Add Continue button to main menu for resuming newest save

- SaveManager.latest() picks the filled slot with the newest savedAt
  (unparseable timestamps count as oldest; ties break to the higher slot)
- MenuScene wires a Continue button above New Game, grayed out while the
  bank is empty, that stages the restore via prepareLoad and cuts into
  GameScene without a confirmation beat
- Shift menu layout down to make room and park the Reroll button fully
  outside the seed field so its edge no longer bites the field
- Cover latest() behavior in dev/saves.test.mjs and update README and
  PROJECT_NOTES to reflect the finished save/load feature

README.md

@@ -19,10 +19,12 @@ python3 -m http.server 8080
 
 ## Current state — v0.2: a seedable galaxy
 
-- Main menu with **New Game** and a **Galaxy Seed** panel: the seed is
+- Main menu with **Continue** (resumes the newest save — grayed out while
-  displayed, editable (click it and type), and rerollable — and the menu
+  the save bank is empty), **New Game**, **Load Game** (the full slot
-  shows what that seed builds (the galaxy's name, system count, archetype
+  bank), and a **Galaxy Seed** panel: the seed is displayed, editable
-  count) **before** you commit. Same seed ⇒ same galaxy.
+  (click it and type), and rerollable — and the menu shows what that seed
+  builds (the galaxy's name, system count, archetype count) **before** you
+  commit. Same seed ⇒ same galaxy.
 - **Procedural galaxy**: 40,000 star systems in a seeded disk + core +
   spiral arms (`data/galaxy.json`), typed into six themed archetypes
   (`data/systems.json`) with per-type distribution weights and radial

data/menu.json

@@ -8,16 +8,23 @@
   "buttonFontSize": 26,
   "buttons": {
     "upper": true,
+    "continue": {
+      "label": "Continue",
+      "position": { "x": 0.5, "y": 0.52 },
+      "fontSize": 26,
+      "paddingX": 46,
+      "paddingY": 18
+    },
     "newGame": {
       "label": "New Game",
-      "position": { "x": 0.5, "y": 0.585 },
+      "position": { "x": 0.5, "y": 0.635 },
       "fontSize": 26,
       "paddingX": 46,
       "paddingY": 18
     },
     "loadGame": {
       "label": "Load Game",
-      "position": { "x": 0.5, "y": 0.675 },
+      "position": { "x": 0.5, "y": 0.735 },
       "fontSize": 17,
       "paddingX": 32,
       "paddingY": 11
@@ -25,11 +32,12 @@
   },
   "seed": {
     "label": "GALAXY SEED",
-    "position": { "x": 0.5, "y": 0.755 },
+    "position": { "x": 0.5, "y": 0.855 },
     "labelFontSize": 13,
     "fontSize": 25,
     "fieldWidth": 320,
     "fieldHeight": 52,
+    "rerollGap": 18,
     "rerollLabel": "Reroll",
     "rerollFontSize": 14,
     "colors": {

dev/saves.test.mjs

@@ -154,6 +154,29 @@ const makeStorage = (fail = false) => {
   check('exportAll(): exactly the filled slots', parsed && Object.keys(parsed.slots).length === 2);
   check('exportAll(): slot records intact', parsed?.slots['1']?.seed === SEED && parsed?.slots['10']?.seed === SEED);
 
+  // latest() — the "Continue" target: the newest save by savedAt, not by slot.
+  {
+    const s = makeStorage();
+    const m = new SaveManager(s);
+    check('latest(): empty bank → null', m.latest() === null);
+
+    const older = makeRec({ savedAt: '2026-07-01T00:00:00.000Z' });
+    const newer = makeRec({ savedAt: '2026-07-02T00:00:00.000Z' });
+    m.put(9, older);
+    check('latest(): single save → that slot/record', m.latest()?.slot === 9 && JSON.stringify(m.latest()?.record) === JSON.stringify(older));
+
+    m.put(2, newer); // a NEWER save in a LOWER slot number
+    check('latest(): newest savedAt wins over slot order', m.latest()?.slot === 2 && JSON.stringify(m.latest()?.record) === JSON.stringify(newer));
+
+    m.clear(2);
+    m.put(5, makeRec({ savedAt: 'garbage' })); // unparseable timestamp
+    check('latest(): unparseable savedAt loses to any valid one', m.latest()?.slot === 9);
+
+    m.clear(9);
+    m.put(8, makeRec({ savedAt: 'garbage' })); // same (missing) timestamp → later write
+    check('latest(): missing-timestamp tie breaks to the higher slot', m.latest()?.slot === 8);
+  }
+
   // validateRecord — the shape contract.
   check('validateRecord: null rejected', SaveManager.validateRecord(null) !== null);
   check('validateRecord: no seed rejected', SaveManager.validateRecord(makeRec({ seed: null })) !== null);

docs/PROJECT_NOTES.md

@@ -519,6 +519,8 @@ The player holds a REPUTATION (standing) on each planet and space station:
 - [ ] Ship input beyond click-to-fly (throttle/brake keys, manual rotation)
 - [ ] HUD (speed, fuel/crew) — the current system's dossier (name,
       identity, settlements) is already shown top-left
-- [ ] Save/load (the `config` + entity split should make this tractable;
+- [x] Save/load (the `config` + entity split should make this tractable;
-      a save = seed + player state, since the galaxy regenerates)
+      a save = seed + player state, since the galaxy regenerates) —
+      10-slot bank in localStorage, in-game SAVE/LOAD vault, and the menu
+      **Continue** button (newest save)
 - [ ] Economy/trading loop (the Privateer heart)

js/save/SaveManager.js

@@ -134,6 +134,28 @@ export class SaveManager {
     return this.listSlots().filter((s) => s.record !== null).length;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * The most recent save in the bank — the "Continue" target (the menu's
+   * Continue button resumes it): the filled slot with the NEWEST `savedAt`
+   * timestamp, regardless of slot number. A record without a parseable
+   * timestamp counts as oldest, and a timestamp tie breaks to the higher
+   * slot number (the later write).
+   *
+   * @returns {{slot:number, record:object}|null} null when the bank is empty
+   */
+  latest() {
+    let best = null; // { slot, record, ts }
+    for (const { slot, record } of this.listSlots()) {
+      if (!record) continue;
+      const parsed = Date.parse(record.savedAt);
+      const ts = Number.isFinite(parsed) ? parsed : 0;
+      if (!best || ts > best.ts || (ts === best.ts && slot > best.slot)) {
+        best = { slot, record, ts };
+      }
+    }
+    return best ? { slot: best.slot, record: best.record } : null;
+  }
+
   // ------------------------------------------------------------------
   // Export — the "download a local copy of ALL saved games" button.
   // ------------------------------------------------------------------

js/scenes/MenuScene.js

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import { playSfxOn } from '../utils/Sfx.js';
 import { playMusicOn, musicKey, stopMusicOn } from '../utils/Music.js';
 import { Galaxy } from '../galaxy/Galaxy.js';
 import { SaveManager } from '../save/SaveManager.js';
-import { resetRunState } from '../save/SaveData.js';
+import { prepareLoad, resetRunState } from '../save/SaveData.js';
 import { SavePanel } from '../ui/SavePanel.js';
 
 const FONT_FALLBACK = "'Segoe UI', 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif";
@@ -38,6 +38,11 @@ const SEED_CHAR = /^[A-Za-z0-9._-]$/;
  *     the panel shows what that seed contains before you commit;
  *   - "New Game" builds the galaxy roster from the seed, glitches out,
  *     and hands it to the rest of the game via the shared registry.
+ *
+ * Continue resumes the NEWEST save in the localStorage bank (the one the
+ * player last saved — SaveManager.latest()): it stages the restore the
+ * same way the Load Game pop-up does and cuts straight into the game.
+ * Grayed out, like Load Game, while the bank is empty.
  */
 export class MenuScene extends Phaser.Scene {
   constructor() {
@@ -174,12 +179,37 @@ export class MenuScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     rule.fillRect(cx - 2, titleY + 94, 4, 4);
     this.rule = rule.setAlpha(0);
 
+    // ---- the save bank (localStorage) — Continue and Load Game both read it
+    this.saveManager = new SaveManager();
+    const hasSaves = this.saveManager.hasAny();
+
+    // ---- Continue — resume the newest save (SaveManager.latest). The
+    // one-click door back into the game the player was last playing —
+    // after leaving from the menu bar, after a browser refresh. Grayed
+    // out while the bank is empty — the feature is visible, the door is
+    // locked (same convention as Load Game).
+    const cb = menu.buttons?.continue ?? {};
+    this.continueBtn = new MenuButton(
+      this,
+      (cb.position?.x ?? 0.5) * w,
+      (cb.position?.y ?? 0.52) * h,
+      cb.label ?? 'Continue',
+      () => this.continueGame(),
+      {
+        fontSize: cb.fontSize ?? 26,
+        paddingX: cb.paddingX ?? 46,
+        paddingY: cb.paddingY ?? 18,
+      },
+    );
+    this.continueBtn.setAlpha(0);
+    if (!hasSaves) this.continueBtn.setDisabled(true);
+
     // ---- New Game
     const btn = menu.buttons?.newGame ?? {};
     this.newGameBtn = new MenuButton(
       this,
       (btn.position?.x ?? 0.5) * w,
-      (btn.position?.y ?? 0.585) * h,
+      (btn.position?.y ?? 0.635) * h,
       btn.label ?? 'New Game',
       () => this.startNewGame(),
       {
@@ -190,15 +220,12 @@ export class MenuScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     );
     this.newGameBtn.setAlpha(0);
 
-    // ---- Load Game — resumes a saved run (the same 10-slot bank as the
+    // ---- Load Game — the full slot bank (LOAD mode only; js/ui/SavePanel.js)
-    // in-game panel, LOAD mode only; js/ui/SavePanel.js). Grayed out while
-    // the bank is empty — the feature is visible, the door is locked.
     const lb = menu.buttons?.loadGame ?? {};
-    this.saveManager = new SaveManager();
     this.loadGameBtn = new MenuButton(
       this,
       (lb.position?.x ?? 0.5) * w,
-      (lb.position?.y ?? 0.675) * h,
+      (lb.position?.y ?? 0.735) * h,
       lb.label ?? 'Load Game',
       () => this.openLoadPanel(),
       {
@@ -210,7 +237,7 @@ export class MenuScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       },
     );
     this.loadGameBtn.setAlpha(0);
-    if (!this.saveManager.hasAny()) this.loadGameBtn.setDisabled(true);
+    if (!hasSaves) this.loadGameBtn.setDisabled(true);
 
     // ---- Galaxy seed panel
     this.createSeedPanel(menu, headerFont, bodyFont, cx, h);
@@ -248,23 +275,28 @@ export class MenuScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     }).setOrigin(1, 0.5);
 
     // ---- intro sequence: title flickers in, console assembles,
-    //      the seed decodes, and one signature glitch fires.
+    //      the buttons rise in priority order, the seed decodes, and
+    //      one signature glitch fires.
+    this.continueBtn.y += 12;
     this.newGameBtn.y += 12;
     this.intro(180, () => {
       this.tweens.add({ targets: [this.subtitle, this.rule], alpha: 1, duration: 420, ease: 'Sine.easeOut' });
     });
     this.intro(340, () => {
-      this.tweens.add({ targets: this.newGameBtn, alpha: 1, y: this.newGameBtn.y - 12, duration: 420, ease: 'Sine.easeOut' });
+      this.tweens.add({ targets: this.continueBtn, alpha: 1, y: this.continueBtn.y - 12, duration: 420, ease: 'Sine.easeOut' });
     });
     this.intro(460, () => {
+      this.tweens.add({ targets: this.newGameBtn, alpha: 1, y: this.newGameBtn.y - 12, duration: 420, ease: 'Sine.easeOut' });
+    });
+    this.intro(580, () => {
       this.tweens.add({ targets: this.loadGameBtn, alpha: 1, duration: 340, ease: 'Sine.easeOut' });
     });
-    this.intro(500, () => {
+    this.intro(620, () => {
       const targets = [...this.seedIntroTargets, this.rerollBtn];
       this.tweens.add({ targets, alpha: 1, duration: 420, ease: 'Sine.easeOut' });
     });
-    this.intro(760, () => this.startDecode(this.seedValue));
+    this.intro(880, () => this.startDecode(this.seedValue));
-    this.intro(1050, () => this.overlay.trigger(320, 0.95));
+    this.intro(1150, () => this.overlay.trigger(320, 0.95));
 
     // ---- input: typing goes to the seed field; a click elsewhere blurs it
     this.input.keyboard.on('keydown', (e) => this.onSeedKey(e));
@@ -311,7 +343,7 @@ export class MenuScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     const fieldW = cfg.fieldWidth ?? 320;
     const fieldH = cfg.fieldHeight ?? 52;
     const notch = Math.min(14, fieldH * 0.3);
-    const cy = (cfg.position?.y ?? 0.755) * height;
+    const cy = (cfg.position?.y ?? 0.855) * height;
 
     this.seedValue = this.loadSavedSeed() ?? Rng.randomSeedString(8);
     this.seedFocused = false;
@@ -353,7 +385,8 @@ export class MenuScene extends Phaser.Scene {
       })
       .setOrigin(0, 0.5);
 
-    // Reroll
+    // Reroll — parked fully OUTSIDE the field: the old fixed +30 center
+    // offset let the button's left edge bite into the field's right edge.
     this.rerollBtn = new MenuButton(
       this,
       cx + fieldW / 2 + 30,
@@ -373,6 +406,7 @@ export class MenuScene extends Phaser.Scene {
         upper: true,
       },
     );
+    this.rerollBtn.setX(cx + fieldW / 2 + (cfg.rerollGap ?? 18) + this.rerollBtn.width / 2);
 
     // Hint: what this seed will build (galaxy name + scale), live-updated.
     this.seedHint = this.add
@@ -526,6 +560,51 @@ export class MenuScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     }
   }
 
+  // ------------------------------------------------------------------
+  // Continue — resume the newest save in the bank
+  // ------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+  /**
+   * The menu's Continue button: pick the bank's newest save (by savedAt,
+   * SaveManager.latest), stage the restore in the shared registry, and cut
+   * to the game. From the menu there is no live game to replace, so —
+   * unlike the in-game Load flow — no confirmation beat: one click, in.
+   */
+  continueGame() {
+    if (this.dead) return;
+    const latest = this.saveManager.latest();
+    if (!latest) return;
+    try {
+      this.dead = true; // no further input while we cut away
+      this.setSeedFocus(false);
+      this.drawSeed();
+      // Stage the restore (galaxy from seed + run state) exactly like the
+      // Load Game pop-up does — GameScene.create() picks it up.
+      prepareLoad(this.registry, latest.record);
+      // Keep the seed panel in step with the galaxy we just staged, so the
+      // next menu visit shows the seed Continue loaded.
+      this.saveSeed(String(latest.record.seed).trim());
+      console.info(`orbit — resuming ${latest.record.galaxyName ?? 'the galaxy'} (slot ${latest.slot}, seed ${latest.record.seed})`);
+
+      // The same glitch-out cut as New Game.
+      this.overlay.trigger(240, 1);
+      this.title.setBurst(1);
+      this.time.delayedCall(200, () => this.scene.start('GameScene'));
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.error(err);
+      this.dead = false; // allow retrying
+      const msg = this.add
+        .text(this.scale.width / 2, this.scale.height - 64, `// signal lost: could not resume the save — ${err.message}`, {
+          fontFamily: fontStack('body', FONT_FALLBACK),
+          fontSize: '14px',
+          color: toCss(themeColor('neon2', 0xff9b9b)),
+          letterSpacing: 1,
+        })
+        .setOrigin(0.5);
+      this.time.delayedCall(4000, () => msg.destroy());
+    }
+  }
+
   // ------------------------------------------------------------------
   // Load Game — the same slot bank, from the menu side
   // ------------------------------------------------------------------