diff --git a/include/Game.h b/include/Game.h
index 1edbada..c1b1aa3 100644
--- a/include/Game.h
+++ b/include/Game.h
@@ -1,76 +1,18 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include <SDL.h>
-#include <SDL_image.h>
-#include <SDL_mixer.h>
-#include <functional>
-#include <vector>
+class GameInternal;
 
-#include "Manager.h"
-#include "Vector2D.h"
-#include "Entity.h"
-
-typedef std::function<void()> gamefunction;
-
-class AssetManager;
-class CollisionHandler;
-class TextureManager;
-class SoundManager;
-class Map;
-
-namespace engine {
-	extern gamefunction init;
-	extern gamefunction update;
-
-	extern Game* game; // this is a temporary fix to remove artifacts of chicken_game from the engine while the API is not yet finalized
-}
-
-class Game
-{
+// TODO: add managers here
+class Game {
 public:
-	Game();
-	~Game();
+    virtual ~Game() {}
 
-	void init(const char* title, int xpos, int ypos, int width, int height, bool fullscreen);
-	void selectCharacters(const char* &playerSprite, const char* &enemySprite);
+    virtual void init() = 0;
+    virtual void update() = 0;
 
-	void handleEvents();
-	void update();
-	void render();
-	void clean();
-	bool running() const;
-
-	/* static */ SDL_Renderer* renderer = nullptr;
-	/* static */ SDL_Event event;
-	/* static */ CollisionHandler* collisionHandler;
-    /* static */ AssetManager* assets;
-    /* static */ TextureManager* textureManager;
-    /* static */ SoundManager* soundManager;
-
-    // moved globals
-    Manager manager;
-    Map* map; // game specific, might not be needed for all types of games
-
-    Entity& player1;
-	Entity& player2;
-
-	Entity& wall;
-
-	std::vector<Entity*>& tiles;
-	std::vector<Entity*>& players;
-	std::vector<Entity*>& projectiles;
-	std::vector<Entity*>& hearts;
-	std::vector<Entity*>& powerups;
-	// end moved globals
-
-    void refreshPlayers();
-    Entity::TeamLabel getWinner() const;
-    void setWinner(Entity::TeamLabel winningTeam);
-
-private:
-
-	int counter = 0;
-	bool isRunning = false;
-	SDL_Window* window;
-    Entity::TeamLabel winner;
+    GameInternal* gameInternal; //!< \deprecated  
 };
+
+
+// game factory include to simplify imports in implementation
+#include "GameFactory.h"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/include/GameFactory.h b/include/GameFactory.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..443a2d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/GameFactory.h
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <cassert>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <map>
+#include <functional>
+#include <string>
+
+#include "Game.h"
+
+class GameInternal;
+
+class GameFactory {
+public:
+    using CreateFunc = std::function<Game*()>;
+
+    static GameFactory& instance() {
+        static GameFactory factory;
+        return factory;
+    }
+
+    /*Game* get() {
+        assert(this->gameInstance != nullptr);
+        return this->gameInstance;
+    }*/
+
+    /*Game* create(GameInternal* gameInternal) {
+        Game* game = this->gameInstance == nullptr ? this->creator() : this->gameInstance; // TODO: error handling
+        game->gameInternal = gameInternal;
+        this->gameInstance = game;
+        return game;
+    }*/
+
+    void registerClass(const std::string& className, CreateFunc createFunc) {
+        this->creators[className] = createFunc;
+    }
+
+    Game* create(const std::string& className, GameInternal* gameInternal) {
+        auto it = this->creators.find(className);
+        if (it != creators.end()) {
+            Game* game = it->second();
+            game->gameInternal = gameInternal;
+            return game;
+        }
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+
+private:
+    CreateFunc creator;
+    std::map<std::string, CreateFunc> creators;
+};
+
+/*
+#define REGISTER_GAME(className) \
+    static bool registered_##className = []() { \
+        GameFactory::instance().registerClass(#className, []() -> Game* { return new className; }); \
+        return true; \
+    }();
+*/
diff --git a/include/GameInternal.h b/include/GameInternal.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8cd806c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/GameInternal.h
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <SDL.h>
+#include <SDL_image.h>
+#include <SDL_mixer.h>
+#include <functional>
+#include <vector>
+
+#include "Manager.h"
+#include "Vector2D.h"
+#include "Entity.h"
+
+typedef std::function<void()> gamefunction;
+
+class AssetManager;
+class CollisionHandler;
+class TextureManager;
+class SoundManager;
+class Map;
+class Game;
+
+class GameInternal
+{
+public:
+	GameInternal();
+	~GameInternal();
+
+	void init(const char* title, int xpos, int ypos, int width, int height, bool fullscreen);
+	void selectCharacters(const char* &playerSprite, const char* &enemySprite);
+
+	void handleEvents();
+	void update();
+	void render();
+	void clean();
+	bool running() const;
+
+	/* static */ SDL_Renderer* renderer = nullptr;
+	/* static */ SDL_Event event;
+	/* static */ CollisionHandler* collisionHandler;
+    /* static */ AssetManager* assets;
+    /* static */ TextureManager* textureManager;
+    /* static */ SoundManager* soundManager;
+
+    // moved globals
+    Manager manager;
+    Map* map; // game specific, might not be needed for all types of games
+
+    Entity& player1;
+	Entity& player2;
+
+	Entity& wall;
+
+	std::vector<Entity*>& tiles;
+	std::vector<Entity*>& players;
+	std::vector<Entity*>& projectiles;
+	std::vector<Entity*>& hearts;
+	std::vector<Entity*>& powerups;
+	// end moved globals
+
+    void refreshPlayers();
+    Entity::TeamLabel getWinner() const;
+    void setWinner(Entity::TeamLabel winningTeam);
+
+private:
+
+	Game* gameInstance;
+
+	int counter = 0;
+	bool isRunning = false;
+	SDL_Window* window;
+    Entity::TeamLabel winner;
+};
diff --git a/include/GameRegistryHelper.h b/include/GameRegistryHelper.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b980d70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/GameRegistryHelper.h
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "GameFactory.h"
+
+namespace vego {
+	template<typename T>
+	class GameRegistryHelper {
+	public:
+		GameRegistryHelper(const std::string& className) {
+			static_assert(std::is_base_of<Game, T>::value, "Your class must inherit from Game");
+			GameFactory::instance().registerClass(
+				className,
+				[]() -> Game* { return new T; }
+			);
+		};	
+	};
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/include/Manager.h b/include/Manager.h
index 2497667..ea549db 100644
--- a/include/Manager.h
+++ b/include/Manager.h
@@ -9,11 +9,11 @@
 #include "Constants.h"
 #include "Entity.h"
 
-class Game;
+class GameInternal;
 class Manager
 {
 public:
-	Manager(Game* game) : game(game) {};
+	Manager(GameInternal* game) : game(game) {};
 	
 	void update();
 	void draw();
@@ -29,10 +29,10 @@ public:
 
 	Entity& addEntity();
 
-	Game* getGame() { return this->game; };
+	GameInternal* getGame() { return this->game; };
 
 private:
-	Game* game;
+	GameInternal* game;
 	std::vector<std::unique_ptr<Entity>> entities;
 	std::array<std::vector<Entity*>, MAX_GROUPS> entitiesByGroup;
 	std::array<std::vector<Entity*>, MAX_TEAMS> entitiesByTeam;
diff --git a/include/Map.h b/include/Map.h
index 09f46b6..4c1bc3b 100644
--- a/include/Map.h
+++ b/include/Map.h
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #include <map>
 #include <string>
 
-class Game;
+class GameInternal;
 class Map
 {
 public:
@@ -21,6 +21,6 @@ public:
 	 * \return Boolean for success
 	 * 
 	 */
-	static void loadMap(const char* path, int sizeX, int sizeY, Game* game, const std::map<int, std::pair<std::string, bool>>* textureDict /* backreference */);
-	static void addTile(unsigned long id, int x, int y, Game* game, const std::map<int, std::pair<std::string, bool>>* textureDict);
+	static void loadMap(const char* path, int sizeX, int sizeY, GameInternal* game, const std::map<int, std::pair<std::string, bool>>* textureDict /* backreference */);
+	static void addTile(unsigned long id, int x, int y, GameInternal* game, const std::map<int, std::pair<std::string, bool>>* textureDict);
 };
diff --git a/include/PopupWindow.h b/include/PopupWindow.h
index ccd01f6..464ab28 100644
--- a/include/PopupWindow.h
+++ b/include/PopupWindow.h
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 #include "Entity.h"
 
-class Game;
+class GameInternal;
 
 class PopupWindow {
 
diff --git a/include/SoundManager.h b/include/SoundManager.h
index 6fa2d73..bcfc0ac 100644
--- a/include/SoundManager.h
+++ b/include/SoundManager.h
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ enum SoundTypes
 	THROW_EGG,
 };
 
-class Game;
+class GameInternal;
 class SoundManager
 {
 	public:
@@ -30,6 +30,6 @@ class SoundManager
 		std::map<const char*, Mix_Chunk*> sound_cache;
 
 		Mix_Chunk* loadSound(const char* fileName);
-		static void playSound(Game* game, SoundTypes sound);
+		static void playSound(GameInternal* game, SoundTypes sound);
 	private:
 };
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/AssetManager.cpp b/src/AssetManager.cpp
index 8a70be9..d737a5d 100644
--- a/src/AssetManager.cpp
+++ b/src/AssetManager.cpp
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #include "TextureManager.h"
 #include "SoundManager.h"
 #include "ProjectileComponent.h"
-#include "Game.h"
+#include "GameInternal.h"
 
 #include "TransformComponent.h"
 
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 #include "ColliderComponent.h"
 #include "Constants.h"
 #include "Entity.h"
-#include "Game.h"
 #include "Vector2D.h"
 #include "PowerupComponent.h"
 #include <iostream>
diff --git a/src/ColliderComponent.cpp b/src/ColliderComponent.cpp
index 08475d0..aeca234 100644
--- a/src/ColliderComponent.cpp
+++ b/src/ColliderComponent.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 #include "CollisionHandler.h"
 #include "Entity.h"
-#include "Game.h"
+#include "GameInternal.h"
 #include "TransformComponent.h"
 #include <iostream>
 
diff --git a/src/Game.cpp b/src/GameInternal.cpp
similarity index 86%
rename from src/Game.cpp
rename to src/GameInternal.cpp
index c38cc9c..148a32e 100644
--- a/src/Game.cpp
+++ b/src/GameInternal.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#include "Game.h"
+#include "GameInternal.h"
 
 #include <SDL_error.h>
 
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@
 #include "TextureManager.h"
 #include "StatEffectsComponent.h"
 #include "Constants.h"
+#include "Game.h"
+#include "GameFactory.h"
 
-Game* engine::game = nullptr; // will be initialized in constructor
-
-Game::Game() :
+GameInternal::GameInternal() :
 	manager(this),
 	tiles(manager.getGroup((size_t)Entity::GroupLabel::MAPTILES)), 
 	players(manager.getGroup((size_t)Entity::GroupLabel::PLAYERS)),
@@ -27,18 +27,16 @@ Game::Game() :
 	player1(manager.addEntity()),
 	player2(manager.addEntity()),
 	wall(manager.addEntity())
-{
-	engine::game = this;
-};
+{};
 
-Game::~Game() = default;
+GameInternal::~GameInternal() = default;
 
-void Game::init(const char* title, int xpos, int ypos, int width, int height, bool fullscreen)
+void GameInternal::init(const char* title, int xpos, int ypos, int width, int height, bool fullscreen)
 {
-	Game::assets = new AssetManager(&manager);
-	Game::textureManager = new TextureManager(&manager);
-	Game::soundManager = new SoundManager();
-	Game::collisionHandler = new CollisionHandler(manager); // why does this use a referrence, but AssetManager a pointer?
+	GameInternal::assets = new AssetManager(&manager);
+	GameInternal::textureManager = new TextureManager(&manager);
+	GameInternal::soundManager = new SoundManager();
+	GameInternal::collisionHandler = new CollisionHandler(manager); // why does this use a referrence, but AssetManager a pointer?
 	
 	int flags = 0;
 	if (fullscreen)
@@ -84,7 +82,7 @@ void Game::init(const char* title, int xpos, int ypos, int width, int height, bo
 	}
 	SDL_SetRenderDrawColor(renderer, 255, 255, 255, 255);
 
-	SDL_Texture* backgroundTexture = Game::textureManager->loadTexture("assets/startscreen.png");
+	SDL_Texture* backgroundTexture = GameInternal::textureManager->loadTexture("assets/startscreen.png");
 
 	SDL_RenderClear(renderer);
 	SDL_RenderCopy(renderer, backgroundTexture, NULL, NULL);
@@ -181,10 +179,11 @@ void Game::init(const char* title, int xpos, int ypos, int width, int height, bo
 	player2.addComponent<StatEffectsComponent>();
 	player2.addGroup((size_t) Entity::GroupLabel::PLAYERS);
 
-	engine::init();
+	this->gameInstance = GameFactory::instance().create("Chickengame", this); //!< \todo Should be specified via a config file
+	this->gameInstance->init();
 }
 
-void Game::selectCharacters(const char* &playerSprite, const char* &enemySprite)
+void GameInternal::selectCharacters(const char* &playerSprite, const char* &enemySprite)
 {	
 	// TODO: move this whereever it makes sense (maybe game as a member)
 	std::map<int, std::pair<const char*, const char*>> characterSprites;
@@ -252,7 +251,7 @@ void Game::selectCharacters(const char* &playerSprite, const char* &enemySprite)
 			}
 		}
 
-		SDL_Texture* backgroundTexture = Game::textureManager->loadTexture("assets/characterSelection.png");
+		SDL_Texture* backgroundTexture = GameInternal::textureManager->loadTexture("assets/characterSelection.png");
 		SDL_RenderClear(renderer);
 		SDL_RenderCopy(renderer, backgroundTexture, NULL, NULL);
 
@@ -280,7 +279,7 @@ void Game::selectCharacters(const char* &playerSprite, const char* &enemySprite)
 	this->isRunning = true;
 }
 
-void Game::handleEvents()
+void GameInternal::handleEvents()
 {
 	SDL_PollEvent(&event);
 
@@ -294,15 +293,15 @@ void Game::handleEvents()
 	}
 }
 
-void Game::update()
+void GameInternal::update()
 {
 	manager.refresh();
 	manager.update();
 
-	engine::update(); // TODO: this might have to be split up into two update functions, before and after manager...
+	this->gameInstance->update(); // TODO: this might have to be split up into two update functions, before and after manager...
 }
 
-void Game::render()
+void GameInternal::render()
 {
 	SDL_RenderClear(renderer);
 	for (auto& t : tiles)
@@ -323,7 +322,7 @@ void Game::render()
 	SDL_RenderPresent(renderer);
 }
 
-void Game::clean()
+void GameInternal::clean()
 {
 	delete(textureManager);
 	SDL_DestroyRenderer(renderer);
@@ -332,18 +331,18 @@ void Game::clean()
 	std::cout << "Game Cleaned!" << std::endl;
 }
 
-bool Game::running() const
+bool GameInternal::running() const
 {
 	return isRunning;
 }
 
-void Game::setWinner(Entity::TeamLabel winningTeam)
+void GameInternal::setWinner(Entity::TeamLabel winningTeam)
 {
 	this->winner = winningTeam;
 	this->isRunning = false;
 }
 
-Entity::TeamLabel Game::getWinner() const
+Entity::TeamLabel GameInternal::getWinner() const
 {
 	return this->winner;
 }
diff --git a/src/GameObject.cpp b/src/GameObject.cpp
index b94c03a..2b065c2 100644
--- a/src/GameObject.cpp
+++ b/src/GameObject.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 #include "SDL_error.h"
 #include "TextureManager.h"
-#include "Game.h"
+#include "GameInternal.h"
 
 GameObject::GameObject(const char* texturesheet, int x, int y)
 {
diff --git a/src/HealthComponent.cpp b/src/HealthComponent.cpp
index 25dd3ff..ead3412 100644
--- a/src/HealthComponent.cpp
+++ b/src/HealthComponent.cpp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 #include "Direction.h"
 #include "Entity.h"
-#include "Game.h"
+#include "GameInternal.h"
 #include <cstdio>
 
 void HealthComponent::init() 
diff --git a/src/Map.cpp b/src/Map.cpp
index 125f029..5689d9e 100644
--- a/src/Map.cpp
+++ b/src/Map.cpp
@@ -6,11 +6,11 @@
 #include <utility>
 
 #include "Constants.h"
-#include "Game.h"
+#include "GameInternal.h"
 #include "SDL_error.h"
 #include "TileComponent.h"
 
-void Map::loadMap(const char* path, int sizeX, int sizeY, Game* game, const std::map<int, std::pair<std::string, bool>>* textureDict /* backreference */)
+void Map::loadMap(const char* path, int sizeX, int sizeY, GameInternal* game, const std::map<int, std::pair<std::string, bool>>* textureDict /* backreference */)
 {
 	std::string tileIDstr;
 	char singleChar = 0;
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ void Map::loadMap(const char* path, int sizeX, int sizeY, Game* game, const std:
 	mapFile.close();
 }
 
-void Map::addTile(unsigned long id, int x, int y, Game* game, const std::map<int, std::pair<std::string, bool>>* textureDict) // tile entity
+void Map::addTile(unsigned long id, int x, int y, GameInternal* game, const std::map<int, std::pair<std::string, bool>>* textureDict) // tile entity
 {
 	auto& tile(game->manager.addEntity());
 	tile.addComponent<TileComponent>(x, y, TILE_SIZE, TILE_SIZE, id, textureDict);
diff --git a/src/PopupWindow.cpp b/src/PopupWindow.cpp
index 5912eaf..39362a9 100644
--- a/src/PopupWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/PopupWindow.cpp
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #include "Entity.h"
 #include "PopupWindow.h"
 #include "TextureManager.h"
-#include "Game.h"
+#include "GameInternal.h"
 
 PopupWindow::PopupWindow(const char* title, const std::string &message) :
 continueGame(false), interacted(false) {
diff --git a/src/PowerupComponent.cpp b/src/PowerupComponent.cpp
index 48de1be..7d4ce0a 100644
--- a/src/PowerupComponent.cpp
+++ b/src/PowerupComponent.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #include "PowerupComponent.h"
-#include "Game.h"
+#include "GameInternal.h"
 #include "CollisionHandler.h"
 #include "Entity.h"
 #include "HealthComponent.h"
diff --git a/src/ProjectileComponent.cpp b/src/ProjectileComponent.cpp
index deb588d..75c711b 100644
--- a/src/ProjectileComponent.cpp
+++ b/src/ProjectileComponent.cpp
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #include "SoundManager.h"
 #include "TransformComponent.h"
 #include "Entity.h"
-#include "Game.h"
+#include "GameInternal.h"
 #include "HealthComponent.h"
 #include "Vector2D.h"
 #include <cassert>
diff --git a/src/SoundManager.cpp b/src/SoundManager.cpp
index 2a890d7..b8575c8 100644
--- a/src/SoundManager.cpp
+++ b/src/SoundManager.cpp
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <iostream>
 
-#include "Game.h"
+#include "GameInternal.h"
 #include "AssetManager.h"
 
 Mix_Chunk* SoundManager::loadSound(const char* fileName)
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ Mix_Chunk* SoundManager::loadSound(const char* fileName)
 	return sound;
 }
 
-void SoundManager::playSound(Game* game, SoundTypes sound)
+void SoundManager::playSound(GameInternal* game, SoundTypes sound)
 {
 	switch (sound)
 	{
diff --git a/src/SpriteComponent.cpp b/src/SpriteComponent.cpp
index ab40f25..9dea93e 100644
--- a/src/SpriteComponent.cpp
+++ b/src/SpriteComponent.cpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #include "TextureManager.h"
 #include "Entity.h"
 #include "TransformComponent.h"
-#include "Game.h"
+#include "GameInternal.h"
 #include "Manager.h"
 
 SpriteComponent::SpriteComponent(const char* path)
diff --git a/src/TextureManager.cpp b/src/TextureManager.cpp
index 6d56c35..3e46d46 100644
--- a/src/TextureManager.cpp
+++ b/src/TextureManager.cpp
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include <string>
 
-#include "Game.h"
+#include "GameInternal.h"
 
 SDL_Texture* TextureManager::loadTexture(const char* fileName)
 {
diff --git a/src/TransformComponent.cpp b/src/TransformComponent.cpp
index 3175968..71b1302 100644
--- a/src/TransformComponent.cpp
+++ b/src/TransformComponent.cpp
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #include "ColliderComponent.h"
 #include "Constants.h"
 #include "Entity.h"
-#include "Game.h"
+#include "GameInternal.h"
 #include "Vector2D.h"
 #include <cstdio>
 #include <initializer_list>
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index ce47941..092afb4 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@
 #include <ctime>
 
 #include "Entity.h"
-#include "Game.h"
+#include "GameInternal.h"
 #include "Constants.h"
 #include "PopupWindow.h"
 
-Game* game = nullptr;
+GameInternal* game = nullptr;
 
 int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 {
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 	Uint32 frameStart;
 	int frameTime;
 
-	game = new Game();
+	game = new GameInternal();
 
 	game->init("No_Name_Chicken_Game", SDL_WINDOWPOS_CENTERED, SDL_WINDOWPOS_CENTERED, SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH, SCREEN_SIZE_HEIGHT, false);
         while (game->running()) {