diff --git a/assets/particles/merge.png b/assets/particles/merge.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3db2674
Binary files /dev/null and b/assets/particles/merge.png differ
diff --git a/game.odin b/game.odin
index 5ef3198..7e41036 100644
--- a/game.odin
+++ b/game.odin
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ Tile :: struct {
   value: u16,
   new_value: u16,
   merged: bool,
+  emitter: ParticleEmitter,
 }
 
 Game :: struct {
@@ -55,6 +56,7 @@ Game :: struct {
   help_dialog: bool,
 
   icon_textures: [Icon]zephr.TextureId,
+  merge_particle_texture: zephr.TextureId,
   palette: ColorPalette,
 }
 
@@ -72,9 +74,8 @@ neighbors := [4]zephr.Vec2 {
   {0, -1}, // up
   {0, 1},  // down
 }
-
+@private
 gameover_anim_time: time.Duration = 0
-
 @private
 game : Game
 
@@ -399,6 +400,8 @@ reset_game :: proc() {
       game.board[y][x].value = 0
       game.board[y][x].new_value = 0
       game.board[y][x].merged = false
+      delete(game.board[y][x].emitter.particles)
+      game.board[y][x].emitter = ParticleEmitter{}
     }
   }
 
@@ -418,6 +421,8 @@ game_init :: proc() {
   game.icon_textures[.SETTINGS_ICON] = zephr.load_texture("assets/icons/settings.png")
   game.icon_textures[.CLOSE_ICON] = zephr.load_texture("assets/icons/close.png")
 
+  game.merge_particle_texture = zephr.load_texture("assets/particles/merge.png")
+
   reset_palette()
 
   for i in 0..<2 {
@@ -448,14 +453,12 @@ spawn_new_tile_with_value :: proc(x, y: u8, value: u16) {
 spawn_new_tile :: proc(x, y: u8) {
   val := get_spawned_tile_value()
 
-  game.board[x][y] = Tile{
-    value = val,
-    new_value = val,
-    position = zephr.Vec2{cast(f32)x, cast(f32)y},
-    start_pos = zephr.Vec2{cast(f32)x, cast(f32)y},
-    new_pos = zephr.Vec2{cast(f32)x, cast(f32)y},
-    scale = zephr.Vec2{1, 1},
-  }
+  game.board[x][y].value = val
+  game.board[x][y].new_value = val
+  game.board[x][y].position = zephr.Vec2{cast(f32)x, cast(f32)y}
+  game.board[x][y].start_pos = zephr.Vec2{cast(f32)x, cast(f32)y}
+  game.board[x][y].new_pos = zephr.Vec2{cast(f32)x, cast(f32)y}
+  game.board[x][y].scale = zephr.Vec2{1, 1}
 }
 
 get_random_available_tile_coords :: proc() -> zephr.Vec2 {
@@ -558,6 +561,7 @@ game_loop :: proc() {
     last_frame = now
 
     update_positions(delta_t)
+    update_emitters(delta_t)
 
     draw_bg()
     draw_board()
@@ -567,6 +571,14 @@ game_loop :: proc() {
   }
 }
 
+update_emitters :: proc(delta_t: time.Duration) {
+  for row in &game.board {
+    for tile in &row {
+      update_emitter(delta_t, &tile.emitter)
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 update_positions :: proc(delta_t: time.Duration) {
   if (game.animating) {
     switch game.last_move_dir {
@@ -578,13 +590,14 @@ update_positions :: proc(delta_t: time.Duration) {
             continue
           }
           if src.anim_timer < TILE_ANIM_DURATION {
-            src.position.x = math.lerp(src.start_pos.x, src.new_pos.x, cast(f32)zephr.ease_in_out_back(cast(f64)src.anim_timer / cast(f64)TILE_ANIM_DURATION))
-            src.position.y = math.lerp(src.start_pos.y, src.new_pos.y, cast(f32)zephr.ease_in_out_back(cast(f64)src.anim_timer / cast(f64)TILE_ANIM_DURATION))
+            src.position.x = math.lerp(src.start_pos.x, src.new_pos.x, cast(f32)zephr.ease_out_cubic(cast(f64)src.anim_timer / cast(f64)TILE_ANIM_DURATION))
+            src.position.y = math.lerp(src.start_pos.y, src.new_pos.y, cast(f32)zephr.ease_out_cubic(cast(f64)src.anim_timer / cast(f64)TILE_ANIM_DURATION))
             src.anim_timer += delta_t
           } else {
             dest := &game.board[cast(int)src.new_pos.x][cast(int)src.new_pos.y]
 
             if dest.new_value == src.value * 2 {
+              emitter_start(&dest.emitter, 500, dest.new_pos, time.Millisecond * 200)
               dest.merged = false
             }
 
@@ -596,6 +609,7 @@ update_positions :: proc(delta_t: time.Duration) {
               new_pos = src.new_pos,
               anim_timer = 0,
               scale = zephr.Vec2{1, 1},
+              emitter = dest.emitter,
             }
             src^ = Tile{
               value = src.new_value,
@@ -605,6 +619,7 @@ update_positions :: proc(delta_t: time.Duration) {
               new_pos = src.start_pos,
               anim_timer = 0,
               scale = zephr.Vec2{1, 1},
+              emitter = src.emitter
             }
 
             game.spawning_new_tile = true
@@ -619,13 +634,14 @@ update_positions :: proc(delta_t: time.Duration) {
             continue
           }
           if src.anim_timer < TILE_ANIM_DURATION {
-            src.position.x = math.lerp(src.start_pos.x, src.new_pos.x, cast(f32)zephr.ease_in_out_back(cast(f64)src.anim_timer / cast(f64)TILE_ANIM_DURATION))
-            src.position.y = math.lerp(src.start_pos.y, src.new_pos.y, cast(f32)zephr.ease_in_out_back(cast(f64)src.anim_timer / cast(f64)TILE_ANIM_DURATION))
+            src.position.x = math.lerp(src.start_pos.x, src.new_pos.x, cast(f32)zephr.ease_out_cubic(cast(f64)src.anim_timer / cast(f64)TILE_ANIM_DURATION))
+            src.position.y = math.lerp(src.start_pos.y, src.new_pos.y, cast(f32)zephr.ease_out_cubic(cast(f64)src.anim_timer / cast(f64)TILE_ANIM_DURATION))
             src.anim_timer += delta_t
           } else {
             dest := &game.board[cast(int)src.new_pos.x][cast(int)src.new_pos.y]
 
             if dest.new_value == src.value * 2 {
+              emitter_start(&dest.emitter, 500, dest.new_pos, time.Millisecond * 200)
               dest.merged = false
             }
 
@@ -637,6 +653,7 @@ update_positions :: proc(delta_t: time.Duration) {
               new_pos = src.new_pos,
               anim_timer = 0,
               scale = zephr.Vec2{1, 1},
+              emitter = dest.emitter,
             }
             src^ = Tile{
               value = src.new_value,
@@ -646,6 +663,7 @@ update_positions :: proc(delta_t: time.Duration) {
               new_pos = src.start_pos,
               anim_timer = 0,
               scale = zephr.Vec2{1, 1},
+              emitter = src.emitter,
             }
 
             game.spawning_new_tile = true
@@ -660,13 +678,14 @@ update_positions :: proc(delta_t: time.Duration) {
             continue
           }
           if src.anim_timer < TILE_ANIM_DURATION {
-            src.position.x = math.lerp(src.start_pos.x, src.new_pos.x, cast(f32)zephr.ease_in_out_back(cast(f64)src.anim_timer / cast(f64)TILE_ANIM_DURATION))
-            src.position.y = math.lerp(src.start_pos.y, src.new_pos.y, cast(f32)zephr.ease_in_out_back(cast(f64)src.anim_timer / cast(f64)TILE_ANIM_DURATION))
+            src.position.x = math.lerp(src.start_pos.x, src.new_pos.x, cast(f32)zephr.ease_out_cubic(cast(f64)src.anim_timer / cast(f64)TILE_ANIM_DURATION))
+            src.position.y = math.lerp(src.start_pos.y, src.new_pos.y, cast(f32)zephr.ease_out_cubic(cast(f64)src.anim_timer / cast(f64)TILE_ANIM_DURATION))
             src.anim_timer += delta_t
           } else {
             dest := &game.board[cast(int)src.new_pos.x][cast(int)src.new_pos.y]
 
             if dest.new_value == src.value * 2 {
+              emitter_start(&dest.emitter, 500, dest.new_pos, time.Millisecond * 200)
               dest.merged = false
             }
 
@@ -678,6 +697,7 @@ update_positions :: proc(delta_t: time.Duration) {
               new_pos = src.new_pos,
               anim_timer = 0,
               scale = zephr.Vec2{1, 1},
+              emitter = dest.emitter,
             }
             src^ = Tile{
               value = src.new_value,
@@ -687,6 +707,7 @@ update_positions :: proc(delta_t: time.Duration) {
               new_pos = src.start_pos,
               anim_timer = 0,
               scale = zephr.Vec2{1, 1},
+              emitter = src.emitter,
             }
 
             game.spawning_new_tile = true
@@ -701,13 +722,14 @@ update_positions :: proc(delta_t: time.Duration) {
             continue
           }
           if src.anim_timer < TILE_ANIM_DURATION {
-            src.position.x = math.lerp(src.start_pos.x, src.new_pos.x, cast(f32)zephr.ease_in_out_back(cast(f64)src.anim_timer / cast(f64)TILE_ANIM_DURATION))
-            src.position.y = math.lerp(src.start_pos.y, src.new_pos.y, cast(f32)zephr.ease_in_out_back(cast(f64)src.anim_timer / cast(f64)TILE_ANIM_DURATION))
+            src.position.x = math.lerp(src.start_pos.x, src.new_pos.x, cast(f32)zephr.ease_out_cubic(cast(f64)src.anim_timer / cast(f64)TILE_ANIM_DURATION))
+            src.position.y = math.lerp(src.start_pos.y, src.new_pos.y, cast(f32)zephr.ease_out_cubic(cast(f64)src.anim_timer / cast(f64)TILE_ANIM_DURATION))
             src.anim_timer += delta_t
           } else {
             dest := &game.board[cast(int)src.new_pos.x][cast(int)src.new_pos.y]
 
             if dest.new_value == src.value * 2 {
+              emitter_start(&dest.emitter, 500, dest.new_pos, time.Millisecond * 200)
               dest.merged = false
             }
 
@@ -719,6 +741,7 @@ update_positions :: proc(delta_t: time.Duration) {
               new_pos = src.new_pos,
               anim_timer = 0,
               scale = zephr.Vec2{1, 1},
+              emitter = dest.emitter,
             }
             src^ = Tile{
               value = src.new_value,
@@ -728,6 +751,7 @@ update_positions :: proc(delta_t: time.Duration) {
               new_pos = src.start_pos,
               anim_timer = 0,
               scale = zephr.Vec2{1, 1},
+              emitter = src.emitter
             }
 
             game.spawning_new_tile = true
@@ -883,6 +907,26 @@ draw_board :: proc() {
 
       zephr.set_y_constraint(&tile_con, tile_y_pos, .FIXED)
       zephr.set_x_constraint(&tile_con, tile_x_pos, .FIXED)
+
+      // Draw particles
+      particle_con := zephr.DEFAULT_UI_CONSTRAINTS
+      for particle in tile.emitter.particles {
+        if (particle.life <= 0) {
+          continue
+        }
+        zephr.set_parent_constraint(&particle_con, &tile_con)
+        zephr.set_x_constraint(&particle_con, particle.pos.x, .FIXED)
+        zephr.set_y_constraint(&particle_con, particle.pos.y, .FIXED)
+        particle_con.scale = particle.size
+        zephr.set_width_constraint(&particle_con, 30, .RELATIVE_PIXELS)
+        zephr.set_height_constraint(&particle_con, 1, .ASPECT_RATIO)
+        zephr.draw_texture(&particle_con, game.merge_particle_texture, zephr.UiStyle{
+          bg_color = particle.color,
+          fg_color = particle.color,
+          align = .CENTER,
+        })
+      }
+
       zephr.draw_quad(&tile_con, style)
 
       // value text
diff --git a/particle.odin b/particle.odin
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8c25322
--- /dev/null
+++ b/particle.odin
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+package main
+
+import "core:math/rand"
+import "core:time"
+
+import "zephr"
+
+Particle :: struct {
+    pos: zephr.Vec2,
+    vel: zephr.Vec2,
+    color: zephr.Color,
+    size: f32,
+    life: time.Duration,
+}
+
+ParticleEmitter :: struct {
+    pos: zephr.Vec2,
+    particles: [dynamic]Particle,
+    duration: time.Duration,
+    spawn_rate: u32,
+}
+
+@private
+last_emitted_particle_idx: int = 0
+// restricts emission rate to 60fps
+@private
+particle_time: time.Duration = 0
+
+@private
+update_particles :: proc(delta_t: time.Duration, particles: ^[dynamic]Particle, start_pos: zephr.Vec2) {
+    delta_t_f := cast(f32)time.duration_seconds(delta_t)
+
+    for p in particles {
+        p.life -= delta_t
+        if p.life <= 0 {
+            continue
+        }
+
+        // NOTE: fades faster on higher framerates. don't feel like fixing it
+        p.color.a -= 1
+        p.size -= delta_t_f
+        p.vel.x += (p.pos.x + p.vel.x / 7) * delta_t_f
+        p.vel.y -= (p.pos.y + p.vel.y / 7) * delta_t_f
+        p.pos += p.vel * -delta_t_f
+    }
+}
+
+@private
+find_first_dead_particle :: proc(particles: [dynamic]Particle) -> int {
+    // search from last emitted particle, should return almost immediately 
+    for i in last_emitted_particle_idx..<cap(particles) {
+        if particles[i].life <= 0 {
+            last_emitted_particle_idx = i
+            return i
+        }
+    }
+
+    // else do linear search
+    for p, i in particles {
+        if p.life <= 0 {
+            return i
+        }
+    }
+
+    // overwrite first particle if all are alive
+    last_emitted_particle_idx = 0
+    return 0
+}
+
+update_emitter :: proc(delta_t: time.Duration, emitter: ^ParticleEmitter) {
+    if emitter.duration > 0 {
+        emitter.duration -= delta_t
+        if emitter.duration <= 0 {
+            return
+        }
+
+        particle_time += delta_t
+
+        for particle_time >= time.Millisecond * 16 {
+            for i in 0..<emitter.spawn_rate {
+                random := cast(f32)(rand.int_max(100) - 50)
+                offset := cast(f32)rand.int_max(100) - 50
+                rand_velocity := zephr.Vec2{rand.float32_range(-500.0, 500.0) * random / 20, -rand.float32_range(-500.0, 500.0) * random / 20}
+                found_dead_particle_idx := find_first_dead_particle(emitter.particles)
+                assign_at(&emitter.particles, found_dead_particle_idx, Particle{
+                    pos = emitter.pos,
+                    vel = rand_velocity,
+                    color = zephr.COLOR_WHITE,
+                    size = 1,
+                    life = time.Millisecond * 500,
+                })
+            }
+            particle_time -= time.Millisecond * 16
+        }
+    }
+
+    update_particles(delta_t, &emitter.particles, emitter.pos)
+}
+
+emitter_start :: proc(emitter: ^ParticleEmitter, capacity: int, pos: zephr.Vec2, duration: time.Duration, spawn_rate: u32 = 3) {
+    // Should happen in an init function but this works too so idc
+    // Valgrind says we leak here but I don't think so because we "delete()" the memory
+    // when calling "reset_game()"
+    if emitter.particles != nil {
+        delete(emitter.particles)
+    }
+
+    emitter.particles = make([dynamic]Particle, capacity)
+    emitter.pos = pos
+    emitter.duration = duration
+    emitter.spawn_rate = spawn_rate
+}
diff --git a/shaders/font.vert b/shaders/font.vert
index 004d09b..ad58831 100644
--- a/shaders/font.vert
+++ b/shaders/font.vert
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 layout (location = 0) in vec2 vertex;
 
 // per instance
-layout (location = 1) in vec4 offset;
+layout (location = 1) in vec4 offset; // x,y = position, z,w = size
 layout (location = 2) in int tex_index;
 layout (location = 3) in vec4 color;
 layout (location = 4) in mat4 model; // this takes locations 4,5,6,7
diff --git a/zephr/os_linux.odin b/zephr/os_linux.odin
index d4e1982..0375679 100644
--- a/zephr/os_linux.odin
+++ b/zephr/os_linux.odin
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ x11_assign_window_icon :: proc(icon_path: cstring, window_title: cstring) {
   target_size := 2 + icon_width * icon_height
 
   data := make([]u64, target_size)
+  defer delete(data)
 
   // first two elements are width and height
   data[0] = cast(u64)icon_width
diff --git a/zephr/texture.odin b/zephr/texture.odin
index 0cd460d..de02dce 100644
--- a/zephr/texture.odin
+++ b/zephr/texture.odin
@@ -1,14 +1,21 @@
 package zephr
 
+import "core:log"
+
 import gl "vendor:OpenGL"
 import stb "vendor:stb/image"
 
 TextureId :: u32
 
 load_texture :: proc(path: cstring) -> TextureId {
+  context.logger = logger
+
   texture_id: TextureId
   width, height, channels: i32
   data := stb.load(path, &width, &height, &channels, 4) // RGBA
+  if data == nil {
+    log.errorf("Failed to load texture: \"%s\"", path)
+  }
   defer stb.image_free(data)
 
   format := gl.RGBA
diff --git a/zephr/ui.odin b/zephr/ui.odin
index c5fe41d..147d778 100644
--- a/zephr/ui.odin
+++ b/zephr/ui.odin
@@ -381,13 +381,13 @@ draw_triangle :: proc(constraints: ^UiConstraints, style: UiStyle) {
   gl.BindVertexArray(0)
 }
 
-draw_texture :: proc(constraints: ^UiConstraints, texture_id: TextureId, color: Color, radius: f32, align: Alignment) {
+draw_texture :: proc(constraints: ^UiConstraints, texture_id: TextureId, style: UiStyle) {
   use_shader(ui_shader)
 
-  set_vec4f(ui_shader, "aColor", cast(f32)color.r / 255, cast(f32)color.g / 255, cast(f32)color.b / 255, cast(f32)color.a / 255)
+  set_vec4f(ui_shader, "aColor", cast(f32)style.bg_color.r / 255, cast(f32)style.bg_color.g / 255, cast(f32)style.bg_color.b / 255, cast(f32)style.bg_color.a / 255)
   set_float(ui_shader, "uiWidth", constraints.width)
   set_float(ui_shader, "uiHeight", constraints.height)
-  set_float(ui_shader, "borderRadius", radius)
+  set_float(ui_shader, "borderRadius", style.border_radius)
   set_bool(ui_shader, "hasTexture", true)
 
   set_mat4f(ui_shader, "projection", zephr_ctx.projection)
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ draw_texture :: proc(constraints: ^UiConstraints, texture_id: TextureId, color:
   rect: Rect = ---
 
   apply_constraints(constraints, &rect.pos, &rect.size)
-  apply_alignment(align, constraints, rect.size, &rect.pos)
+  apply_alignment(style.align, constraints, rect.size, &rect.pos)
 
   // set the positions after applying alignment so children can use them
   constraints.x = rect.pos.x
@@ -586,7 +586,11 @@ draw_icon_button :: proc(constraints: ^UiConstraints, icon_tex_id: TextureId, st
   set_y_constraint(&icon_constraints, 0, .RELATIVE_PIXELS)
   set_width_constraint(&icon_constraints, constraints.width * 0.8, .FIXED)
   set_height_constraint(&icon_constraints, constraints.height * 0.8, .FIXED)
-  draw_texture(&icon_constraints, icon_tex_id, style.fg_color, 0, .CENTER)
+  tex_style := UiStyle {
+    bg_color = style.fg_color,
+    align = .CENTER,
+  }
+  draw_texture(&icon_constraints, icon_tex_id, tex_style)
 
   if (clicked && state == .ACTIVE) {
     return true
diff --git a/zephr/zephr.odin b/zephr/zephr.odin
index 32b4e2f..9077b84 100644
--- a/zephr/zephr.odin
+++ b/zephr/zephr.odin
@@ -671,6 +671,8 @@ init :: proc(font_path: cstring, icon_path: cstring, window_title: cstring, wind
 
 deinit :: proc() {
   backend_shutdown()
+  queue.destroy(&zephr_ctx.event_queue)
+  delete(zephr_ctx.ui.elements)
   //audio_close()
 }