diff --git a/assets/cutscenes/main_menu.jsonc b/assets/cutscenes/main_menu.jsonc
index a46c60db..bc17e12c 100644
--- a/assets/cutscenes/main_menu.jsonc
+++ b/assets/cutscenes/main_menu.jsonc
@@ -1,9 +1,20 @@
 {
   "items": [
+    {
+      "type": "MARKER",
+      "name": "MAIN_MENU_IDLE"
+    },
     {
       "type": "UI_SHOW",
       "name": "main_menu"
     },
+
+    // Options button goes here - no options screen yet, so this is just
+    // an alias landing right back on the idle loop below.
+    {
+      "type": "MARKER",
+      "name": "OPTIONS"
+    },
     {
       "type": "IDLE"
     },
@@ -88,6 +99,35 @@
     {
       "type": "MARKER",
       "name": "LOADED"
+    },
+
+    // Quit Game button goes here. Cancelling jumps back to
+    // MAIN_MENU_IDLE; confirming falls through to QUIT_GAME, which
+    // ends the process directly.
+    {
+      "type": "MARKER",
+      "name": "QUIT"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "MODAL_OPTIONS_MARKERS",
+      "title": "main_menu.quit_confirm",
+      "options": [
+        {
+          "text": "ui.confirm.confirm",
+          "marker": "QUIT_CONFIRMED"
+        },
+        {
+          "text": "ui.confirm.cancel",
+          "marker": "MAIN_MENU_IDLE"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "MARKER",
+      "name": "QUIT_CONFIRMED"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "QUIT_GAME"
     }
   ]
 }
diff --git a/src/dusk/asset/loader/locale/assetlocaleloader.c b/src/dusk/asset/loader/locale/assetlocaleloader.c
index ef01bbb1..839e55b8 100644
--- a/src/dusk/asset/loader/locale/assetlocaleloader.c
+++ b/src/dusk/asset/loader/locale/assetlocaleloader.c
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@ errorret_t assetLocaleLoaderAsync(assetloading_t *loading) {
   assetLoaderErrorChain(loading, assetFileOpen(&localeFile->file));
 
   char_t buffer[1024];
-  assetLoaderErrorChain(loading, assetLocaleGetString(
-    localeFile, "", 0, buffer, sizeof(buffer)
+  assetLoaderErrorChain(loading, assetLocaleGetHeader(
+    localeFile, buffer, sizeof(buffer)
   ));
   assetLoaderErrorChain(loading, assetLocaleParseHeader(
     localeFile, buffer, sizeof(buffer)
@@ -487,6 +487,7 @@ errorret_t assetLocaleCacheFind(
   assertNotNull(file, "Asset file cannot be NULL.");
   assertNotNull(messageId, "Message ID cannot be NULL.");
   assertNotNull(outHit, "outHit cannot be NULL.");
+  assertStrLenMin(messageId, 1, "Message ID cannot be empty.");
 
   *outHit = false;
   if(file->cache == NULL) errorOk();
@@ -527,6 +528,7 @@ void assetLocaleCacheInsert(
   assertNotNull(file, "Asset file cannot be NULL.");
   assertNotNull(messageId, "Message ID cannot be NULL.");
   assertNotNull(value, "Value cannot be NULL.");
+  assertStrLenMin(messageId, 1, "Message ID cannot be empty.");
 
   // Caching is a pure optimization - a message ID or value too long for a
   // fixed cache slot is just never cached, not an error.
@@ -555,7 +557,13 @@ void assetLocaleCacheInsert(
   stringCopy(entry->value, value, ASSET_LOCALE_CACHE_VALUE_MAX);
 }
 
-errorret_t assetLocaleGetString(
+// Shared by assetLocaleGetString (external callers, messageId required
+// non-empty) and assetLocaleGetHeader (messageId "", the PO format's own
+// sentinel for its header entry - see assetLocaleGetHeader). Caching is
+// skipped entirely for an empty messageId: assetLocaleCacheFind/Insert
+// both reject one outright (same guard as assetLocaleGetString's own),
+// and it's a one-shot boot-time read anyway, not worth caching.
+errorret_t assetLocaleGetStringLookup(
   assetlocalefile_t *file,
   const char_t *messageId,
   const int32_t pluralCount,
@@ -569,10 +577,12 @@ errorret_t assetLocaleGetString(
   assertTrue(stringBufferSize > 0, "String buffer size must be > 0");
 
   bool_t cacheHit = false;
-  errorChain(assetLocaleCacheFind(
-    file, messageId, pluralCount, stringBuffer, stringBufferSize, &cacheHit
-  ));
-  if(cacheHit) errorOk();
+  if(messageId[0] != '\0') {
+    errorChain(assetLocaleCacheFind(
+      file, messageId, pluralCount, stringBuffer, stringBufferSize, &cacheHit
+    ));
+    if(cacheHit) errorOk();
+  }
 
   assetfilelinereader_t reader;
 
@@ -717,11 +727,38 @@ errorret_t assetLocaleGetString(
     errorThrow("Failed to find msgstr for message ID: %s", messageId);
   }
 
-  assetLocaleCacheInsert(file, messageId, pluralCount, stringBuffer);
+  if(messageId[0] != '\0') {
+    assetLocaleCacheInsert(file, messageId, pluralCount, stringBuffer);
+  }
 
   errorOk();
 }
 
+errorret_t assetLocaleGetString(
+  assetlocalefile_t *file,
+  const char_t *messageId,
+  const int32_t pluralCount,
+  char_t *stringBuffer,
+  const size_t stringBufferSize
+) {
+  assertNotNull(messageId, "Message ID cannot be NULL.");
+  assertStrLenMin(messageId, 1, "Message ID cannot be empty.");
+
+  return assetLocaleGetStringLookup(
+    file, messageId, pluralCount, stringBuffer, stringBufferSize
+  );
+}
+
+errorret_t assetLocaleGetHeader(
+  assetlocalefile_t *file,
+  char_t *stringBuffer,
+  const size_t stringBufferSize
+) {
+  return assetLocaleGetStringLookup(
+    file, "", 0, stringBuffer, stringBufferSize
+  );
+}
+
 errorret_t assetLocaleGetStringWithVA(
   assetlocalefile_t *file,
   const char_t *messageId,
diff --git a/src/dusk/asset/loader/locale/assetlocaleloader.h b/src/dusk/asset/loader/locale/assetlocaleloader.h
index 44d1fcce..fefcc557 100644
--- a/src/dusk/asset/loader/locale/assetlocaleloader.h
+++ b/src/dusk/asset/loader/locale/assetlocaleloader.h
@@ -299,16 +299,42 @@ void assetLocaleCacheInsert(
 );
 
 /**
- * Looks up a translated string by message ID from the open locale file.
+ * Shared lookup core behind assetLocaleGetString and assetLocaleGetHeader:
+ * checks the file's cache first (see @ref assetLocaleCacheFind; skipped
+ * entirely for an empty messageId, since the cache rejects one), on a
+ * miss rewinds the file and scans from the beginning, then caches the
+ * result (see @ref assetLocaleCacheInsert, same empty-messageId skip)
+ * before returning. For plural entries (`msgid_plural`) the
+ * `pluralCount` is evaluated against the loaded plural rules to select
+ * the correct `msgstr[N]` form.
  *
- * Checks the file's cache first (see @ref assetLocaleCacheFind); on a miss,
- * rewinds the file and scans from the beginning, then caches the result
- * (see @ref assetLocaleCacheInsert) before returning. For plural entries
- * (`msgid_plural`) the `pluralCount` is evaluated against the loaded plural
- * rules to select the correct `msgstr[N]` form.
+ * Unlike assetLocaleGetString, messageId may be `""` here (see
+ * assetLocaleGetHeader) - this is the shared implementation both of
+ * them delegate to, not a public entry point of its own in practice.
  *
  * @param file  Locale file to search. Must be open.
- * @param messageId  PO message ID to find (`""` retrieves the header entry).
+ * @param messageId  PO message ID to find, or `""` for the header entry.
+ * @param pluralCount  Count used to select the plural form (ignored for
+ *                     singular entries).
+ * @param stringBuffer  Buffer to receive the translated string.
+ * @param stringBufferSize  Capacity of `stringBuffer` in bytes.
+ * @return OK on success, error if the message ID is not found or I/O fails.
+ */
+errorret_t assetLocaleGetStringLookup(
+  assetlocalefile_t *file,
+  const char_t *messageId,
+  const int32_t pluralCount,
+  char_t *stringBuffer,
+  const size_t stringBufferSize
+);
+
+/**
+ * Looks up a translated string by message ID from the open locale file.
+ * See @ref assetLocaleGetStringLookup for the lookup/caching mechanics.
+ *
+ * @param file  Locale file to search. Must be open.
+ * @param messageId  PO message ID to find. Must be non-empty - use
+ *                    @ref assetLocaleGetHeader to read the header entry.
  * @param pluralCount  Count used to select the plural form (ignored for
  *                     singular entries).
  * @param stringBuffer  Buffer to receive the translated string.
@@ -323,6 +349,27 @@ errorret_t assetLocaleGetString(
   const size_t stringBufferSize
 );
 
+/**
+ * Reads the PO file's header entry (the `msgid ""` block every PO file
+ * starts with, holding metadata like the plural-forms rule) - see @ref
+ * assetLocaleParseHeader, its caller. A dedicated function rather than
+ * calling assetLocaleGetString(file, "", ...) since messageId "" is a
+ * PO-format-internal sentinel, not a real (untrusted) caller-supplied
+ * message ID, so it doesn't go through assetLocaleGetString's normal
+ * non-empty validation.
+ *
+ * @param file  Locale file to search. Must be open.
+ * @param stringBuffer  Buffer to receive the raw header block.
+ * @param stringBufferSize  Capacity of `stringBuffer` in bytes.
+ * @return OK on success, error if the header entry is missing or I/O
+ * fails.
+ */
+errorret_t assetLocaleGetHeader(
+  assetlocalefile_t *file,
+  char_t *stringBuffer,
+  const size_t stringBufferSize
+);
+
 /**
  * Looks up a translated string and formats it with a `printf`-style variadic
  * argument list.
diff --git a/src/dusk/locale/localemanager.h b/src/dusk/locale/localemanager.h
index 4f5e9a1a..5951336d 100644
--- a/src/dusk/locale/localemanager.h
+++ b/src/dusk/locale/localemanager.h
@@ -34,13 +34,43 @@ errorret_t localeManagerInit();
 errorret_t localeManagerSetLocale(const localeinfo_t *locale);
 
 /**
- * Get a localized string for the given message ID.
- * 
+ * Get a localized string for the given message ID verbatim, with no
+ * printf-style formatting applied - use this (rather than
+ * localeManagerGetText with no variadic args) whenever the raw string
+ * is displayed as-is, or cached to be formatted later (e.g. a
+ * "_format" message ID whose %-specifiers are filled in by the caller
+ * itself via stringFormat once the actual values are known). Passing a
+ * "_format" string through localeManagerGetText/GetTextArgs instead
+ * would consume it immediately as a format string with zero args,
+ * which is wrong for this use, and would also mishandle any literal
+ * '%' in a plain display string.
+ *
  * @param id The message ID to retrieve.
  * @param buffer Buffer to write the retrieved string to.
  * @param bufferSize Size of the buffer.
  * @param plural Plural index to retrieve.
- * @param ... Additional arguments for formatting the string.
+ * @return An error code if a failure occurs.
+ */
+#define localeManagerGetString(id, buffer, bufferSize, plural) \
+  assetLocaleGetString( \
+    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale, \
+    id, \
+    plural, \
+    buffer, \
+    bufferSize \
+  )
+
+/**
+ * Get a localized string for the given message ID, formatted
+ * printf-style with the given variadic arguments.
+ *
+ * @param id The message ID to retrieve.
+ * @param buffer Buffer to write the retrieved string to.
+ * @param bufferSize Size of the buffer.
+ * @param plural Plural index to retrieve.
+ * @param ... Arguments for formatting the string - must not be empty,
+ * since the retrieved string is always run through vsnprintf; see
+ * localeManagerGetString for a message ID with no format args at all.
  * @return An error code if a failure occurs.
  */
 #define localeManagerGetText(id, buffer, bufferSize, plural, ...) \
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/control/CMakeLists.txt b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/control/CMakeLists.txt
index c422b90a..43f8e9dd 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/control/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/control/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ target_sources(${DUSK_LIBRARY_TARGET_NAME}
     cutsceneconcurrent.c
     cutscenemarker.c
     cutscenerestart.c
+    cutscenequitgame.c
     cutscenescene.c
     cutsceneidle.c
 )
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/control/cutscenequitgame.c b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/control/cutscenequitgame.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b07a5e8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/control/cutscenequitgame.c
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h"
+#include "engine/engine.h"
+
+void cutsceneQuitGameStart(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+) {
+  ENGINE.running = false;
+}
+
+bool_t cutsceneQuitGameUpdate(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+) {
+  return false;
+}
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/control/cutscenequitgame.h b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/control/cutscenequitgame.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9848a84f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/control/cutscenequitgame.h
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2026 Dominic Masters
+ *
+ * This software is released under the MIT License.
+ * https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+ */
+
+#pragma once
+#include "rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitembase.h"
+
+/**
+ * Starts a quit-game item (sets ENGINE.running to false, ending the
+ * process's main loop).
+ *
+ * @param item The cutscene item.
+ * @param data Runtime data storage.
+ */
+void cutsceneQuitGameStart(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+);
+
+/**
+ * Updates a quit-game item. The engine is shutting down by the time this
+ * would run, so this always reports incomplete (mirrors
+ * cutsceneRestartUpdate).
+ *
+ * @param item The cutscene item.
+ * @param data Runtime data storage.
+ * @returns false always.
+ */
+bool_t cutsceneQuitGameUpdate(
+  const cutsceneitem_t *item,
+  cutsceneitemdata_t *data
+);
+
+// QUIT_GAME has no fields of its own to parse - see cutsceneItemLoadNoop
+// (cutsceneitembase.h), used directly as its .load callback.
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.c b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.c
index 2192e74a..c556e6fa 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.c
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.c
@@ -220,6 +220,13 @@ cutsceneitemcallbacks_t CUTSCENE_ITEM_CALLBACKS[CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_COUNT] = {
     .load = cutsceneItemLoadNoop
   },
 
+  [CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_QUIT_GAME] = {
+    .init = cutsceneQuitGameStart,
+    .update = cutsceneQuitGameUpdate,
+    .jsonName = "QUIT_GAME",
+    .load = cutsceneItemLoadNoop
+  },
+
   [CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_SCENE] = {
     .init = cutsceneSceneStart,
     .update = cutsceneSceneUpdate,
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h
index b93c66bd..f73572e0 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/cutsceneitem.h
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "control/cutsceneconcurrent.h"
 #include "control/cutscenemarker.h"
 #include "control/cutscenerestart.h"
+#include "control/cutscenequitgame.h"
 #include "control/cutscenescene.h"
 #include "control/cutsceneidle.h"
 #include "entity/cutsceneentityteleport.h"
@@ -87,6 +88,7 @@ typedef enum {
   CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_PRINT,
   CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_MARKER,
   CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_RESTART,
+  CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_QUIT_GAME,
   CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_SCENE,
   CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_SAVE_DEVICE_CHECK,
   CUTSCENE_ITEM_TYPE_SAVE_LOAD_ALL_SLOTS,
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.c b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.c
index 48e95cab..41c1e76e 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.c
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/cutscene/item/ui/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers.c
@@ -61,11 +61,11 @@ errorret_t cutsceneModalOptionsMarkersLoad(
     CUTSCENE_MODAL_TITLE_MAX_CHARS
   );
   if(!cutsceneJsonCopyString(
-    itemObj, "message", NULL, item->modalOptionsMarkers.message,
+    itemObj, "message", "", item->modalOptionsMarkers.message,
     CUTSCENE_MODAL_MESSAGE_MAX_CHARS
   )) {
     errorThrow(
-      "Cutscene item (MODAL_OPTIONS_MARKERS): missing/too-long 'message'"
+      "Cutscene item (MODAL_OPTIONS_MARKERS): 'message' too long"
     );
   }
 
diff --git a/src/dusk/rpg/item/item.c b/src/dusk/rpg/item/item.c
index d80a6b67..010b6845 100644
--- a/src/dusk/rpg/item/item.c
+++ b/src/dusk/rpg/item/item.c
@@ -18,13 +18,7 @@ errorret_t itemGetName(
   assertTrue(item > ITEM_ID_NULL, "Item ID must not be null");
   assertTrue(item < ITEM_ID_COUNT, "Item ID out of range");
 
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
-    ITEMS[item].name,
-    0,
-    buffer,
-    bufferSize
-  ));
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(ITEMS[item].name, buffer, bufferSize, 0));
 
   errorOk();
 }
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/save/uisaveslot.c b/src/dusk/ui/dialog/save/uisaveslot.c
index 11267e4a..674c87f6 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/save/uisaveslot.c
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/dialog/save/uisaveslot.c
@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@ void uiSaveSlotInit(
     &saveSlot->numberLabel, saveSlot->numberText,
     saveSlot->numberSprites, UI_SAVE_SLOT_NUMBER_SPRITES_MAX
   );
-  errorret_t result = assetLocaleGetStringWithVA(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale, "ui.save_slot.number_format", 0,
-    saveSlot->numberText, UI_SAVE_SLOT_NUMBER_TEXT_MAX,
+  errorret_t result = localeManagerGetText(
+    "ui.save_slot.number_format",
+    saveSlot->numberText, UI_SAVE_SLOT_NUMBER_TEXT_MAX, 0,
     slotIndex + 1
   );
   if(errorIsNotOk(result)) errorCatch(result);
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/save/uiselectsave.c b/src/dusk/ui/dialog/save/uiselectsave.c
index ada89625..fc8bbc9b 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/dialog/save/uiselectsave.c
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/dialog/save/uiselectsave.c
@@ -32,9 +32,8 @@ void uiSelectSaveFormatSlot(
   saveslotcache_t *cache = &SAVE.caches[index];
 
   if(!saveSlotInUse(cache)) {
-    errorret_t result = assetLocaleGetString(
-      &LOCALE.entry->data.locale, "ui.select_save.empty", 0,
-      buffer, bufferSize
+    errorret_t result = localeManagerGetString(
+      "ui.select_save.empty", buffer, bufferSize, 0
     );
     if(errorIsNotOk(result)) errorCatch(result);
     return;
@@ -43,9 +42,8 @@ void uiSelectSaveFormatSlot(
   char_t dateText[32];
   timeEpochFormat(cache->time, "%Y-%m-%d %H:%M", dateText, sizeof(dateText));
 
-  errorret_t result = assetLocaleGetStringWithVA(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale, "ui.select_save.slot_format", 0,
-    buffer, bufferSize,
+  errorret_t result = localeManagerGetText(
+    "ui.select_save.slot_format", buffer, bufferSize, 0,
     cache->name, cache->playerLevel, dateText
   );
   if(errorIsNotOk(result)) errorCatch(result);
@@ -130,9 +128,8 @@ void uiSelectSaveNameEmptySlot(const uint8_t index) {
   UI_SELECT_SAVE.pendingNameIndex = index;
 
   char_t title[UI_KEYBOARD_TITLE_TEXT_MAX];
-  errorret_t result = assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale, "ui.select_save.name_title", 0,
-    title, sizeof(title)
+  errorret_t result = localeManagerGetString(
+    "ui.select_save.name_title", title, sizeof(title), 0
   );
   if(errorIsNotOk(result)) errorCatch(result);
 
@@ -151,9 +148,8 @@ void uiSelectSaveSetActionLabel(const uiselectsavetype_t type) {
   const char_t *labelKey = type == UI_SELECT_SAVE_TYPE_LOAD ?
     "ui.select_save.delete_mode" : "ui.confirm.cancel";
 
-  errorret_t result = assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale, labelKey, 0,
-    UI_SELECT_SAVE.actionText, UI_SELECT_SAVE_ACTION_LABEL_MAX
+  errorret_t result = localeManagerGetString(
+    labelKey, UI_SELECT_SAVE.actionText, UI_SELECT_SAVE_ACTION_LABEL_MAX, 0
   );
   if(errorIsNotOk(result)) errorCatch(result);
 
@@ -235,9 +231,11 @@ errorret_t uiSelectSaveInit(void) {
     &UI_SELECT_SAVE.titleLabel, UI_SELECT_SAVE.titleText,
     UI_SELECT_SAVE.titleSprites, UI_SELECT_SAVE_TITLE_SPRITES_MAX
   );
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale, "ui.select_save.title", 0,
-    UI_SELECT_SAVE.titleText, UI_SELECT_SAVE_TITLE_TEXT_MAX
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
+    "ui.select_save.title",
+    UI_SELECT_SAVE.titleText,
+    UI_SELECT_SAVE_TITLE_TEXT_MAX,
+    0
   ));
   UI_SELECT_SAVE.titleLabel.dirty = true;
   uiLabelRebuffer(&UI_SELECT_SAVE.titleLabel);
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/overlay/uiloading.c b/src/dusk/ui/overlay/uiloading.c
index ad52345a..70927eac 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/overlay/uiloading.c
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/overlay/uiloading.c
@@ -21,12 +21,8 @@ uiloading_t UI_LOADING;
 errorret_t uiLoadingInit(void) {
   memoryZero(&UI_LOADING, sizeof(uiloading_t));
 
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
-    "ui.loading.text",
-    0,
-    UI_LOADING.text,
-    UI_LOADING_TEXT_MAX
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
+    "ui.loading.text", UI_LOADING.text, UI_LOADING_TEXT_MAX, 0
   ));
 
   errorOk();
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/screen/backpack/uibackpack.c b/src/dusk/ui/screen/backpack/uibackpack.c
index 2f054125..cc37e27a 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/screen/backpack/uibackpack.c
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/screen/backpack/uibackpack.c
@@ -43,12 +43,11 @@ void uiBackpackTabSelected(
 errorret_t uiBackpackInit(void) {
   memoryZero(&UI_BACKPACK, sizeof(uibackpack_t));
 
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "ui.backpack.category_format",
-    0,
     UI_BACKPACK.categoryFormat,
-    UI_BACKPACK_CATEGORY_FORMAT_MAX
+    UI_BACKPACK_CATEGORY_FORMAT_MAX,
+    0
   ));
 
   MENU_BEGIN(
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/screen/battle/uibattlehud.c b/src/dusk/ui/screen/battle/uibattlehud.c
index c196075c..e4c7b54f 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/screen/battle/uibattlehud.c
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/screen/battle/uibattlehud.c
@@ -25,19 +25,17 @@ uibattlehud_t UI_BATTLE_HUD;
 errorret_t uiBattleHudInit(void) {
   memoryZero(&UI_BATTLE_HUD, sizeof(uibattlehud_t));
 
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "ui.battle.hud.hp_format",
-    0,
     UI_BATTLE_HUD.hpFormat,
-    UI_BATTLE_HUD_FORMAT_MAX
+    UI_BATTLE_HUD_FORMAT_MAX,
+    0
   ));
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "ui.battle.hud.mp_format",
-    0,
     UI_BATTLE_HUD.mpFormat,
-    UI_BATTLE_HUD_FORMAT_MAX
+    UI_BATTLE_HUD_FORMAT_MAX,
+    0
   ));
 
   errorOk();
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/screen/battle/uibattlemenu.c b/src/dusk/ui/screen/battle/uibattlemenu.c
index a0265b14..a71f33c1 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/screen/battle/uibattlemenu.c
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/screen/battle/uibattlemenu.c
@@ -83,26 +83,23 @@ void uiBattleMenuActionSelected(
 errorret_t uiBattleMenuInit(void) {
   memoryZero(&UI_BATTLE_MENU, sizeof(uibattlemenu_t));
 
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "ui.battle.menu.attack",
-    0,
     UI_BATTLE_MENU.attackLabel,
-    UI_BATTLE_MENU_ACTION_LABEL_MAX
+    UI_BATTLE_MENU_ACTION_LABEL_MAX,
+    0
   ));
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "ui.battle.menu.flee",
-    0,
     UI_BATTLE_MENU.fleeLabel,
-    UI_BATTLE_MENU_ACTION_LABEL_MAX
+    UI_BATTLE_MENU_ACTION_LABEL_MAX,
+    0
   ));
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "ui.battle.menu.target_format",
-    0,
     UI_BATTLE_MENU.targetFormat,
-    UI_BATTLE_MENU_TARGET_FORMAT_MAX
+    UI_BATTLE_MENU_TARGET_FORMAT_MAX,
+    0
   ));
 
   MENU_BEGIN(
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/screen/game/uigamemenu.c b/src/dusk/ui/screen/game/uigamemenu.c
index a0284375..dbe26561 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/screen/game/uigamemenu.c
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/screen/game/uigamemenu.c
@@ -41,75 +41,65 @@ void uiGameMenuSelected(
 errorret_t uiGameMenuInit(void) {
   memoryZero(&UI_GAME_MENU, sizeof(uigamemenu_t));
 
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "ui.game_menu.characters",
-    0,
     UI_GAME_MENU.charactersLabel,
-    UI_GAME_MENU_LABEL_MAX
+    UI_GAME_MENU_LABEL_MAX,
+    0
   ));
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "ui.game_menu.items",
-    0,
     UI_GAME_MENU.itemsLabel,
-    UI_GAME_MENU_LABEL_MAX
+    UI_GAME_MENU_LABEL_MAX,
+    0
   ));
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "ui.game_menu.settings",
-    0,
     UI_GAME_MENU.settingsLabel,
-    UI_GAME_MENU_LABEL_MAX
+    UI_GAME_MENU_LABEL_MAX,
+    0
   ));
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "ui.game_menu.save_success",
-    0,
     UI_GAME_MENU.saveSuccessText,
-    UI_GAME_MENU_MESSAGE_MAX
+    UI_GAME_MENU_MESSAGE_MAX,
+    0
   ));
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "ui.game_menu.save_cancelled",
-    0,
     UI_GAME_MENU.saveCancelledText,
-    UI_GAME_MENU_MESSAGE_MAX
+    UI_GAME_MENU_MESSAGE_MAX,
+    0
   ));
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "ui.game_menu.save_unavailable",
-    0,
     UI_GAME_MENU.saveUnavailableText,
-    UI_GAME_MENU_MESSAGE_MAX
+    UI_GAME_MENU_MESSAGE_MAX,
+    0
   ));
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "ui.game_menu.save_temporary",
-    0,
     UI_GAME_MENU.saveTemporaryText,
-    UI_GAME_MENU_MESSAGE_MAX
+    UI_GAME_MENU_MESSAGE_MAX,
+    0
   ));
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "ui.game_menu.save_create_confirm",
-    0,
     UI_GAME_MENU.saveCreateConfirmText,
-    UI_GAME_MENU_MESSAGE_MAX
+    UI_GAME_MENU_MESSAGE_MAX,
+    0
   ));
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "ui.game_menu.save_failed_format",
-    0,
     UI_GAME_MENU.saveFailedFormat,
-    UI_GAME_MENU_MESSAGE_MAX
+    UI_GAME_MENU_MESSAGE_MAX,
+    0
   ));
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "ui.game_menu.save_check_failed_format",
-    0,
     UI_GAME_MENU.saveCheckFailedFormat,
-    UI_GAME_MENU_MESSAGE_MAX
+    UI_GAME_MENU_MESSAGE_MAX,
+    0
   ));
 
   MENU_BEGIN(
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/screen/mainmenu/uimainmenu.c b/src/dusk/ui/screen/mainmenu/uimainmenu.c
index 29e06cce..7b75ccb7 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/screen/mainmenu/uimainmenu.c
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/screen/mainmenu/uimainmenu.c
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 
 #include "uimainmenu.h"
 #include "ui/widget/uiframe.h"
-#include "engine/engine.h"
 #include "rpg/battle/testbattle/testbattle.h"
 #include "util/memory.h"
 #include "display/spritebatch/spritebatch.h"
@@ -15,7 +14,6 @@
 #include "assert/assert.h"
 #include "locale/localemanager.h"
 #include "asset/loader/locale/assetlocaleloader.h"
-#include "ui/dialog/uiconfirm.h"
 #include "ui/dialog/save/uiselectsave.h"
 #include "rpg/cutscene/cutscenesystem.h"
 #include "scene/scene.h"
@@ -28,10 +26,6 @@
 uimainmenu_t UI_MAIN_MENU;
 assetentry_t *MAIN_MENU_CUTSCENE_ENTRY = NULL;
 
-void uiMainMenuQuitConfirmed(const bool_t result, void *user) {
-  if(result) ENGINE.running = false;
-}
-
 cutscene_t *uiMainMenuLoadCutscene(void) {
   if(MAIN_MENU_CUTSCENE_ENTRY == NULL) {
     MAIN_MENU_CUTSCENE_ENTRY = assetLock(
@@ -75,6 +69,24 @@ void uiMainMenuStartGame(void) {
   cutsceneSystemSetOnComplete(uiMainMenuOpenSelectSave);
 }
 
+void uiMainMenuOptions(void) {
+  if(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene == NULL) {
+    cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneAndGoToMarker(
+      uiMainMenuLoadCutscene(), "OPTIONS"
+    );
+  } else {
+    cutsceneGoTo("OPTIONS");
+  }
+}
+
+void uiMainMenuQuit(void) {
+  if(CUTSCENE_SYSTEM.scene == NULL) {
+    cutsceneSystemStartCutsceneAndGoToMarker(uiMainMenuLoadCutscene(), "QUIT");
+  } else {
+    cutsceneGoTo("QUIT");
+  }
+}
+
 void uiMainMenuSelected(
   const uimenu_t *menu,
   const uint8_t index,
@@ -88,10 +100,12 @@ void uiMainMenuSelected(
       break;
 
     case UI_MAIN_MENU_INDEX_OPTIONS:
+      uiMainMenuOptions();
       break;
 
     case UI_MAIN_MENU_INDEX_QUIT:
-      uiConfirmOpen("main_menu.quit_confirm", uiMainMenuQuitConfirmed, NULL);
+      uiMenuClose(&UI_MAIN_MENU.menu);
+      uiMainMenuQuit();
       break;
 
     default:
@@ -102,26 +116,23 @@ void uiMainMenuSelected(
 errorret_t uiMainMenuInit(void) {
   memoryZero(&UI_MAIN_MENU, sizeof(uimainmenu_t));
 
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "main_menu.start_game",
-    0,
     UI_MAIN_MENU.startGameLabel,
-    UI_MAIN_MENU_LABEL_MAX
+    UI_MAIN_MENU_LABEL_MAX,
+    0
   ));
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "main_menu.options",
-    0,
     UI_MAIN_MENU.optionsLabel,
-    UI_MAIN_MENU_LABEL_MAX
+    UI_MAIN_MENU_LABEL_MAX,
+    0
   ));
-  errorChain(assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale,
+  errorChain(localeManagerGetString(
     "main_menu.quit",
-    0,
     UI_MAIN_MENU.quitLabel,
-    UI_MAIN_MENU_LABEL_MAX
+    UI_MAIN_MENU_LABEL_MAX,
+    0
   ));
 
   MENU_BEGIN(
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimodal.c b/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimodal.c
index e0a80428..37e0eac6 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimodal.c
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimodal.c
@@ -131,9 +131,12 @@ void uiModalLocalize(
   char_t *buffer,
   const size_t bufferSize
 ) {
-  errorret_t result = assetLocaleGetString(
-    &LOCALE.entry->data.locale, key, 0, buffer, bufferSize
-  );
+  if(key[0] == '\0') {
+    buffer[0] = '\0';
+    return;
+  }
+
+  errorret_t result = localeManagerGetString(key, buffer, bufferSize, 0);
   if(errorIsNotOk(result)) {
     errorCatch(result);
     stringCopy(buffer, key, bufferSize - 1);
diff --git a/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimodal.h b/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimodal.h
index 66ebe222..2a10b13f 100644
--- a/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimodal.h
+++ b/src/dusk/ui/widget/uimodal.h
@@ -159,7 +159,11 @@ errorret_t uiModalDispose(void);
 /**
  * Resolves display text for uiModalOpen: if key matches a locale
  * message ID in the active locale file, buffer is filled with its
- * translated string, otherwise key is copied into buffer verbatim.
+ * translated string, otherwise key is copied into buffer verbatim. An
+ * empty key (e.g. an omitted JSON title/message, which defaults to ""
+ * rather than NULL - see cutscenemodal_t/cutscenemodaloptionsmarkers_t)
+ * is left as an empty buffer rather than looked up, since
+ * assetLocaleGetString rejects an empty message ID outright.
  *
  * @param key Display string or locale message ID.
  * @param buffer Destination buffer.