diff --git a/src/GamePanel.java b/src/GamePanel.java
index 7df3277..7933c79 100644
--- a/src/GamePanel.java
+++ b/src/GamePanel.java
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ public class GamePanel extends JPanel implements Runnable, KeyListener, Serializ
   public BufferedImageWrapper villainPortrait = new BufferedImageWrapper(("img/dialogue/Bouncer.png"));
   public String lastText;
   public boolean isContinue;
+  public boolean isRunning;
 
 
   public GamePanel(JPanel gameFrame) throws IOException, SpriteException, UnsupportedAudioFileException, LineUnavailableException {
@@ -141,6 +142,7 @@ public class GamePanel extends JPanel implements Runnable, KeyListener, Serializ
     addUserInterface();
     this.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(GAME_WIDTH, GAME_HEIGHT));
     isNewStart = true;
+    isRunning = true;
   }
 
   public void addUserInterface() {
@@ -377,7 +379,7 @@ public class GamePanel extends JPanel implements Runnable, KeyListener, Serializ
     double delta = 0;
     long now;
 
-    while(true){ //this is the infinite game loop
+    while(isRunning){ //this is the infinite game loop
       now = System.nanoTime();
       delta = delta + (now-lastTime)/ns;
       lastTime = now;
@@ -421,6 +423,7 @@ public class GamePanel extends JPanel implements Runnable, KeyListener, Serializ
         delta--;
       }
     }
+    System.out.println(Thread.currentThread());
   }
 
   public void updateEnemy(){
diff --git a/src/MenuPanel.java b/src/MenuPanel.java
index c5303e0..73ba335 100644
--- a/src/MenuPanel.java
+++ b/src/MenuPanel.java
@@ -163,11 +163,14 @@ public class MenuPanel extends JPanel implements Runnable, KeyListener{
             // logic for different screens starts here
             if (textBoxArray.get(currentBox).id.equals("game-start")) {
                 try {
+                    GameFrame.main.remove(GameFrame.game);
+                    GameFrame.game.isRunning = false;
                     GameFrame.game = new GamePanel(GameFrame.main); //run GamePanel constructor
+                    GameFrame.game.startThread();
+                    GameFrame.main.add(GameFrame.game, "game", 0);
                 } catch (IOException | SpriteException | UnsupportedAudioFileException | LineUnavailableException ex) {
                     ex.printStackTrace();
                 }
-                GameFrame.game.startThread();
                 ((CardLayout)gameFrame.getLayout()).show(gameFrame, "game");
             } else {
                 ((CardLayout) gameFrame.getLayout()).show(gameFrame, textBoxArray.get(currentBox).id);