diff --git a/gui/combat_ui.cpp b/gui/combat_ui.cpp
index 0717df2..8713333 100644
--- a/gui/combat_ui.cpp
+++ b/gui/combat_ui.cpp
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
 #include <fmt/xchar.h>
 #include "gui/guecstra.hpp"
 #include "inventory.hpp"
+#include "game_level.hpp"
 
 namespace gui {
   using namespace guecs;
 
-  CombatUI::CombatUI(GameLevel level) :
-      $level(level)
+  CombatUI::CombatUI()
   {
     $gui.position(COMBAT_UI_X, COMBAT_UI_Y, COMBAT_UI_WIDTH, COMBAT_UI_HEIGHT);
     $gui.layout(
@@ -31,15 +31,16 @@ namespace gui {
     $gui.set<Sound>(button, {sound});
     $gui.set<Effect>(button, {.duration=0.5f, .name=effect_name});
     $gui.set<Clickable>(button,
-        guecs::make_action($level, button, event, {action}));
+        guecs::make_action(button, event, {action}));
 
     return button;
   }
 
   void CombatUI::init() {
+    auto world = Game::current_world();
     using guecs::THEME;
     $gui.set<Background>($gui.MAIN, {$gui.$parser, THEME.DARK_MID});
-    auto& the_belt = $level.world->get_the<ritual::Belt>();
+    auto& the_belt = world->get_the<ritual::Belt>();
 
     for(int slot = 0; slot < the_belt.max_slots; slot++) {
       if(the_belt.has(slot)) {
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ namespace gui {
     auto hp_gauge = $gui.entity("hp_gauge");
     $gui.set<Sprite>(hp_gauge, {"stone_doll_cursed"});
     $gui.set<Clickable>(hp_gauge,
-        guecs::make_action($level, hp_gauge, Events::GUI::HP_STATUS, {}));
+        guecs::make_action(hp_gauge, Events::GUI::HP_STATUS, {}));
 
     $gui.init();
   }
@@ -76,8 +77,7 @@ namespace gui {
     $gui.render(window);
   }
 
-  void CombatUI::update_level(GameLevel &level) {
-    $level = level;
+  void CombatUI::update_level() {
     init();
   }
 
diff --git a/gui/combat_ui.hpp b/gui/combat_ui.hpp
index f52643c..c14898d 100644
--- a/gui/combat_ui.hpp
+++ b/gui/combat_ui.hpp
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 #pragma once
-#include "levelmanager.hpp"
 #include <SFML/Graphics/RenderWindow.hpp>
 #include <SFML/Graphics/Font.hpp>
 #include <guecs/ui.hpp>
@@ -9,13 +8,12 @@ namespace gui {
   class CombatUI {
     public:
       guecs::UI $gui;
-      GameLevel $level;
 
-      CombatUI(GameLevel level);
+      CombatUI();
 
       void init();
       void render(sf::RenderWindow& window);
-      void update_level(GameLevel &level);
+      void update_level();
       bool mouse(float x, float y, guecs::Modifiers mods);
       guecs::Entity make_button(std::string name, Events::GUI event,
           int action, const std::string &icon_name,
diff --git a/gui/fsm.cpp b/gui/fsm.cpp
index cb55847..f64ad3c 100644
--- a/gui/fsm.cpp
+++ b/gui/fsm.cpp
@@ -21,10 +21,6 @@ namespace gui {
     $window(sf::VideoMode({SCREEN_WIDTH, SCREEN_HEIGHT}), "Zed's Raycaster Thing"),
     $debug_ui(Game::get_the_manager()),
     $main_ui($window),
-    $combat_ui(Game::current()),
-    $status_ui(Game::current()),
-    $map_ui(Game::current()),
-    $loot_ui(Game::current()),
     $font{FONT_FILE_NAME},
     $dnd_loot($status_ui, $loot_ui, $window, $router)
     {
@@ -47,8 +43,7 @@ namespace gui {
   }
 
   void FSM::START(Event ) {
-    auto& level = Game::current();
-    $main_ui.update_level(level);
+    $main_ui.update_level();
     $main_ui.init();
     $loot_ui.init();
 
@@ -545,13 +540,10 @@ namespace gui {
   }
 
   void FSM::next_level() {
-    auto& level = Game::create_level();
-
-    $status_ui.update_level(level);
-    $map_ui.update_level(level);
-    $combat_ui.update_level(level);
-    $main_ui.update_level(level);
-    $loot_ui.update_level(level);
+    $status_ui.update_level();
+    $combat_ui.update_level();
+    $main_ui.update_level();
+    $loot_ui.update_level();
 
     $boss_fight_ui = Game::create_bossfight();
     $boss_fight_ui->init();
diff --git a/gui/guecstra.cpp b/gui/guecstra.cpp
index 89f316a..6967210 100644
--- a/gui/guecstra.cpp
+++ b/gui/guecstra.cpp
@@ -1,16 +1,19 @@
 #include "gui/guecstra.hpp"
+#include "game_level.hpp"
 
 namespace guecs {
 
-  Clickable make_action(GameLevel& target, guecs::Entity gui_id, Events::GUI event) {
+  Clickable make_action(guecs::Entity gui_id, Events::GUI event) {
     return {[&, gui_id, event](auto){
-      target.world->send<Events::GUI>(event, gui_id, {});
+      auto world = Game::current_world();
+      world->send<Events::GUI>(event, gui_id, {});
     }};
   }
 
-  Clickable make_action(GameLevel& target, guecs::Entity gui_id, Events::GUI event, std::any data) {
+  Clickable make_action(guecs::Entity gui_id, Events::GUI event, std::any data) {
     return {[&, event, data](auto){
-      target.world->send<Events::GUI>(event, gui_id, data);
+      auto world = Game::current_world();
+      world->send<Events::GUI>(event, gui_id, data);
     }};
   }
 
diff --git a/gui/guecstra.hpp b/gui/guecstra.hpp
index f8e7a6d..41f71e4 100644
--- a/gui/guecstra.hpp
+++ b/gui/guecstra.hpp
@@ -3,11 +3,10 @@
 #include "events.hpp"
 #include <guecs/ui.hpp>
 #include "textures.hpp"
-#include "levelmanager.hpp"
 
 namespace guecs {
-  Clickable make_action(GameLevel& target, guecs::Entity gui_id, Events::GUI event);
-  Clickable make_action(GameLevel& target, guecs::Entity gui_id, Events::GUI event, std::any data);
+  Clickable make_action(guecs::Entity gui_id, Events::GUI event);
+  Clickable make_action(guecs::Entity gui_id, Events::GUI event, std::any data);
 
   struct GrabSource {
     DinkyECS::Entity world_entity;
diff --git a/gui/loot_ui.cpp b/gui/loot_ui.cpp
index 22edc38..1ffe6c7 100644
--- a/gui/loot_ui.cpp
+++ b/gui/loot_ui.cpp
@@ -2,13 +2,13 @@
 #include "constants.hpp"
 #include <fmt/xchar.h>
 #include "systems.hpp"
+#include "game_level.hpp"
 
 namespace gui {
   using namespace guecs;
 
-  LootUI::LootUI(GameLevel level) :
-      $level(level),
-      $temp_loot($level.world->entity()),
+  LootUI::LootUI() :
+      $temp_loot(Game::current_world()->entity()),
       $target($temp_loot)
   {
     $gui.position(RAY_VIEW_X+RAY_VIEW_WIDTH/2-200,
@@ -21,8 +21,9 @@ namespace gui {
         "[=item_12| =item_13|=item_14|=item_15 ]"
         "[ =take_all | =close| =destroy]");
 
-    $level.world->set<inventory::Model>($temp_loot, {});
-    $level.world->make_constant($temp_loot);
+    auto world = Game::current_world();
+    world->set<inventory::Model>($temp_loot, {});
+    world->make_constant($temp_loot);
   }
 
   void LootUI::make_button(const std::string &name, const std::wstring& label, Events::GUI event) {
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ namespace gui {
     $gui.set<guecs::Rectangle>(button, {});
     $gui.set<guecs::Text>(button, {label});
     $gui.set<guecs::Clickable>(button,
-        guecs::make_action($level, button, event));
+        guecs::make_action(button, event));
   }
 
   void LootUI::init() {
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ namespace gui {
            THEME.TRANSPARENT, THEME.LIGHT_MID });
       $gui.set<guecs::Effect>(id, {0.4f, "ui_shader"});
       $gui.set<guecs::Clickable>(id, {
-          guecs::make_action($level, id, Events::GUI::LOOT_SELECT, {id})
+          guecs::make_action(id, Events::GUI::LOOT_SELECT, {id})
       });
     }
 
@@ -61,10 +62,12 @@ namespace gui {
   }
 
   void LootUI::update() {
-    dbc::check($level.world->has<inventory::Model>($target),
+    auto world = Game::current_world();
+
+    dbc::check(world->has<inventory::Model>($target),
         "update called but $target isn't in world");
 
-    auto& contents = $level.world->get<inventory::Model>($target);
+    auto& contents = world->get<inventory::Model>($target);
 
     for(size_t i = 0; i < INV_SLOTS; i++) {
       auto id = $gui.entity("item_", int(i));
@@ -72,9 +75,9 @@ namespace gui {
 
       if(contents.has(slot_name)) {
         auto item = contents.get(slot_name);
-        dbc::check($level.world->has<components::Sprite>(item),
+        dbc::check(world->has<components::Sprite>(item),
             "item in inventory UI doesn't exist in world. New level?");
-        auto& sprite = $level.world->get<components::Sprite>(item);
+        auto& sprite = world->get<components::Sprite>(item);
         $gui.set_init<guecs::Icon>(id, {sprite.name});
 
         guecs::GrabSource grabber{
@@ -98,7 +101,7 @@ namespace gui {
   void LootUI::remove_slot(guecs::Entity slot_id) {
     auto& name = $gui.name_for(slot_id);
     fmt::println("LootUI remove slot inv::Model id={} slot={}", $target, name);
-    System::remove_from_container(*$level.world, $target, name);
+    System::remove_from_container($target, name);
     update();
   }
 
@@ -107,7 +110,7 @@ namespace gui {
         $target, id, world_entity);
     auto& name = $gui.name_for(id);
 
-    bool worked = System::place_in_container(*$level.world, $target, name, world_entity);
+    bool worked = System::place_in_container($target, name, world_entity);
     if(worked) update();
     return worked;
   }
@@ -116,13 +119,12 @@ namespace gui {
     $gui.render(window);
   }
 
-  void LootUI::update_level(GameLevel &level) {
-    $level = level;
+  void LootUI::update_level() {
     init();
   }
 
   void LootUI::add_loose_item(DinkyECS::Entity entity) {
-    System::place_in_container(*$level.world, $temp_loot, "item_0", entity);
+    System::place_in_container($temp_loot, "item_0", entity);
     set_target($temp_loot);
     update();
   }
diff --git a/gui/loot_ui.hpp b/gui/loot_ui.hpp
index d5513d9..204751e 100644
--- a/gui/loot_ui.hpp
+++ b/gui/loot_ui.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 #pragma once
 #include "gui/guecstra.hpp"
-#include "levelmanager.hpp"
 #include <SFML/Graphics/RenderWindow.hpp>
 #include <SFML/Graphics/Font.hpp>
 #include <guecs/ui.hpp>
@@ -12,11 +11,10 @@ namespace gui {
     public:
       bool active = false;
       guecs::UI $gui;
-      GameLevel $level;
       DinkyECS::Entity $temp_loot;
       DinkyECS::Entity $target;
 
-      LootUI(GameLevel level);
+      LootUI();
 
       void set_target(DinkyECS::Entity entity) {
         $target = entity;
@@ -25,7 +23,7 @@ namespace gui {
       void init();
       void update();
       void render(sf::RenderWindow& window);
-      void update_level(GameLevel &level);
+      void update_level();
       bool mouse(float x, float y, guecs::Modifiers mods);
       void make_button(const std::string &name, const std::wstring& label, Events::GUI event);
 
diff --git a/gui/main_ui.cpp b/gui/main_ui.cpp
index 9ddebe6..5aa2cd1 100644
--- a/gui/main_ui.cpp
+++ b/gui/main_ui.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "easings.hpp"
 #include <fmt/xchar.h>
 #include "constants.hpp"
+#include "game_level.hpp"
 
 namespace gui {
   using namespace components;
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ namespace gui {
   }
 
   void MainUI::init() {
-    auto& player_position = $level.world->get<Position>($level.player);
+    auto& player_position = Game::player_position();
     auto player = player_position.location;
 
     $rayview->init_shaders();
@@ -31,9 +32,10 @@ namespace gui {
   }
 
   DinkyECS::Entity MainUI::camera_aim() {
+    auto& level = Game::current();
     // what happens if there's two things at that spot
-    if($level.collision->something_there($rayview->aiming_at)) {
-      return $level.collision->get($rayview->aiming_at);
+    if(level.collision->something_there($rayview->aiming_at)) {
+      return level.collision->get($rayview->aiming_at);
     } else {
       return 0;
     }
@@ -88,27 +90,26 @@ namespace gui {
   }
 
   void MainUI::dead_entity(DinkyECS::Entity entity) {
-    // BUG: this is kind of weird, but I think when I switch to dead bodies for things
-    // (see System::distribute_loot) then this can be fixed or improved
-    if($level.world->has<components::Sprite>(entity)) {
-      auto &sprite = $level.world->get<components::Sprite>(entity);
+    auto world = Game::current_world();
+    if(world->has<components::Sprite>(entity)) {
+      auto &sprite = world->get<components::Sprite>(entity);
       $rayview->update_sprite(entity, sprite);
     }
   }
 
-  void MainUI::update_level(GameLevel level) {
-    $level = level;
-    auto& player_position = $level.world->get<Position>($level.player);
+  void MainUI::update_level() {
+    auto& level = Game::current();
+    auto& player_position = Game::player_position();
     auto player = player_position.location;
 
-    $rayview->update_level($level);
+    $rayview->update_level(level);
     $rayview->position_camera(player.x + 0.5, player.y + 0.5);
 
     player_position.aiming_at = $rayview->aiming_at;
 
     $compass_dir = 0;
 
-    $overlay_ui.update_level(level);
+    $overlay_ui.update_level();
     dirty();
   }
 
diff --git a/gui/main_ui.hpp b/gui/main_ui.hpp
index aabe652..0382595 100644
--- a/gui/main_ui.hpp
+++ b/gui/main_ui.hpp
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 #pragma once
-#include "levelmanager.hpp"
 #include <SFML/Graphics/RenderWindow.hpp>
 #include <SFML/System/Clock.hpp>
 #include "stats.hpp"
@@ -32,7 +31,7 @@ namespace gui {
     std::optional<components::Position> play_move();
     Point plan_move(int dir, bool strafe);
     void abort_plan();
-    void update_level(GameLevel level);
+    void update_level();
     DinkyECS::Entity camera_aim();
 
     void init();
diff --git a/gui/map_view.cpp b/gui/map_view.cpp
index c1a189b..d6cf196 100644
--- a/gui/map_view.cpp
+++ b/gui/map_view.cpp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include <fmt/xchar.h>
 #include <fstream>
 #include "palette.hpp"
+#include "game_level.hpp"
 
 constexpr const int MAP_WIDTH=13;
 constexpr const int MAP_HEIGHT=13;
@@ -20,18 +21,14 @@ namespace gui {
   using namespace components;
   using namespace guecs;
 
-  MapViewUI::MapViewUI(GameLevel &level) :
-    $level(level),
+  MapViewUI::MapViewUI() :
     $map_render(std::make_shared<sf::RenderTexture>()),
     $map_sprite($map_render->getTexture()),
     $map_tiles(matrix::make(MAP_WIDTH, MAP_HEIGHT))
   {
-    auto player = $level.world->get_the<Player>();
-    $player_display = $level.world->get<Tile>(player.entity).display;
-  }
-
-  void MapViewUI::update_level(GameLevel &level) {
-    $level = level;
+    auto world = Game::current_world();
+    auto player = Game::the_player();
+    $player_display = world->get<Tile>(player).display;
   }
 
   void MapViewUI::init() {
diff --git a/gui/map_view.hpp b/gui/map_view.hpp
index 3b277c7..36e859d 100644
--- a/gui/map_view.hpp
+++ b/gui/map_view.hpp
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 #pragma once
-#include "levelmanager.hpp"
 #include "textures.hpp"
 #include "matrix.hpp"
 #include <guecs/ui.hpp>
 #include <string>
+#include "dinkyecs.hpp"
+#include "map.hpp"
 
 namespace gui {
   class MapViewUI {
@@ -13,15 +14,13 @@ namespace gui {
       DinkyECS::Entity $log_to;
       EntityGrid $entity_map;
       std::deque<std::wstring> $messages;
-      GameLevel $level;
       std::shared_ptr<sf::RenderTexture> $map_render;
       sf::Sprite $map_sprite;
       matrix::Matrix $map_tiles;
 
-      MapViewUI(GameLevel &level);
+      MapViewUI();
       void init();
       void render(sf::RenderWindow &window, int compass_dir);
-      void update_level(GameLevel &level);
       void log(std::wstring msg);
       void update();
   };
diff --git a/gui/mini_map.cpp b/gui/mini_map.cpp
index af4702a..b193346 100644
--- a/gui/mini_map.cpp
+++ b/gui/mini_map.cpp
@@ -14,17 +14,12 @@
 namespace gui {
   using namespace components;
 
-  MiniMapUI::MiniMapUI(GameLevel &level) :
-    $map_grid{L"...", 45, {200, 200, 200, 100}, 10},
-    $level(level)
+  MiniMapUI::MiniMapUI() :
+    $map_grid{L"...", 45, {200, 200, 200, 100}, 10}
   {
     $font = std::make_shared<sf::Font>(FONT_FILE_NAME);
   }
 
-  void MiniMapUI::update_level(GameLevel &level) {
-    $level = level;
-  }
-
   void MiniMapUI::init(guecs::UI& overlay) {
     auto top_right = overlay.entity("top_right");
     auto cell = overlay.cell_for(top_right);
diff --git a/gui/mini_map.hpp b/gui/mini_map.hpp
index 38055b0..b26cfcf 100644
--- a/gui/mini_map.hpp
+++ b/gui/mini_map.hpp
@@ -1,19 +1,17 @@
 #pragma once
-#include "levelmanager.hpp"
 #include "textures.hpp"
 #include <guecs/ui.hpp>
+#include <memory>
 
 namespace gui {
   class MiniMapUI {
     public:
       guecs::Text $map_grid;
       guecs::UI $gui;
-      GameLevel $level;
-      shared_ptr<sf::Font> $font = nullptr;
+      std::shared_ptr<sf::Font> $font = nullptr;
 
-      MiniMapUI(GameLevel &level);
+      MiniMapUI();
       void init(guecs::UI& overlay);
       void render(sf::RenderWindow &window, int compass_dir);
-      void update_level(GameLevel &level);
   };
 }
diff --git a/gui/overlay_ui.cpp b/gui/overlay_ui.cpp
index dd46157..8859c1a 100644
--- a/gui/overlay_ui.cpp
+++ b/gui/overlay_ui.cpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "constants.hpp"
 #include "events.hpp"
 #include <optional>
+#include "game_level.hpp"
 
 namespace gui {
   using namespace guecs;
@@ -17,21 +18,23 @@ namespace gui {
     $gui.init();
   }
 
-  inline void make_clickable_area(GameLevel& level, guecs::UI &gui, const std::string &name) {
+  inline void make_clickable_area(std::shared_ptr<DinkyECS::World> world, guecs::UI &gui, const std::string &name) {
     auto area = gui.entity(name);
 
     gui.set<Clickable>(area, {
       [&](auto) {
-        level.world->send<Events::GUI>(Events::GUI::AIM_CLICK, area, {});
+        world->send<Events::GUI>(Events::GUI::AIM_CLICK, area, {});
       }
     });
   }
 
   void OverlayUI::init() {
+    auto world = Game::current_world();
+
     // gui.init is in the constructor
-    make_clickable_area($level, $gui, "top");
-    make_clickable_area($level, $gui, "middle");
-    make_clickable_area($level, $gui, "bottom");
+    make_clickable_area(world, $gui, "top");
+    make_clickable_area(world, $gui, "middle");
+    make_clickable_area(world, $gui, "bottom");
   }
 
   void OverlayUI::render(sf::RenderWindow& window) {
@@ -55,8 +58,7 @@ namespace gui {
     $gui.close<Text>(region);
   }
 
-  void OverlayUI::update_level(GameLevel level) {
-    $level = level;
+  void OverlayUI::update_level() {
     init();
   }
 }
diff --git a/gui/overlay_ui.hpp b/gui/overlay_ui.hpp
index 62f23eb..4cbf21f 100644
--- a/gui/overlay_ui.hpp
+++ b/gui/overlay_ui.hpp
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 #include <SFML/Graphics/RenderWindow.hpp>
 #include <SFML/Graphics/Font.hpp>
 #include <guecs/ui.hpp>
-#include "levelmanager.hpp"
 
 namespace gui {
   using std::string;
@@ -10,12 +9,11 @@ namespace gui {
   class OverlayUI {
     public:
       guecs::UI $gui;
-      GameLevel $level;
 
       OverlayUI();
 
       void init();
-      void update_level(GameLevel level);
+      void update_level();
 
       void render(sf::RenderWindow& window);
       void show_sprite(string region, string sprite_name);
diff --git a/gui/ritual_ui.cpp b/gui/ritual_ui.cpp
index cd731fc..ae8d389 100644
--- a/gui/ritual_ui.cpp
+++ b/gui/ritual_ui.cpp
@@ -6,15 +6,14 @@
 #include "rand.hpp"
 #include "sound.hpp"
 #include "events.hpp"
+#include "game_level.hpp"
 
 namespace gui {
   namespace ritual {
     using namespace guecs;
     using std::any, std::any_cast, std::string, std::make_any;
 
-    UI::UI(GameLevel level) :
-      $level(level)
-    {
+    UI::UI() {
       $gui.position(STATUS_UI_X, STATUS_UI_Y, STATUS_UI_WIDTH, STATUS_UI_HEIGHT);
       $gui.layout(
           "[_]"
@@ -186,11 +185,14 @@ namespace gui {
     }
 
     void UI::complete_combine() {
+      auto world = Game::current_world();
+      auto player = Game::the_player();
+
       if($craft_state.is_combined()) {
         auto ritual = $ritual_engine.finalize($craft_state);
-        auto& belt = $level.world->get_the<::ritual::Belt>();
+        auto& belt = world->get_the<::ritual::Belt>();
         belt.equip(belt.next(), ritual);
-        $level.world->send<Events::GUI>(Events::GUI::NEW_RITUAL, $level.player, {});
+        world->send<Events::GUI>(Events::GUI::NEW_RITUAL, player, {});
         blanket().consume_crafting();
         clear_craft_result();
 
@@ -240,14 +242,15 @@ namespace gui {
       }
     }
 
-    void UI::update_level(GameLevel& level) {
-      $level = level;
-    }
-
     void UI::clear_craft_result() {
       blanket().reset();
       $gui.close<Text>("result_text");
       $gui.close<Sprite>("result_image");
     }
+
+    ::ritual::Blanket& UI::blanket() {
+      auto world = Game::current_world();
+      return world->get_the<::ritual::Blanket>();
+    }
   }
 }
diff --git a/gui/ritual_ui.hpp b/gui/ritual_ui.hpp
index 7737ae2..60d2736 100644
--- a/gui/ritual_ui.hpp
+++ b/gui/ritual_ui.hpp
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 #pragma once
-#include "levelmanager.hpp"
 #include "constants.hpp"
 #include <deque>
 #include "textures.hpp"
@@ -37,12 +36,11 @@ namespace gui {
         sf::IntRect $ritual_open_rect{{380 * 2,0},{380,720}};
         components::Animation $ritual_anim;
         guecs::UI $gui;
-        GameLevel $level;
         textures::SpriteTexture $ritual_ui;
         ::ritual::Engine $ritual_engine;
         ::ritual::CraftingState $craft_state;
 
-        UI(GameLevel level);
+        UI();
 
         void event(Event ev, std::any data={});
         void START(Event);
@@ -63,11 +61,7 @@ namespace gui {
         void run_crafting_engine();
         void complete_combine();
         void update_selection_state();
-        void update_level(GameLevel &level);
-
-        ::ritual::Blanket& blanket() {
-          return $level.world->get_the<::ritual::Blanket>();
-        }
+        ::ritual::Blanket& blanket();
     };
   }
 }
diff --git a/gui/status_ui.cpp b/gui/status_ui.cpp
index 8b989ab..55590f4 100644
--- a/gui/status_ui.cpp
+++ b/gui/status_ui.cpp
@@ -6,13 +6,14 @@
 #include "gui/guecstra.hpp"
 #include "systems.hpp"
 #include "inventory.hpp"
+#include "game_level.hpp"
+#include "levelmanager.hpp"
 
 namespace gui {
   using namespace guecs;
   using std::any, std::any_cast, std::string, std::make_any;
 
-  StatusUI::StatusUI(GameLevel level) :
-    $level(level), $ritual_ui(level)
+  StatusUI::StatusUI()
   {
     $gui.position(STATUS_UI_X, STATUS_UI_Y, STATUS_UI_WIDTH, STATUS_UI_HEIGHT);
     $gui.layout(
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ namespace gui {
         } else {
           $gui.set<Text>(gui_id, {guecs::to_wstring(name)});
           $gui.set<Clickable>(gui_id, {
-            guecs::make_action($level, gui_id, Events::GUI::INV_SELECT, {gui_id})
+            guecs::make_action(gui_id, Events::GUI::INV_SELECT, {gui_id})
           });
           $gui.set<DropTarget>(gui_id, {
               .commit=[&, gui_id](DinkyECS::Entity world_target) -> bool {
@@ -74,8 +75,9 @@ namespace gui {
   }
 
   void StatusUI::update() {
-    auto player = $level.world->get_the<components::Player>();
-    auto& inventory = $level.world->get<inventory::Model>(player.entity);
+    auto world = Game::current_world();
+    auto player = world->get_the<components::Player>();
+    auto& inventory = world->get<inventory::Model>(player.entity);
 
     for(const auto& [slot, cell] : $gui.cells()) {
 
@@ -83,7 +85,7 @@ namespace gui {
         auto gui_id = $gui.entity(slot);
         auto world_entity = inventory.get(slot);
 
-        auto& sprite = $level.world->get<components::Sprite>(world_entity);
+        auto& sprite = world->get<components::Sprite>(world_entity);
         $gui.set_init<guecs::Icon>(gui_id, {sprite.name});
         guecs::GrabSource grabber{ world_entity,
             [&, gui_id]() { return remove_slot(gui_id); }};
@@ -106,18 +108,17 @@ namespace gui {
     $ritual_ui.render(window);
   }
 
-  void StatusUI::update_level(GameLevel &level) {
-    $level = level;
+  void StatusUI::update_level() {
     init();
-    $ritual_ui.update_level(level);
   }
 
   bool StatusUI::place_slot(guecs::Entity gui_id, DinkyECS::Entity world_entity) {
+    auto& level = Game::current();
     auto& slot_name = $gui.name_for(gui_id);
-    auto& inventory = $level.world->get<inventory::Model>($level.player);
+    auto& inventory = level.world->get<inventory::Model>(level.player);
 
     if(inventory.add(slot_name, world_entity)) {
-      $level.world->make_constant(world_entity);
+      level.world->make_constant(world_entity);
       update();
       return true;
     }  else {
@@ -133,23 +134,25 @@ namespace gui {
 
   // NOTE: do I need this or how does it relate to drop_item?
   void StatusUI::remove_slot(guecs::Entity slot_id) {
+    auto player = Game::the_player();
     auto& slot_name = $gui.name_for(slot_id);
-    System::remove_from_container(*$level.world, $level.player, slot_name);
+    System::remove_from_container(player, slot_name);
     update();
   }
 
   void StatusUI::swap(guecs::Entity gui_a, guecs::Entity gui_b) {
     if(gui_a != gui_b) {
+      auto player = Game::the_player();
       auto& a_name = $gui.name_for(gui_a);
       auto& b_name = $gui.name_for(gui_b);
-      System::inventory_swap($level.player, a_name, b_name);
+      System::inventory_swap(player, a_name, b_name);
     }
 
     update();
   }
 
   bool StatusUI::occupied(guecs::Entity slot) {
-    auto player = $level.world->get_the<components::Player>();
-    return System::inventory_occupied(player.entity, $gui.name_for(slot));
+    auto player = Game::the_player();
+    return System::inventory_occupied(player, $gui.name_for(slot));
   }
 }
diff --git a/gui/status_ui.hpp b/gui/status_ui.hpp
index 61396ce..221aa8a 100644
--- a/gui/status_ui.hpp
+++ b/gui/status_ui.hpp
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 #pragma once
-#include "levelmanager.hpp"
 #include "constants.hpp"
 #include <deque>
 #include "textures.hpp"
@@ -11,17 +10,16 @@ namespace gui {
   class StatusUI {
     public:
       guecs::UI $gui;
-      GameLevel $level;
       ritual::UI $ritual_ui;
 
-      explicit StatusUI(GameLevel level);
+      explicit StatusUI();
 
       StatusUI(const StatusUI& other) = delete;
       StatusUI(StatusUI&& other) = delete;
       ~StatusUI() = default;
 
       void select_ritual();
-      void update_level(GameLevel &level);
+      void update_level();
       void init();
       void render(sf::RenderWindow &window);
       void update();
diff --git a/systems.cpp b/systems.cpp
index a0210f4..86b3780 100644
--- a/systems.cpp
+++ b/systems.cpp
@@ -470,8 +470,9 @@ void System::drop_item(Entity item) {
 }
 
 // NOTE: I think pickup and this need to be different
-bool System::place_in_container(World& world, Entity cont_id, const std::string& name, Entity world_entity) {
-  auto& container = world.get<inventory::Model>(cont_id);
+bool System::place_in_container(Entity cont_id, const std::string& name, Entity world_entity) {
+  auto world = Game::current_world();
+  auto& container = world->get<inventory::Model>(cont_id);
 
   if(container.has(world_entity)) {
     fmt::println("container {} already has entity {}, skip", cont_id, world_entity);
@@ -489,8 +490,9 @@ bool System::place_in_container(World& world, Entity cont_id, const std::string&
   }
 }
 
-void System::remove_from_container(World& world, Entity cont_id, const std::string& slot_id) {
-  auto& container = world.get<inventory::Model>(cont_id);
+void System::remove_from_container(Entity cont_id, const std::string& slot_id) {
+  auto world = Game::current_world();
+  auto& container = world->get<inventory::Model>(cont_id);
   auto entity = container.get(slot_id);
   container.remove(entity);
 }
diff --git a/systems.hpp b/systems.hpp
index e74d21a..9995a5f 100644
--- a/systems.hpp
+++ b/systems.hpp
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ namespace System {
 
   void pickup();
 
-  bool place_in_container(World& world, Entity cont_id, const string& name, Entity world_entity);
+  bool place_in_container(Entity cont_id, const string& name, Entity world_entity);
 
-  void remove_from_container(World& world, Entity cont_id, const std::string& name);
+  void remove_from_container(Entity cont_id, const std::string& name);
   void remove_from_world(Entity entity);
   void inventory_swap(Entity container_id, const std::string& a_name, const std::string &b_name);
   bool inventory_occupied(Entity container_id, const std::string& name);
diff --git a/tests/map.cpp b/tests/map.cpp
index 8543784..21370b1 100644
--- a/tests/map.cpp
+++ b/tests/map.cpp
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 #include <fstream>
 #include "map.hpp"
 #include "levelmanager.hpp"
-#include "systems.hpp"
+#include "game_level.hpp"
+#include "systems.hpp."
 
 using namespace fmt;
 using namespace nlohmann;
@@ -84,9 +85,9 @@ TEST_CASE("dijkstra algo test", "[map]") {
 TEST_CASE("map image test", "[map]") {
   components::init();
   textures::init();
+  Game::init();
 
-  LevelManager levels;
-  GameLevel level = levels.current();
+  GameLevel level = Game::current();
   Matrix map_tiles = matrix::make(7,7);
   EntityGrid entity_map;
 
diff --git a/tests/sound.cpp b/tests/sound.cpp
index 6f96650..968e650 100644
--- a/tests/sound.cpp
+++ b/tests/sound.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 #include <fmt/core.h>
 #include <string>
 #include "sound.hpp"
-#include "levelmanager.hpp"
 
 using namespace fmt;