diff --git a/dbc.h b/dbc.hpp
similarity index 100%
rename from dbc.h
rename to dbc.hpp
diff --git a/escape_turings_tarpit.cpp b/escape_turings_tarpit.cpp
index 33a40bf..64241e4 100644
--- a/escape_turings_tarpit.cpp
+++ b/escape_turings_tarpit.cpp
@@ -4,64 +4,21 @@
 #include <fmt/color.h>
 #include <fmt/chrono.h>
 #include <string>
-#include "dbc.h"
+#include "dbc.hpp"
+#include "game_engine.hpp"
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <git2.h>
 #include <efsw/efsw.hpp>
 #include <regex>
 #include <filesystem>
-#include <map>
 
 using namespace std;
 using namespace fmt;
 namespace fs = std::filesystem;
 
-const auto ERROR = fmt::emphasis::bold | fg(fmt::color::red);
-
 #define BUF_MAX 1024
 
-class GameEngine {
-  int hit_points = 0;
-  map<string, int> damage_types{
-    {"error", 4},
-    {"warning", 1},
-    {"note", 1},
-  };
-
-  public:
-  GameEngine(int hp) : hit_points(hp) {};
-
-  int determine_damage(string &type) {
-    try {
-      return damage_types.at(type);
-    } catch(std::out_of_range &err) {
-      print(ERROR, "BAD DAMAGE TYPE {}\n", type);
-      return 1000;
-    }
-  }
-
-  bool hit(string &type) {
-    int damage = determine_damage(type);
-    hit_points -= damage;
-
-    if(is_dead()) {
-      print(ERROR, "YOU DIED!\n");
-    } else {
-      println("DAMAGE {}, HP: {}", damage, hit_points);
-    }
-
-    // super dumb but I'll clean it up later
-    return is_dead();
-  }
-
-  bool is_dead() {
-    return hit_points <= 0;
-  }
-};
-
-
-
 class UpdateListener : public efsw::FileWatchListener {
   public:
     bool changes = false;
diff --git a/game_engine.cpp b/game_engine.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..30a4bec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/game_engine.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+#include <map>
+#include <string>
+#include <fmt/core.h>
+#include <fmt/color.h>
+#include "game_engine.hpp"
+
+using namespace fmt;
+using namespace std;
+
+const auto ERROR = fmt::emphasis::bold | fg(fmt::color::red);
+
+GameEngine::GameEngine(int hp) : hit_points(hp) {};
+
+int GameEngine::determine_damage(string &type) {
+  try {
+    return damage_types.at(type);
+  } catch(std::out_of_range &err) {
+    print(ERROR, "BAD DAMAGE TYPE {}\n", type);
+    return 1000;
+  }
+}
+
+bool GameEngine::hit(string &type) {
+  int damage = determine_damage(type);
+  hit_points -= damage;
+
+  if(is_dead()) {
+    print(ERROR, "YOU DIED!\n");
+  } else {
+    println("DAMAGE {}, HP: {}", damage, hit_points);
+  }
+
+  // super dumb but I'll clean it up later
+  return is_dead();
+}
+
+bool GameEngine::is_dead() {
+  return hit_points <= 0;
+}
diff --git a/game_engine.hpp b/game_engine.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f8347d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/game_engine.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#include <string>
+#include <map>
+
+using namespace std;
+
+class GameEngine {
+  int hit_points = 0;
+  map<string, int> damage_types{
+    {"error", 4},
+    {"warning", 1},
+    {"note", 1},
+  };
+
+  public:
+  GameEngine(int hp);
+
+  int determine_damage(string &type);
+
+  bool hit(string &type);
+
+  bool is_dead();
+};
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index a011829..b467296 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ dependencies = [
 ]
 
 executable('escape_turings_tarpit',
-  'escape_turings_tarpit.cpp',
+  ['game_engine.cpp',
+    'escape_turings_tarpit.cpp'],
   dependencies: dependencies)
 
 executable('regtest', 'regtest.cpp',
@@ -40,6 +41,10 @@ executable('ftxtest', 'ftxtest.cpp',
 executable('ftx_thread_test', 'ftx_thread_test.cpp',
   dependencies: dependencies)
 
-executable('tests', [
-  'tests/test1.cpp'],
+runtests = executable('runtests', [
+  'game_engine.cpp',
+  'tests/test1.cpp',
+  'tests/game_engine.cpp'],
   dependencies: dependencies + [doctest])
+
+test('the tests', runtests)
diff --git a/tests/game_engine.cpp b/tests/game_engine.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69d8c4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/game_engine.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#include <doctest.h>
+#include "../game_engine.hpp"
+
+TEST_CASE("game engine can start and take hit") {
+  // test fails on purpose right now
+  GameEngine game{100};
+  string err{"error"};
+  game.hit(err);
+  CHECK(game.is_dead() == true);
+}
diff --git a/tests/test1.cpp b/tests/test1.cpp
index 5406cd1..c4aa842 100644
--- a/tests/test1.cpp
+++ b/tests/test1.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #define DOCTEST_CONFIG_IMPLEMENT_WITH_MAIN
-#include "doctest.h"
+#include <doctest.h>
 
 int factorial(int number) { return number <= 1 ? number : factorial(number - 1) * number; }