diff --git a/autowalker.cpp b/autowalker.cpp
index 84fde14..0a8569c 100644
--- a/autowalker.cpp
+++ b/autowalker.cpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ int number_left() {
 
   GameDB::current_world()->query<components::Position, Comp>(
     [&](const auto ent, auto&, auto&) {
-        if(ent != GameDB::current().player) {
+        if(ent != GameDB::current_level().player) {
           count++;
         }
     });
@@ -19,15 +19,15 @@ int number_left() {
 
 template<typename Comp>
 Pathing compute_paths() {
-  auto& walls_original = GameDB::current().map->$walls;
+  auto& walls_original = GameDB::current_level().map->$walls;
   auto walls_copy = walls_original;
 
   Pathing paths{matrix::width(walls_copy), matrix::height(walls_copy)};
 
-  GameDB::current().world->query<components::Position>(
+  GameDB::current_level().world->query<components::Position>(
   [&](const auto ent, auto& position) {
-      if(ent != GameDB::current().player) {
-        if(GameDB::current().world->has<Comp>(ent)) {
+      if(ent != GameDB::current_level().player) {
+        if(GameDB::current_level().world->has<Comp>(ent)) {
           paths.set_target(position.location);
         } else {
           // this will mark that spot as a wall so we don't path there temporarily
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ bool Autowalker::path_player(Pathing& paths, Point& target_out) {
     }
   }
 
-  if(!GameDB::current().map->can_move(target_out)) {
+  if(!GameDB::current_level().map->can_move(target_out)) {
     path_fail(paths.$paths, target_out);
     return false;
   }
diff --git a/game_level.cpp b/game_level.cpp
index caa1905..63a6509 100644
--- a/game_level.cpp
+++ b/game_level.cpp
@@ -41,17 +41,6 @@ namespace GameDB {
   shared_ptr<LevelDB> LDB;
   bool initialized = false;
 
-  void init() {
-    components::init();
-    textures::init();
-
-    if(!initialized) {
-      LDB = make_shared<LevelDB>();
-      initialized = true;
-      new_level(NULL);
-    }
-  }
-
   LevelScaling scale_level() {
     return {
       INITIAL_MAP_W + int(LDB->current_level * 2),
@@ -59,28 +48,6 @@ namespace GameDB {
     };
   }
 
-  shared_ptr<DinkyECS::World> current_world() {
-    dbc::check(initialized, "Forgot to call GameDB::init()");
-    return current().world;
-  }
-
-  shared_ptr<gui::BossFightUI> create_bossfight() {
-    dbc::check(initialized, "Forgot to call GameDB::init()");
-    auto prev_world = current_world();
-    dbc::check(prev_world != nullptr, "Starter world for boss fights can't be null.");
-    auto world = clone_load_world(prev_world);
-    auto& config = prev_world->get_the<GameConfig>();
-
-    // BUG: the jank is too strong here
-    auto boss_names = config.bosses.keys();
-    auto& level_name = boss_names[LDB->current_level % boss_names.size()];
-    auto& boss_data = config.bosses[level_name];
-
-    auto boss_id = world->entity();
-    components::configure_entity(*world, boss_id, boss_data["components"]);
-
-    return make_shared<gui::BossFightUI>(world, boss_id);
-  }
 
   size_t new_level(std::shared_ptr<DinkyECS::World> prev_world) {
     dbc::check(initialized, "Forgot to call GameDB::init()");
@@ -106,42 +73,55 @@ namespace GameDB {
     return index;
   }
 
-  Level& create_level() {
-    dbc::log("current_level");
-    size_t level = new_level(current_world());
-    dbc::check(level == LDB->current_level + 1, "new level index is wrong");
-    auto& the_level = next();
-    dbc::check(level == LDB->current_level, "level didn't update?!");
-    return the_level;
-  }
+  void init() {
+    components::init();
+    textures::init();
 
-  Level &next() {
-    dbc::check(initialized, "Forgot to call GameDB::init()");
-    dbc::check(LDB->current_level < LDB->levels.size(), "attempt to get next level when at end");
-    LDB->current_level++;
-    return LDB->levels.at(LDB->current_level);
+    if(!initialized) {
+      LDB = make_shared<LevelDB>();
+      initialized = true;
+      new_level(NULL);
+    }
   }
 
-  Level &previous() {
+  shared_ptr<DinkyECS::World> current_world() {
     dbc::check(initialized, "Forgot to call GameDB::init()");
-    dbc::check(LDB->current_level > 0, "attempt to go to previous level when at 0");
-    LDB->current_level--;
-    return LDB->levels.at(LDB->current_level);
+    return current_level().world;
   }
 
-  Level &current() {
+  shared_ptr<gui::BossFightUI> create_bossfight() {
     dbc::check(initialized, "Forgot to call GameDB::init()");
-    return LDB->levels.at(LDB->current_level);
+    auto prev_world = current_world();
+    dbc::check(prev_world != nullptr, "Starter world for boss fights can't be null.");
+    auto world = clone_load_world(prev_world);
+    auto& config = prev_world->get_the<GameConfig>();
+
+    // BUG: the jank is too strong here
+    auto boss_names = config.bosses.keys();
+    auto& level_name = boss_names[LDB->current_level % boss_names.size()];
+    auto& boss_data = config.bosses[level_name];
+
+    auto boss_id = world->entity();
+    components::configure_entity(*world, boss_id, boss_data["components"]);
+
+    return make_shared<gui::BossFightUI>(world, boss_id);
   }
 
-  size_t current_index() {
+
+  Level& create_level() {
     dbc::check(initialized, "Forgot to call GameDB::init()");
-    return LDB->current_level;
+    dbc::check(LDB->current_level < LDB->levels.size(), "attempt to get next level when at end");
+
+    size_t level = new_level(current_world());
+    dbc::check(level == LDB->current_level + 1, "new level index is wrong");
+
+    LDB->current_level++;
+    return LDB->levels.at(LDB->current_level);
   }
 
-  Level &get(size_t index) {
+  Level &current_level() {
     dbc::check(initialized, "Forgot to call GameDB::init()");
-    return LDB->levels.at(index);
+    return LDB->levels.at(LDB->current_level);
   }
 
   components::Position& player_position() {
@@ -153,6 +133,6 @@ namespace GameDB {
 
   DinkyECS::Entity the_player() {
     dbc::check(initialized, "Forgot to call GameDB::init()");
-    return current().player;
+    return current_level().player;
   }
 }
diff --git a/game_level.hpp b/game_level.hpp
index 82cf82c..6db3470 100644
--- a/game_level.hpp
+++ b/game_level.hpp
@@ -24,16 +24,11 @@ namespace GameDB {
   };
 
   std::shared_ptr<gui::BossFightUI> create_bossfight();
-  size_t new_level(std::shared_ptr<DinkyECS::World> prev_world);
   Level& create_level();
 
   void init();
-  Level &next();
-  Level &previous();
-  Level &current();
-  size_t current_index();
+  Level &current_level();
   std::shared_ptr<DinkyECS::World> current_world();
-  Level &get(size_t index);
   components::Position& player_position();
   DinkyECS::Entity the_player();
 }
diff --git a/gui/debug_ui.cpp b/gui/debug_ui.cpp
index 98e4b6c..50db359 100644
--- a/gui/debug_ui.cpp
+++ b/gui/debug_ui.cpp
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ namespace gui {
 
   void DebugUI::render(sf::RenderWindow& window) {
     if(active) {
-      auto& level = GameDB::current();
+      auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
       auto player = level.world->get_the<components::Player>();
       auto player_combat = level.world->get<components::Combat>(player.entity);
       auto map = level.map;
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ namespace gui {
     active = !active;
 
     if(active) {
-      auto& level = GameDB::current();
+      auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
       // it's on now, enable things
       auto player = level.world->get_the<components::Player>();
       auto& player_combat = level.world->get<components::Combat>(player.entity);
diff --git a/gui/fsm.cpp b/gui/fsm.cpp
index 48b8166..179f9ee 100644
--- a/gui/fsm.cpp
+++ b/gui/fsm.cpp
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ namespace gui {
   }
 
   void FSM::try_move(int dir, bool strafe) {
-    auto& level = GameDB::current();
+    auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
     using enum State;
     // prevent moving into occupied space
     Point move_to = $main_ui.plan_move(dir, strafe);
diff --git a/gui/main_ui.cpp b/gui/main_ui.cpp
index fe7f353..3a3b8da 100644
--- a/gui/main_ui.cpp
+++ b/gui/main_ui.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ namespace gui {
   }
 
   DinkyECS::Entity MainUI::camera_aim() {
-    auto& level = GameDB::current();
+    auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
     // 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);
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ namespace gui {
   }
 
   void MainUI::update_level() {
-    auto& level = GameDB::current();
+    auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
     auto& player_position = GameDB::player_position();
     auto player = player_position.location;
 
diff --git a/gui/status_ui.cpp b/gui/status_ui.cpp
index d0f65ce..ebe37fa 100644
--- a/gui/status_ui.cpp
+++ b/gui/status_ui.cpp
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ namespace gui {
   }
 
   bool StatusUI::place_slot(guecs::Entity gui_id, DinkyECS::Entity world_entity) {
-    auto& level = GameDB::current();
+    auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
     auto& slot_name = $gui.name_for(gui_id);
     auto& inventory = level.world->get<inventory::Model>(level.player);
 
diff --git a/systems.cpp b/systems.cpp
index fb7f6f8..26997d1 100644
--- a/systems.cpp
+++ b/systems.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ void System::set_position(World& world, SpatialMap& collision, Entity entity, Po
 }
 
 void System::lighting() {
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   auto& light = *level.lights;
   auto& world = *level.world;
   auto& map = *level.map;
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ void System::lighting() {
 }
 
 void System::generate_paths() {
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   const auto &player_pos = GameDB::player_position();
 
   level.map->set_target(player_pos.location);
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ void System::generate_paths() {
 }
 
 void System::enemy_ai_initialize() {
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   auto& world = *level.world;
   auto& map = *level.map;
 
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ void System::enemy_ai_initialize() {
 }
 
 void System::enemy_pathing() {
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   auto& world = *level.world;
   auto& map = *level.map;
   const auto &player_pos = GameDB::player_position();
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ inline void move_entity(SpatialMap &collider, Map &game_map, Position &position,
 }
 
 void System::motion() {
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   level.world->query<Position, Motion>(
     [&](auto ent, auto &position, auto &motion) {
     // don't process entities that don't move
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ void System::motion() {
 }
 
 void System::distribute_loot(Position target_pos) {
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   auto& world = *level.world;
   auto& config = world.get_the<GameConfig>();
   int inventory_count = Random::uniform(0, 3);
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ void System::distribute_loot(Position target_pos) {
 }
 
 void System::death() {
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   auto& world = *level.world;
   auto player = world.get_the<Player>();
   std::vector<Entity> dead_things;
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ inline void animate_entity(World &world, Entity entity) {
 }
 
 void System::combat(int attack_id) {
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   auto& collider = *level.collision;
   auto& world = *level.world;
   auto& the_belt = world.get_the<ritual::Belt>();
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ void System::combat(int attack_id) {
 
 
 void System::collision() {
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   auto& collider = *level.collision;
   auto& world = *level.world;
   const auto& player_pos = GameDB::player_position();
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ void System::collision() {
  * from the world for say, putting into a container or inventory.
  */
 void System::remove_from_world(Entity entity) {
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   auto& item_pos = level.world->get<Position>(entity);
   level.collision->remove(item_pos.location, entity);
   // if you don't do this you get the bug that you can pickup
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ void System::remove_from_world(Entity entity) {
 }
 
 void System::pickup() {
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   auto& world = *level.world;
   auto& collision = *level.collision;
   auto pos = GameDB::player_position();
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ void System::device(World &world, Entity actor, Entity item) {
 }
 
 void System::plan_motion(Position move_to) {
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   auto& player_pos = GameDB::player_position();
 
   player_pos.aiming_at = move_to.aiming_at;
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ void System::plan_motion(Position move_to) {
 
 
 void System::player_status() {
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   auto& combat = level.world->get<Combat>(level.player);
   float percent = float(combat.hp) / float(combat.max_hp);
 
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ Entity System::spawn_item(World& world, const std::string& name) {
 }
 
 void System::drop_item(Entity item) {
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   auto& world = *level.world;
   auto& map = *level.map;
   auto player_pos = GameDB::player_position();
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ void System::remove_from_container(Entity cont_id, const std::string& slot_id) {
 
 
 void System::inventory_swap(Entity container_id, const std::string& a_name, const std::string &b_name) {
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   dbc::check(a_name != b_name, "Attempt to inventory swap the same slot, you should check this and avoid calling me.");
 
   auto& inventory = level.world->get<inventory::Model>(container_id);
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ bool System::inventory_occupied(Entity container_id, const std::string& name) {
 
 
 void System::draw_map(Matrix& grid, EntityGrid& entity_map) {
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   auto& world = *level.world;
   Map &map = *level.map;
   Matrix &fow = level.lights->$fow;
@@ -606,7 +606,7 @@ void System::render_map(Matrix& tiles, EntityGrid& entity_map, sf::RenderTexture
 }
 
 bool System::use_item(const string& slot_name) {
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   auto& world = *level.world;
   auto& inventory = world.get<inventory::Model>(level.player);
   auto& player_combat = world.get<Combat>(level.player);
diff --git a/tests/lighting.cpp b/tests/lighting.cpp
index d72cb3c..54617c8 100644
--- a/tests/lighting.cpp
+++ b/tests/lighting.cpp
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ using namespace lighting;
 
 TEST_CASE("lighting a map works", "[lighting]") {
   GameDB::init();
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   auto& map = *level.map;
 
   Point light1, light2;
diff --git a/tests/map.cpp b/tests/map.cpp
index e669901..7875481 100644
--- a/tests/map.cpp
+++ b/tests/map.cpp
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ json load_test_data(const string &fname) {
 TEST_CASE("camera control", "[map]") {
   GameDB::init();
 
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   auto& map = *level.map;
 
   Point center = map.center_camera({10,10}, 5, 5);
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ TEST_CASE("dijkstra algo test", "[map]") {
 TEST_CASE("map image test", "[map]") {
   GameDB::init();
 
-  auto& level = GameDB::current();
+  auto& level = GameDB::current_level();
   Matrix map_tiles = matrix::make(7,7);
   EntityGrid entity_map;
 
diff --git a/tests/matrix.cpp b/tests/matrix.cpp
index aa4d9bb..ff6e9eb 100644
--- a/tests/matrix.cpp
+++ b/tests/matrix.cpp
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ using matrix::Matrix;
 
 std::shared_ptr<Map> make_map() {
   GameDB::init();
-  return GameDB::current().map;
+  return GameDB::current_level().map;
 }
 
 TEST_CASE("basic matrix iterator", "[matrix]") {