diff --git a/src/tunnels_player.cpp b/src/tunnels_player.cpp
index 1e27d99..1789296 100644
--- a/src/tunnels_player.cpp
+++ b/src/tunnels_player.cpp
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 #include "tunnels_player.hpp"
+#include "character_data.hpp"
 #include "godot_cpp/variant/plane.hpp"
 #include "godot_cpp/variant/projection.hpp"
+#include "godot_cpp/variant/utility_functions.hpp"
 #include "player_character.hpp"
+#include "tunnels_game_state.hpp"
 #include "utils/game_root.hpp"
 #include "utils/godot_macros.h"
 #include "utils/player_input.hpp"
@@ -125,6 +128,9 @@ void TunnelsPlayer::initialize_character() {
     this->character = Object::cast_to<PlayerCharacter>(player_scene->instantiate());
     this->get_parent()->add_child(this->character);
     this->character->set_global_transform(this->get_global_transform());
+    Ref<TunnelsGameState> game_state = GameRoot::get_singleton()->get_game_state();
+    Ref<CharacterData> character = game_state->get_characters()[0];
+    this->character->set_character_data(game_state->get_characters()[0]);
     // disable navmesh navigation and start using player input
     this->character->set_manual_mode(true);
 }