diff --git a/src/store/saves.ts b/src/store/saves.ts
index 8d5136c..0a43d59 100644
--- a/src/store/saves.ts
+++ b/src/store/saves.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,20 @@
 import { GameState } from '../types'
 
 const SAVE_SLOT_PREFIX = 'dionysian_idle_save_'
+const CURRENT_SAVE_VERSION = 1
+
+interface SaveData {
+  version: number
+  state: GameState
+}
 
 const saveGame = (slot: number, state: GameState) => {
   try {
-    const saveData = JSON.stringify(state)
-    localStorage.setItem(`${SAVE_SLOT_PREFIX}${slot}`, saveData)
+    const saveData: SaveData = {
+      version: CURRENT_SAVE_VERSION,
+      state
+    }
+    localStorage.setItem(`${SAVE_SLOT_PREFIX}${slot}`, JSON.stringify(saveData))
     return true
   } catch (error) {
     console.error('Failed to save game:', error)
@@ -17,7 +26,22 @@ const loadGame = (slot: number): GameState | null => {
   try {
     const saveData = localStorage.getItem(`${SAVE_SLOT_PREFIX}${slot}`)
     if (!saveData) return null
-    return JSON.parse(saveData)
+    
+    const parsedData = JSON.parse(saveData)
+    
+    // Handle legacy saves (no version field)
+    if (!parsedData.version) {
+      console.warn('Loading legacy save without version information')
+      return parsedData as GameState
+    }
+    
+    // Check version compatibility
+    if (parsedData.version !== CURRENT_SAVE_VERSION) {
+      console.warn(`Save version mismatch: found ${parsedData.version}, expected ${CURRENT_SAVE_VERSION}`)
+      return null
+    }
+    
+    return parsedData.state
   } catch (error) {
     console.error('Failed to load game:', error)
     return null
diff --git a/src/store/useGameStore.ts b/src/store/useGameStore.ts
index 9a1c0d6..484a1f9 100644
--- a/src/store/useGameStore.ts
+++ b/src/store/useGameStore.ts
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ export const useGameStore = create<
     configureEquipment: (equipmentId: string, recipeId: string) => void
     useEquipment: (equipmentId: string) => void
     addCash: (amount: number) => void
+    addConsoleMessage: (text: string) => void
   }
 >((set, get) => {
   // Expose store methods to window for the save system
@@ -635,5 +636,9 @@ export const useGameStore = create<
         produce((state) => { state.cash += amount }),
       )
     },
+
+    addConsoleMessage: (text: string) => {
+      addConsoleMessage(get(), text)
+    },
   }
 })
diff --git a/src/store/useSaveSystem.ts b/src/store/useSaveSystem.ts
index 56a5858..93d0604 100644
--- a/src/store/useSaveSystem.ts
+++ b/src/store/useSaveSystem.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ import { useGameStore } from './useGameStore'
 import './saves' // Import the saves module to initialize the global saves object
 
 export const useSaveSystem = () => {
+  const addConsoleMessage = useGameStore((state) => state.addConsoleMessage)
+
   useEffect(() => {
     // Auto-save every 30 seconds
     const interval = setInterval(() => {
@@ -18,6 +20,9 @@ export const useSaveSystem = () => {
 
   // When starting the game, load from the autosave slot
   useEffect(() => {
-    window.saves.load(0)
-  }, [])
+    const savedState = window.saves.load(0)
+    if (savedState === null) {
+      addConsoleMessage('No compatible save found. Starting new game.')
+    }
+  }, [addConsoleMessage])
 }