diff --git a/wicked_quest.py b/wicked_quest.py
index c6b27b4..7c4f23f 100644
--- a/wicked_quest.py
+++ b/wicked_quest.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ class WickedQuest:
         """Initialize game and load sounds."""
         self.sounds = initialize_gui("Wicked Quest")
         self.currentLevel = None
+        self.gameStartTime = None
         self.lastThrowTime = 0
         self.throwDelay = 250
         self.player = None  # Will be initialized when first level loads
@@ -148,7 +149,7 @@ class WickedQuest:
     def game_loop(self):
         """Main game loop handling updates and state changes."""
         clock = pygame.time.Clock()
-        startTime = pygame.time.get_ticks()
+        levelStartTime = pygame.time.get_ticks()
         currentLevelNum = 1
 
         while True:
@@ -184,31 +185,33 @@ class WickedQuest:
             # Check for death first
             if self.currentLevel.player.get_health() <= 0:
                 if self.currentLevel.player.get_lives() <= 0:
-                    # Game over
+                    # Game over - use gameStartTime for total time
                     pygame.mixer.stop()
-                    self.display_game_over(pygame.time.get_ticks() - startTime)
+                    totalTime = pygame.time.get_ticks() - self.gameStartTime
+                    self.display_game_over(totalTime)
                     return
                 else:
                     pygame.mixer.stop()
+                    self.currentLevel.player._health = self.currentLevel.player._maxHealth
                     self.load_level(currentLevelNum)
-                    self.currentLevel.player._health = self.currentLevel.player._maxHealth  # Restore health
+                    levelStartTime = pygame.time.get_ticks()  # Reset level timer
                     continue
 
             # Handle collisions and check level completion
             if self.currentLevel.handle_collisions():
-                # Level completed
-                self.display_level_stats(pygame.time.get_ticks() - startTime)
-        
-                # Try to load next level
+                # Level time is from levelStartTime
+                levelTime = pygame.time.get_ticks() - levelStartTime
+                self.display_level_stats(levelTime)
+
                 currentLevelNum += 1
                 if self.load_level(currentLevelNum):
-                    # Reset timer for new level
-                    startTime = pygame.time.get_ticks()
+                    levelStartTime = pygame.time.get_ticks()  # Reset level timer for new level
                     continue
                 else:
-                    # No more levels - game complete!
+                    # Game complete - use gameStartTime for total
+                    totalTime = pygame.time.get_ticks() - self.gameStartTime
                     messagebox("Congratulations! You've completed all available levels!")
-                    self.display_game_over(pygame.time.get_ticks() - startTime)
+                    self.display_game_over(totalTime)
                     return
     
             clock.tick(60)  # 60 FPS
@@ -217,11 +220,12 @@ class WickedQuest:
         """Main game loop with menu system."""
         while True:
             choice = game_menu(self.sounds, "play", "instructions", "learn_sounds", "credits", "donate", "exit")
-            
+
             if choice == "exit":
                 exit_game()
             elif choice == "play":
                 self.player = None  # Reset player for new game
+                self.gameStartTime = pygame.time.get_ticks()  # Set game start time here
                 if self.load_level(1):
                     self.game_loop()
             elif choice == "learn_sounds":