diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index a1533ce..d4a9c62 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ tracy_build:
 	meson compile -j 10 -C builddir
 
 test: build
-	./builddir/runtests
+	./builddir/runtests "[textures]"
 
 run: build test
 	powershell "cp ./builddir/zedcaster.exe ."
diff --git a/combat_ui.cpp b/combat_ui.cpp
index de9be61..eb43103 100644
--- a/combat_ui.cpp
+++ b/combat_ui.cpp
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ namespace gui {
         "[ >.%(100,50)label_hp | *%.(198,50)bar_hp | _ ]");
   }
 
-  void CombatUI::render(TexturePack& textures) {
+  void CombatUI::render() {
     auto& world = $gui.world();
 
     world.set_the<Background>({$gui.$parser});
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ namespace gui {
       }
     }
 
-    $gui.init(textures);
+    $gui.init();
   }
 
   void CombatUI::draw(sf::RenderWindow& window) {
diff --git a/combat_ui.hpp b/combat_ui.hpp
index 5d0ac47..e8d3cd4 100644
--- a/combat_ui.hpp
+++ b/combat_ui.hpp
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ namespace gui {
 
       CombatUI(GameLevel level);
 
-      void render(TexturePack& texture);
+      void render();
       void draw(sf::RenderWindow& window);
       void update_level(GameLevel &level) { $level = level; }
       void set_damage(float percent);
diff --git a/guecs.cpp b/guecs.cpp
index e940391..b80736d 100644
--- a/guecs.cpp
+++ b/guecs.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ namespace guecs {
     }
   }
 
-  void UI::init(TexturePack& textures) {
+  void UI::init() {
     if($world.has_the<Background>()) {
       auto& bg = $world.get_the<Background>();
       bg.init();
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ namespace guecs {
     });
 
     $world.query<lel::Cell, Sprite>([&](auto, auto &cell, auto &sprite) {
-        sprite.init(cell, textures);
+        sprite.init(cell);
     });
   }
 
diff --git a/guecs.hpp b/guecs.hpp
index 651963c..47547e1 100644
--- a/guecs.hpp
+++ b/guecs.hpp
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <memory>
 #include <SFML/Graphics.hpp>
-#include "texture.hpp"
+#include "textures2.hpp"
 #include <functional>
 #include "events.hpp"
 #include "constants.hpp"
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ namespace guecs {
     std::shared_ptr<sf::Sprite> sprite = nullptr;
     std::shared_ptr<sf::Texture> texture = nullptr;
 
-    void init(lel::Cell &cell, TexturePack &textures) {
-        auto sprite_texture = textures.get(name);
+    void init(lel::Cell &cell) {
+        auto sprite_texture = textures::get(name);
         texture = sprite_texture.texture;
         sprite = make_shared<sf::Sprite>(*texture);
         sprite->setPosition({
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ namespace guecs {
         return $world;
       }
 
-      void init(TexturePack& textures);
+      void init();
       void render(sf::RenderWindow& window);
       void mouse(float x, float y);
 
diff --git a/gui_fsm.cpp b/gui_fsm.cpp
index 91f7e56..d85d9bb 100644
--- a/gui_fsm.cpp
+++ b/gui_fsm.cpp
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ namespace gui {
 
   FSM::FSM() :
     $window(sf::VideoMode({SCREEN_WIDTH, SCREEN_HEIGHT}), "Zed's Raycaster Thing"),
-    $main_ui($window, $levels.current(), $textures),
+    $main_ui($window, $levels.current()),
     $renderer($window),
     $level($levels.current()),
     $map_ui($level),
@@ -21,8 +21,6 @@ namespace gui {
     $status_ui($level),
     $font{FONT_FILE_NAME}
     {
-      $textures.load_tiles();
-      $textures.load_sprites();
     }
 
   void FSM::event(Event ev) {
@@ -45,8 +43,8 @@ namespace gui {
 
     $main_ui.init();
 
-    $combat_ui.render($textures);
-    $status_ui.render($textures);
+    $combat_ui.render();
+    $status_ui.render();
     $status_ui.log("Welcome to the game!");
 
     $renderer.init_terminal();
diff --git a/gui_fsm.hpp b/gui_fsm.hpp
index 051d2bf..92229e0 100644
--- a/gui_fsm.hpp
+++ b/gui_fsm.hpp
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ namespace gui {
       CombatUI $combat_ui;
       StatusUI $status_ui;
       sf::Font $font;
-      TexturePack $textures;
 
       FSM();
 
diff --git a/main.cpp b/main.cpp
index f36019c..dbbbdbc 100644
--- a/main.cpp
+++ b/main.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #include "gui_fsm.hpp"
+#include "textures2.hpp"
 
 int main() {
+  textures::init();
   gui::FSM main;
   main.event(gui::Event::STARTED);
 
diff --git a/main_ui.cpp b/main_ui.cpp
index 0a2078f..612a551 100644
--- a/main_ui.cpp
+++ b/main_ui.cpp
@@ -4,12 +4,11 @@
 namespace gui {
   using namespace components;
 
-  MainUI::MainUI(sf::RenderWindow& window, GameLevel level, TexturePack& textures) :
+  MainUI::MainUI(sf::RenderWindow& window, GameLevel level) :
     $window(window),
     $level(level),
-    $textures(textures),
-    $overlay_ui($level, $textures),
-    $rayview($textures, RAY_VIEW_WIDTH, RAY_VIEW_HEIGHT)
+    $overlay_ui($level),
+    $rayview(RAY_VIEW_WIDTH, RAY_VIEW_HEIGHT)
   {
     $window.setVerticalSyncEnabled(VSYNC);
     $window.setFramerateLimit(FRAME_LIMIT);
diff --git a/main_ui.hpp b/main_ui.hpp
index 164ec33..a571dc1 100644
--- a/main_ui.hpp
+++ b/main_ui.hpp
@@ -15,12 +15,11 @@ namespace gui {
     Stats $stats;
     sf::RenderWindow& $window;
     GameLevel $level;
-    TexturePack& $textures;
     OverlayUI $overlay_ui;
     Raycaster $rayview;
     CameraLOL $camera;
 
-    MainUI(sf::RenderWindow& window, GameLevel level, TexturePack &textures);
+    MainUI(sf::RenderWindow& window, GameLevel level);
 
     void mouse(int x, int y);
     void debug();
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 2e7d592..9016c6c 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ sources = [
   'status_ui.cpp',
   'systems.cpp',
   'texture.cpp',
+  'textures2.cpp',
   'tilemap.cpp',
   'worldbuilder.cpp',
 ]
@@ -105,6 +106,7 @@ executable('runtests', sources + [
   'tests/pathing.cpp',
   'tests/spatialmap.cpp',
   'tests/tilemap.cpp',
+  'tests/textures.cpp',
   ], override_options: exe_defaults,
   dependencies: dependencies + [catch2])
 
diff --git a/overlay_ui.cpp b/overlay_ui.cpp
index 84ef1df..4ccd1d4 100644
--- a/overlay_ui.cpp
+++ b/overlay_ui.cpp
@@ -8,9 +8,8 @@ namespace gui {
   using namespace guecs;
   using std::string;
 
-  OverlayUI::OverlayUI(GameLevel level, TexturePack& textures) :
-    $level(level),
-    $textures(textures)
+  OverlayUI::OverlayUI(GameLevel level) :
+    $level(level)
   {
     $gui.position(RAY_VIEW_X, RAY_VIEW_Y, RAY_VIEW_WIDTH, RAY_VIEW_HEIGHT);
     $gui.layout(
@@ -28,7 +27,7 @@ namespace gui {
       auto region = $gui.entity(name);
       world.set<lel::Cell>(region, cell);
     }
-    $gui.init($textures);
+    $gui.init();
   }
 
   void OverlayUI::draw(sf::RenderWindow& window) {
@@ -39,7 +38,7 @@ namespace gui {
     auto ent = $gui.entity(region);
     Sprite blood{sprite_name};
     auto& cell = $gui.cell_for(ent);
-    blood.init(cell, $textures);
+    blood.init(cell);
     $gui.set<guecs::Sprite>(ent, blood);
   }
 
diff --git a/overlay_ui.hpp b/overlay_ui.hpp
index 1d92e0f..03f0fd1 100644
--- a/overlay_ui.hpp
+++ b/overlay_ui.hpp
@@ -9,9 +9,8 @@ namespace gui {
     public:
       guecs::UI $gui;
       GameLevel $level;
-      TexturePack& $textures;
 
-      OverlayUI(GameLevel level, TexturePack& $textures);
+      OverlayUI(GameLevel level);
 
       void render();
       void draw(sf::RenderWindow& window);
diff --git a/raycaster.cpp b/raycaster.cpp
index 1619835..53147c0 100644
--- a/raycaster.cpp
+++ b/raycaster.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <memory>
 #include <numbers>
 #include "components.hpp"
+#include "textures2.hpp"
 
 using namespace fmt;
 using std::make_unique;
@@ -33,8 +34,7 @@ inline uint32_t new_lighting(uint32_t pixel, int level) {
   return conv.as_int;
 }
 
-Raycaster::Raycaster(TexturePack &textures, int width, int height) :
-  $textures(textures),
+Raycaster::Raycaster(int width, int height) :
   $view_texture(sf::Vector2u{(unsigned int)width, (unsigned int)height}),
   $view_sprite($view_texture),
   $width(width), $height(height),
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ Raycaster::Raycaster(TexturePack &textures, int width, int height) :
   $view_sprite.setPosition({0, 0});
   $pixels = make_unique<RGBA[]>($width * $height);
   $view_texture.setSmooth(false);
+  $floor_texture = textures::get_floor();
+  $ceiling_texture = textures::get_ceiling();
 }
 
 void Raycaster::set_position(int x, int y) {
@@ -226,7 +228,7 @@ void Raycaster::cast_rays() {
     int draw_end = line_height / 2 + $height / 2 + $pitch;
     if(draw_end >= $height) draw_end = $height - 1;
 
-    auto texture = $textures.get_surface($map[map_y][map_x] - 1);
+    auto texture = textures::get_surface($map[map_y][map_x] - 1);
 
     // calculate value of wall_x
     double wall_x;  // where exactly the wall was hit
@@ -265,9 +267,6 @@ void Raycaster::cast_rays() {
 void Raycaster::draw_ceiling_floor() {
   constexpr static const int texture_width = TEXTURE_WIDTH;
   constexpr static const int texture_height = TEXTURE_HEIGHT;
-  auto floor_texture = (const uint32_t *)$textures.floor.getPixelsPtr();
-  auto ceiling_texture = (const uint32_t *)$textures.ceiling.getPixelsPtr();
-
   auto &lights = $level.lights->lighting();
 
   for(int y = $height / 2 + 1; y < $height; ++y) {
@@ -324,11 +323,11 @@ void Raycaster::draw_ceiling_floor() {
       float light_level = matrix::inbounds(lights, map_x, map_y) ? lights[map_y][map_x] : 30;
 
       // FLOOR
-      color = floor_texture[texture_width * ty + tx];
+      color = $floor_texture[texture_width * ty + tx];
       $pixels[pixcoord(x, y)] = new_lighting(color, light_level);
 
       // CEILING
-      color = ceiling_texture[texture_width * ty + tx];
+      color = $ceiling_texture[texture_width * ty + tx];
       $pixels[pixcoord(x, $height - y - 1)] = new_lighting(color, light_level);
     }
   }
@@ -344,7 +343,7 @@ void Raycaster::draw(sf::RenderTarget& target) {
 
 void Raycaster::update_sprite(DinkyECS::Entity ent, components::Sprite& sprite) {
   fmt::println("entity UPDATE SPRITE {} will have sprite named {}", ent, sprite.name);
-  auto sprite_txt = $textures.get(sprite.name);
+  auto sprite_txt = textures::get(sprite.name);
   $sprites.insert_or_assign(ent, sprite_txt);
 }
 
@@ -353,13 +352,13 @@ void Raycaster::set_level(GameLevel level) {
   auto& tiles = $level.map->tiles();
   auto world = $level.world;
   auto& player = world->get_the<components::Player>();
-  $map = $textures.convert_char_to_texture(tiles.$tile_ids);
+  $map = textures::convert_char_to_texture(tiles.$tile_ids);
 
   world->query<components::Sprite>([&](const auto ent, auto& sprite) {
       // player doesn't need a sprite
       if(player.entity == ent) return;
       fmt::println("entity {} will have sprite named {}", ent, sprite.name);
-      auto sprite_txt = $textures.get(sprite.name);
+      auto sprite_txt = textures::get(sprite.name);
       $sprites.try_emplace(ent, sprite_txt);
   });
 }
diff --git a/raycaster.hpp b/raycaster.hpp
index 3442e36..e2c6bac 100644
--- a/raycaster.hpp
+++ b/raycaster.hpp
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
 
 #include <SFML/Graphics.hpp>
 #include <SFML/System/Clock.hpp>
-#include "texture.hpp"
 #include "animator.hpp"
 #include "spatialmap.hpp"
 #include "levelmanager.hpp"
+#include "texture.hpp"
 
 using matrix::Matrix;
 using RGBA = uint32_t;
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ struct Raycaster {
   int $pitch=0;
   sf::Clock $clock;
   sf::Shader $brightness;
-  TexturePack &$textures;
   double $pos_x = 0;
   double $pos_y = 0;
 
@@ -27,6 +26,8 @@ struct Raycaster {
   double $plane_y = 0.66;
   sf::Texture $view_texture;
   sf::Sprite $view_sprite;
+  const uint32_t *$floor_texture = nullptr;
+  const uint32_t *$ceiling_texture = nullptr;
 
   std::unique_ptr<RGBA[]> $pixels = nullptr;
 
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ struct Raycaster {
   std::vector<double> $zbuffer; // width
   Animator $anim;
 
-  Raycaster(TexturePack &textures, int width, int height);
+  Raycaster(int width, int height);
 
   void cast_rays();
   void draw_ceiling_floor();
diff --git a/status_ui.cpp b/status_ui.cpp
index 0f1d1b0..556de47 100644
--- a/status_ui.cpp
+++ b/status_ui.cpp
@@ -12,16 +12,16 @@ namespace gui {
   {
     $gui.position(STATUS_UI_X, STATUS_UI_Y, STATUS_UI_WIDTH, STATUS_UI_HEIGHT);
     $gui.layout(
-        "[button1 | button2 | button3]"
-        "[button4 | button5 | button6]"
-        "[button7 | button8 | button9]"
         "[*%(100,300)log_view]"
         "[_]"
         "[_]"
+        "[button1 | button2 | button3]"
+        "[button4 | button5 | button6]"
+        "[button7 | button8 | button9]"
         );
   }
 
-  void StatusUI::render(TexturePack &textures) {
+  void StatusUI::render() {
     auto& world = $gui.world();
 
     std::vector<std::string> fake_items{
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ namespace gui {
       }
     }
 
-    $gui.init(textures);
+    $gui.init();
   }
 
   void StatusUI::draw(sf::RenderWindow &window) {
diff --git a/status_ui.hpp b/status_ui.hpp
index e2c35f0..fc494a5 100644
--- a/status_ui.hpp
+++ b/status_ui.hpp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 #include "levelmanager.hpp"
 #include "constants.hpp"
 #include <deque>
-#include "texture.hpp"
+#include "textures2.hpp"
 #include "guecs.hpp"
 
 namespace gui {
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ namespace gui {
       StatusUI(GameLevel level);
       void update_level(GameLevel &level) { $level = level; }
       void log(std::string msg);
-      void render(TexturePack &textures);
+      void render();
       void draw(sf::RenderWindow &window);
   };
 }
diff --git a/tests/guecs.cpp b/tests/guecs.cpp
index c01c135..d9914a1 100644
--- a/tests/guecs.cpp
+++ b/tests/guecs.cpp
@@ -8,9 +8,7 @@ using namespace guecs;
 
 TEST_CASE("prototype one gui", "[ecs-gui]") {
   guecs::UI gui;
-
-  TexturePack textures;
-  textures.load_sprites();
+  textures::init();
 
   gui.position(0, 0, 1000, 500);
   gui.layout("[test1|test2|test3][test4|_|test5]");
@@ -24,7 +22,7 @@ TEST_CASE("prototype one gui", "[ecs-gui]") {
     world.set<Textual>(button, {name});
   }
 
-  gui.init(textures);
+  gui.init();
 
   // at this point it's mostly ready but I'd need to render it to a window real quick
   sf::RenderWindow window;
diff --git a/tests/textures.cpp b/tests/textures.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c12c66e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/textures.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#include <catch2/catch_test_macros.hpp>
+#include <fmt/core.h>
+#include <string>
+#include "textures2.hpp"
+
+using namespace fmt;
+
+TEST_CASE("test texture management", "[textures]") {
+
+  textures::init();
+  auto spider = textures::get("hairy_spider");
+
+  auto image = textures::load_image("assets/hairy_spider-256.png");
+
+  auto img_ptr = textures::get_surface(0);
+  REQUIRE(img_ptr != nullptr);
+}
diff --git a/texture.cpp b/texture.cpp
index 44e7ed8..cd8c7f9 100644
--- a/texture.cpp
+++ b/texture.cpp
@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@
 
 using std::shared_ptr, std::make_shared;
 
-sf::Image TexturePack::load_image(std::string filename) {
+sf::Image TextureManager::load_image(std::string filename) {
   sf::Image texture;
   bool good = texture.loadFromFile(filename);
   dbc::check(good, fmt::format("failed to load {}", filename));
   return texture;
 }
 
-void TexturePack::load_sprites() {
+void TextureManager::load_sprites() {
   Config assets("assets/config.json");
 
   for(auto& el : assets["sprites"].items()) {
@@ -28,13 +28,11 @@ void TexturePack::load_sprites() {
     sprite_textures[name] = {sprite, texture};
   }
 
-  sword = sprite_textures["sword"];
-
   floor = load_image(assets["sprites"]["floor"]);
   ceiling = load_image(assets["sprites"]["ceiling"]);
 }
 
-void TexturePack::load_tiles() {
+void TextureManager::load_tiles() {
   Config assets("assets/tiles.json");
   auto &tiles = assets.json();
 
@@ -50,11 +48,11 @@ void TexturePack::load_tiles() {
   }
 }
 
-const uint32_t* TexturePack::get_surface(size_t num) {
+const uint32_t* TextureManager::get_surface(size_t num) {
   return (const uint32_t *)surfaces[num].getPixelsPtr();
 }
 
-matrix::Matrix TexturePack::convert_char_to_texture(matrix::Matrix &tile_ids) {
+matrix::Matrix TextureManager::convert_char_to_texture(matrix::Matrix &tile_ids) {
   auto result = matrix::make(matrix::width(tile_ids), matrix::height(tile_ids));
 
   for(matrix::each_cell it(tile_ids); it.next();) {
@@ -65,7 +63,7 @@ matrix::Matrix TexturePack::convert_char_to_texture(matrix::Matrix &tile_ids) {
   return result;
 }
 
-SpriteTexture TexturePack::get(std::string name) {
+SpriteTexture TextureManager::get(std::string name) {
   dbc::check(sprite_textures.contains(name),
       fmt::format("!!!!! texture pack does not contain {} sprite", name));
   return sprite_textures.at(name);
diff --git a/texture.hpp b/texture.hpp
index 87ad670..6703ba9 100644
--- a/texture.hpp
+++ b/texture.hpp
@@ -13,13 +13,12 @@ struct SpriteTexture {
   std::shared_ptr<sf::Texture> texture = nullptr;
 };
 
-struct TexturePack {
+struct TextureManager {
   std::vector<sf::Image> surfaces;
   std::unordered_map<std::string, SpriteTexture> sprite_textures;
   std::unordered_map<wchar_t, int> char_to_texture;
   sf::Image floor;
   sf::Image ceiling;
-  SpriteTexture sword;
 
   void load_tiles();
   void load_sprites();
diff --git a/textures2.cpp b/textures2.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f07bb7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/textures2.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+#include "textures2.hpp"
+
+namespace textures {
+  static TextureManager textures;
+  static bool initialized = false;
+
+  void init() {
+    if(!initialized) {
+      textures.load_tiles();
+      textures.load_sprites();
+      initialized = true;
+    }
+  }
+
+  SpriteTexture get(std::string name) {
+    return textures.get(name);
+  }
+
+  sf::Image load_image(std::string filename) {
+    return textures.load_image(filename);
+  }
+
+  const uint32_t* get_surface(size_t num) {
+    return textures.get_surface(num);
+  }
+
+  matrix::Matrix convert_char_to_texture(matrix::Matrix &from) {
+    return textures.convert_char_to_texture(from);
+  }
+
+  const uint32_t* get_floor() {
+    return (const uint32_t *)textures.floor.getPixelsPtr();
+  }
+
+  const uint32_t* get_ceiling() {
+    return (const uint32_t *)textures.ceiling.getPixelsPtr();
+  }
+};
diff --git a/textures2.hpp b/textures2.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d831c7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/textures2.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#pragma once
+#include "texture.hpp"
+
+namespace textures {
+  void init();
+
+  SpriteTexture get(std::string name);
+
+  sf::Image load_image(std::string filename);
+
+  const uint32_t* get_surface(size_t num);
+
+  matrix::Matrix convert_char_to_texture(matrix::Matrix &from);
+
+  const uint32_t* get_floor();
+
+  const uint32_t* get_ceiling();
+}