diff --git a/src/game/engine/scenes/menus/game_setup.gd b/src/game/engine/scenes/menus/game_setup.gd
index 37414cab..25c1aeca 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/scenes/menus/game_setup.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/scenes/menus/game_setup.gd
@@ -79,7 +79,13 @@ func _on_start_pressed() -> void:
 		"map_size": MAP_SIZE_IDS[map_size_idx],
 		"param_overrides": param_overrides,
 	}
+	GameState.initialize_game(settings)
 	game_started.emit(settings)
+	var main: Node = get_tree().root.get_node_or_null("Main")
+	if main != null and main.has_method("change_scene"):
+		main.change_scene("res://engine/scenes/menus/loading_screen.tscn")
+	else:
+		get_tree().change_scene_to_file("res://engine/scenes/menus/loading_screen.tscn")
 
 
 func _on_back_pressed() -> void: