diff --git a/include/core/context-manager.h b/include/core/context-manager.h
index e35106f..3098325 100644
--- a/include/core/context-manager.h
+++ b/include/core/context-manager.h
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <Preferences.h>
+
 #include "engine/layer.h"
 #include "engine/state-manager.h"
 #include "player/controller.h"
@@ -22,6 +24,7 @@ namespace SystemCore
     Player::Controller controller;
     Lights::LedStrip leds;
     Display::OledDisplay display;
+    Preferences memory;
     Display::MenuTileNavigation menuNav;
 
     void navigateMainMenu();
diff --git a/include/engine/state-manager.h b/include/engine/state-manager.h
index 5f3e67c..192846c 100644
--- a/include/engine/state-manager.h
+++ b/include/engine/state-manager.h
@@ -5,6 +5,12 @@
 #include "games/demo/state.h"
 #include "scenes/canvas/state.h"
 
+namespace SystemCore
+{
+  // forward declaration because of ContextManager/OledDisplay circular dependency
+  class ContextManager;
+}
+
 namespace Engine
 {
   enum class SystemState
@@ -51,9 +57,14 @@ namespace Engine
   class StateManager
   {
   public:
-    StateManager() : systemState{SystemState::Initialize},
-                     userMainMenuChoice{MainMenuSelection::Games},
-                     userGameChoice{GameSelection::Recall} {}
+    StateManager(SystemCore::ContextManager *ctx) : contextManager{ctx},
+                                                    phaseEvasionGameState{ctx},
+                                                    recallGameState{ctx},
+                                                    systemState{SystemState::Initialize},
+                                                    userMainMenuChoice{MainMenuSelection::Games},
+                                                    userGameChoice{GameSelection::Recall}
+    {
+    }
 
     bool displayShouldUpdate = true;
     bool displayIsVisible = true;
@@ -85,6 +96,7 @@ namespace Engine
     Scenes::Canvas::SceneState &getCanvasSceneState() { return canvasSceneState; }
 
   private:
+    SystemCore::ContextManager *contextManager;
     SystemState systemState;
 
     MainMenuSelection userMainMenuChoice;
diff --git a/include/games/phase-evasion/driver.h b/include/games/phase-evasion/driver.h
index 0ecb6ba..0a3f181 100644
--- a/include/games/phase-evasion/driver.h
+++ b/include/games/phase-evasion/driver.h
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ namespace Games::PhaseEvasion
   {
   public:
     Driver(SystemCore::ContextManager *ctx);
+    ~Driver() { state.reset(); }
     void nextEvent() override;
     static constexpr uint16_t playerOffset = 25;
     static constexpr uint16_t playerWidth = 5;
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ namespace Games::PhaseEvasion
     float gameOverPhaseOffset = 0.0f;
 
     void getUpdates();
+    void checkIfHighScore();
     void renderPlayer();
     void renderFlare();
     void renderGem();
diff --git a/include/games/phase-evasion/state.h b/include/games/phase-evasion/state.h
index 7e31976..522e581 100644
--- a/include/games/phase-evasion/state.h
+++ b/include/games/phase-evasion/state.h
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@
 
 #include <cstdint>
 
+namespace SystemCore
+{
+  class ContextManager;
+}
+
 namespace Games::PhaseEvasion
 {
   enum class Actions
@@ -16,11 +21,19 @@ namespace Games::PhaseEvasion
   class GameState
   {
   public:
-    GameState() : highScore{0}, flaresEvaded{0}, gemsCaptured{0} {}
+    GameState(SystemCore::ContextManager *ctx) : contextManager{ctx}, highScore{0}, flaresEvaded{0}, gemsCaptured{0} {}
     uint16_t flaresEvaded;
     uint16_t gemsCaptured;
     uint16_t highScore;
     Actions current = Actions::Startup;
-    void reset() { highScore = flaresEvaded = gemsCaptured = 0; }
+    static constexpr const char *memoryKeyName = "phase-high";
+
+    void reset();
+    uint16_t calculateTotalScore() const;
+    void checkHighScore();
+    void updateHighScore();
+
+  private:
+    SystemCore::ContextManager *contextManager;
   };
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/include/games/recall/driver.h b/include/games/recall/driver.h
index 9f2a75e..bdf4509 100644
--- a/include/games/recall/driver.h
+++ b/include/games/recall/driver.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ namespace Games::Recall
   {
   public:
     Driver(SystemCore::ContextManager *ctx);
+    ~Driver() { state.reset(); }
     void nextEvent() override;
 
   private:
diff --git a/include/games/recall/state.h b/include/games/recall/state.h
index 8155674..1cbf4b5 100644
--- a/include/games/recall/state.h
+++ b/include/games/recall/state.h
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@
 
 #include <cstdint>
 
+namespace SystemCore
+{
+  class ContextManager;
+}
+
 namespace Games::Recall
 {
   enum class Actions
@@ -17,11 +22,17 @@ namespace Games::Recall
   class GameState
   {
   public:
-    GameState() : highScore{0}, round{0} {}
+    GameState(SystemCore::ContextManager *ctx);
     uint16_t highScore;
     uint16_t round;
     Actions current = Actions::Startup;
+    static constexpr const char *memoryKeyName = "recall-high";
+
+    void reset();
+    void incrementScore();
+    void updateHighScore();
 
-    void reset() { highScore = round = 0; }
+  private:
+    SystemCore::ContextManager *contextManager;
   };
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/platformio.ini b/platformio.ini
index d121867..6bf75eb 100644
--- a/platformio.ini
+++ b/platformio.ini
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ framework = arduino
 
 build_type = debug
 build_unflags = -std=gnu++11
-build_flags = -g -DVIRTUALIZATION -std=gnu++17
+build_flags = -g -DVIRTUALIZATION -std=gnu++2a
 
 [env:debug]
 platform = espressif32
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ board = upesy_wroom
 framework = arduino
 build_type = debug
 build_unflags = -std=gnu++11
-build_flags = -g -DDEBUG -std=gnu++17
+build_flags = -g -DDEBUG -std=gnu++2a
 
 [env:release]
 platform = espressif32
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ framework = arduino
 lib_ignore = debug-fastled
 build_type = release
 build_unflags = -std=gnu++11
-build_flags = -Os -DRELEASE -std=gnu++17
+build_flags = -Os -DRELEASE -std=gnu++2a
 
 [env:native]
 platform = native
@@ -53,4 +53,4 @@ build_flags =
 	-I.pio/libdeps/native/googletest/googletest/include/gtest
 	-I.pio/libdeps/native/googletest/googlemock/include/gmock
 	-pthread
-	-std=gnu++17
+	-std=gnu++2a
diff --git a/src/core/context-manager.cpp b/src/core/context-manager.cpp
index 17577c5..983f5b1 100644
--- a/src/core/context-manager.cpp
+++ b/src/core/context-manager.cpp
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 namespace SystemCore
 {
-  ContextManager::ContextManager() : display{this}, menuNav{this} {}
+  ContextManager::ContextManager() : display{this}, stateManager{this}, menuNav{this} {}
 
   ContextManager::~ContextManager()
   {
diff --git a/src/display/display.cpp b/src/display/display.cpp
index 3fcb149..caa508a 100644
--- a/src/display/display.cpp
+++ b/src/display/display.cpp
@@ -171,22 +171,28 @@ namespace Display
 
   void OledDisplay::drawRecallGameHud()
   {
+    const auto recallState = contextManager->stateManager.getRecallGameState();
+    const auto round = recallState.round;
+    const auto highScore = recallState.highScore;
+
     display.clearDisplay();
     drawHeader("Recall");
 
     display.setCursor(0, 16);
-    display.print("Round: ");
-    display.print(contextManager->stateManager.getRecallGameState().round + 1);
+    display.printf("Round: %u", round + 1);
     display.setCursor(0, 24);
-    display.print("High Score: -");
+    display.printf("High Score: %u", highScore + 1);
 
     display.display();
   }
 
   void OledDisplay::drawPhaseEvasionGameHud()
   {
-    const auto flaresEvaded = contextManager->stateManager.getPhaseEvasionGameState().flaresEvaded;
-    const auto gemsCaptured = contextManager->stateManager.getPhaseEvasionGameState().gemsCaptured;
+    const auto phaseEvasionState = contextManager->stateManager.getPhaseEvasionGameState();
+    const auto flaresEvaded = phaseEvasionState.flaresEvaded;
+    const auto gemsCaptured = phaseEvasionState.gemsCaptured;
+    const auto totalScore = phaseEvasionState.calculateTotalScore();
+    const auto highScore = phaseEvasionState.highScore;
 
     display.clearDisplay();
     drawHeader("Phase Evasion");
@@ -194,12 +200,12 @@ namespace Display
     display.setCursor(0, 16);
     display.printf("Flares: %u", flaresEvaded);
     display.setCursor(DISPLAY_WIDTH / 2 + 4, 16);
-    display.printf("Total: %u", (flaresEvaded + (2 * gemsCaptured)));
+    display.printf("Total: %u", totalScore);
 
     display.setCursor(0, 24);
     display.printf("  Gems: %u", gemsCaptured);
     display.setCursor(DISPLAY_WIDTH / 2 + 4, 24);
-    display.printf(" High: %u", (flaresEvaded + (2 * gemsCaptured)));
+    display.printf(" High: %u", highScore);
 
     display.display();
   }
diff --git a/src/display/menu-navigation.cpp b/src/display/menu-navigation.cpp
index ebdc564..03031fa 100644
--- a/src/display/menu-navigation.cpp
+++ b/src/display/menu-navigation.cpp
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ namespace Display
     Engine::SystemState currentState = contextManager->stateManager.current();
 
     uint16_t displayIndex = SystemCore::Configuration::numLeds - 1;
-    float inactiveSelectionDimmingScale = currentState == Engine::SystemState::MenuHome ? 1.0f : 0.3f;
+    float inactiveSelectionDimmingScale = currentState == Engine::SystemState::MenuHome ? 1.0f : 0.6f;
     constexpr float center = (menuTileWidth - 1) / 2.0f;
     constexpr double sigma = 3.0f;
 
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ namespace Display
       for (uint16_t i = 0; i < menuTileWidth; ++i)
       {
         float x = i - center;
-        float blend = std::exp(-(x * x) / (2 * sigma * sigma)); // computed gaussian curve
+        float blend = std::exp(-(x * x) / (4 * sigma * sigma)); // computed gaussian curve
 
         if (modeIdx == static_cast<uint8_t>(modeSelected))
           contextManager->leds.buffer[displayIndex] = Lights::Color{Lights::ColorCode::ThemeGreen} * inactiveSelectionDimmingScale * blend;
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ namespace Display
     uint8_t sceneSelected = static_cast<uint8_t>(contextManager->stateManager.getUserSceneChoice());
 
     displayIndex = 0;
-    inactiveSelectionDimmingScale = (currentState == Engine::SystemState::MenuGames || currentState == Engine::SystemState::MenuScenes) ? 1.0f : 0.3f;
+    inactiveSelectionDimmingScale = (currentState == Engine::SystemState::MenuGames || currentState == Engine::SystemState::MenuScenes) ? 1.0f : 0.6f;
     uint8_t gamesOrScenesAvailable = modeSelected == Engine::MainMenuSelection::Games ? numGames : numScenes;
 
     for (uint8_t modeIdx = 0; modeIdx < gamesOrScenesAvailable; ++modeIdx)
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ namespace Display
       for (size_t i = 0; i < menuTileWidth; ++i)
       {
         float x = i - center;
-        float blend = std::exp(-(x * x) / (2 * sigma * sigma));
+        float blend = std::exp(-(x * x) / (4 * sigma * sigma));
 
         if (currentState == Engine::SystemState::MenuGames && modeIdx == gameSelected)
           contextManager->leds.buffer[displayIndex] = Lights::Color{Lights::ColorCode::ThemeBlue} * blend;
diff --git a/src/engine/engine.cpp b/src/engine/engine.cpp
index 25dcce2..d6af5bb 100644
--- a/src/engine/engine.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/engine.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include <cmath>
 
 #include <FastLED.h>
+#include <Preferences.h>
 #include "engine/engine.h"
 #include "lights/color.h"
 #include "display/menu-navigation.h"
@@ -108,6 +109,13 @@ namespace Engine
       lastRender = micros();
       log("Startup process completed. Transitioning to Main Menu");
     }
+
+#ifdef RELEASE
+    contextManager.memory.begin("lumenlab", false);
+#else
+    contextManager.memory.begin("lumenlab-dev", false);
+#endif
+
     randomSeed(esp_random());
   }
 
diff --git a/src/engine/state-manager.cpp b/src/engine/state-manager.cpp
index bdd2206..645dd32 100644
--- a/src/engine/state-manager.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/state-manager.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "engine/state-manager.h"
+#include "core/context-manager.h"
 
 namespace Engine
 {
diff --git a/src/games/phase-evasion/driver.cpp b/src/games/phase-evasion/driver.cpp
index 98e2e4d..71e9d68 100644
--- a/src/games/phase-evasion/driver.cpp
+++ b/src/games/phase-evasion/driver.cpp
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#include <Preferences.h>
 #include "games/phase-evasion/driver.h"
 #include "player/controller.h"
 #include "logger.h"
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ namespace Games::PhaseEvasion
       if (isReady())
       {
         state.current = Actions::ActiveGame;
+        state.reset();
         log("Starting new game.");
       }
       break;
@@ -34,6 +36,7 @@ namespace Games::PhaseEvasion
       assessDifficulty();
       checkCollision();
       checkGemCapture();
+      checkIfHighScore();
       renderFlare();
       renderGem();
       renderPlayer();
@@ -194,6 +197,12 @@ namespace Games::PhaseEvasion
     }
   }
 
+  void Driver::checkIfHighScore()
+  {
+    GameState state = contextManager->stateManager.getPhaseEvasionGameState();
+    state.checkHighScore();
+  }
+
   void Driver::muzzleFlash()
   {
     for (uint16_t i = 0; i < SystemCore::Configuration::numLeds; ++i)
@@ -227,8 +236,6 @@ namespace Games::PhaseEvasion
 
     if (contextManager->controller.wasPressed(::Player::ControllerButton::Start))
     {
-      state.current = Actions::Startup;
-      state.reset();
       contextManager->stateManager.displayShouldUpdate = true;
       reset();
       windDownTimer.wait(windDownLength);
@@ -244,6 +251,9 @@ namespace Games::PhaseEvasion
     gem.wait(gemRespawnDelay);
     flareManager.reset();
     player.setPosition(static_cast<uint16_t>(0));
+    state.current = Actions::Startup;
+    state.reset();
+    contextManager->stateManager.displayShouldUpdate = true;
     wait(500);
   }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/games/phase-evasion/flare-manager.cpp b/src/games/phase-evasion/flare-manager.cpp
index 5b04f2a..6aca3a9 100644
--- a/src/games/phase-evasion/flare-manager.cpp
+++ b/src/games/phase-evasion/flare-manager.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ namespace Games::PhaseEvasion
       {
         uint16_t colorIndex = static_cast<uint16_t>(esp_random()) % arraySize(Lights::colorPalette);
         flare->activate(Lights::colorPalette[colorIndex], speed);
+        logf("Flare dispatched: %u", colorIndex);
         return;
       }
       ++flare;
diff --git a/src/games/phase-evasion/state.cpp b/src/games/phase-evasion/state.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4862784
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/games/phase-evasion/state.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+#include "games/phase-evasion/state.h"
+#include "core/context-manager.h"
+#include "logger.h"
+
+namespace Games::PhaseEvasion
+{
+  void GameState::reset()
+  {
+    flaresEvaded = gemsCaptured = 0;
+    highScore = contextManager->memory.getUInt(memoryKeyName);
+  }
+
+  uint16_t GameState::calculateTotalScore() const
+  {
+    return flaresEvaded + (2 * gemsCaptured);
+  }
+
+  void GameState::checkHighScore()
+  {
+    if (calculateTotalScore() > highScore)
+    {
+      updateHighScore();
+      contextManager->stateManager.displayShouldUpdate = true;
+    }
+  }
+
+  void GameState::updateHighScore()
+  {
+    highScore = calculateTotalScore();
+    contextManager->memory.putUInt(memoryKeyName, highScore);
+    logf("High score updated: %u", highScore);
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/games/recall/driver.cpp b/src/games/recall/driver.cpp
index b6ac0ab..e39b3cd 100644
--- a/src/games/recall/driver.cpp
+++ b/src/games/recall/driver.cpp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ namespace Games::Recall
     state = contextManager->stateManager.getRecallGameState();
     state.reset();
     state.current = Actions::Startup;
+    contextManager->stateManager.displayShouldUpdate = true;
     wait(gameplaySpeedIlluminated);
   }
 
@@ -40,6 +41,8 @@ namespace Games::Recall
       if (isReady())
       {
         state.current = Actions::ComputerPlaybackOnDisplay;
+        state.reset();
+        contextManager->stateManager.displayShouldUpdate = true;
         wait(gameplaySpeedIlluminated);
       }
       break;
@@ -130,8 +133,8 @@ namespace Games::Recall
     if (sequenceIndex > state.round && isReady())
     {
       state.current = Actions::PlayerResponseVerified;
-      ++state.round;
-      contextManager->stateManager.displayShouldUpdate = true;
+      state.incrementScore();
+
       contextManager->controller.reset();
       wait(gameplaySpeedIlluminated * 2);
       return;
diff --git a/src/games/recall/state.cpp b/src/games/recall/state.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4506e43
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/games/recall/state.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+#include "games/phase-evasion/state.h"
+#include "core/context-manager.h"
+#include "logger.h"
+
+namespace Games::Recall
+{
+
+  GameState::GameState(SystemCore::ContextManager *ctx) : contextManager{ctx}
+  {
+    reset();
+  }
+
+  void GameState::reset()
+  {
+    round = 0;
+    highScore = contextManager->memory.getUInt(memoryKeyName);
+    contextManager->stateManager.displayShouldUpdate = true;
+  }
+
+  void GameState::updateHighScore()
+  {
+    highScore = round;
+    contextManager->memory.putUInt(memoryKeyName, highScore);
+    logf("High score updated: %u", highScore);
+  }
+
+  void GameState::incrementScore()
+  {
+    ++round;
+    if (round > highScore)
+    {
+      updateHighScore();
+    }
+    contextManager->stateManager.displayShouldUpdate = true;
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file