diff --git a/src/content/ContentPack.cpp b/src/content/ContentPack.cpp
index 166400c6..9ed192b5 100644
--- a/src/content/ContentPack.cpp
+++ b/src/content/ContentPack.cpp
@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@
 
 namespace fs = std::filesystem;
 
-ContentPack ContentPack::createCore(const EnginePaths* paths) {
+ContentPack ContentPack::createCore(const EnginePaths& paths) {
     return ContentPack {
-        "core", "Core", ENGINE_VERSION_STRING, "", "", paths->getResourcesFolder(), {}
+        "core", "Core", ENGINE_VERSION_STRING, "", "", paths.getResourcesFolder(), {}
     };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/content/ContentPack.hpp b/src/content/ContentPack.hpp
index 857f4fe0..a3b40211 100644
--- a/src/content/ContentPack.hpp
+++ b/src/content/ContentPack.hpp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ struct ContentPack {
         const std::string& name
     );
 
-    static ContentPack createCore(const EnginePaths*);
+    static ContentPack createCore(const EnginePaths&);
 
     static inline fs::path getFolderFor(ContentType type) {
         switch (type) {
diff --git a/src/core_defs.cpp b/src/core_defs.cpp
index c62900f7..fb8540ba 100644
--- a/src/core_defs.cpp
+++ b/src/core_defs.cpp
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@
 #include "voxels/Block.hpp"
 
 // All in-game definitions (blocks, items, etc..)
-void corecontent::setup(EnginePaths* paths, ContentBuilder* builder) {
+void corecontent::setup(const EnginePaths& paths, ContentBuilder& builder) {
     {
-        Block& block = builder->blocks.create(CORE_AIR);
+        Block& block = builder.blocks.create(CORE_AIR);
         block.replaceable = true;
         block.drawGroup = 1;
         block.lightPassing = true;
@@ -24,11 +24,11 @@ void corecontent::setup(EnginePaths* paths, ContentBuilder* builder) {
         block.pickingItem = CORE_EMPTY;
     }
     {
-        ItemDef& item = builder->items.create(CORE_EMPTY);
+        ItemDef& item = builder.items.create(CORE_EMPTY);
         item.iconType = ItemIconType::NONE;
     }
 
-    auto bindsFile = paths->getResourcesFolder()/fs::path("bindings.toml");
+    auto bindsFile = paths.getResourcesFolder()/fs::path("bindings.toml");
     if (fs::is_regular_file(bindsFile)) {
         Events::loadBindings(
             bindsFile.u8string(), files::read_string(bindsFile), BindType::BIND
@@ -36,20 +36,20 @@ void corecontent::setup(EnginePaths* paths, ContentBuilder* builder) {
     }
 
     {
-        Block& block = builder->blocks.create(CORE_OBSTACLE);
+        Block& block = builder.blocks.create(CORE_OBSTACLE);
         for (uint i = 0; i < 6; i++) {
             block.textureFaces[i] = "obstacle";
         }
         block.hitboxes = {AABB()};
         block.breakable = false;
-        ItemDef& item = builder->items.create(CORE_OBSTACLE+".item");
+        ItemDef& item = builder.items.create(CORE_OBSTACLE+".item");
         item.iconType = ItemIconType::BLOCK;
         item.icon = CORE_OBSTACLE;
         item.placingBlock = CORE_OBSTACLE;
         item.caption = block.caption;
     }
     {
-        Block& block = builder->blocks.create(CORE_STRUCT_AIR);
+        Block& block = builder.blocks.create(CORE_STRUCT_AIR);
         for (uint i = 0; i < 6; i++) {
             block.textureFaces[i] = "struct_air";
         }
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ void corecontent::setup(EnginePaths* paths, ContentBuilder* builder) {
         block.lightPassing = true;
         block.hitboxes = {AABB()};
         block.obstacle = false;
-        ItemDef& item = builder->items.create(CORE_STRUCT_AIR+".item");
+        ItemDef& item = builder.items.create(CORE_STRUCT_AIR+".item");
         item.iconType = ItemIconType::BLOCK;
         item.icon = CORE_STRUCT_AIR;
         item.placingBlock = CORE_STRUCT_AIR;
diff --git a/src/core_defs.hpp b/src/core_defs.hpp
index 9f26b1c8..38160dac 100644
--- a/src/core_defs.hpp
+++ b/src/core_defs.hpp
@@ -35,5 +35,5 @@ class EnginePaths;
 class ContentBuilder;
 
 namespace corecontent {
-    void setup(EnginePaths* paths, ContentBuilder* builder);
+    void setup(const EnginePaths& paths, ContentBuilder& builder);
 }
diff --git a/src/engine.cpp b/src/engine.cpp
index 129dc68d..6641057d 100644
--- a/src/engine.cpp
+++ b/src/engine.cpp
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 #include "content/ContentLoader.hpp"
 #include "core_defs.hpp"
 #include "files/files.hpp"
-#include "files/settings_io.hpp"
 #include "frontend/locale.hpp"
 #include "frontend/menu.hpp"
 #include "frontend/screens/Screen.hpp"
@@ -37,7 +36,6 @@
 #include "window/Events.hpp"
 #include "window/input.hpp"
 #include "window/Window.hpp"
-#include "settings.hpp"
 
 #include <iostream>
 #include <assert.h>
@@ -71,15 +69,15 @@ static std::unique_ptr<ImageData> load_icon(const fs::path& resdir) {
     return nullptr;
 }
 
-Engine::Engine(EngineSettings& settings, SettingsHandler& settingsHandler, EnginePaths* paths) 
-    : settings(settings), settingsHandler(settingsHandler), paths(paths),
+Engine::Engine(EnginePaths& paths) 
+    : settings(), settingsHandler({settings}), paths(paths),
       interpreter(std::make_unique<cmd::CommandsInterpreter>()),
       network(network::Network::create(settings.network))
 {
-    paths->prepare();
+    paths.prepare();
     loadSettings();
 
-    auto resdir = paths->getResourcesFolder();
+    auto resdir = paths.getResourcesFolder();
 
     controller = std::make_unique<EngineController>(this);
     if (Window::initialize(&this->settings.display)){
@@ -101,7 +99,7 @@ Engine::Engine(EngineSettings& settings, SettingsHandler& settingsHandler, Engin
     if (settings.ui.language.get() == "auto") {
         settings.ui.language.set(langs::locale_by_envlocale(
             platform::detect_locale(),
-            paths->getResourcesFolder()
+            paths.getResourcesFolder()
         ));
     }
     if (ENGINE_DEBUG_BUILD) {
@@ -116,7 +114,7 @@ Engine::Engine(EngineSettings& settings, SettingsHandler& settingsHandler, Engin
 }
 
 void Engine::loadSettings() {
-    fs::path settings_file = paths->getSettingsFile();
+    fs::path settings_file = paths.getSettingsFile();
     if (fs::is_regular_file(settings_file)) {
         logger.info() << "loading settings";
         std::string text = files::read_string(settings_file);
@@ -130,7 +128,7 @@ void Engine::loadSettings() {
 }
 
 void Engine::loadControls() {
-    fs::path controls_file = paths->getControlsFile();
+    fs::path controls_file = paths.getControlsFile();
     if (fs::is_regular_file(controls_file)) {
         logger.info() << "loading controls";
         std::string text = files::read_string(controls_file);
@@ -162,7 +160,7 @@ void Engine::updateHotkeys() {
 void Engine::saveScreenshot() {
     auto image = Window::takeScreenshot();
     image->flipY();
-    fs::path filename = paths->getNewScreenshotFile("png");
+    fs::path filename = paths.getNewScreenshotFile("png");
     imageio::write(filename.string(), image.get());
     logger.info() << "saved screenshot as " << filename.u8string();
 }
@@ -220,9 +218,9 @@ void Engine::processPostRunnables() {
 
 void Engine::saveSettings() {
     logger.info() << "saving settings";
-    files::write_string(paths->getSettingsFile(), toml::stringify(settingsHandler));
+    files::write_string(paths.getSettingsFile(), toml::stringify(settingsHandler));
     logger.info() << "saving bindings";
-    files::write_string(paths->getControlsFile(), Events::writeBindings());
+    files::write_string(paths.getControlsFile(), Events::writeBindings());
 }
 
 Engine::~Engine() {
@@ -257,8 +255,8 @@ PacksManager Engine::createPacksManager(const fs::path& worldFolder) {
     PacksManager manager;
     manager.setSources({
         worldFolder/fs::path("content"),
-        paths->getUserFilesFolder()/fs::path("content"),
-        paths->getResourcesFolder()/fs::path("content")
+        paths.getUserFilesFolder()/fs::path("content"),
+        paths.getResourcesFolder()/fs::path("content")
     });
     return manager;
 }
@@ -329,7 +327,7 @@ static void load_configs(const fs::path& root) {
 void Engine::loadContent() {
     scripting::cleanup();
 
-    auto resdir = paths->getResourcesFolder();
+    auto resdir = paths.getResourcesFolder();
 
     std::vector<std::string> names;
     for (auto& pack : contentPacks) {
@@ -337,10 +335,10 @@ void Engine::loadContent() {
     }
 
     ContentBuilder contentBuilder;
-    corecontent::setup(paths, &contentBuilder);
+    corecontent::setup(paths, contentBuilder);
 
-    paths->setContentPacks(&contentPacks);
-    PacksManager manager = createPacksManager(paths->getCurrentWorldFolder());
+    paths.setContentPacks(&contentPacks);
+    PacksManager manager = createPacksManager(paths.getCurrentWorldFolder());
     manager.scan();
     names = manager.assembly(names);
     contentPacks = manager.getAll(names);
@@ -378,7 +376,7 @@ void Engine::loadContent() {
 
 void Engine::resetContent() {
     scripting::cleanup();
-    auto resdir = paths->getResourcesFolder();
+    auto resdir = paths.getResourcesFolder();
     std::vector<PathsRoot> resRoots;
     {
         auto pack = ContentPack::createCore(paths);
@@ -407,17 +405,17 @@ void Engine::loadWorldContent(const fs::path& folder) {
     PacksManager manager;
     manager.setSources({
         folder/fs::path("content"),
-        paths->getUserFilesFolder()/fs::path("content"),
-        paths->getResourcesFolder()/fs::path("content")
+        paths.getUserFilesFolder()/fs::path("content"),
+        paths.getResourcesFolder()/fs::path("content")
     });
     manager.scan();
     contentPacks = manager.getAll(manager.assembly(packNames));
-    paths->setCurrentWorldFolder(folder);
+    paths.setCurrentWorldFolder(folder);
     loadContent();
 }
 
 void Engine::loadAllPacks() {
-    PacksManager manager = createPacksManager(paths->getCurrentWorldFolder());
+    PacksManager manager = createPacksManager(paths.getCurrentWorldFolder());
     manager.scan();
     auto allnames = manager.getAllNames();
     contentPacks = manager.getAll(manager.assembly(allnames));
@@ -435,7 +433,7 @@ void Engine::setScreen(std::shared_ptr<Screen> screen) {
 }
 
 void Engine::setLanguage(std::string locale) {
-    langs::setup(paths->getResourcesFolder(), std::move(locale), contentPacks);
+    langs::setup(paths.getResourcesFolder(), std::move(locale), contentPacks);
     gui->getMenu()->setPageLoader(menus::create_page_loader(this));
 }
 
@@ -470,7 +468,7 @@ std::vector<std::string>& Engine::getBasePacks() {
 }
 
 EnginePaths* Engine::getPaths() {
-    return paths;
+    return &paths;
 }
 
 ResPaths* Engine::getResPaths() {
diff --git a/src/engine.hpp b/src/engine.hpp
index 04a221df..efa0ff6d 100644
--- a/src/engine.hpp
+++ b/src/engine.hpp
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@
 
 #include "delegates.hpp"
 #include "typedefs.hpp"
+#include "settings.hpp"
 
 #include "assets/Assets.hpp"
 #include "content/content_fwd.hpp"
 #include "content/ContentPack.hpp"
 #include "content/PacksManager.hpp"
 #include "files/engine_paths.hpp"
+#include "files/settings_io.hpp"
 #include "util/ObjectsKeeper.hpp"
 
 #include <filesystem>
@@ -26,8 +28,6 @@ class EngineController;
 class SettingsHandler;
 struct EngineSettings;
 
-namespace fs = std::filesystem;
-
 namespace gui {
     class GUI;
 }
@@ -46,9 +46,9 @@ public:
 };
 
 class Engine : public util::ObjectsKeeper {
-    EngineSettings& settings;
-    SettingsHandler& settingsHandler;
-    EnginePaths* paths;
+    EngineSettings settings;
+    SettingsHandler settingsHandler;
+    EnginePaths& paths;
 
     std::unique_ptr<Assets> assets;
     std::shared_ptr<Screen> screen;
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ class Engine : public util::ObjectsKeeper {
     void processPostRunnables();
     void loadAssets();
 public:
-    Engine(EngineSettings& settings, SettingsHandler& settingsHandler, EnginePaths* paths);
+    Engine(EnginePaths& paths);
     ~Engine();
  
     /// @brief Start main engine input/update/render loop. 
diff --git a/src/util/command_line.cpp b/src/util/command_line.cpp
index 99501c12..88caf426 100644
--- a/src/util/command_line.cpp
+++ b/src/util/command_line.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ public:
     }
 };
 
-bool perform_keyword(
+static bool perform_keyword(
     ArgsReader& reader, const std::string& keyword, EnginePaths& paths
 ) {
     if (keyword == "--res") {
diff --git a/src/voxel_engine.cpp b/src/voxel_engine.cpp
index c6a2ec7e..49ac502e 100644
--- a/src/voxel_engine.cpp
+++ b/src/voxel_engine.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 #include "engine.hpp"
-#include "settings.hpp"
-#include "files/settings_io.hpp"
 #include "files/engine_paths.hpp"
 #include "util/platform.hpp"
 #include "util/command_line.hpp"
@@ -19,12 +17,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
 
     platform::configure_encoding();
     try {
-        EngineSettings settings;
-        SettingsHandler handler(settings);
-        
-        Engine engine(settings, handler, &paths);
-
-        engine.mainloop();
+        Engine(paths).mainloop();
     }
     catch (const initialize_error& err) {
         logger.error() << "could not to initialize engine\n" << err.what();