diff --git a/src/files/WorldFiles.cpp b/src/files/WorldFiles.cpp
index 02690def..44c8af76 100644
--- a/src/files/WorldFiles.cpp
+++ b/src/files/WorldFiles.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@
 #include <sstream>
 #include <cstring>
 
-namespace fs = std::filesystem;
-
 regfile::regfile(fs::path filename) : file(filename) {
     if (file.length() < REGION_HEADER_SIZE)
         throw std::runtime_error("incomplete region file header");
@@ -90,6 +88,8 @@ uint WorldRegion::getChunkDataSize(uint x, uint z) {
 	return sizes[z * REGION_SIZE + x];
 }
 
+const char* WorldFiles::WORLD_FILE = "world.json";
+
 WorldFiles::WorldFiles(fs::path directory, const DebugSettings& settings) 
 	: directory(directory), 
 	  generatorTestMode(settings.generatorTestMode),
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ fs::path WorldFiles::getPlayerFile() const {
 }
 
 fs::path WorldFiles::getWorldFile() const {
-	return directory/fs::path("world.json");
+	return directory/fs::path(WORLD_FILE);
 }
 
 fs::path WorldFiles::getIndicesFile() const {
diff --git a/src/files/WorldFiles.h b/src/files/WorldFiles.h
index 9f44f99c..ef23c024 100644
--- a/src/files/WorldFiles.h
+++ b/src/files/WorldFiles.h
@@ -146,6 +146,8 @@ public:
 	void write(const World* world, const Content* content);
 	void writePacks(const World* world);
 	void writeIndices(const ContentIndices* indices);
+
+    static const char* WORLD_FILE;
 };
 
 #endif /* FILES_WORLDFILES_H_ */
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/files/engine_paths.cpp b/src/files/engine_paths.cpp
index bab9059c..8096fedc 100644
--- a/src/files/engine_paths.cpp
+++ b/src/files/engine_paths.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@
 
 #include <filesystem>
 #include <sstream>
+
 #include "../typedefs.h"
+#include "WorldFiles.h"
 
 #define SCREENSHOTS_FOLDER "screenshots"
 
@@ -41,6 +43,27 @@ fs::path EnginePaths::getWorldsFolder() {
     return userfiles/fs::path("worlds");
 }
 
+std::vector<fs::path> EnginePaths::scanForWorlds() {
+    std::vector<fs::path> folders;
+
+    fs::path folder = getWorldsFolder();
+    if (!fs::is_directory(folder))
+        return folders;
+    
+    for (auto entry : fs::directory_iterator(folder)) {
+        if (!entry.is_directory()) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        fs::path worldFolder = entry.path();
+        fs::path worldFile = worldFolder/fs::path(WorldFiles::WORLD_FILE);
+        if (!fs::is_regular_file(worldFile)) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        folders.push_back(worldFolder);
+    }
+    return folders;
+}
+
 bool EnginePaths::isWorldNameUsed(std::string name) {
     return fs::exists(EnginePaths::getWorldsFolder()/fs::u8path(name));
 }
diff --git a/src/files/engine_paths.h b/src/files/engine_paths.h
index 4a25161f..d8506f70 100644
--- a/src/files/engine_paths.h
+++ b/src/files/engine_paths.h
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ public:
     void setResources(fs::path folder);
     void setContentPacks(std::vector<ContentPack>* contentPacks);
 
+    std::vector<fs::path> scanForWorlds();
+
     fs::path resolve(std::string path);
 };
 
diff --git a/src/frontend/menu.cpp b/src/frontend/menu.cpp
index ef4e9c76..5ea5ded8 100644
--- a/src/frontend/menu.cpp
+++ b/src/frontend/menu.cpp
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ void open_world(std::string name, Engine* engine) {
     auto folder = paths->getWorldsFolder()/fs::u8path(name);
     try {
         engine->loadWorldContent(folder);
-    } catch (contentpack_error& error) {
+    } catch (const contentpack_error& error) {
         // could not to find or read pack
         guiutil::alert(engine->getGUI(), 
                        langs::get(L"error.pack-not-found")+
@@ -178,8 +178,15 @@ void open_world(std::string name, Engine* engine) {
             show_convert_request(engine, content, lut, folder);
         }
     } else {
-        Level* level = World::load(folder, settings, content, packs);
-        engine->setScreen(std::make_shared<LevelScreen>(engine, level));
+        try {
+            Level* level = World::load(folder, settings, content, packs);
+            engine->setScreen(std::make_shared<LevelScreen>(engine, level));
+        } catch (const world_load_error& error) {
+            guiutil::alert(engine->getGUI(), 
+                        langs::get(L"Error")+
+                        L": "+util::str2wstr_utf8(error.what()));
+            return;
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -189,48 +196,45 @@ Panel* create_worlds_panel(Engine* engine) {
     panel->maxLength(400);
 
     auto paths = engine->getPaths();
+
+    auto folders = paths->scanForWorlds();
+
     fs::path worldsFolder = paths->getWorldsFolder();
-    if (fs::is_directory(worldsFolder)) {
-        for (auto entry : fs::directory_iterator(worldsFolder)) {
-            if (!entry.is_directory()) {
-                continue;
-            }
-            auto folder = entry.path();
-            auto name = folder.filename().u8string();
-            auto namews = util::str2wstr_utf8(name);
+    for (auto folder : folders) {
+        auto name = folder.filename().u8string();
+        auto namews = util::str2wstr_utf8(name);
 
-            auto btn = std::make_shared<RichButton>(vec2(390, 46));
-            btn->color(vec4(1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f, 0.1f));
-            btn->setHoverColor(vec4(1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f, 0.17f));
+        auto btn = std::make_shared<RichButton>(vec2(390, 46));
+        btn->color(vec4(1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f, 0.1f));
+        btn->setHoverColor(vec4(1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f, 0.17f));
 
-            auto label = std::make_shared<Label>(namews);
-            label->setInteractive(false);
-            btn->add(label, vec2(8, 8));
-            btn->listenAction([=](GUI*) {
-                open_world(name, engine);
+        auto label = std::make_shared<Label>(namews);
+        label->setInteractive(false);
+        btn->add(label, vec2(8, 8));
+        btn->listenAction([=](GUI*) {
+            open_world(name, engine);
+        });
+
+        auto image = std::make_shared<Image>("gui/delete_icon", vec2(32, 32));
+        image->color(vec4(1, 1, 1, 0.5f));
+
+        auto delbtn = std::make_shared<Button>(image, vec4(2));
+        delbtn->color(vec4(0.0f));
+        delbtn->setHoverColor(vec4(1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f, 0.17f));
+        
+        btn->add(delbtn, vec2(330, 3));
+
+        delbtn->listenAction([=](GUI* gui) {
+            guiutil::confirm(gui, langs::get(L"delete-confirm", L"world")+
+            L" ("+util::str2wstr_utf8(folder.u8string())+L")", [=]() 
+            {
+                std::cout << "deleting " << folder.u8string() << std::endl;
+                fs::remove_all(folder);
+                menus::refresh_menus(engine, gui->getMenu());
             });
+        });
 
-            auto image = std::make_shared<Image>("gui/delete_icon", vec2(32, 32));
-            image->color(vec4(1, 1, 1, 0.5f));
-
-            auto delbtn = std::make_shared<Button>(image, vec4(2));
-            delbtn->color(vec4(0.0f));
-            delbtn->setHoverColor(vec4(1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f, 0.17f));
-            
-            btn->add(delbtn, vec2(330, 3));
-
-            delbtn->listenAction([=](GUI* gui) {
-                guiutil::confirm(gui, langs::get(L"delete-confirm", L"world")+
-                L" ("+util::str2wstr_utf8(folder.u8string())+L")", [=]() 
-                {
-                    std::cout << "deleting " << folder.u8string() << std::endl;
-                    fs::remove_all(folder);
-                    menus::refresh_menus(engine, gui->getMenu());
-                });
-            });
-
-            panel->add(btn);
-        }
+        panel->add(btn);
     }
     return panel;
 }