render_target_update_mode = 4
+
+[node name="Menu" parent="." instance=ExtResource("2_kvwo1")]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
+
+[node name="LoadScreen" type="ColorRect" parent="."]
+modulate = Color(1, 1, 1, 0)
+anchors_preset = 15
+anchor_right = 1.0
+anchor_bottom = 1.0
+grow_horizontal = 2
+grow_vertical = 2
+color = Color(0.235294, 0.235294, 0.784314, 1)
+
+[node name="AnimationPlayer" type="AnimationPlayer" parent="."]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
+libraries = {
+"": SubResource("AnimationLibrary_vkd35")
+}
diff --git a/src/app/state/AppLogic.Input.cs b/src/app/state/AppLogic.Input.cs
index 5d9227a5..711408cb 100644
--- a/src/app/state/AppLogic.Input.cs
+++ b/src/app/state/AppLogic.Input.cs
@@ -6,13 +6,15 @@
     {
       public readonly record struct NewGame;
 
-      public readonly record struct FadeInFinished;
+      public readonly record struct LoadGameFinished;
 
       public readonly record struct FadeOutFinished;
 
       public readonly record struct QuitGame;
 
       public readonly record struct GameOver;
+
+      public readonly record struct ShowLoadingScreen;
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/app/state/AppLogic.Output.cs b/src/app/state/AppLogic.Output.cs
index 67652042..25d53986 100644
--- a/src/app/state/AppLogic.Output.cs
+++ b/src/app/state/AppLogic.Output.cs
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@
 
       public readonly record struct HideGame;
 
-      public readonly record struct SetupGameScene();
+      public readonly record struct SetupGameScene;
+
+      public readonly record struct ShowLoadingScreen;
 
       public readonly record struct ShowMainMenu;
 
diff --git a/src/app/state/AppLogic.cs b/src/app/state/AppLogic.cs
index bf9fbaee..94ebbd94 100644
--- a/src/app/state/AppLogic.cs
+++ b/src/app/state/AppLogic.cs
@@ -9,6 +9,6 @@ namespace GameJamDungeon
   [LogicBlock(typeof(State), Diagram = true)]
   public partial class AppLogic : LogicBlock<AppLogic.State>, IAppLogic
   {
-    public override Transition GetInitialState() => To<State.SplashScreen>();
+    public override Transition GetInitialState() => To<State.MainMenu>();
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/app/state/states/LeavingMenu.cs b/src/app/state/states/LeavingMenu.cs
deleted file mode 100644
index e27562a1..00000000
--- a/src/app/state/states/LeavingMenu.cs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-using Chickensoft.Introspection;
-using Chickensoft.LogicBlocks;
-
-namespace GameJamDungeon
-{
-  public partial class AppLogic
-  {
-    public partial record State
-    {
-      [Meta]
-      public partial record LeavingMenu : State, IGet<Input.FadeOutFinished>
-      {
-        public LeavingMenu()
-        {
-          this.OnEnter(() => Output(new Output.FadeToBlack()));
-        }
-
-        public Transition On(in Input.FadeOutFinished input) => To<InGame>();
-      }
-    }
-  }
-}
diff --git a/src/app/state/states/LoadingScreen.cs b/src/app/state/states/LoadingScreen.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cd781b10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/state/states/LoadingScreen.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+using Chickensoft.Introspection;
+using Chickensoft.LogicBlocks;
+
+namespace GameJamDungeon;
+
+public partial class AppLogic
+{
+  public partial record State
+  {
+    [Meta]
+    public partial record LoadingScreen : State, IGet<Input.LoadGameFinished>
+    {
+      public LoadingScreen()
+      {
+        this.OnEnter(() =>
+        {
+          Output(new Output.ShowLoadingScreen());
+        });
+      }
+
+      public Transition On(in Input.LoadGameFinished input) => To<InGame>();
+    }
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/app/state/states/MainMenu.cs b/src/app/state/states/MainMenu.cs
index fc9e9bc5..9bdd7c64 100644
--- a/src/app/state/states/MainMenu.cs
+++ b/src/app/state/states/MainMenu.cs
@@ -14,19 +14,19 @@ namespace GameJamDungeon
         {
           this.OnEnter(() =>
           {
-            Output(new Output.SetupGameScene());
-
             Get<IAppRepo>().OnMainMenuEntered();
-
             Output(new Output.ShowMainMenu());
           });
         }
-        public Transition On(in Input.NewGame input) => To<LeavingMenu>();
+        public Transition On(in Input.NewGame input)
+        {
+          Output(new Output.SetupGameScene());
+          return To<LoadingScreen>();
+        }
 
         public Transition On(in Input.QuitGame input)
         {
           Output(new Output.ExitGame());
-
           return ToSelf();
         }
       }
diff --git a/src/app/state/states/SplashScreen.cs b/src/app/state/states/SplashScreen.cs
deleted file mode 100644
index e00b4f8c..00000000
--- a/src/app/state/states/SplashScreen.cs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,33 +0,0 @@
-using Chickensoft.Introspection;
-using Chickensoft.LogicBlocks;
-
-namespace GameJamDungeon
-{
-  public partial class AppLogic
-  {
-    public partial record State
-    {
-      [Meta]
-      public partial record SplashScreen : State, IGet<Input.FadeOutFinished>
-      {
-        public SplashScreen()
-        {
-          this.OnEnter(() => Output(new Output.ShowSplashScreen()));
-
-          OnAttach(
-            () => Get<IAppRepo>().SplashScreenSkipped += OnSplashScreenSkipped
-          );
-
-          OnDetach(
-            () => Get<IAppRepo>().SplashScreenSkipped -= OnSplashScreenSkipped
-          );
-        }
-
-        public Transition On(in Input.FadeOutFinished input) => To<MainMenu>();
-
-        public void OnSplashScreenSkipped() =>
-          Output(new Output.HideSplashScreen());
-      }
-    }
-  }
-}
diff --git a/src/game/Game.cs b/src/game/Game.cs
index a07f6cac..5aae8a55 100644
--- a/src/game/Game.cs
+++ b/src/game/Game.cs
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ public partial class Game : Node3D, IGame
   {
     GameBinding = GameLogic.Bind();
     GameBinding
-      .Handle((in GameLogic.Output.StartGame _) => { GameRepo.Resume(); })
+      .Handle((in GameLogic.Output.StartGame _) => { })
       .Handle((in GameLogic.Output.SetPauseMode output) => { CallDeferred(nameof(SetPauseMode), output.IsPaused); })
       .Handle((in GameLogic.Output.SetInventoryMode _) => { InventoryMenu.PopulateItems(_.Inventory); InventoryMenu.Show(); })
       .Handle((in GameLogic.Output.HideInventory _) => { InventoryMenu.Hide(); InventoryMenu.ClearItems(); })
diff --git a/src/game/IGameRepo.cs b/src/game/IGameRepo.cs
index 968579ea..36a905fa 100644
--- a/src/game/IGameRepo.cs
+++ b/src/game/IGameRepo.cs
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ public class GameRepo : IGameRepo
   {
     _inventoryItems = new AutoProp<List<InventoryItemInfo>>([]);
     _isInventoryScreenOpened = new AutoProp<bool>(false);
-    _isPaused = new AutoProp<bool>(false);
+    _isPaused = new AutoProp<bool>(true);
     _playerGlobalPosition = new AutoProp<Vector3>(Vector3.Zero);
     _equippedWeapon = new Weapon();
     HPBarValue = new AutoProp<int>(0);
diff --git a/src/game/state/states/Playing.cs b/src/game/state/states/Playing.cs
index 741e0481..fcc5659d 100644
--- a/src/game/state/states/Playing.cs
+++ b/src/game/state/states/Playing.cs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ namespace GameJamDungeon
       {
         public Playing()
         {
-          this.OnEnter(() => { Output(new Output.StartGame()); Get<IGameRepo>().Resume(); });
+          this.OnEnter(() => { Output(new Output.StartGame()); });
 
           OnAttach(() => Get<IGameRepo>().Ended += OnEnded);
           OnDetach(() => Get<IGameRepo>().Ended -= OnEnded);
diff --git a/src/menu/Menu.cs b/src/menu/Menu.cs
index 6a8ccc83..4b50c49f 100644
--- a/src/menu/Menu.cs
+++ b/src/menu/Menu.cs
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ using Chickensoft.GodotNodeInterfaces;
 using Chickensoft.Introspection;
 using GameJamDungeon;
 using Godot;
-using System;
 
 public interface IMenu : IControl
 {
diff --git a/src/menu/Menu.tscn b/src/menu/Menu.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..548bdfdb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/menu/Menu.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3 uid="uid://rfvnddfqufho"]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://src/menu/Menu.cs" id="1_vehpg"]
+
+[node name="Menu" type="Control"]
+layout_mode = 3
+anchors_preset = 15
+anchor_right = 1.0
+anchor_bottom = 1.0
+grow_horizontal = 2
+grow_vertical = 2
+script = ExtResource("1_vehpg")
+
+[node name="MarginContainer" type="MarginContainer" parent="."]
+layout_mode = 1
+anchors_preset = 15
+anchor_right = 1.0
+anchor_bottom = 1.0
+grow_horizontal = 2
+grow_vertical = 2
+theme_override_constants/margin_left = 100
+theme_override_constants/margin_top = 100
+theme_override_constants/margin_right = 100
+theme_override_constants/margin_bottom = 100
+
+[node name="VBoxContainer" type="VBoxContainer" parent="MarginContainer"]
+layout_mode = 2
+size_flags_horizontal = 0
+size_flags_vertical = 0
+
+[node name="NewGameButton" type="Button" parent="MarginContainer/VBoxContainer"]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
+layout_mode = 2
+text = "New Game"
+
+[node name="QuitButton" type="Button" parent="MarginContainer/VBoxContainer"]
+unique_name_in_owner = true
+layout_mode = 2
+text = "Quit
+"
diff --git a/src/player/Player.tscn b/src/player/Player.tscn
index 5a45589c..59b647cd 100644
--- a/src/player/Player.tscn
+++ b/src/player/Player.tscn
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-[gd_scene load_steps=17 format=3 uid="uid://cfecvvav8kkp6"]
+[gd_scene load_steps=19 format=3 uid="uid://cfecvvav8kkp6"]
 
 [ext_resource type="Script" path="res://src/player/Player.cs" id="1_xcol5"]
 [ext_resource type="Texture2D" uid="uid://bokx3h8kfdo5i" path="res://src/player/slash_0000_Classic_30.png" id="2_la11l"]
@@ -109,6 +109,12 @@ animations = [{
 "speed": 12.0
 }]
 
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_kxbln"]
+bg_color = Color(0, 0.411765, 0, 1)
+
+[sub_resource type="StyleBoxFlat" id="StyleBoxFlat_onron"]
+bg_color = Color(0, 0.411765, 0, 1)
+
 [node name="Player" type="CharacterBody3D"]
 collision_layer = 38
 collision_mask = 7
@@ -159,6 +165,7 @@ animation = &"attack"
 
 [node name="HealthTimer" type="Timer" parent="."]
 unique_name_in_owner = true
+process_mode = 1
 wait_time = 3.0
 autostart = true
 
@@ -188,6 +195,7 @@ text = "HP: inf/inf"
 unique_name_in_owner = true
 custom_minimum_size = Vector2(0, 25)
 layout_mode = 2
+theme_override_styles/background = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_kxbln")
 show_percentage = false
 
 [node name="VTNumber" type="Label" parent="MarginContainer/VBoxContainer"]
@@ -199,4 +207,5 @@ text = "VT: inf/inf"
 unique_name_in_owner = true
 custom_minimum_size = Vector2(0, 25)
 layout_mode = 2
+theme_override_styles/background = SubResource("StyleBoxFlat_onron")
 show_percentage = false