diff --git a/apps/api/src/routes/game.ts b/apps/api/src/routes/game.ts
index ef268b5..2ec1d77 100644
--- a/apps/api/src/routes/game.ts
+++ b/apps/api/src/routes/game.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { DEFAULT_BOSSES } from "../data/bosses.js";
 import { DEFAULT_EQUIPMENT } from "../data/equipment.js";
 import { DEFAULT_EQUIPMENT_SETS } from "../data/equipmentSets.js";
 import { DEFAULT_EXPLORATIONS } from "../data/explorations.js";
-import { INITIAL_EXPLORATION } from "../data/initialState.js";
+import { INITIAL_EXPLORATION, INITIAL_GAME_STATE } from "../data/initialState.js";
 import { DAILY_REWARDS } from "../data/loginBonus.js";
 import { DEFAULT_QUESTS } from "../data/quests.js";
 import { authMiddleware } from "../middleware/auth.js";
@@ -364,7 +364,37 @@ gameRouter.get("/load", async (context) => {
   ]);
 
   if (!record) {
-    return context.json({ error: "No save found" }, 404);
+    // No save found — create a fresh state (handles nuked DB or first-time load race)
+    if (!playerRecord) {
+      return context.json({ error: "No player found" }, 404);
+    }
+    const freshState = INITIAL_GAME_STATE(
+      {
+        discordId: playerRecord.discordId,
+        username: playerRecord.username,
+        discriminator: playerRecord.discriminator,
+        avatar: playerRecord.avatar,
+        characterName: playerRecord.characterName,
+        createdAt: playerRecord.createdAt,
+        lastSavedAt: Date.now(),
+        totalGoldEarned: 0,
+        totalClicks: 0,
+        lifetimeGoldEarned: playerRecord.lifetimeGoldEarned,
+        lifetimeClicks: playerRecord.lifetimeClicks,
+        lifetimeBossesDefeated: playerRecord.lifetimeBossesDefeated,
+        lifetimeQuestsCompleted: playerRecord.lifetimeQuestsCompleted,
+        lifetimeAdventurersRecruited: playerRecord.lifetimeAdventurersRecruited,
+        lifetimeAchievementsUnlocked: playerRecord.lifetimeAchievementsUnlocked,
+      },
+      playerRecord.characterName,
+    );
+    const createdAt = Date.now();
+    await prisma.gameState.create({
+      data: { discordId, state: freshState as object, updatedAt: createdAt },
+    });
+    const secret = process.env.ANTI_CHEAT_SECRET;
+    const signature = secret ? computeHmac(JSON.stringify(freshState), secret) : undefined;
+    return context.json({ state: freshState, offlineGold: 0, offlineEssence: 0, offlineSeconds: 0, signature, loginBonus: null, loginStreak: playerRecord.loginStreak ?? 1 });
   }
 
   const state = record.state as unknown as GameState;