diff --git a/MODS.md b/MODS.md
index f0f0049..3181be1 100644
--- a/MODS.md
+++ b/MODS.md
@@ -879,9 +879,10 @@ where the page came from:
 
 - **Page served by the game server** (the default): that server already chose every line of JavaScript on the page, so
   running its mods doesn't trust it any more than loading the page did.
-- **Page from one origin, game server on another** (`?server=`): mod code from that server runs with _the page's_
-  origin, including its local storage. The client shows the server's mod list and asks before loading anything, and
-  remembers the answer per server and mod hash. The server needs CORS headers on `build/mods/`.
+- **Page from one origin, game server on another** (a different server typed in the title screen, or `?server=`): mod
+  code from that server runs with _the page's_ origin, including its local storage. The client shows the server's mod
+  list and asks before loading anything, and remembers the answer per server and mod hash. The server needs CORS
+  headers on `build/mods/`.
 - The hash check confirms the files are the ones the server listed. It doesn't protect against a malicious server.
 
 **Server scripts.** They run in a worker with **no Deno permissions** (Deno worker permissions; currently needs
diff --git a/client/client.ts b/client/client.ts
index 4f17ed9..feb8e6d 100644
--- a/client/client.ts
+++ b/client/client.ts
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ import { GuiPlayerInventory } from "./gui/gui_player_inventory.ts";
 import { GuiChat } from "./gui/gui_chat.ts";
 import { InputManager } from "./input_manager.ts";
 import { Connection } from "./network.ts";
-import { canvas, resize_canvas } from "./renderer/mod.ts";
-import { show_fatal_error } from "./fatal.ts";
+import { PauseScreen } from "./gui/pause_screen.ts";
+import { back_to_title } from "./gui/title_screen.ts";
 import { TICK_DELTA } from "$/common/constants.ts";
 
 // after a long stall (a hidden tab, a debugger) the game skips ahead instead of running every missed tick at once
@@ -45,13 +45,12 @@ export class Client {
 	// whether the attack button is held on a block, breaking it advances every tick
 	#attacking = false;
 	#stopped = false;
+	// called once when the connection drops, with why
+	#on_disconnect: (message: string) => void;
 
-	constructor(connection: Connection) {
+	constructor(connection: Connection, on_disconnect: (message: string) => void) {
 		this.connection = connection;
-
-		self.addEventListener("resize", resize_canvas);
-		resize_canvas();
-		canvas.addEventListener("contextmenu", (event) => event.preventDefault());
+		this.#on_disconnect = on_disconnect;
 
 		this.level = new ClientLevel(connection.seed);
 		for (const [x, y, z, id, state] of connection.initial_changes) {
@@ -88,8 +87,24 @@ export class Client {
 		this.screens.pop()?.on_close();
 	}
 
+	// leaving on purpose, from the pause screen
+	disconnect() {
+		this.#stopped = true;
+		this.connection.close();
+		back_to_title();
+	}
+
+	#stop() {
+		this.#stopped = true;
+		this.level.dispose();
+		InputManager.set_mouse_grabbed(false);
+	}
+
 	// one frame: input, as many ticks as are due, then drawing between the last tick and the next
 	run_frame(delta: number) {
+		if (this.#stopped) {
+			return;
+		}
 		this.screen?.on_tick(delta);
 		this.#handle_keybinds();
 
@@ -114,8 +129,8 @@ export class Client {
 	tick() {
 		this.packet_listener.handle_packets();
 		if (this.connection.closed) {
-			show_fatal_error("Lost connection to the server");
-			this.#stopped = true;
+			this.#stop();
+			this.#on_disconnect("Lost connection to the server");
 			return;
 		}
 
@@ -144,8 +159,16 @@ export class Client {
 		if (InputManager.is_key_pressed(options.key_chat) && !this.screen) {
 			this.push_screen(new GuiChat(this));
 		}
+		// browsers eat the escape that lets go of the mouse, so losing the mouse pauses too
+		const lost_mouse = InputManager.take_lost_pointer_lock();
 		if (InputManager.is_key_pressed("Escape")) {
-			this.pop_screen();
+			if (this.screen) {
+				this.pop_screen();
+			} else {
+				this.push_screen(new PauseScreen(this));
+			}
+		} else if (lost_mouse && !this.screen) {
+			this.push_screen(new PauseScreen(this));
 		}
 		if (InputManager.is_key_pressed(options.key_debug)) {
 			this.debugging = !this.debugging;
diff --git a/client/gui/disconnected_screen.ts b/client/gui/disconnected_screen.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..65c72bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/gui/disconnected_screen.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+import { canvas, draw_rect, draw_text, measure_text } from "$/client/renderer/mod.ts";
+import { GuiScreen } from "./gui_screen.ts";
+import { back_to_title } from "./title_screen.ts";
+import { Button, TEXT_HEIGHT, TEXT_SCALE } from "./widgets.ts";
+
+const BUTTON_WIDTH = 440;
+const BUTTON_HEIGHT = 48;
+
+// why the game stopped, like minecraft's DisconnectedScreen
+export class DisconnectedScreen extends GuiScreen {
+	message: string;
+	back = new Button("Back to title screen", BUTTON_WIDTH, BUTTON_HEIGHT, back_to_title);
+
+	constructor(message: string) {
+		super();
+		this.message = message;
+	}
+
+	on_tick(_delta: number): void {
+		this.back.x = (canvas.width - BUTTON_WIDTH) / 2;
+		this.back.y = canvas.height / 2 + 20;
+		this.back.handle_input();
+	}
+
+	on_render(): void {
+		draw_rect(0, 0, canvas.width, canvas.height, [0, 0, 0, 0.6]);
+		this.#centered("Disconnected", canvas.height / 2 - 90, 4, [1, 1, 1, 1]);
+		this.#centered(this.message, canvas.height / 2 - 30, TEXT_SCALE, [0.85, 0.85, 0.85, 1]);
+		this.back.render();
+	}
+
+	on_close(): void {}
+
+	#centered(text: string, y: number, scale: number, color: number[]) {
+		draw_text(text, (canvas.width - measure_text(text, scale)) / 2, y - (TEXT_HEIGHT * scale) / 2, scale, color);
+	}
+}
diff --git a/client/gui/gui_chat.ts b/client/gui/gui_chat.ts
index 25a3f45..7878acf 100644
--- a/client/gui/gui_chat.ts
+++ b/client/gui/gui_chat.ts
@@ -1,16 +1,13 @@
 import { GuiScreen } from "./gui_screen.ts";
-import { canvas, draw_rect, draw_text, measure_text } from "$/client/renderer/mod.ts";
+import { canvas, draw_rect, draw_text } from "$/client/renderer/mod.ts";
 import { InputManager } from "../input_manager.ts";
 import type { Client } from "../client.ts";
 import { MAX_CHAT_LENGTH } from "$/common/protocol.ts";
+import { TextInput } from "./widgets.ts";
 
 export class GuiChat extends GuiScreen {
 	client: Client;
-
-	text_typed = "";
-	caret = 0;
-	key_repeat_timer = 0;
-	show_caret = true;
+	input = new TextInput("", MAX_CHAT_LENGTH);
 
 	constructor(client: Client) {
 		super();
@@ -24,87 +21,24 @@ export class GuiChat extends GuiScreen {
 		this.client.chat.render(true, y - 8);
 		draw_rect(0, y, canvas.width, canvas.height, [0, 0, 0, 0.4]);
 
-		draw_text(this.text_typed, 0, y, 2, [1, 1, 1]);
-
-		if (this.show_caret) {
-			const before_text = this.text_typed.substring(0, this.caret);
-			const caret_x = 0 + measure_text(before_text, 2);
-
-			draw_rect(caret_x, y + 4, 1, 32 - 4);
-		}
+		draw_text(this.input.value, 0, y, 2, [1, 1, 1]);
+		draw_rect(this.input.caret_x(0, 2), y + 4, 1, 32 - 4);
 	}
 
 	override on_tick(_delta: number): void {
-		const now = performance.now();
-		const repeat_delay = 400;
-		const repeat_rate = 40;
-
-		const allow_repeat = () => {
-			if (InputManager.is_key_pressed("Backspace")) {
-				this.key_repeat_timer = now;
-				return true;
-			}
-
-			if (InputManager.is_key_down("Backspace")) {
-				if (now - this.key_repeat_timer > repeat_delay) {
-					this.key_repeat_timer = now - (repeat_delay - repeat_rate);
-					return true;
-				}
-			}
-
-			return false;
-		};
-
-		if (allow_repeat()) {
-			if (this.caret > 0) {
-				this.text_typed = this.text_typed.slice(0, this.caret - 1) + this.text_typed.slice(this.caret);
-				this.caret -= 1;
-			}
-		}
-
-		if (InputManager.is_key_pressed("Delete")) {
-			this.text_typed = this.text_typed.slice(0, this.caret) + this.text_typed.slice(this.caret + 1);
-		}
-
-		if (InputManager.is_key_pressed("ArrowLeft")) {
-			this.caret = Math.max(0, this.caret - 1);
-		}
-
-		if (InputManager.is_key_pressed("ArrowRight")) {
-			this.caret = Math.min(this.text_typed.length, this.caret + 1);
-		}
-
-		if (InputManager.is_key_pressed("Home")) {
-			this.caret = 0;
-		}
-
-		if (InputManager.is_key_pressed("End")) {
-			this.caret = this.text_typed.length;
-		}
-
-		const typed = InputManager.get_typed_characters();
-
-		for (const char of typed) {
-			if (this.text_typed.length >= MAX_CHAT_LENGTH) {
-				break;
-			}
-			this.text_typed = this.text_typed.slice(0, this.caret) + char + this.text_typed.slice(this.caret);
-			this.caret += 1;
-		}
-
+		this.input.handle_keys();
 		if (InputManager.is_key_pressed("Enter")) {
 			this.submit();
 		}
 	}
+
 	override on_close(): void {}
 
 	submit() {
 		// commands like /give run on the server too
-		if (this.text_typed.trim().length > 0) {
-			this.client.connection.send({ type: "chat", text: this.text_typed });
+		if (this.input.value.trim().length > 0) {
+			this.client.connection.send({ type: "chat", text: this.input.value });
 		}
-		this.text_typed = "";
-
 		this.client.pop_screen();
 	}
 }
diff --git a/client/gui/pause_screen.ts b/client/gui/pause_screen.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b39cc5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/gui/pause_screen.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+import type { Client } from "$/client/client.ts";
+import { canvas, draw_rect, draw_text, measure_text } from "$/client/renderer/mod.ts";
+import { GuiScreen } from "./gui_screen.ts";
+import { Button, TEXT_HEIGHT } from "./widgets.ts";
+
+const BUTTON_WIDTH = 440;
+const BUTTON_HEIGHT = 48;
+const GAP = 16;
+
+// escape while playing, like minecraft's PauseScreen. the server keeps going, it's only a menu
+export class PauseScreen extends GuiScreen {
+	buttons: Button[];
+
+	constructor(client: Client) {
+		super();
+		this.buttons = [
+			new Button("Back to game", BUTTON_WIDTH, BUTTON_HEIGHT, () => client.pop_screen()),
+			new Button("Disconnect", BUTTON_WIDTH, BUTTON_HEIGHT, () => client.disconnect()),
+		];
+	}
+
+	on_tick(_delta: number): void {
+		let y = canvas.height / 2 - BUTTON_HEIGHT;
+		for (const button of this.buttons) {
+			button.x = (canvas.width - BUTTON_WIDTH) / 2;
+			button.y = y;
+			y += BUTTON_HEIGHT + GAP;
+		}
+		for (const button of this.buttons) {
+			if (button.handle_input()) {
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	on_render(): void {
+		draw_rect(0, 0, canvas.width, canvas.height, [0, 0, 0, 0.5]);
+		const title = "Game menu";
+		draw_text(title, (canvas.width - measure_text(title, 4)) / 2, this.buttons[0].y - 40 - TEXT_HEIGHT * 4, 4);
+		for (const button of this.buttons) {
+			button.render();
+		}
+	}
+
+	on_close(): void {}
+}
diff --git a/client/gui/title_screen.ts b/client/gui/title_screen.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a411622
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/gui/title_screen.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,181 @@
+import { MAX_NAME_LENGTH } from "$/common/protocol.ts";
+import { InputManager } from "$/client/input_manager.ts";
+import { canvas, draw_rect, draw_text, measure_text } from "$/client/renderer/mod.ts";
+import { default_server, HandshakeError, server_address, ServerAddress } from "$/client/handshake.ts";
+import { default_player_name } from "$/client/network.ts";
+import { GuiScreen } from "./gui_screen.ts";
+import { Button, EditBox, TEXT_HEIGHT, TEXT_SCALE, TextInput } from "./widgets.ts";
+
+const LAST_SERVER_KEY = "bworld:last_server";
+const LAST_NAME_KEY = "bworld:last_name";
+
+const WIDTH = 440;
+const ROW_HEIGHT = 48;
+const LABEL_GAP = 28;
+const GAP = 20;
+const TITLE_SCALE = 8;
+
+// connects to a server and joins it. it reports progress through status, and throws with a message
+// for the player when it fails
+export type JoinServer = (address: ServerAddress, name: string, status: (text: string) => void) => Promise<void>;
+
+// the first thing players see, like minecraft's title and multiplayer screens rolled into one:
+// a name, a server, and a button to join it
+export class TitleScreen extends GuiScreen {
+	#join_server: JoinServer;
+
+	name = new EditBox(
+		WIDTH,
+		ROW_HEIGHT,
+		new TextInput(initial_name(), MAX_NAME_LENGTH, (char) => /^[A-Za-z0-9_]$/.test(char)),
+		"Random name",
+	);
+	server = new EditBox(WIDTH, ROW_HEIGHT, new TextInput(initial_server(), 256, (char) => char !== " "), "host:port");
+	join_button = new Button("Join server", WIDTH, ROW_HEIGHT, () => this.#join());
+
+	status = "";
+	status_is_error = false;
+	#joining = false;
+
+	constructor(join_server: JoinServer, message?: string) {
+		super();
+		this.#join_server = join_server;
+		this.name.focused = this.name.value === "";
+		this.server.focused = !this.name.focused;
+		if (message) {
+			this.#show_error(message);
+		}
+	}
+
+	on_tick(_delta: number): void {
+		this.#layout();
+
+		const fields = [this.name, this.server];
+		for (const field of fields) {
+			if (field.handle_input()) {
+				for (const other of fields) other.focused = other === field;
+			}
+		}
+		if (InputManager.is_key_pressed("Tab")) {
+			const next = this.name.focused ? this.server : this.name;
+			for (const field of fields) field.focused = field === next;
+		}
+		if (InputManager.is_key_pressed("Enter")) {
+			this.#join();
+		}
+		this.join_button.handle_input();
+	}
+
+	on_render(): void {
+		const title = "bworld";
+		const title_width = measure_text(title, TITLE_SCALE);
+		draw_text(
+			title,
+			(canvas.width - title_width) / 2,
+			this.name.y - LABEL_GAP - 40 - TEXT_HEIGHT * TITLE_SCALE,
+			TITLE_SCALE,
+		);
+
+		this.#label("Name", this.name);
+		this.#label("Server", this.server);
+		this.name.render();
+		this.server.render();
+		this.join_button.render();
+
+		if (this.status) {
+			const width = measure_text(this.status, TEXT_SCALE);
+			const x = (canvas.width - width) / 2;
+			const y = this.join_button.y + ROW_HEIGHT + GAP;
+			draw_rect(x - 8, y - 4, width + 16, TEXT_HEIGHT * TEXT_SCALE + 8, [0, 0, 0, 0.5]);
+			draw_text(this.status, x, y, TEXT_SCALE, this.status_is_error ? [1, 0.45, 0.45, 1] : [1, 1, 1, 1]);
+		}
+	}
+
+	on_close(): void {}
+
+	#layout() {
+		const x = (canvas.width - WIDTH) / 2;
+		const total = 2 * (LABEL_GAP + ROW_HEIGHT + GAP) + ROW_HEIGHT;
+		let y = (canvas.height - total) / 2 + 40;
+		for (const field of [this.name, this.server]) {
+			field.x = x;
+			field.y = y + LABEL_GAP;
+			y += LABEL_GAP + ROW_HEIGHT + GAP;
+		}
+		this.join_button.x = x;
+		this.join_button.y = y;
+	}
+
+	#label(text: string, field: EditBox) {
+		draw_text(text, field.x, field.y - LABEL_GAP, TEXT_SCALE, [0.15, 0.15, 0.2, 1]);
+	}
+
+	async #join() {
+		if (this.#joining) {
+			return;
+		}
+
+		let address: ServerAddress;
+		try {
+			address = server_address(this.server.value);
+		} catch (e) {
+			this.#show_error((e as HandshakeError).message);
+			return;
+		}
+		remember(LAST_SERVER_KEY, this.server.value.trim());
+		remember(LAST_NAME_KEY, this.name.value);
+
+		this.#set_joining(true);
+		this.status = `Connecting to ${address.base.host}...`;
+		this.status_is_error = false;
+		try {
+			await this.#join_server(address, this.name.value, (text) => this.status = text);
+		} catch (e) {
+			this.#show_error(e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e));
+			this.#set_joining(false);
+		}
+	}
+
+	#set_joining(joining: boolean) {
+		this.#joining = joining;
+		this.name.active = this.server.active = this.join_button.active = !joining;
+	}
+
+	#show_error(message: string) {
+		this.status = message;
+		this.status_is_error = true;
+	}
+}
+
+// what was typed last time, unless the page was opened with ?server= or ?name=
+function initial_server() {
+	const page = new URL(location.href);
+	return page.searchParams.has("server") ? default_server(page) : recall(LAST_SERVER_KEY) ?? default_server(page);
+}
+
+function initial_name() {
+	const page = new URL(location.href);
+	return page.searchParams.has("name") ? default_player_name() : recall(LAST_NAME_KEY) ?? "";
+}
+
+function recall(key: string): string | undefined {
+	try {
+		return localStorage.getItem(key) ?? undefined;
+	} catch {
+		return undefined;
+	}
+}
+
+function remember(key: string, value: string) {
+	try {
+		localStorage.setItem(key, value);
+	} catch {
+		// private windows and blocked storage just start empty next time
+	}
+}
+
+// a server's mods can't be unloaded, so going back to the title screen starts the page over. without ?server=
+// or ?name=, so the fields show what was used last
+export function back_to_title() {
+	location.href = location.pathname;
+}
diff --git a/client/gui/widgets.ts b/client/gui/widgets.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1c6defd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/gui/widgets.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+import { point_inside_rec } from "$/common/utils.ts";
+import { AssetManager } from "$/client/assets.ts";
+import { InputManager } from "$/client/input_manager.ts";
+import { draw_nine_slice } from "$/client/rendering/render_utils.ts";
+import { draw_rect, draw_text, measure_text, Texture } from "$/client/renderer/mod.ts";
+
+export const TEXT_SCALE = 2;
+// how tall the font is at scale 1
+export const TEXT_HEIGHT = 11;
+
+const REPEAT_DELAY_MS = 400;
+const REPEAT_RATE_MS = 40;
+const CARET_BLINK_MS = 500;
+
+// editing a line of text with the keyboard: typing, backspace (held repeats), delete, arrows, home and end
+export class TextInput {
+	value: string;
+	caret: number;
+	max_length: number;
+	// which typed characters are kept
+	allowed: (char: string) => boolean;
+
+	#repeat_timer = 0;
+
+	constructor(value = "", max_length = 256, allowed: (char: string) => boolean = () => true) {
+		this.value = value;
+		this.caret = value.length;
+		this.max_length = max_length;
+		this.allowed = allowed;
+	}
+
+	// call once per frame while it has the keyboard
+	handle_keys() {
+		const now = performance.now();
+		let backspace = false;
+		if (InputManager.is_key_pressed("Backspace")) {
+			this.#repeat_timer = now;
+			backspace = true;
+		} else if (InputManager.is_key_down("Backspace") && now - this.#repeat_timer > REPEAT_DELAY_MS) {
+			this.#repeat_timer = now - (REPEAT_DELAY_MS - REPEAT_RATE_MS);
+			backspace = true;
+		}
+		if (backspace && this.caret > 0) {
+			this.value = this.value.slice(0, this.caret - 1) + this.value.slice(this.caret);
+			this.caret -= 1;
+		}
+
+		if (InputManager.is_key_pressed("Delete")) {
+			this.value = this.value.slice(0, this.caret) + this.value.slice(this.caret + 1);
+		}
+		if (InputManager.is_key_pressed("ArrowLeft")) {
+			this.caret = Math.max(0, this.caret - 1);
+		}
+		if (InputManager.is_key_pressed("ArrowRight")) {
+			this.caret = Math.min(this.value.length, this.caret + 1);
+		}
+		if (InputManager.is_key_pressed("Home")) {
+			this.caret = 0;
+		}
+		if (InputManager.is_key_pressed("End")) {
+			this.caret = this.value.length;
+		}
+
+		for (const char of InputManager.get_typed_characters()) {
+			if (this.value.length >= this.max_length || !this.allowed(char)) {
+				continue;
+			}
+			this.value = this.value.slice(0, this.caret) + char + this.value.slice(this.caret);
+			this.caret += 1;
+		}
+	}
+
+	// where the caret goes when the text starts at x
+	caret_x(x: number, scale = TEXT_SCALE) {
+		return x + measure_text(this.value.slice(0, this.caret), scale);
+	}
+
+	static caret_visible() {
+		return Math.floor(performance.now() / CARET_BLINK_MS) % 2 === 0;
+	}
+}
+
+// a clickable button, like minecraft's Button
+export class Button {
+	x = 0;
+	y = 0;
+	width: number;
+	height: number;
+	label: string;
+	on_press: () => void;
+	active = true;
+	#hovered = false;
+
+	constructor(label: string, width: number, height: number, on_press: () => void) {
+		this.label = label;
+		this.width = width;
+		this.height = height;
+		this.on_press = on_press;
+	}
+
+	// returns whether it was pressed
+	handle_input(): boolean {
+		const mouse = InputManager.get_mouse_position();
+		this.#hovered = this.active && point_inside_rec(mouse.x, mouse.y, this.x, this.y, this.width, this.height);
+		if (this.#hovered && InputManager.is_mouse_pressed(0)) {
+			InputManager.consume_mouse(0);
+			this.on_press();
+			return true;
+		}
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	render() {
+		const ui = AssetManager.instance.get<Texture>("bworld:ui");
+		const [sx, sy] = this.#hovered ? [224, 16] : [176, 0];
+		const tint = this.active ? [1, 1, 1, 1] : [0.6, 0.6, 0.6, 1];
+		draw_nine_slice(ui, sx, sy, 16, 16, 4, 4, 4, 4, this.x, this.y, this.width, this.height, tint);
+
+		const text_width = measure_text(this.label, TEXT_SCALE);
+		draw_text(
+			this.label,
+			this.x + (this.width - text_width) / 2,
+			this.y + (this.height - TEXT_HEIGHT * TEXT_SCALE) / 2,
+			TEXT_SCALE,
+			this.active ? [1, 1, 1, 1] : [0.7, 0.7, 0.7, 1],
+		);
+	}
+}
+
+// a one line text field, like minecraft's EditBox. clicking it gives it the keyboard
+export class EditBox {
+	x = 0;
+	y = 0;
+	width: number;
+	height: number;
+	input: TextInput;
+	focused = false;
+	// shown greyed out while it's empty
+	hint: string;
+	active = true;
+
+	constructor(width: number, height: number, input: TextInput, hint = "") {
+		this.width = width;
+		this.height = height;
+		this.input = input;
+		this.hint = hint;
+	}
+
+	get value() {
+		return this.input.value;
+	}
+
+	// returns whether it was clicked, so the screen can move focus to it
+	handle_input(): boolean {
+		const mouse = InputManager.get_mouse_position();
+		const clicked = this.active && InputManager.is_mouse_pressed(0) &&
+			point_inside_rec(mouse.x, mouse.y, this.x, this.y, this.width, this.height);
+		if (clicked) {
+			InputManager.consume_mouse(0);
+		}
+		if (this.focused && this.active) {
+			this.input.handle_keys();
+		}
+		return clicked;
+	}
+
+	render() {
+		const ui = AssetManager.instance.get<Texture>("bworld:ui");
+		draw_nine_slice(ui, this.focused ? 320 : 304, 0, 16, 16, 4, 4, 4, 4, this.x, this.y, this.width, this.height);
+
+		const text_x = this.x + 10;
+		const text_y = this.y + (this.height - TEXT_HEIGHT * TEXT_SCALE) / 2;
+		if (this.value === "" && !this.focused) {
+			draw_text(this.hint, text_x, text_y, TEXT_SCALE, [0.6, 0.6, 0.6, 1]);
+		} else {
+			draw_text(this.value, text_x, text_y, TEXT_SCALE, this.active ? [1, 1, 1, 1] : [0.7, 0.7, 0.7, 1]);
+		}
+		if (this.focused && this.active && TextInput.caret_visible()) {
+			draw_rect(this.input.caret_x(text_x), text_y, 2, TEXT_HEIGHT * TEXT_SCALE);
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/client/handshake.ts b/client/handshake.ts
index 9c2eea2..e8c48e0 100644
--- a/client/handshake.ts
+++ b/client/handshake.ts
@@ -20,10 +20,30 @@ export interface ServerAddress {
 // something went wrong in a way the player should see
 export class HandshakeError extends Error {}
 
-export function server_address(page = new URL(location.href)): ServerAddress {
-	// ?server=host:port, otherwise the server that served the page
-	const host = page.searchParams.get("server") ?? page.host;
-	const secure = page.protocol === "https:";
+// what the server field starts as: ?server=host:port, otherwise the server that served the page
+export function default_server(page = new URL(location.href)): string {
+	return page.searchParams.get("server") ?? page.host;
+}
+
+// what a player typed as the server: host:port, or a full http(s) or ws(s) url
+export function server_address(input: string, page = new URL(location.href)): ServerAddress {
+	const text = input.trim();
+	let host = text;
+	// without a scheme it's as secure as the page, browsers block insecure sockets from secure pages anyway
+	let secure = page.protocol === "https:";
+	if (text.includes("://")) {
+		let url: URL;
+		try {
+			url = new URL(text);
+		} catch {
+			throw new HandshakeError(`${text} isn't a server address`);
+		}
+		host = url.host;
+		secure = url.protocol === "https:" || url.protocol === "wss:";
+	}
+	if (!host || /[\s/?#]/.test(host)) {
+		throw new HandshakeError(`${text || "An empty address"} isn't a server address`);
+	}
 	const base = new URL(`${secure ? "https" : "http"}://${host}/`);
 	return {
 		ws_url: `${secure ? "wss" : "ws"}://${host}/ws`,
diff --git a/client/input_manager.ts b/client/input_manager.ts
index e80c8c7..8fd0914 100644
--- a/client/input_manager.ts
+++ b/client/input_manager.ts
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ export class InputManager {
 	static mouse_ungrab_timer = 0;
 	static mouse_ungrab_timeout = -1;
 	static pointer_lock_waiting = false;
+	// the browser let go of the mouse while the game wanted it, like escape or switching windows
+	static #lost_pointer_lock = false;
 
 	static initialize(canvas: HTMLCanvasElement) {
 		self.addEventListener("keydown", (e) => {
@@ -164,6 +166,7 @@ export class InputManager {
 				if (!grab) {
 					if (this.pointer_lock_flag) {
 						this.mouse_ungrab_timer = performance.now();
+						this.#lost_pointer_lock = true;
 					}
 				}
 				this.pointer_lock_flag = grab;
@@ -266,6 +269,13 @@ export class InputManager {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// whether the mouse was taken away since the last call, browsers eat the escape that does it
+	static take_lost_pointer_lock() {
+		const lost = this.#lost_pointer_lock;
+		this.#lost_pointer_lock = false;
+		return lost;
+	}
+
 	static is_mouse_grabbed() {
 		return document.hasFocus() && document.pointerLockElement === canvas;
 	}
diff --git a/client/main.ts b/client/main.ts
index a82d688..eead047 100644
--- a/client/main.ts
+++ b/client/main.ts
@@ -1,26 +1,36 @@
 import { AssetManager } from "./assets.ts";
 import { Client } from "./client.ts";
 import { InputManager } from "./input_manager.ts";
-import { Connection, get_player_name } from "./network.ts";
-import { connect, HandshakeError, is_trusted, join, load_atlas, remember_trust, server_address } from "./handshake.ts";
+import { Connection } from "./network.ts";
+import { connect, HandshakeError, is_trusted, join, load_atlas, remember_trust, ServerAddress } from "./handshake.ts";
 import { confirm_mods } from "./confirm_mods.ts";
 import { ModLoadError } from "$/common/mod_loader.ts";
-import { begin_drawing, clear_background, end_drawing, init_font, init_window, load_texture } from "./renderer/mod.ts";
+import {
+	begin_drawing,
+	canvas,
+	clear_background,
+	end_drawing,
+	init_font,
+	init_window,
+	load_texture,
+	resize_canvas,
+} from "./renderer/mod.ts";
 import { is_stopped, show_fatal_error } from "./fatal.ts";
 import { load_client_mods, set_mods_client } from "./mods.ts";
+import type { GuiScreen } from "./gui/gui_screen.ts";
+import { TitleScreen } from "./gui/title_screen.ts";
+import { DisconnectedScreen } from "./gui/disconnected_screen.ts";
 
+// runs whatever is showing every frame: a menu screen before joining (and after leaving), or the game
 export class ClientLoop {
 	running = false;
 	last_time = 0;
-	client: Client;
+	client: Client | undefined;
+	screen: GuiScreen | undefined;
 
 	frame_count = 0;
 	last_fps_time = 0;
 
-	constructor(client: Client) {
-		this.client = client;
-	}
-
 	start() {
 		document.addEventListener("visibilitychange", () => {
 			if (!document.hidden) {
@@ -40,6 +50,21 @@ export class ClientLoop {
 		this.running = false;
 	}
 
+	show_screen(screen: GuiScreen) {
+		this.client = undefined;
+		this.screen = screen;
+		InputManager.set_mouse_grabbed(false);
+	}
+
+	play(connection: Connection) {
+		const client = new Client(connection, (message) => this.show_screen(new DisconnectedScreen(message)));
+		set_mods_client(client);
+		client.chat.add("Connected to the server");
+		this.screen = undefined;
+		this.client = client;
+		console.log("Game started");
+	}
+
 	loop(time: number) {
 		if (!this.running || is_stopped()) {
 			return;
@@ -49,7 +74,12 @@ export class ClientLoop {
 
 		begin_drawing();
 		clear_background(0.69, 0.8, 1, 1.0);
-		this.client.run_frame(delta);
+		if (this.client) {
+			this.client.run_frame(delta);
+		} else if (this.screen) {
+			this.screen.on_tick(delta);
+			this.screen.on_render();
+		}
 		end_drawing();
 
 		this.frame_count += 1;
@@ -68,14 +98,70 @@ export class ClientLoop {
 	}
 }
 
-const canvas = document.getElementById("game") as HTMLCanvasElement;
-if (!canvas) {
+// a server's blocks, items and scripts can't be taken back out once loaded, so a failure after that point
+// can't go back to the title screen to try again, the page has to start over
+class FailedAfterLoadingMods extends Error {}
+
+// the game only runs against a server, it owns the world and everything in it. see "Delivery to clients" in MODS.md
+async function join_server(address: ServerAddress, name: string, status: (text: string) => void): Promise<Connection> {
+	const { socket, welcome } = await connect(address, name);
+	console.log(`Connected to ${address.ws_url}`);
+
+	let loaded_mods = false;
+	try {
+		if (address.cross_origin && !is_trusted(address, welcome)) {
+			status("Waiting for you to accept the server's mods...");
+			if (!await confirm_mods(address, welcome)) {
+				throw new HandshakeError(`You didn't join ${address.base.host}`);
+			}
+			remember_trust(address, welcome);
+		}
+
+		// textures, blocks and items all come from the server's mods, so this happens before anything else
+		status("Downloading the server's mods...");
+		const atlas = await load_atlas(address, welcome.atlas);
+		loaded_mods = true;
+		AssetManager.instance.assets["bworld:textures"] = load_texture(atlas.image);
+		AssetManager.instance.assets["bworld:textures_info"] = atlas.regions;
+		await load_client_mods(welcome.mods, address.base);
+		console.log(`Mods: ${welcome.mods.map((mod) => `${mod.id} ${mod.version}`).join(", ") || "none"}`);
+
+		status("Joining...");
+		const joined = await join(socket);
+		return new Connection(socket, welcome, joined);
+	} catch (e) {
+		socket.close();
+		const message = error_message(e);
+		throw loaded_mods ? new FailedAfterLoadingMods(message) : new HandshakeError(message);
+	}
+}
+
+function error_message(e: unknown) {
+	if (e instanceof HandshakeError) {
+		return e.message;
+	}
+	if (e instanceof ModLoadError) {
+		return `Couldn't load the server's mods: ${e.message}`;
+	}
+	return `Something went wrong joining the server: ${e instanceof Error ? e.message : e}`;
+}
+
+const game_canvas = document.getElementById("game") as HTMLCanvasElement;
+if (!game_canvas) {
 	throw Error("Canvas was not found");
 }
 
-await init_window(canvas);
+try {
+	await init_window(game_canvas);
+} catch (e) {
+	show_fatal_error(e instanceof Error ? e.message : String(e));
+	throw e;
+}
 
-InputManager.initialize(canvas);
+InputManager.initialize(game_canvas);
+self.addEventListener("resize", resize_canvas);
+resize_canvas();
+canvas.addEventListener("contextmenu", (event) => event.preventDefault());
 
 AssetManager.instance.load("bworld:assets_text", "/assets/ASSETS.md");
 
@@ -90,51 +176,20 @@ await AssetManager.instance.load_all();
 
 init_font();
 
-// the game only runs against a server, it owns the world and everything in it. see "Delivery to clients" in MODS.md
-async function join_server(): Promise<Connection> {
-	const address = server_address();
-	const { socket, welcome } = await connect(address, get_player_name());
-	console.log(`Connected to ${address.ws_url}`);
-
-	try {
-		if (address.cross_origin && !is_trusted(address, welcome)) {
-			if (!await confirm_mods(address, welcome)) {
-				throw new HandshakeError(`You didn't join ${address.base.host}`);
+const loop = new ClientLoop();
+loop.show_screen(
+	new TitleScreen(async (address, name, status) => {
+		let connection: Connection;
+		try {
+			connection = await join_server(address, name, status);
+		} catch (e) {
+			if (e instanceof FailedAfterLoadingMods) {
+				loop.show_screen(new DisconnectedScreen(e.message));
+				return;
 			}
-			remember_trust(address, welcome);
+			throw e;
 		}
-
-		// textures, blocks and items all come from the server's mods, so this happens before anything else
-		const atlas = await load_atlas(address, welcome.atlas);
-		AssetManager.instance.assets["bworld:textures"] = load_texture(atlas.image);
-		AssetManager.instance.assets["bworld:textures_info"] = atlas.regions;
-		await load_client_mods(welcome.mods, address.base);
-		console.log(`Mods: ${welcome.mods.map((mod) => `${mod.id} ${mod.version}`).join(", ") || "none"}`);
-
-		const joined = await join(socket);
-		return new Connection(socket, welcome, joined);
-	} catch (e) {
-		socket.close();
-		throw e;
-	}
-}
-
-try {
-	const connection = await join_server();
-	const client = new Client(connection);
-	set_mods_client(client);
-	client.chat.add("Connected to the server");
-
-	const loop = new ClientLoop(client);
-	loop.start();
-
-	console.log("Game started");
-} catch (e) {
-	console.error(e);
-	const message = e instanceof HandshakeError
-		? e.message
-		: e instanceof ModLoadError
-		? `Couldn't load the server's mods: ${e.message}`
-		: `Something went wrong joining the server: ${e instanceof Error ? e.message : e}`;
-	show_fatal_error(message);
-}
+		loop.play(connection);
+	}),
+);
+loop.start();
diff --git a/client/network.ts b/client/network.ts
index 903cc9f..443fe7c 100644
--- a/client/network.ts
+++ b/client/network.ts
@@ -40,8 +40,13 @@ export class Connection {
 	send(message: ClientMessage) {
 		this.#server.send(message);
 	}
+
+	close() {
+		this.#server.close();
+	}
 }
 
-export function get_player_name(): string {
+// what the name field starts as, from ?name=
+export function default_player_name(): string {
 	return new URLSearchParams(location.search).get("name") ?? "";
 }