diff --git a/assets/css/app.css b/assets/css/app.css
index dce23b9..f880f41 100644
--- a/assets/css/app.css
+++ b/assets/css/app.css
@@ -49,7 +49,32 @@ h1 {
   color: var(--text-color);
 }
 
-.game {
+a {
+  position: relative;
+  text-decoration: none;
+}
+
+/* Animate a solid underline sliding in and out on hover. */
+a::after {
+  content: '';
+  position: absolute;
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 0.075em;
+  bottom: 0.1em;
+  left: 0;
+  z-index: -1;
+  background-color: var(--text-color);
+  transform: scaleX(0);
+  transform-origin: bottom right;
+  transition: transform 0.25s ease-out;
+}
+
+a:hover::after {
+  transform: scaleX(1);
+  transform-origin: bottom left;
+}
+
+.cozy {
   padding: 8px;
   background-color: #fbcfe8;
   border-radius: 8px;
diff --git a/lib/twenty_fourty_eight/application.ex b/lib/twenty_fourty_eight/application.ex
index ff904d7..c9d7041 100644
--- a/lib/twenty_fourty_eight/application.ex
+++ b/lib/twenty_fourty_eight/application.ex
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ defmodule TwentyFourtyEight.Application do
     children = [
       TwentyFourtyEightWeb.Telemetry,
       TwentyFourtyEight.Repo,
-      {DNSCluster, query: Application.get_env(:twenty_fourty_eight, :dns_cluster_query) || :ignore},
+      {DNSCluster,
+       query: Application.get_env(:twenty_fourty_eight, :dns_cluster_query) || :ignore},
       {Phoenix.PubSub, name: TwentyFourtyEight.PubSub},
       # Start the Finch HTTP client for sending emails
       {Finch, name: TwentyFourtyEight.Finch},
diff --git a/lib/twenty_fourty_eight/game/game.ex b/lib/twenty_fourty_eight/game/game.ex
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..05d68f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/twenty_fourty_eight/game/game.ex
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+defmodule TwentyFourtyEight.Game.Game do
+  use Ecto.Schema
+  import Ecto.Changeset
+
+  alias TwentyFourtyEight.Repo
+
+  @slug_length 8
+  @slug_alphabet String.graphemes(
+                   "_-0123456789abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ"
+                 )
+
+  schema "game" do
+    field :num_rows, :integer, default: 6
+    field :num_cols, :integer, default: 6
+    field :starting_number, :integer, default: 2
+    field :turn_start_number, :integer, default: 1
+    field :winning_number, :integer, default: 2048
+    field :slug, :string
+    timestamps()
+  end
+
+  def changeset(attrs) do
+    %__MODULE__{}
+    |> cast(attrs, [:num_rows, :num_cols, :starting_number, :turn_start_number, :winning_number])
+    |> validate_inclusion(:num_rows, 1..6)
+    |> validate_inclusion(:num_cols, 1..6)
+    |> validate_inclusion(:starting_number, [1, 2, 4])
+    |> validate_inclusion(:turn_start_number, [1, 2, 4])
+    |> validate_inclusion(:winning_number, [1024, 2048])
+  end
+
+  def insert(changeset) do
+    changeset
+    |> cast(%{slug: generate_slug()}, [:slug])
+    |> unique_constraint(:slug)
+    |> Repo.insert()
+  end
+
+  def get_by_slug(slug) do
+    Repo.get_by(__MODULE__, slug: slug)
+  end
+
+  defp generate_slug() do
+    1..@slug_length
+    |> Enum.map_join("", fn _ -> Enum.random(@slug_alphabet) end)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/twenty_fourty_eight/game/manager.ex b/lib/twenty_fourty_eight/game/manager.ex
index cf3a354..3c9e780 100644
--- a/lib/twenty_fourty_eight/game/manager.ex
+++ b/lib/twenty_fourty_eight/game/manager.ex
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ defmodule TwentyFourtyEight.Game.Manager do
   @registry TwentyFourtyEight.Game.Registry
   @supervisor TwentyFourtyEight.Game.Supervisor
 
-  def get_game(name) when is_binary(name) do
+  def get_game(name, _state) when is_binary(name) do
     case Registry.lookup(@registry, name) do
       [{pid, _value}] -> {:ok, pid}
       [] -> DynamicSupervisor.start_child(@supervisor, {__MODULE__, name})
@@ -52,4 +52,4 @@ defmodule TwentyFourtyEight.Game.Manager do
   defp via_tuple(name) do
     {:via, Registry, {@registry, name}}
   end
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+end
diff --git a/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/components/core_components.ex b/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/components/core_components.ex
index 12e3649..7d9954c 100644
--- a/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/components/core_components.ex
+++ b/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/components/core_components.ex
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ defmodule TwentyFourtyEightWeb.CoreComponents do
   def simple_form(assigns) do
     ~H"""
     <.form :let={f} for={@for} as={@as} {@rest}>
-      <div class="mt-10 space-y-8 bg-white">
+      <div>
         <%= render_slot(@inner_block, f) %>
         <div :for={action <- @actions} class="mt-2 flex items-center justify-between gap-6">
           <%= render_slot(action, f) %>
diff --git a/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/components/layouts/root.html.heex b/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/components/layouts/root.html.heex
index aa00f2a..48a0d93 100644
--- a/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/components/layouts/root.html.heex
+++ b/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/components/layouts/root.html.heex
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
     </script>
   </head>
   <body>
-    <h1>Twenty Fourty Eight.</h1>
+    <h1><a href={~p"/"}>Twenty Fourty Eight</a>.</h1>
     <.flash_group flash={@flash} />
     <%= @inner_content %>
   </body>
diff --git a/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/game_controller.ex b/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/game_controller.ex
index 3875516..d8f3355 100644
--- a/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/game_controller.ex
+++ b/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/game_controller.ex
@@ -1,11 +1,19 @@
 defmodule TwentyFourtyEightWeb.GameController do
   use TwentyFourtyEightWeb, :controller
 
+  alias TwentyFourtyEight.Game.Game
+
   def new(conn, _params) do
-    render(conn, :new)
+    changeset = Game.changeset(%{})
+    render(conn, :new, changeset: changeset)
   end
 
-  def create(conn, _params) do
-    redirect(conn, to: ~p"/#{id}")
+  def create(conn, params) do
+    changeset = Game.changeset(params["game"])
+
+    case Game.insert(changeset) do
+      {:ok, game} -> redirect(conn, to: ~p"/#{game.slug}")
+      {:error, changeset} -> render(conn, :new, changeset: changeset)
+    end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/game_html.ex b/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/game_html.ex
index 25ec568..f2cc1be 100644
--- a/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/game_html.ex
+++ b/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/game_html.ex
@@ -1,5 +1,30 @@
 defmodule TwentyFourtyEightWeb.GameHTML do
   use TwentyFourtyEightWeb, :html
 
-  embed_templates "game_html/*"
+  def new(assigns) do
+    ~H"""
+    <div class="cozy">
+      <.simple_form :let={f} for={@changeset} action={~p"/"}>
+        <.input field={f[:num_rows]} type="select" options={1..6} label="Number of rows" />
+        <.input field={f[:num_cols]} type="select" options={1..6} label="Number of columns" />
+        <.input field={f[:starting_number]} type="select" options={[1, 2, 4]} label="First number" />
+        <.input
+          field={f[:turn_start_number]}
+          type="select"
+          options={[1, 2, 4]}
+          label="Number added at each turn"
+        />
+        <.input
+          field={f[:winning_number]}
+          type="select"
+          options={[1024, 2048]}
+          label="Number required to win"
+        />
+        <:actions>
+          <.button>Start game</.button>
+        </:actions>
+      </.simple_form>
+    </div>
+    """
+  end
 end
diff --git a/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/game_html/new.html.heex b/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/game_html/new.html.heex
deleted file mode 100644
index 3558e9a..0000000
--- a/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/game_html/new.html.heex
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Yo!
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/live/game_live.ex b/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/live/game_live.ex
index 8d9c165..6b35740 100644
--- a/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/live/game_live.ex
+++ b/lib/twenty_fourty_eight_web/live/game_live.ex
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 defmodule TwentyFourtyEightWeb.GameLive do
   use TwentyFourtyEightWeb, :live_view
 
+  alias TwentyFourtyEight.Game.Game
   alias TwentyFourtyEight.Game.Manager, as: GameManager
 
   # Support arrows keys as well as hjkl (Vim) and wasd (gaming).
@@ -12,7 +13,7 @@ defmodule TwentyFourtyEightWeb.GameLive do
 
   def render(assigns) do
     ~H"""
-    <div class="game">
+    <div class="cozy">
       <div class="stats">
         <div><b>Name</b> <code><%= @name %></code></div>
         <div><b>Score</b> <%= @score %></div>
@@ -25,42 +26,37 @@ defmodule TwentyFourtyEightWeb.GameLive do
   end
 
   def mount(%{"name" => name} = _params, _session, socket) do
-    {:ok, pid} = GameManager.get_game(name)
-    # This will kill the game when the LV dies, e.g. after the initial GET
-    # request (before the socket has connected).
-    # Process.link(pid)
-
-    socket = socket
-    |> assign_game(name)
-    {:ok, socket}
-  end
+    case Game.get_by_slug(name) do
+      nil ->
+        {:ok,
+         socket
+         |> put_flash(:error, "Could not find game with ID #{name}.")
+         |> redirect(to: ~p"/")}
+
+      game ->
+        # TODO change game to die after no interaction (or put similar logic in the manager?)
+        {:ok, _pid} = GameManager.get_game(name, game)
 
-  def mount(_params, _session, socket) do
-    name = generate_name()
-    {:ok, push_navigate(socket, to: "/#{name}")}
+        {:ok, assign_game(socket, name)}
+    end
   end
 
   @doc """
   Handle known key events whilst the game is running.
   """
-  def handle_event("move", %{"key" => key}, %{assigns: %{name: name, state: :running}} = socket) when key in @known_keys do
+  def handle_event("move", %{"key" => key}, %{assigns: %{name: name, state: :running}} = socket)
+      when key in @known_keys do
     :ok = GameManager.tick(name, key_to_move(key))
     {:noreply, assign_game_state(socket, name)}
   end
 
-  def handle_event("move", params, socket), do: {:noreply, socket}
+  def handle_event("move", _params, socket), do: {:noreply, socket}
 
   defp key_to_move(up) when up in @up_keys, do: :up
   defp key_to_move(down) when down in @down_keys, do: :down
   defp key_to_move(left) when left in @left_keys, do: :left
   defp key_to_move(right) when right in @right_keys, do: :right
 
-  defp generate_name do
-    ?a..?z
-    |> Enum.take_random(6)
-    |> List.to_string()
-  end
-
   defp assign_game(socket, name) do
     socket
     |> assign(name: name)
@@ -70,6 +66,7 @@ defmodule TwentyFourtyEightWeb.GameLive do
   defp assign_game_state(socket, name) do
     game_state = GameManager.state(name)
     {%{cells: board, dimensions: {num_rows, num_cols}}, game_state} = Map.pop(game_state, :board)
+
     socket
     |> assign(num_rows: num_rows, num_cols: num_cols, board: board)
     |> assign(game_state)
@@ -81,16 +78,20 @@ defmodule TwentyFourtyEightWeb.GameLive do
 
   defp board(assigns) do
     ~H"""
-    <div class="board" style={"grid-template-columns: repeat(#{@num_cols}, 1fr);"} phx-window-keyup="move">
-      <%= for row <- 1..@num_rows do %>
-        <%= for col <- 1..@num_cols do %>
-          <.cell value={@cell_values[{row, col}]} />
-        <% end %>
-      <% end %>
+    <div
+      class="board"
+      style={"grid-template-columns: repeat(#{@num_cols}, 1fr);"}
+      phx-window-keyup="move"
+    >
+      <.cell :for={cell <- cell_indicies(@num_rows, @num_cols)} value={@cell_values[cell]} />
     </div>
     """
   end
 
+  defp cell_indicies(num_rows, num_cols) do
+    for row <- 1..num_rows, col <- 1..num_cols, do: {row, col}
+  end
+
   defp cell(assigns) do
     ~H"""
     <%= if is_nil(@value) do %>
@@ -100,4 +101,4 @@ defmodule TwentyFourtyEightWeb.GameLive do
     <% end %>
     """
   end
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+end
diff --git a/priv/repo/migrations/20231027172144_create_game_table.exs b/priv/repo/migrations/20231027172144_create_game_table.exs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a099825
--- /dev/null
+++ b/priv/repo/migrations/20231027172144_create_game_table.exs
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+defmodule TwentyFourtyEight.Repo.Migrations.CreateGameTable do
+  use Ecto.Migration
+
+  def change do
+    create table(:game) do
+      add :num_rows, :integer, default: 6, null: false
+      add :num_cols, :integer, default: 6, null: false
+      add :starting_number, :integer, default: 2, null: false
+      add :turn_start_number, :integer, default: 1, null: false
+      add :winning_number, :integer, default: 2048, null: false
+      add :score, :integer, default: 0, null: false
+      add :turns, :integer, default: 0, null: false
+      add :state, :string, default: "new", null: false
+      add :slug, :string, null: false
+      add :board, :json
+
+      timestamps()
+    end
+
+    create constraint(:game, "started_game_must_have_board",
+             check: "state = 'new' OR board IS NOT NULL",
+             comment: "Board must be non-null out of the new state."
+           )
+
+    create unique_index(:game, [:slug])
+  end
+end
diff --git a/test/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/error_html_test.exs b/test/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/error_html_test.exs
index 06e43bc..ab69462 100644
--- a/test/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/error_html_test.exs
+++ b/test/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/error_html_test.exs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ defmodule TwentyFourtyEightWeb.ErrorHTMLTest do
   end
 
   test "renders 500.html" do
-    assert render_to_string(TwentyFourtyEightWeb.ErrorHTML, "500", "html", []) == "Internal Server Error"
+    assert render_to_string(TwentyFourtyEightWeb.ErrorHTML, "500", "html", []) ==
+             "Internal Server Error"
   end
 end
diff --git a/test/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/error_json_test.exs b/test/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/error_json_test.exs
index 87afb79..130a55b 100644
--- a/test/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/error_json_test.exs
+++ b/test/twenty_fourty_eight_web/controllers/error_json_test.exs
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ defmodule TwentyFourtyEightWeb.ErrorJSONTest do
   use TwentyFourtyEightWeb.ConnCase, async: true
 
   test "renders 404" do
-    assert TwentyFourtyEightWeb.ErrorJSON.render("404.json", %{}) == %{errors: %{detail: "Not Found"}}
+    assert TwentyFourtyEightWeb.ErrorJSON.render("404.json", %{}) == %{
+             errors: %{detail: "Not Found"}
+           }
   end
 
   test "renders 500" do