diff --git a/code/foundation/CMakeLists.txt b/code/foundation/CMakeLists.txt
index fda4b84..e475bc6 100644
--- a/code/foundation/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/code/foundation/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ add_library(eco2d-foundation STATIC
 
     src/pkt/packet.c
 
+    src/gen/texgen_fallback.c
+
     src/debug/debug_ui.c
     src/debug/debug_draw.c
 
diff --git a/code/foundation/src/gen/texgen.h b/code/foundation/src/gen/texgen.h
index 0a7fb5f..7f42be1 100644
--- a/code/foundation/src/gen/texgen.h
+++ b/code/foundation/src/gen/texgen.h
@@ -6,3 +6,7 @@
 
 Texture2D texgen_build_anim(asset_id id, int64_t counter);
 Texture2D texgen_build_sprite(asset_id id);
+
+// NOTE(zak): this is a fallback for when the asset is not defined by the game
+Texture2D texgen_build_anim_fallback(asset_id id, int64_t counter);
+Texture2D texgen_build_sprite_fallback(asset_id id);
diff --git a/code/foundation/src/gen/texgen_fallback.c b/code/foundation/src/gen/texgen_fallback.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5615ea7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/foundation/src/gen/texgen_fallback.c
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+#include "gen/texgen.h"
+#include "world/world.h"
+#include "zpl.h"
+#include "utils/raylib_helpers.h"
+
+Texture2D texgen_build_anim_fallback(asset_id id, int64_t counter) {
+    (void)counter;
+    switch (id) {
+        case ASSET_WATER: {
+            Image img = LoadImageEco("water");
+            ImageColorBrightness(&img, zpl_abs((counter % 64 - 32)*2));
+            return Image2TexEco(img);
+        }break;
+
+        default: return GenColorEco(PINK); break;
+    }
+}
+
+Texture2D texgen_build_sprite_fallback(asset_id id) {
+    switch (id) {
+        case ASSET_BLANK: return GenColorEco(WHITE); break;
+        case ASSET_BUILDMODE_HIGHLIGHT: return GenColorEco(WHITE); break;
+        case ASSET_BLOCK_FRAME: return GenFrameRect(); break;
+
+        // NOTE(zaklaus): items
+        case ASSET_COAL: return LoadTexEco("coal");
+        case ASSET_BLUEPRINT: return LoadTexEco("blueprint");
+
+        // NOTE(zaklaus): blocks
+        case ASSET_FENCE: return LoadTexEco("fence");
+        case ASSET_GROUND: return LoadTexEco("grass");
+        case ASSET_DIRT: return LoadTexEco("dirt");
+        case ASSET_WALL: return LoadTexEco("asphalt");
+        case ASSET_HILL_SNOW:
+        case ASSET_HILL: return LoadTexEco("rock");
+        case ASSET_LAVA: return LoadTexEco("lava");
+        case ASSET_WOOD: return LoadTexEco("wood");
+        case ASSET_TREE: return LoadTexEco("tree");
+        // case ASSET_WATER: return LoadTexEco("water");
+
+        case ASSET_BELT:
+        case ASSET_BELT_RIGHT: return LoadTexEco("belt_right");
+        case ASSET_BELT_LEFT: return LoadTexEco("belt_left");
+        case ASSET_BELT_UP: return LoadTexEco("belt_up");
+        case ASSET_BELT_DOWN: return LoadTexEco("belt_down");
+
+        // NOTE(zaklaus): devices
+        case ASSET_CHEST: return LoadTexEco("chest");
+
+        default: return GenColorEco(PINK); break;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/code/games/sandbox/src/texgen.c b/code/games/sandbox/src/texgen.c
index 7172ca3..d3483b8 100644
--- a/code/games/sandbox/src/texgen.c
+++ b/code/games/sandbox/src/texgen.c
@@ -6,47 +6,12 @@
 Texture2D texgen_build_anim(asset_id id, int64_t counter) {
     (void)counter;
     switch (id) {
-        case ASSET_WATER: {
-            Image img = LoadImageEco("water");
-            ImageColorBrightness(&img, zpl_abs((counter % 64 - 32)*2));
-            return Image2TexEco(img);
-        }break;
-
-        default: return GenColorEco(PINK); break;
+        default: return texgen_build_anim_fallback(id, counter); break;
     }
 }
 
 Texture2D texgen_build_sprite(asset_id id) {
     switch (id) {
-        case ASSET_BLANK: return GenColorEco(WHITE); break;
-        case ASSET_BUILDMODE_HIGHLIGHT: return GenColorEco(WHITE); break;
-        case ASSET_BLOCK_FRAME: return GenFrameRect(); break;
-
-        // NOTE(zaklaus): items
-        case ASSET_COAL: return LoadTexEco("coal");
-        case ASSET_BLUEPRINT: return LoadTexEco("blueprint");
-
-        // NOTE(zaklaus): blocks
-        case ASSET_FENCE: return LoadTexEco("fence");
-        case ASSET_GROUND: return LoadTexEco("grass");
-        case ASSET_DIRT: return LoadTexEco("dirt");
-        case ASSET_WALL: return LoadTexEco("asphalt");
-        case ASSET_HILL_SNOW:
-        case ASSET_HILL: return LoadTexEco("rock");
-        case ASSET_LAVA: return LoadTexEco("lava");
-        case ASSET_WOOD: return LoadTexEco("wood");
-        case ASSET_TREE: return LoadTexEco("tree");
-        // case ASSET_WATER: return LoadTexEco("water");
-
-        case ASSET_BELT:
-        case ASSET_BELT_RIGHT: return LoadTexEco("belt_right");
-        case ASSET_BELT_LEFT: return LoadTexEco("belt_left");
-        case ASSET_BELT_UP: return LoadTexEco("belt_up");
-        case ASSET_BELT_DOWN: return LoadTexEco("belt_down");
-
-        // NOTE(zaklaus): devices
-        case ASSET_CHEST: return LoadTexEco("chest");
-
-        default: return GenColorEco(PINK); break;
+        default: return texgen_build_sprite_fallback(id); break;
     }
 }