diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 4dcfd7f..af802f5 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ set(TETRIS_SOURCES
     src/ui/MenuLayout.cpp
     src/app/BackgroundManager.cpp
     src/app/Fireworks.cpp
+    src/app/AssetLoader.cpp
+    src/states/LoadingManager.cpp
     # State implementations (new)
     src/states/LoadingState.cpp
     src/states/MenuState.cpp
diff --git a/src/app/AssetLoader.cpp b/src/app/AssetLoader.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fdec338
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/AssetLoader.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+#include "app/AssetLoader.h"
+#include <SDL3_image/SDL_image.h>
+#include <algorithm>
+
+AssetLoader::AssetLoader() = default;
+
+AssetLoader::~AssetLoader() {
+    shutdown();
+}
+
+void AssetLoader::init(SDL_Renderer* renderer) {
+    m_renderer = renderer;
+}
+
+void AssetLoader::shutdown() {
+    // Destroy textures
+    {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(m_texturesMutex);
+        for (auto &p : m_textures) {
+            if (p.second) SDL_DestroyTexture(p.second);
+        }
+        m_textures.clear();
+    }
+
+    // Clear queue and errors
+    {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(m_queueMutex);
+        m_queue.clear();
+    }
+    {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(m_errorsMutex);
+        m_errors.clear();
+    }
+
+    m_totalTasks = 0;
+    m_loadedTasks = 0;
+    m_renderer = nullptr;
+}
+
+void AssetLoader::setBasePath(const std::string& basePath) {
+    m_basePath = basePath;
+}
+
+void AssetLoader::queueTexture(const std::string& path) {
+    {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(m_queueMutex);
+        m_queue.push_back(path);
+    }
+    m_totalTasks.fetch_add(1, std::memory_order_relaxed);
+}
+
+bool AssetLoader::performStep() {
+    std::string path;
+    {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(m_queueMutex);
+        if (m_queue.empty()) return true;
+        path = m_queue.front();
+        m_queue.erase(m_queue.begin());
+    }
+
+    {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(m_currentLoadingMutex);
+        m_currentLoading = path;
+    }
+
+    std::string fullPath = m_basePath.empty() ? path : (m_basePath + "/" + path);
+
+    SDL_Surface* surf = IMG_Load(fullPath.c_str());
+    if (!surf) {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(m_errorsMutex);
+        m_errors.push_back(std::string("IMG_Load failed: ") + fullPath + " -> " + SDL_GetError());
+    } else {
+        SDL_Texture* tex = SDL_CreateTextureFromSurface(m_renderer, surf);
+        SDL_DestroySurface(surf);
+        if (!tex) {
+            std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(m_errorsMutex);
+            m_errors.push_back(std::string("CreateTexture failed: ") + fullPath);
+        } else {
+            std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(m_texturesMutex);
+            m_textures[path] = tex;
+        }
+    }
+
+    m_loadedTasks.fetch_add(1, std::memory_order_relaxed);
+
+    {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(m_currentLoadingMutex);
+        m_currentLoading.clear();
+    }
+
+    // Return true when no more queued tasks
+    {
+        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(m_queueMutex);
+        return m_queue.empty();
+    }
+}
+
+float AssetLoader::getProgress() const {
+    int total = m_totalTasks.load(std::memory_order_relaxed);
+    if (total <= 0) return 1.0f;
+    int loaded = m_loadedTasks.load(std::memory_order_relaxed);
+    return static_cast<float>(loaded) / static_cast<float>(total);
+}
+
+std::vector<std::string> AssetLoader::getAndClearErrors() {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(m_errorsMutex);
+    std::vector<std::string> out = m_errors;
+    m_errors.clear();
+    return out;
+}
+
+SDL_Texture* AssetLoader::getTexture(const std::string& path) const {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(m_texturesMutex);
+    auto it = m_textures.find(path);
+    if (it == m_textures.end()) return nullptr;
+    return it->second;
+}
+
+std::string AssetLoader::getCurrentLoading() const {
+    std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(m_currentLoadingMutex);
+    return m_currentLoading;
+}
diff --git a/src/app/AssetLoader.h b/src/app/AssetLoader.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0d871e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/AssetLoader.h
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <SDL3/SDL.h>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+#include <mutex>
+#include <atomic>
+#include <unordered_map>
+
+// Lightweight AssetLoader scaffold.
+// Responsibilities:
+// - Queue textures to load (main thread) and perform incremental loads via performStep().
+// - Store loaded SDL_Texture* instances and provide accessors.
+// - Collect loading errors thread-safely.
+// NOTE: All SDL texture creation MUST happen on the thread that owns the SDL_Renderer.
+class AssetLoader {
+public:
+    AssetLoader();
+    ~AssetLoader();
+
+    void init(SDL_Renderer* renderer);
+    void shutdown();
+
+    void setBasePath(const std::string& basePath);
+
+    // Queue a texture path (relative to base path) for loading.
+    void queueTexture(const std::string& path);
+
+    // Perform a single loading step (load one queued asset).
+    // Returns true when all queued tasks are complete, false otherwise.
+    bool performStep();
+
+    // Progress in [0,1]. If no tasks, returns 1.0f.
+    float getProgress() const;
+
+    // Retrieve and clear accumulated error messages.
+    std::vector<std::string> getAndClearErrors();
+
+    // Get a loaded texture (or nullptr if not loaded).
+    SDL_Texture* getTexture(const std::string& path) const;
+
+    // Return currently-loading path (empty when idle).
+    std::string getCurrentLoading() const;
+
+private:
+    SDL_Renderer* m_renderer = nullptr;
+    std::string m_basePath;
+
+    // queued paths (simple FIFO)
+    std::vector<std::string> m_queue;
+    mutable std::mutex m_queueMutex;
+
+    std::unordered_map<std::string, SDL_Texture*> m_textures;
+    mutable std::mutex m_texturesMutex;
+
+    std::vector<std::string> m_errors;
+    mutable std::mutex m_errorsMutex;
+
+    std::atomic<int> m_totalTasks{0};
+    std::atomic<int> m_loadedTasks{0};
+
+    std::string m_currentLoading;
+    mutable std::mutex m_currentLoadingMutex;
+};
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 2e91f71..718b40c 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@
 #include "states/LevelSelectorState.h"
 #include "states/PlayingState.h"
 #include "audio/MenuWrappers.h"
+#include "app/AssetLoader.h"
+#include "states/LoadingManager.h"
 #include "utils/ImagePathResolver.h"
 #include "graphics/renderers/GameRenderer.h"
 #include "core/Config.h"
@@ -486,6 +488,11 @@ int main(int, char **)
             SDL_GetError());
     }
 
+    // Asset loader (creates SDL_Textures on the main thread)
+    AssetLoader assetLoader;
+    assetLoader.init(renderer);
+    LoadingManager loadingManager(&assetLoader);
+
     // Font and UI asset handles (actual loading deferred until Loading state)
     FontAtlas pixelFont;
     FontAtlas font;
@@ -544,108 +551,10 @@ int main(int, char **)
     std::atomic_bool g_loadingComplete{false};
     std::atomic<size_t> g_loadingStep{0};
 
-    // Define performLoadingStep to execute one load operation per frame on main thread
-    auto performLoadingStep = [&]() -> bool {
-        size_t step = g_loadingStep.fetch_add(1);
-        
-        // Initialize counters on first step
-        if (step == 0) {
-            constexpr int baseTasks = 25; // 2 fonts + 2 logos + 1 main + 1 blocks + 3 panels + 16 SFX
-            g_totalLoadingTasks.store(baseTasks); 
-            g_loadedTasks.store(0);
-            {
-                std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(g_assetLoadErrorsMutex);
-                g_assetLoadErrors.clear();
-            }
-            {
-                std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(g_currentLoadingMutex);
-                g_currentLoadingFile.clear();
-            }
-            
-            // Initialize background music loading
-            Audio::instance().init();
-            for (int i = 1; i <= 100; ++i) {
-                char base[128];
-                std::snprintf(base, sizeof(base), "assets/music/music%03d", i);
-                std::string path = AssetPath::resolveWithExtensions(base, { ".mp3" });
-                if (path.empty()) break;
-                Audio::instance().addTrackAsync(path);
-                totalTracks++;
-            }
-            // Expand task budget to account for music tracks so the loading bar waits for them
-            g_totalLoadingTasks.store(baseTasks + totalTracks);
-            if (totalTracks > 0) {
-                Audio::instance().startBackgroundLoading();
-                musicLoadingStarted = true;
-            } else {
-                // No music files found, mark as loaded so game can continue
-                musicLoaded = true;
-            }
-        }
-
-        // Execute one load operation per step
-        switch (step) {
-            case 0: return false; // Init step
-            case 1: pixelFont.init(AssetPath::resolveWithBase("assets/fonts/Orbitron.ttf"), 22); g_loadedTasks.fetch_add(1); break;
-            case 2: font.init(AssetPath::resolveWithBase("assets/fonts/Exo2.ttf"), 20); g_loadedTasks.fetch_add(1); break;
-            case 3: logoTex = loadTextureFromImage(renderer, "assets/images/spacetris.png"); break;
-            case 4: logoSmallTex = loadTextureFromImage(renderer, "assets/images/spacetris.png", &logoSmallW, &logoSmallH); break;
-            case 5: mainScreenTex = loadTextureFromImage(renderer, "assets/images/main_screen.png", &mainScreenW, &mainScreenH);
-                    if (mainScreenTex) SDL_SetTextureBlendMode(mainScreenTex, SDL_BLENDMODE_BLEND); break;
-            case 6: 
-                blocksTex = loadTextureFromImage(renderer, "assets/images/blocks90px_001.bmp");
-                if (!blocksTex) {
-                    blocksTex = SDL_CreateTexture(renderer, SDL_PIXELFORMAT_RGBA8888, SDL_TEXTUREACCESS_TARGET, 630, 90);
-                    SDL_SetRenderTarget(renderer, blocksTex);
-                    SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(renderer, 0, 0, 0, 0);
-                    SDL_RenderClear(renderer);
-                    for (int i = 0; i < PIECE_COUNT; ++i) {
-                        SDL_Color c = COLORS[i + 1];
-                        SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(renderer, c.r, c.g, c.b, c.a);
-                        SDL_FRect rect{(float)(i * 90), 0, 90, 90};
-                        SDL_RenderFillRect(renderer, &rect);
-                    }
-                    SDL_SetRenderTarget(renderer, nullptr);
-                    g_loadedTasks.fetch_add(1);
-                }
-                break;
-            case 7: scorePanelTex = loadTextureFromImage(renderer, "assets/images/panel_score.png");
-                    if (scorePanelTex) SDL_SetTextureBlendMode(scorePanelTex, SDL_BLENDMODE_BLEND); break;
-            case 8: statisticsPanelTex = loadTextureFromImage(renderer, "assets/images/statistics_panel.png");
-                    if (statisticsPanelTex) SDL_SetTextureBlendMode(statisticsPanelTex, SDL_BLENDMODE_BLEND); break;
-            case 9: nextPanelTex = loadTextureFromImage(renderer, "assets/images/next_panel.png");
-                    if (nextPanelTex) SDL_SetTextureBlendMode(nextPanelTex, SDL_BLENDMODE_BLEND); break;
-            case 10: SoundEffectManager::instance().init(); g_loadedTasks.fetch_add(1); break;
-            
-            // Audio loading steps
-            default: {
-                const std::vector<std::string> audioIds = {"clear_line","nice_combo","you_fire","well_played","keep_that_ryhtm","great_move","smooth_clear","impressive","triple_strike","amazing","you_re_unstoppable","boom_tetris","wonderful","lets_go","hard_drop","new_level"};
-                size_t audioIdx = step - 11;
-                if (audioIdx < audioIds.size()) {
-                    std::string id = audioIds[audioIdx];
-                    std::string basePath = "assets/music/" + (id == "hard_drop" ? "hard_drop_001" : id);
-                    {
-                        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(g_currentLoadingMutex);
-                        g_currentLoadingFile = basePath;
-                    }
-                    std::string resolved = AssetPath::resolveWithExtensions(basePath, { ".wav", ".mp3" });
-                    if (!resolved.empty()) {
-                        SoundEffectManager::instance().loadSound(id, resolved);
-                    }
-                    g_loadedTasks.fetch_add(1);
-                    {
-                        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(g_currentLoadingMutex);
-                        g_currentLoadingFile.clear();
-                    }
-                } else {
-                    // All done
-                    return true;
-                }
-                break;
-            }
-        }
-        return false; // More steps remaining
-    };
+    // Loading is now handled by AssetLoader + LoadingManager.
+    // Old incremental lambda removed; use LoadingManager to queue texture loads and
+    // perform a single step per frame. Non-texture initialization (fonts, SFX)
+    // is performed on the first loading frame below when the loader is started.
         
     Game game(startLevelSelection);
     // Apply global gravity speed multiplier from config
@@ -1261,9 +1170,10 @@ int main(int, char **)
             currentTrackLoading = Audio::instance().getLoadedTrackCount();
             if (Audio::instance().isLoadingComplete() || (totalTracks > 0 && currentTrackLoading >= totalTracks)) {
                 Audio::instance().shuffle();
-                if (musicEnabled) {
-                    Audio::instance().start();
-                }
+                // Defer starting playback until the app has entered the Menu/Playing state.
+                // Actual playback is started below when `musicLoaded` is observed and
+                // the state is Menu or Playing (so the user doesn't hear music while
+                // still on the Loading screen).
                 musicLoaded = true;
             }
         }
@@ -1300,10 +1210,154 @@ int main(int, char **)
         }
         else if (state == AppState::Loading)
         {
-            // Execute one loading step per frame on main thread
+            static int queuedTextureCount = 0;
+            // Execute one loading step per frame on main thread via LoadingManager
             if (g_loadingStarted.load() && !g_loadingComplete.load()) {
-                if (performLoadingStep()) {
-                    g_loadingComplete.store(true);
+                static bool queuedTextures = false;
+                static std::vector<std::string> queuedPaths;
+                if (!queuedTextures) {
+                    queuedTextures = true;
+                    // Initialize counters and clear previous errors
+                    constexpr int baseTasks = 25; // keep same budget as before
+                    g_totalLoadingTasks.store(baseTasks);
+                    g_loadedTasks.store(0);
+                    {
+                        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(g_assetLoadErrorsMutex);
+                        g_assetLoadErrors.clear();
+                    }
+                    {
+                        std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(g_currentLoadingMutex);
+                        g_currentLoadingFile.clear();
+                    }
+
+                    // Initialize background music loading
+                    Audio::instance().init();
+                    totalTracks = 0;
+                    for (int i = 1; i <= 100; ++i) {
+                        char base[128];
+                        std::snprintf(base, sizeof(base), "assets/music/music%03d", i);
+                        std::string path = AssetPath::resolveWithExtensions(base, { ".mp3" });
+                        if (path.empty()) break;
+                        Audio::instance().addTrackAsync(path);
+                        totalTracks++;
+                    }
+                    g_totalLoadingTasks.store(baseTasks + totalTracks);
+                    if (totalTracks > 0) {
+                        Audio::instance().startBackgroundLoading();
+                        musicLoadingStarted = true;
+                    } else {
+                        musicLoaded = true;
+                    }
+
+                    // Initialize fonts (synchronous, cheap)
+                    pixelFont.init(AssetPath::resolveWithBase("assets/fonts/Orbitron.ttf"), 22);
+                    g_loadedTasks.fetch_add(1);
+                    font.init(AssetPath::resolveWithBase("assets/fonts/Exo2.ttf"), 20);
+                    g_loadedTasks.fetch_add(1);
+
+                    // Queue UI textures for incremental loading
+                    queuedPaths = {
+                        "assets/images/spacetris.png",
+                        "assets/images/spacetris.png", // small logo uses same source
+                        "assets/images/main_screen.png",
+                        "assets/images/blocks90px_001.bmp",
+                        "assets/images/panel_score.png",
+                        "assets/images/statistics_panel.png",
+                        "assets/images/next_panel.png"
+                    };
+                    for (auto &p : queuedPaths) {
+                        loadingManager.queueTexture(p);
+                    }
+                    queuedTextureCount = static_cast<int>(queuedPaths.size());
+
+                    // Initialize sound effects manager (counts as a loaded task)
+                    SoundEffectManager::instance().init();
+                    g_loadedTasks.fetch_add(1);
+
+                    // Load small set of voice/audio SFX synchronously for now (keeps behavior)
+                    const std::vector<std::string> audioIds = {"clear_line","nice_combo","you_fire","well_played","keep_that_ryhtm","great_move","smooth_clear","impressive","triple_strike","amazing","you_re_unstoppable","boom_tetris","wonderful","lets_go","hard_drop","new_level"};
+                    for (const auto &id : audioIds) {
+                        std::string basePath = "assets/music/" + (id == "hard_drop" ? "hard_drop_001" : id);
+                        {
+                            std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(g_currentLoadingMutex);
+                            g_currentLoadingFile = basePath;
+                        }
+                        std::string resolved = AssetPath::resolveWithExtensions(basePath, { ".wav", ".mp3" });
+                        if (!resolved.empty()) {
+                            SoundEffectManager::instance().loadSound(id, resolved);
+                        }
+                        g_loadedTasks.fetch_add(1);
+                        {
+                            std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lk(g_currentLoadingMutex);
+                            g_currentLoadingFile.clear();
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+
+                // Perform a single texture loading step via LoadingManager
+                bool texturesDone = loadingManager.update();
+                if (texturesDone) {
+                    // Bind loaded textures into the runtime context
+                    logoTex = assetLoader.getTexture("assets/images/spacetris.png");
+                    logoSmallTex = assetLoader.getTexture("assets/images/spacetris.png");
+                    mainScreenTex = assetLoader.getTexture("assets/images/main_screen.png");
+                    blocksTex = assetLoader.getTexture("assets/images/blocks90px_001.bmp");
+                    scorePanelTex = assetLoader.getTexture("assets/images/panel_score.png");
+                    statisticsPanelTex = assetLoader.getTexture("assets/images/statistics_panel.png");
+                    nextPanelTex = assetLoader.getTexture("assets/images/next_panel.png");
+
+                    auto ensureTextureSize = [&](SDL_Texture* tex, int& outW, int& outH) {
+                        if (!tex) return;
+                        if (outW > 0 && outH > 0) return;
+                        float w = 0.0f, h = 0.0f;
+                        if (SDL_GetTextureSize(tex, &w, &h)) {
+                            outW = static_cast<int>(std::lround(w));
+                            outH = static_cast<int>(std::lround(h));
+                        }
+                    };
+
+                    // If a texture was created by AssetLoader (not legacy IMG_Load),
+                    // its stored width/height may still be 0. Query the real size.
+                    ensureTextureSize(logoSmallTex, logoSmallW, logoSmallH);
+                    ensureTextureSize(mainScreenTex, mainScreenW, mainScreenH);
+
+                    // Fallback: if any critical UI texture failed to load via AssetLoader,
+                    // load synchronously using the legacy helper so the Menu can render.
+                    auto legacyLoad = [&](const std::string& p, SDL_Texture*& outTex, int* outW = nullptr, int* outH = nullptr) {
+                        if (!outTex) {
+                            outTex = loadTextureFromImage(renderer, p, outW, outH);
+                        }
+                    };
+
+                    legacyLoad("assets/images/spacetris.png", logoTex);
+                    legacyLoad("assets/images/spacetris.png", logoSmallTex, &logoSmallW, &logoSmallH);
+                    legacyLoad("assets/images/main_screen.png", mainScreenTex, &mainScreenW, &mainScreenH);
+                    legacyLoad("assets/images/blocks90px_001.bmp", blocksTex);
+                    legacyLoad("assets/images/panel_score.png", scorePanelTex);
+                    legacyLoad("assets/images/statistics_panel.png", statisticsPanelTex);
+                    legacyLoad("assets/images/next_panel.png", nextPanelTex);
+
+                    // If blocks texture failed, create fallback and count it as loaded
+                    if (!blocksTex) {
+                        blocksTex = SDL_CreateTexture(renderer, SDL_PIXELFORMAT_RGBA8888, SDL_TEXTUREACCESS_TARGET, 630, 90);
+                        SDL_SetRenderTarget(renderer, blocksTex);
+                        SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(renderer, 0, 0, 0, 0);
+                        SDL_RenderClear(renderer);
+                        for (int i = 0; i < PIECE_COUNT; ++i) {
+                            SDL_Color c = COLORS[i + 1];
+                            SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(renderer, c.r, c.g, c.b, c.a);
+                            SDL_FRect rect{(float)(i * 90), 0, 90, 90};
+                            SDL_RenderFillRect(renderer, &rect);
+                        }
+                        SDL_SetRenderTarget(renderer, nullptr);
+                        // Do not update global task counter here; textures are accounted
+                        // for via the LoadingManager/AssetLoader progress below.
+                    }
+
+                    // Mark loading complete when music also loaded
+                    if (musicLoaded) {
+                        g_loadingComplete.store(true);
+                    }
                 }
             }
             
@@ -1311,6 +1365,13 @@ int main(int, char **)
             const int totalTasks = g_totalLoadingTasks.load(std::memory_order_acquire);
             const int musicDone = std::min(totalTracks, currentTrackLoading);
             int doneTasks = g_loadedTasks.load(std::memory_order_acquire) + musicDone;
+            // Include texture progress reported by the LoadingManager/AssetLoader
+            if (queuedTextureCount > 0) {
+                float texProg = loadingManager.getProgress();
+                int texDone = static_cast<int>(std::floor(texProg * queuedTextureCount + 0.5f));
+                if (texDone > queuedTextureCount) texDone = queuedTextureCount;
+                doneTasks += texDone;
+            }
             if (doneTasks > totalTasks) doneTasks = totalTasks;
             if (totalTasks > 0) {
                 loadingProgress = std::min(1.0, double(doneTasks) / double(totalTasks));
@@ -1696,8 +1757,53 @@ int main(int, char **)
         }
         break;
         case AppState::Menu:
-            // Delegate full menu rendering to MenuState object now
-            menuState->render(renderer, logicalScale, logicalVP);
+            // Ensure overlay is loaded (drawn after highscores so it sits above that layer)
+            if (!mainScreenTex) {
+                mainScreenTex = loadTextureFromImage(renderer, "assets/images/main_screen.png", &mainScreenW, &mainScreenH);
+            }
+
+            // Render menu content that should appear *behind* the overlay (highscores/logo).
+            // Bottom buttons are drawn separately on top.
+            if (menuState) {
+                menuState->drawMainButtonNormally = false;
+                menuState->render(renderer, logicalScale, logicalVP);
+            }
+
+            // Draw main screen overlay above highscores
+            if (mainScreenTex) {
+                SDL_SetRenderViewport(renderer, nullptr);
+                SDL_SetRenderScale(renderer, 1.f, 1.f);
+                float texW = mainScreenW > 0 ? static_cast<float>(mainScreenW) : 0.0f;
+                float texH = mainScreenH > 0 ? static_cast<float>(mainScreenH) : 0.0f;
+                if (texW <= 0.0f || texH <= 0.0f) {
+                    float iwf = 0.0f, ihf = 0.0f;
+                    if (!SDL_GetTextureSize(mainScreenTex, &iwf, &ihf)) {
+                        iwf = ihf = 0.0f;
+                    }
+                    texW = iwf;
+                    texH = ihf;
+                }
+                if (texW > 0.0f && texH > 0.0f) {
+                    const float drawH = static_cast<float>(winH);
+                    const float scale = drawH / texH;
+                    const float drawW = texW * scale;
+                    SDL_FRect dst{
+                        (winW - drawW) * 0.5f,
+                        0.0f,
+                        drawW,
+                        drawH
+                    };
+                    SDL_SetTextureBlendMode(mainScreenTex, SDL_BLENDMODE_BLEND);
+                    SDL_RenderTexture(renderer, mainScreenTex, nullptr, &dst);
+                }
+                SDL_SetRenderViewport(renderer, &logicalVP);
+                SDL_SetRenderScale(renderer, logicalScale, logicalScale);
+            }
+
+            // Draw bottom menu buttons above the overlay
+            if (menuState) {
+                menuState->renderMainButtonTop(renderer, logicalScale, logicalVP);
+            }
             break;
         case AppState::Options:
             optionsState->render(renderer, logicalScale, logicalVP);
@@ -1924,43 +2030,6 @@ int main(int, char **)
             HelpOverlay::Render(renderer, pixelFont, LOGICAL_W, LOGICAL_H, contentOffsetX, contentOffsetY);
         }
 
-        // Top-layer overlay: render `mainScreenTex` above all other layers when in Menu
-        if (state == AppState::Menu && mainScreenTex) {
-            SDL_SetRenderViewport(renderer, nullptr);
-            SDL_SetRenderScale(renderer, 1.f, 1.f);
-            float texW = mainScreenW > 0 ? static_cast<float>(mainScreenW) : 0.0f;
-            float texH = mainScreenH > 0 ? static_cast<float>(mainScreenH) : 0.0f;
-            if (texW <= 0.0f || texH <= 0.0f) {
-                float iwf = 0.0f, ihf = 0.0f;
-                if (SDL_GetTextureSize(mainScreenTex, &iwf, &ihf) != 0) {
-                    iwf = ihf = 0.0f;
-                }
-                texW = iwf;
-                texH = ihf;
-            }
-            if (texW > 0.0f && texH > 0.0f) {
-                const float drawH = static_cast<float>(winH);
-                const float scale = drawH / texH;
-                const float drawW = texW * scale;
-                SDL_FRect dst{
-                    (winW - drawW) * 0.5f,
-                    0.0f,
-                    drawW,
-                    drawH
-                };
-                SDL_SetTextureBlendMode(mainScreenTex, SDL_BLENDMODE_BLEND);
-                SDL_RenderTexture(renderer, mainScreenTex, nullptr, &dst);
-            }
-            // Restore logical viewport/scale and draw the main PLAY button above the overlay
-            SDL_SetRenderViewport(renderer, &logicalVP);
-            SDL_SetRenderScale(renderer, logicalScale, logicalScale);
-            if (menuState) {
-                menuState->drawMainButtonNormally = false; // ensure it isn't double-drawn
-                menuState->renderMainButtonTop(renderer, logicalScale, logicalVP);
-                menuState->drawMainButtonNormally = true;
-            }
-        }
-
         SDL_RenderPresent(renderer);
         SDL_SetRenderScale(renderer, 1.f, 1.f);
     }
diff --git a/src/states/LoadingManager.cpp b/src/states/LoadingManager.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d87f9ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/states/LoadingManager.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+#include "states/LoadingManager.h"
+#include "app/AssetLoader.h"
+
+LoadingManager::LoadingManager(AssetLoader* loader)
+    : m_loader(loader)
+{
+}
+
+void LoadingManager::queueTexture(const std::string& path) {
+    if (!m_loader) return;
+    m_loader->queueTexture(path);
+}
+
+void LoadingManager::start() {
+    m_started = true;
+}
+
+bool LoadingManager::update() {
+    if (!m_loader) return true;
+    // perform a single step on the loader; AssetLoader::performStep returns true when
+    // there are no more queued tasks.
+    bool done = m_loader->performStep();
+    return done;
+}
+
+float LoadingManager::getProgress() const {
+    if (!m_loader) return 1.0f;
+    return m_loader->getProgress();
+}
+
+std::vector<std::string> LoadingManager::getAndClearErrors() {
+    if (!m_loader) return {};
+    return m_loader->getAndClearErrors();
+}
+
+std::string LoadingManager::getCurrentLoading() const {
+    if (!m_loader) return {};
+    return m_loader->getCurrentLoading();
+}
diff --git a/src/states/LoadingManager.h b/src/states/LoadingManager.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..94eb0bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/states/LoadingManager.h
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+#include <memory>
+
+class AssetLoader;
+
+// LoadingManager: thin facade over AssetLoader for incremental loading.
+// Main thread only. Call update() once per frame to perform a single step.
+class LoadingManager {
+public:
+    explicit LoadingManager(AssetLoader* loader);
+
+    // Queue a texture path (relative to base path) for loading.
+    void queueTexture(const std::string& path);
+
+    // Start loading (idempotent).
+    void start();
+
+    // Perform a single loading step. Returns true when loading complete.
+    bool update();
+
+    // Progress in [0,1]
+    float getProgress() const;
+
+    // Return and clear any accumulated loading errors.
+    std::vector<std::string> getAndClearErrors();
+
+    // Current path being loaded (or empty)
+    std::string getCurrentLoading() const;
+
+private:
+    AssetLoader* m_loader = nullptr;
+    bool m_started = false;
+};