diff --git a/src/game/gameState.ts b/src/game/gameState.ts
index 1d0fd5d..8909946 100644
--- a/src/game/gameState.ts
+++ b/src/game/gameState.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,12 @@
+import { DatabaseService } from "../db/services/Database";
+
+/**
+ * Represents the state of a game session for an Oregon Trail-style game.
+ * This class stores all relevant game state information and provides methods
+ * to load from and save to a database.
+ */
 class GameState {
+    authorId: number = 0;
     amountSpentOnAnimals: number = 0;
     amountSpentOnAmmunition: number = 0;
     actualResponseTimeForBang: number = 0;
@@ -32,12 +40,48 @@ class GameState {
     actionChoiceForEachTurn: number = 0;
     fortOptionFlag: boolean = false;
     death: boolean = false;
+    phase: PHASE_ENUM = PHASE_ENUM.SETUP;
+    subPhase: number = 0;
 
-    constructor(authorId: string) {
-        // Load existing session for authorId or create default values
+    private constructor(authorId: number, state?: Partial<GameState>) {
+        this.authorId = authorId;
+        Object.assign(this, state); // Initialize with loaded state or undefined
     }
 
-    // Methods to update game state variables and check game conditions
+    /**
+    * Saves the current game state to the database.
+    */
+    public async save() {
+        await DatabaseService.saveGameState(this.authorId, this);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Loads an existing game state from the database or creates a new one if it doesn't exist.
+     * @param {number} authorId - The ID of the author/player.
+     * @returns {Promise<GameState>} - The loaded or newly created game state.
+     */
+    public static async load(authorId: number): Promise<GameState> {
+        const loadedState = await DatabaseService.loadGameState(authorId);
+        if (loadedState) {
+            return new GameState(authorId, loadedState);
+        } else {
+            // Create a new GameState with default values
+            const newState = new GameState(authorId);
+            await newState.save(); // Optionally save the new state to the database
+            return newState;
+        }
+    }
 }
 
-export default GameState
\ No newline at end of file
+export default GameState
+
+// Enumeration for different phases of the game.
+enum PHASE_ENUM {
+    SETUP = 'SETUP',
+    TRAVEL = 'TRAVEL',
+    FORT_HUNT = 'FORT_HUNT',
+    ENCOUNTER = 'ENCOUNTER',
+    EVENT = 'EVENT',
+    MOUNTAIN = 'MOUNTAIN',
+    DEATH_CHECK = 'DEATH_CHECK',
+}
\ No newline at end of file