diff --git a/client/components/dimension.ts b/client/components/dimension.ts
index 9a6a9b6..18ef69c 100644
--- a/client/components/dimension.ts
+++ b/client/components/dimension.ts
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 import { Component } from "$/common/ecs/mod.ts";
 import { EverythingRegistry, TileRegistry } from "$/common/everything_registry.ts";
+import { Faces } from "../../common/constants.ts";
 import { AssetManager } from "../assets.ts";
-import { ClientWorld } from "../client_world.ts";
 import { generate_chunk } from "../generation.ts";
 import { gl, Texture } from "../renderer/mod.ts";
+import { Camera } from "./camera.ts";
 
 export interface Block<T = unknown> {
 	x: number;
@@ -21,13 +22,11 @@ export const CHUNK_AREA = CHUNK_SIZE * CHUNK_SIZE;
 export interface Chunk {
 	x: number;
 	z: number;
-	blocks: Int32Array;
+	blocks: Int16Array;
 	generated: boolean;
 	dirty: boolean;
-	vertexBuffer?: WebGLBuffer;
-	vertexCount?: number;
-	vertexTransparentBuffer?: WebGLBuffer;
-	vertexTransparentCount?: number;
+	vertex_buffer?: WebGLBuffer;
+	vertex_count?: number;
 }
 
 export class Dimension extends Component {
@@ -37,15 +36,19 @@ export class Dimension extends Component {
 	tick_timer = 0;
 
 	add_chunk(x: number, z: number) {
-		const chunk = { x, z, blocks: new Int32Array(CHUNK_AREA * CHUNK_HEIGHT), dirty: true, generated: false };
+		const chunk = { x, z, blocks: new Int16Array(CHUNK_AREA * CHUNK_HEIGHT), dirty: true, generated: false };
 		this.chunks.push(chunk);
 		return chunk;
 	}
 
+	get_chunk(x: number, z: number) {
+		return this.chunks.find((chunk) => chunk.x === x && chunk.z === z);
+	}
+
 	add_block(block: Block) {
 		const block_chunk_x = Math.floor(block.x / CHUNK_SIZE);
 		const block_chunk_z = Math.floor(block.z / CHUNK_SIZE);
-		let chunk = this.chunks.find((chunk) => chunk.x === block_chunk_x && chunk.z === block_chunk_z);
+		let chunk = this.get_chunk(block_chunk_x, block_chunk_z);
 		if (!chunk) {
 			chunk = this.add_chunk(block_chunk_x, block_chunk_z);
 		}
@@ -59,6 +62,7 @@ export class Dimension extends Component {
 		const index = ly * CHUNK_SIZE * CHUNK_SIZE + lz * CHUNK_SIZE + lx;
 
 		chunk.blocks[index] = nid;
+		chunk.dirty = true;
 		if (block_info?.on_create) {
 			block_info?.on_create(this, block);
 		}
@@ -68,9 +72,7 @@ export class Dimension extends Component {
 		const chunk_x = Math.floor(x / CHUNK_SIZE);
 		const chunk_z = Math.floor(z / CHUNK_SIZE);
 
-		const chunk = this.chunks.find(
-			(c) => c.x === chunk_x && c.z === chunk_z,
-		);
+		const chunk = this.get_chunk(chunk_x, chunk_z);
 
 		if (!chunk) {
 			return -1;
@@ -85,15 +87,49 @@ export class Dimension extends Component {
 		return chunk.blocks[index];
 	}
 
-	delete_tile(_world: ClientWorld, _block: Block) {
-		// const index = this.blocks.indexOf(tile);
-		// if (index !== -1) {
-		// 	this.blocks.splice(index, 1);
-		// }
+	break_block(x: number, y: number, z: number) {
+		const block_chunk_x = Math.floor(x / CHUNK_SIZE);
+		const block_chunk_z = Math.floor(z / CHUNK_SIZE);
+		let chunk = this.get_chunk(block_chunk_x, block_chunk_z);
+		if (!chunk) {
+			chunk = this.add_chunk(block_chunk_x, block_chunk_z);
+		}
 
-		// const tile_info = EverythingRegistry.get<TileRegistry>("blocks", tile.id);
-		// if (tile_info?.on_delete) {
-		// 	tile_info?.on_delete(world, tile);
+		// const [nid, block_info] = EverythingRegistry.get_full<TileRegistry>("blocks", block.id)!;
+
+		const lx = x - block_chunk_x * CHUNK_SIZE;
+		const lz = z - block_chunk_z * CHUNK_SIZE;
+		const ly = y;
+
+		const index = ly * CHUNK_SIZE * CHUNK_SIZE + lz * CHUNK_SIZE + lx;
+		chunk.blocks[index] = 0;
+		chunk.dirty = true;
+
+		if (lx === 0) {
+			const n = this.get_chunk(block_chunk_x - 1, block_chunk_z);
+			if (n) {
+				n.dirty = true;
+			}
+		} else if (lx === CHUNK_SIZE - 1) {
+			const n = this.get_chunk(block_chunk_x + 1, block_chunk_z);
+			if (n) {
+				n.dirty = true;
+			}
+		}
+		if (lz === 0) {
+			const n = this.get_chunk(block_chunk_x, block_chunk_z - 1);
+			if (n) {
+				n.dirty = true;
+			}
+		} else if (lz === CHUNK_SIZE - 1) {
+			const n = this.get_chunk(block_chunk_x, block_chunk_z + 1);
+			if (n) {
+				n.dirty = true;
+			}
+		}
+
+		// if (block_info?.on_create) {
+		// 	block_info?.on_create(this, block);
 		// }
 	}
 
@@ -109,7 +145,7 @@ export class Dimension extends Component {
 
 	load_chunk(cx: number, cz: number) {
 		generate_chunk(this, cx, cz);
-		const chunk = this.chunks.find((c) => c.x === cx && c.z === cz);
+		const chunk = this.get_chunk(cx, cz);
 		if (chunk) {
 			chunk.generated = true;
 			chunk.dirty = true;
@@ -133,7 +169,7 @@ export class Dimension extends Component {
 	unload_chunk(cx: number, cz: number) {
 		const chunk_i = this.chunks.findIndex((c) => c.x === cx && c.z === cz);
 		if (chunk_i === -1) {
-			console.warn("Tried unloading a chunk that doesn't exist dumbass");
+			console.warn("Tried unloading a chunk that doesn't exist");
 			return;
 		}
 
@@ -142,11 +178,76 @@ export class Dimension extends Component {
 	}
 
 	delete_chunk_mesh(chunk: Chunk) {
-		if (chunk.vertexBuffer) {
-			gl.deleteBuffer(chunk.vertexBuffer);
-		}
-		if (chunk.vertexTransparentBuffer) {
-			gl.deleteBuffer(chunk.vertexTransparentBuffer);
+		if (chunk.vertex_buffer) {
+			gl.deleteBuffer(chunk.vertex_buffer);
 		}
 	}
+
+	get_looked_block(
+		dimension: Dimension,
+		camera: Camera,
+		max_distance = 6,
+		step = 0.05,
+	): { x: number; y: number; z: number; block: number; face: Faces } | undefined {
+		const yaw = camera.yaw;
+		const pitch = camera.pitch;
+
+		const cos_pitch = Math.cos(pitch);
+		const dx = -Math.sin(yaw) * cos_pitch;
+		const dy = Math.sin(pitch);
+		const dz = -Math.cos(yaw) * cos_pitch;
+
+		let x = camera.x;
+		let y = camera.y;
+		let z = camera.z;
+
+		let prev_bx = Math.floor(x);
+		let prev_by = Math.floor(y);
+		let prev_bz = Math.floor(z);
+
+		let dist = 0;
+
+		while (dist <= max_distance) {
+			x += dx * step;
+			y += dy * step;
+			z += dz * step;
+			dist += step;
+
+			const bx = Math.floor(x);
+			const by = Math.floor(y);
+			const bz = Math.floor(z);
+
+			if (bx === prev_bx && by === prev_by && bz === prev_bz) {
+				continue;
+			}
+
+			const block = dimension.get_block(bx, by, bz);
+
+			if (block && block !== 0) {
+				let face: Faces;
+
+				if (bx > prev_bx) {
+					face = "west";
+				} else if (bx < prev_bx) {
+					face = "east";
+				} else if (by > prev_by) {
+					face = "bottom";
+				} else if (by < prev_by) {
+					face = "top";
+				} else if (bz > prev_bz) {
+					face = "north";
+				} else {
+					face = "south";
+				}
+
+				return { x: bx, y: by, z: bz, face, block };
+			}
+
+			prev_bx = bx;
+			prev_by = by;
+			prev_bz = bz;
+		}
+
+		return undefined;
+	}
 }
diff --git a/client/renderer/models.ts b/client/renderer/models.ts
index 969c168..4214fe1 100644
--- a/client/renderer/models.ts
+++ b/client/renderer/models.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { Texture } from "./types.ts";
 
 export function push_cube_to_mesh(
-	vertices: number[],
+	vertices: Float32Array,
 	vertex_count: number,
 	texture: Texture,
 	x: number,
diff --git a/client/systems/player_controls.ts b/client/systems/player_controls.ts
index 6a878d9..9c11b7d 100644
--- a/client/systems/player_controls.ts
+++ b/client/systems/player_controls.ts
@@ -94,6 +94,29 @@ export class PlayerControlsSystem extends System {
 
 		InputManager.set_mouse_grabbed(player_component.screens.length === 0);
 
+		const block = world.dimension.get_looked_block(world.dimension, camera);
+		if (block) {
+			if (InputManager.is_mouse_pressed(0)) {
+				world.dimension.break_block(block.x, block.y, block.z);
+			} else if (InputManager.is_mouse_pressed(2)) {
+				const FACE_OFFSETS = {
+					top: { x: 0, y: 1, z: 0 },
+					bottom: { x: 0, y: -1, z: 0 },
+					north: { x: 0, y: 0, z: -1 },
+					south: { x: 0, y: 0, z: 1 },
+					west: { x: -1, y: 0, z: 0 },
+					east: { x: 1, y: 0, z: 0 },
+				};
+				const offset = FACE_OFFSETS[block.face];
+				world.dimension.add_block({
+					x: block.x + offset.x,
+					y: block.y + offset.y,
+					z: block.z + offset.z,
+					id: "bworld:dirt",
+				});
+			}
+		}
+
 		if (player_component.screens.length === 0) {
 			const player_inventory = player_component.player_inventory;
 			const scroll = InputManager.get_wheel_delta();
diff --git a/client/systems/render_system.ts b/client/systems/render_system.ts
index 6d8d38f..60c4856 100644
--- a/client/systems/render_system.ts
+++ b/client/systems/render_system.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { Camera } from "$/client/components/camera.ts";
 
 import { render_animated_sprite, render_sprite } from "./rendering/sprites.ts";
 import { render_dimension } from "./rendering/dimension.ts";
-import { render_player_hotbar } from "./rendering/player.ts";
+import { render_player_crosshair, render_player_hotbar } from "./rendering/player.ts";
 import { PlayerComponent } from "../player.ts";
 import { begin_mode_3d, end_mode_3d } from "../renderer/core.ts";
 
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ export class RenderSystem extends System {
 			const player_component = entity.get(PlayerComponent);
 			if (player_component) {
 				render_player_hotbar(player_component.player_inventory);
+				render_player_crosshair();
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/client/systems/rendering/dimension.ts b/client/systems/rendering/dimension.ts
index ecddf73..30d5b16 100644
--- a/client/systems/rendering/dimension.ts
+++ b/client/systems/rendering/dimension.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import { distance_point_point, get_sprite_region } from "$/common/utils.ts";
-import { Chunk, CHUNK_SIZE, Dimension } from "$/client/components/dimension.ts";
+import { get_sprite_region } from "$/common/utils.ts";
+import { Chunk, CHUNK_AREA, CHUNK_SIZE, Dimension } from "$/client/components/dimension.ts";
 import { TEXTURE_SIZE } from "$/common/constants.ts";
 import { EverythingRegistry, TileRegistry } from "$/common/everything_registry.ts";
 import { flush_buffer, gl, push_cube_to_mesh, set_current_texture } from "$/client/renderer/mod.ts";
@@ -12,52 +12,43 @@ export function render_dimension(dimension: Dimension, camera: Camera) {
 			dimension.delete_chunk_mesh(chunk);
 			chunk.dirty = false;
 			make_chunk_mesh(chunk, dimension, camera);
+			// only generate one mesh per frame
+			break;
 		}
-		render_chunk_opaque(chunk);
 	}
-	gl.enable(gl.BLEND);
-	gl.blendFunc(gl.SRC_ALPHA, gl.ONE_MINUS_SRC_ALPHA);
-	gl.depthMask(false);
 	for (const chunk of dimension.chunks) {
-		render_chunk_transparent(chunk);
+		render_chunk_opaque(chunk);
 	}
 }
 
 function render_chunk_opaque(chunk: Chunk) {
-	if (!chunk.vertexBuffer || !chunk.vertexCount) {
+	if (!chunk.vertex_buffer || !chunk.vertex_count) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	flush_buffer(chunk.vertexBuffer, chunk.vertexCount);
-}
-
-function render_chunk_transparent(chunk: Chunk) {
-	if (!chunk.vertexTransparentBuffer || !chunk.vertexTransparentCount) {
-		return;
-	}
-
-	flush_buffer(chunk.vertexTransparentBuffer, chunk.vertexTransparentCount);
+	flush_buffer(chunk.vertex_buffer, chunk.vertex_count);
 }
 
 function make_chunk_mesh(chunk: Chunk, dimension: Dimension, camera: Camera) {
-	const vertices: number[] = [];
-	const transparent_vertices: number[] = [];
+	let vertices = new Float32Array(CHUNK_AREA * 24 * 6 * 9);
 	let count = 0;
-	let transparent_count = 0;
-	const transparent_blocks: [
-		number,
-		number,
-		number,
-		number,
-		number,
-		boolean,
-		boolean,
-		boolean,
-		boolean,
-		boolean,
-		boolean,
-	][] = [];
 	const blocks_registry = EverythingRegistry.get_registry<TileRegistry>("blocks");
+
+	const show_face = (x: number, y: number, z: number) => {
+		const block = dimension.get_block(x, y, z);
+		if (block === -1) {
+			return false;
+		}
+		if (block === 0) {
+			return true;
+		}
+		const block_info = blocks_registry[block];
+		if (block_info?.transparent) {
+			return true;
+		}
+		return false;
+	};
+
 	for (let i = 0; i < chunk.blocks.length; i += 1) {
 		const block_nid = chunk.blocks[i];
 		if (block_nid === 0) {
@@ -80,20 +71,6 @@ function make_chunk_mesh(chunk: Chunk, dimension: Dimension, camera: Camera) {
 		const wx = chunk.x * CHUNK_SIZE + x;
 		const wz = chunk.z * CHUNK_SIZE + z;
 
-		const show_face = (x: number, y: number, z: number) => {
-			const block = dimension.get_block(x, y, z);
-			if (block === -1) {
-				return false;
-			}
-			if (block === 0) {
-				return true;
-			}
-			const block_info = blocks_registry[block];
-			if (block_info?.transparent) {
-				return true;
-			}
-			return false;
-		};
 		const front = show_face(wx, y, wz + 1);
 		const back = show_face(wx, y, wz - 1);
 		const left = show_face(wx - 1, y, wz);
@@ -103,101 +80,57 @@ function make_chunk_mesh(chunk: Chunk, dimension: Dimension, camera: Camera) {
 
 		const region = get_sprite_region(texture_id);
 
-		if (tile_info.transparent) {
-			transparent_blocks.push([
-				wx,
-				y,
-				wz,
-				region.x * TEXTURE_SIZE,
-				region.y * TEXTURE_SIZE,
-				front,
-				back,
-				left,
-				right,
-				top,
-				bottom,
-			]);
-		} else {
-			count = push_cube_to_mesh(
-				vertices,
-				count,
-				dimension.image,
-				wx,
-				y,
-				wz,
-				1,
-				1,
-				1,
-				region.x * TEXTURE_SIZE,
-				region.y * TEXTURE_SIZE,
-				TEXTURE_SIZE,
-				TEXTURE_SIZE,
-				1,
-				1,
-				1,
-				1,
-				front,
-				back,
-				left,
-				right,
-				top,
-				bottom,
-			);
-		}
-	}
-
-	transparent_blocks.sort((a, b) => {
-		const da = distance_point_point(a[0], a[1], a[2], camera.x, camera.y, camera.z);
-		const db = distance_point_point(b[0], b[1], b[2], camera.x, camera.y, camera.z);
-
-		return da - db;
-	});
-
-	for (const block of transparent_blocks) {
-		transparent_count = push_cube_to_mesh(
-			transparent_vertices,
-			transparent_count,
+		vertices = ensure_capacity(vertices, count + (6 * 6 * 9));
+		count = push_cube_to_mesh(
+			vertices,
+			count,
 			dimension.image,
-			block[0],
-			block[1],
-			block[2],
+			wx,
+			y,
+			wz,
 			1,
 			1,
 			1,
-			block[3],
-			block[4],
+			region.x * TEXTURE_SIZE,
+			region.y * TEXTURE_SIZE,
 			TEXTURE_SIZE,
 			TEXTURE_SIZE,
 			1,
 			1,
 			1,
 			1,
-			block[5],
-			block[6],
-			block[7],
-			block[8],
-			block[9],
-			block[10],
+			front,
+			back,
+			left,
+			right,
+			top,
+			bottom,
 		);
 	}
 
-	chunk.vertexBuffer = gl.createBuffer();
-	chunk.vertexCount = count / 9;
+	chunk.vertex_buffer = gl.createBuffer();
+	chunk.vertex_count = count / 9;
 
-	gl.bindBuffer(gl.ARRAY_BUFFER, chunk.vertexBuffer);
+	gl.bindBuffer(gl.ARRAY_BUFFER, chunk.vertex_buffer);
 	gl.bufferData(
 		gl.ARRAY_BUFFER,
-		new Float32Array(vertices),
-		gl.STATIC_DRAW,
-	);
-
-	chunk.vertexTransparentBuffer = gl.createBuffer();
-	chunk.vertexTransparentCount = transparent_count / 9;
-
-	gl.bindBuffer(gl.ARRAY_BUFFER, chunk.vertexTransparentBuffer);
-	gl.bufferData(
-		gl.ARRAY_BUFFER,
-		new Float32Array(transparent_vertices),
+		vertices.subarray(0, count),
 		gl.STATIC_DRAW,
 	);
 }
+
+function ensure_capacity(
+	buffer: Float32Array<ArrayBuffer>,
+	required: number,
+) {
+	if (required <= buffer.length) return buffer;
+
+	let new_length = buffer.length;
+	while (new_length < required) {
+		new_length *= 2;
+	}
+
+	const new_buffer = new Float32Array(new_length);
+	new_buffer.set(buffer);
+	return new_buffer;
+}
diff --git a/client/systems/rendering/player.ts b/client/systems/rendering/player.ts
index 680b0e1..c797c27 100644
--- a/client/systems/rendering/player.ts
+++ b/client/systems/rendering/player.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { SLOT_SIZE } from "$/common/constants.ts";
 import { AssetManager } from "$/client/assets.ts";
 import { PlayerInventory } from "../../inventory.ts";
 import { draw_item, draw_nine_slice } from "./render_utils.ts";
-import { canvas, Texture } from "$/client/renderer/mod.ts";
+import { canvas, draw_rect_stroke, Texture } from "$/client/renderer/mod.ts";
 
 const PADDING = 10;
 
@@ -56,3 +56,14 @@ export function render_player_hotbar(player_inventory: PlayerInventory) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+export function render_player_crosshair() {
+	const CROSSHAIR_SIZE = 8;
+	draw_rect_stroke(
+		(canvas.width - CROSSHAIR_SIZE) / 2,
+		(canvas.height - CROSSHAIR_SIZE) / 2,
+		CROSSHAIR_SIZE,
+		CROSSHAIR_SIZE,
+		[0, 0, 0, 0.6],
+	);
+}
diff --git a/client/systems/world_generation_system.ts b/client/systems/world_generation_system.ts
index 3c5ee65..8663c0d 100644
--- a/client/systems/world_generation_system.ts
+++ b/client/systems/world_generation_system.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ export class WorldGenerationSystem extends System {
 				if (!maybe_chunk || !maybe_chunk.generated) {
 					console.log("loading chunk", i, j);
 					dimension.load_chunk(i, j);
+					// only generate one chunk per frame
 					return;
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/common/constants.ts b/common/constants.ts
index 6027299..b9e1d14 100644
--- a/common/constants.ts
+++ b/common/constants.ts
@@ -10,3 +10,6 @@ export interface SpriteRegion {
 	x: number;
 	y: number;
 }
+
+export const faces = ["west", "east", "bottom", "top", "north", "south"] as const;
+export type Faces = typeof faces[number];