diff --git a/levelmanager.cpp b/levelmanager.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6afbf8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/levelmanager.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#include "levelmanager.hpp"
+
+LevelManager::LevelManager() {
+  // does nothing yet
+}
+
+
+void LevelManager::create_level() {
+  // does nothing yet
+}
diff --git a/levelmanager.hpp b/levelmanager.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5c3db49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/levelmanager.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#pragma once
+
+
+class LevelManager {
+
+  LevelManager();
+
+  void create_level();
+};
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 44b7ab6..2045282 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ source=[
   'matrix.cpp',
   'tilemap.cpp',
   'map.cpp',
+  'levelmanager.cpp',
   'gui.cpp',
   'rand.cpp',
   'sound.cpp',
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@ runtests = executable('runtests',
   'tests/sound.cpp',
   'tests/pathing.cpp',
   'tests/lighting.cpp',
+  'tests/levelmanager.cpp',
   'tests/gui.cpp',
   'tests/worldbuilder.cpp',
   'tests/inventory.cpp',
diff --git a/tests/levelmanager.cpp b/tests/levelmanager.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..74e736d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/levelmanager.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#include <catch2/catch_test_macros.hpp>
+#include <fmt/core.h>
+#include "gui.hpp"
+#include "map.hpp"
+#include "dinkyecs.hpp"
+#include "worldbuilder.hpp"
+#include "save.hpp"
+#include "systems.hpp"
+#include "spatialmap.hpp"
+#include "levelmanager.hpp"
+
+using namespace fmt;
+using namespace components;
+using std::string;
+
+TEST_CASE("", "[levelmanager]") {
+  // empty test to get setup
+}