diff --git a/client/src/modules/GameCreationStepManager.js b/client/src/modules/GameCreationStepManager.js
index b6fdfa9..f674f45 100644
--- a/client/src/modules/GameCreationStepManager.js
+++ b/client/src/modules/GameCreationStepManager.js
@@ -110,7 +110,12 @@ export class GameCreationStepManager {
                     const button = document.getElementById('create-game');
                     button.removeEventListener('click', this.steps['5'].forwardHandler);
                     button.classList.add('submitted');
-                    button.innerText = 'Creating';
+                    button.innerText = 'Creating...';
+                    const restoreButton = () => {
+                        button.innerText = 'Create';
+                        button.classList.remove('submitted');
+                        button.addEventListener('click', this.steps['5'].forwardHandler);
+                    };
                     XHRUtility.xhr(
                         '/api/games/create',
                         'POST',
@@ -126,20 +131,26 @@ export class GameCreationStepManager {
                         )
                     )
                         .then((res) => {
-                            if (res
-                            && typeof res === 'object'
-                            && Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(res, 'content')
-                            && typeof res.content === 'string'
-                            ) {
-                                const json = JSON.parse(res.content);
-                                UserUtility.setAnonymousUserId(json.cookie, json.environment);
-                                window.location = ('/game/' + json.accessCode);
+                            if (res.status === 201) {
+                                try {
+                                    const json = JSON.parse(res.content);
+                                    UserUtility.setAnonymousUserId(json.cookie, json.environment);
+                                    window.location.replace(
+                                        window.location.protocol + '//' + window.location.host +
+                                        '/game/' + json.accessCode
+                                    );
+                                } catch (e) {
+                                    restoreButton();
+                                    toast(
+                                        'There was a problem creating the game. Please contact the developers.',
+                                        'error',
+                                        true,
+                                        true
+                                    );
+                                }
                             }
                         }).catch((e) => {
-                            const button = document.getElementById('create-game');
-                            button.innerText = 'Create';
-                            button.classList.remove('submitted');
-                            button.addEventListener('click', this.steps['5'].forwardHandler);
+                            restoreButton();
                             toast(e.content, 'error', true, true, 'medium');
                             if (e.status === 429) {
                                 toast('You\'ve sent this request too many times.', 'error', true, true, 'medium');
diff --git a/client/src/modules/GameStateRenderer.js b/client/src/modules/GameStateRenderer.js
index c010a36..02995a7 100644
--- a/client/src/modules/GameStateRenderer.js
+++ b/client/src/modules/GameStateRenderer.js
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ export class GameStateRenderer {
             '?playerCount=' + getGameSize(this.stateBucket.currentGameState.deck) +
             '&timer=' + encodeURIComponent(timeString);
 
-        QRCode.toCanvas(document.getElementById('canvas'), link, { scale: 3 }, function (error) {
+        QRCode.toCanvas(document.getElementById('canvas'), link, { scale: 2 }, function (error) {
             if (error) console.error(error);
             console.log('success!');
         });
diff --git a/client/src/modules/HTMLFragments.js b/client/src/modules/HTMLFragments.js
index d948661..bc105d2 100644
--- a/client/src/modules/HTMLFragments.js
+++ b/client/src/modules/HTMLFragments.js
@@ -6,16 +6,18 @@ export const HTMLFragments = {
             <div tabindex='0' id='game-link'></div>
             <div id='game-code'></div>
         </div>
-        <canvas id="canvas"></canvas>
-        <div id='game-parameters'>
-            <div>
-                <img alt='clock' src='/images/clock.svg'/>
-                <div id='game-time'></div>
+        <div>
+            <canvas id="canvas"></canvas>
+            <div id='game-parameters'>
+                <div>
+                    <img alt='clock' src='/images/clock.svg'/>
+                    <div id='game-time'></div>
+                </div>
+                <div>
+                    <img alt='person' src='/images/person.svg'/>
+                    <div id='game-player-count'></div>
+                </div>
             </div>
-            <div>
-                <img alt='person' src='/images/person.svg'/>
-            <div id='game-player-count'></div>
-        </div>
         </div>
         <div>
             <button id='role-info-button' class='app-button'>Roles in This Game <img src='/images/info.svg'/></button>
@@ -37,8 +39,9 @@ export const HTMLFragments = {
         </div>
     </div>`,
     START_GAME_PROMPT:
-    `<div id='start-game-prompt'>
+    `<div>
         <button id='start-game-button'>Start Game</button>
+        <p>All players must join to start.</p>
     </div>`,
     END_GAME_PROMPT:
     `<div id='end-game-prompt'>
@@ -106,7 +109,7 @@ export const HTMLFragments = {
             <button id='role-info-button' class='app-button'>Roles in This Game <img src='/images/info.svg'/></button>
         </div>
     </div>
-    <div>
+    <div id="game-players-container">
         <label id='players-alive-label'></label>
         <div id='game-player-list'>
             <div class='evil-players'>
@@ -152,8 +155,8 @@ export const HTMLFragments = {
             <div class='game-player-role'></div>
         </div>
         <div class='player-action-buttons'>
-            <button class='moderator-player-button kill-player-button'>Kill \uD83D\uDC80</button>
-            <button class='moderator-player-button reveal-role-button'>Reveal <img src='../images/eye.svg'/></button>
+            <button title='Kill' class='moderator-player-button kill-player-button'>\uD83D\uDC80</button>
+            <button title='Reveal' class='moderator-player-button reveal-role-button'><img alt='reveal' src='../images/eye.svg'/></button>
         </div>`,
     GAME_PLAYER:
         `<div>
diff --git a/client/src/scripts/game.js b/client/src/scripts/game.js
index 995b34c..fabd6f9 100644
--- a/client/src/scripts/game.js
+++ b/client/src/scripts/game.js
@@ -99,12 +99,10 @@ function processGameState (
             document.getElementById('game-state-container').innerHTML = HTMLFragments.LOBBY;
             gameStateRenderer.renderLobbyHeader();
             gameStateRenderer.renderLobbyPlayers();
-            if (
-                currentGameState.isFull
-                && (
-                    currentGameState.client.userType === globals.USER_TYPES.MODERATOR
+            if ((
+                currentGameState.client.userType === globals.USER_TYPES.MODERATOR
                     || currentGameState.client.userType === globals.USER_TYPES.TEMPORARY_MODERATOR
-                )
+            )
                 && refreshPrompt
             ) {
                 displayStartGamePromptForModerators(currentGameState, gameStateRenderer);
@@ -172,12 +170,10 @@ function setClientSocketHandlers (stateBucket, gameStateRenderer, socket, timerW
         stateBucket.currentGameState.people.push(player);
         stateBucket.currentGameState.isFull = gameIsFull;
         gameStateRenderer.renderLobbyPlayers();
-        if (
-            gameIsFull
-            && (
-                stateBucket.currentGameState.client.userType === globals.USER_TYPES.MODERATOR
+        if ((
+            stateBucket.currentGameState.client.userType === globals.USER_TYPES.MODERATOR
                 || stateBucket.currentGameState.client.userType === globals.USER_TYPES.TEMPORARY_MODERATOR
-            )
+        )
         ) {
             displayStartGamePromptForModerators(stateBucket.currentGameState, gameStateRenderer);
         }
@@ -329,10 +325,27 @@ function setClientSocketHandlers (stateBucket, gameStateRenderer, socket, timerW
 }
 
 function displayStartGamePromptForModerators (gameState, gameStateRenderer) {
-    const div = document.createElement('div');
-    div.innerHTML = HTMLFragments.START_GAME_PROMPT;
-    div.querySelector('#start-game-button').addEventListener('click', gameStateRenderer.startGameHandler);
-    document.body.appendChild(div);
+    const existingPrompt = document.getElementById('start-game-prompt');
+    if (existingPrompt) {
+        enableOrDisableStartButton(gameState, existingPrompt, gameStateRenderer.startGameHandler);
+    } else {
+        const newPrompt = document.createElement('div');
+        newPrompt.setAttribute('id', 'start-game-prompt');
+        newPrompt.innerHTML = HTMLFragments.START_GAME_PROMPT;
+
+        document.body.appendChild(newPrompt);
+        enableOrDisableStartButton(gameState, newPrompt, gameStateRenderer.startGameHandler);
+    }
+}
+
+function enableOrDisableStartButton (gameState, buttonContainer, handler) {
+    if (gameState.isFull) {
+        buttonContainer.querySelector('#start-game-button').addEventListener('click', handler);
+        buttonContainer.querySelector('#start-game-button').classList.remove('disabled');
+    } else {
+        buttonContainer.querySelector('#start-game-button').removeEventListener('click', handler);
+        buttonContainer.querySelector('#start-game-button').classList.add('disabled');
+    }
 }
 
 function removeStartGameFunctionalityIfPresent (gameStateRenderer) {
diff --git a/client/src/styles/GLOBAL.css b/client/src/styles/GLOBAL.css
index 61fedd8..0f7e1db 100644
--- a/client/src/styles/GLOBAL.css
+++ b/client/src/styles/GLOBAL.css
@@ -251,6 +251,12 @@ button {
     pointer-events: none;
 }
 
+.disabled {
+    filter: opacity(0.5) grayscale(1);
+    pointer-events: none;
+    animation: none !important;
+}
+
 .container {
     padding: 5px;
     border-radius: 3px;
@@ -340,7 +346,7 @@ input {
     align-items: center;
     padding: 5px 0;
     width: 100%;
-    background-color: #333243;
+    background-color: #1e1b26;
     height: 45px;
     z-index: 53000;
 }
diff --git a/client/src/styles/create.css b/client/src/styles/create.css
index 0b3acff..70ca168 100644
--- a/client/src/styles/create.css
+++ b/client/src/styles/create.css
@@ -419,6 +419,7 @@ input[type="number"] {
     color: #e7e7e7;
     font-size: 30px;
     padding: 10px 50px;
+    width: 100px;
 }
 
 #create-game:hover {
@@ -538,6 +539,7 @@ input[type="number"] {
     margin-top: 1em;
     justify-content: center;
     width: 100%;
+    height: 50px;
 }
 
 #upload-custom-roles-modal input[type='file'] {
@@ -651,6 +653,10 @@ input[type="number"] {
         font-size: 16px;
     }
 
+    #create-game {
+        width: 80px;
+    }
+
     .role-name {
         font-size: 13px;
         font-weight: bold;
diff --git a/client/src/styles/game.css b/client/src/styles/game.css
index dbbe2d9..4bcdd20 100644
--- a/client/src/styles/game.css
+++ b/client/src/styles/game.css
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 
 #lobby-players {
     overflow-y: auto;
-    max-height: 44em;
+    max-height: 30em;
     overflow-x: hidden;
     padding: 0 10px;
     border-radius: 3px;
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
     flex-wrap: wrap;
     display: flex;
     width: 95%;
-    margin: 1em auto 100px auto;
+    margin: 1em auto 140px auto;
     animation: fade-in-slide-up 2s;
 }
 
@@ -83,6 +83,13 @@
     width: 100%;
 }
 
+#lobby-header > div:nth-child(2) {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: center;
+    flex-wrap: wrap;
+}
+
 h1 {
     text-align: center;
     margin: 0.5em auto;
@@ -434,27 +441,38 @@ label[for='moderator'] {
 }
 
 #start-game-prompt, #end-game-prompt {
+    padding: 0.5em 0;
     display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
     align-items: center;
-    justify-content: center;
+    justify-content: space-evenly;
     position: fixed;
     z-index: 3;
-    border-radius: 3px;
     font-family: 'signika-negative', sans-serif;
     font-weight: 100;
-    box-shadow: 0 -2px 6px 0 rgb(0 0 0 / 45%);
+    box-shadow: 0 -6px 15px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5);
     left: 0;
     right: 0;
     bottom: 0;
+    border-radius: 3px;
     /* width: fit-content; */
     font-size: 20px;
-    height: 85px;
+    height: 100px;
     margin: 0 auto;
-    animation: fade-in-slide-up 10s ease;
-    animation-fill-mode: forwards;
-    animation-direction: normal;
-    width: 100%;
-    background-color: #333243;
+    max-width: 100%;
+    background-color: #1b1a24;
+}
+
+#start-game-prompt p {
+    color: whitesmoke;
+    font-size: 15px;
+}
+
+#start-game-prompt > div {
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: space-evenly;
 }
 
 #end-game-prompt {
@@ -471,10 +489,15 @@ label[for='moderator'] {
     transition: background-color, border 0.3s ease-out;
     text-shadow: 0 3px 4px rgb(0 0 0 / 85%);
     font-size: 25px;
+    user-select: none;
+    -ms-user-select: none;
+    -webkit-user-select: none;
+    -moz-user-select: none;
 }
 
 #start-game-button {
     background-color: #1c8a36;
+    margin-bottom: 10px;
     animation: shadow-pulse 1.5s infinite ease-out;
 }
 
@@ -563,6 +586,7 @@ canvas {
     margin: 0.5em 0;
     position: relative;
     box-shadow: 2px 3px 6px rgb(0 0 0 / 50%);
+    border-radius: 3px;
 }
 
 .game-player-name {
@@ -576,33 +600,44 @@ canvas {
 }
 
 .kill-player-button, .reveal-role-button {
+    background-color: #333243;
     font-family: 'signika-negative', sans-serif !important;
     border-radius: 3px;
     color: #e7e7e7;
+    height: 25px;
     font-size: 16px;
     cursor: pointer;
     border: 2px solid transparent;
-    transition: background-color, border 0.3s ease-out;
+    transition: background-color, border 0.2s ease-out;
     text-shadow: 0 3px 4px rgb(0 0 0 / 55%);
     margin: 5px 0 5px 25px;
-    width: 117px;
+    width: 65px;
     overflow: hidden;
     white-space: nowrap;
     text-overflow: ellipsis;
 }
 
+.kill-player-button:hover, .reveal-role-button:hover {
+    border: 2px solid #b1afcd;
+}
+
+#game-players-container {
+    width: 27em;
+    max-width: 100%;
+}
+
 .placeholder-button {
     font-family: 'signika-negative', sans-serif !important;
     display: flex;
     justify-content: center;
+    align-items: center;
     border-radius: 3px;
     color: #767676;
     font-weight: bold;
     font-size: 16px;
-    border: 2px solid transparent;
     text-shadow: 0 3px 4px rgb(0 0 0 / 55%);
-    margin: 5px 0 5px 35px;
-    width: 103px;
+    margin: 5px 0 5px 25px;
+    width: 65px;
 }
 
 #game-link:hover {
@@ -610,21 +645,12 @@ canvas {
     border: 2px solid #d7d7d7;
 }
 
-.reveal-role-button {
-    background-color: #586a6e;
-}
-
-.reveal-role-button:hover {
-    background-color: #4e5664;
-}
-
-.kill-player-button:hover {
-    background-color: #b35c5c;
-}
+/*.reveal-role-button {*/
+/*    background-color: #586a6e;*/
+/*}*/
 
 .reveal-role-button img {
     width: 18px;
-    margin-left: 5px;
 }
 
 #game-player-list > .game-player.killed::after {
@@ -660,9 +686,9 @@ canvas {
     cursor: pointer;
 }
 
-.kill-player-button {
-    background-color: #9f4747;
-}
+/*.kill-player-button {*/
+/*    background-color: #9f4747;*/
+/*}*/
 
 .killed-card {
     width: 55% !important;
@@ -720,7 +746,7 @@ canvas {
 
 #lobby-people-container , #game-people-container {
     background-color: #333243;
-    padding: 10px 10px 0 10px;
+    padding: 10px;
     border-radius: 3px;
     min-height: 25em;
     max-width: 35em;
@@ -738,6 +764,14 @@ canvas {
     align-items: center;
 }
 
+@media(max-width: 800px) {
+    #start-game-prompt, #end-game-prompt {
+        border-radius: 0;
+        width: 100%;
+        bottom: 0;
+    }
+}
+
 @media(max-width: 500px) {
     label {
         font-size: 18px;
@@ -752,7 +786,7 @@ canvas {
     }
 
     #game-state-container {
-        margin: 0 auto 85px auto;
+        margin: 0 auto 105px auto;
     }
 
     button {
diff --git a/server/api/GamesAPI.js b/server/api/GamesAPI.js
index 4fa21bf..0ca2764 100644
--- a/server/api/GamesAPI.js
+++ b/server/api/GamesAPI.js
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ router.post('/create', function (req, res) {
         if (result instanceof Error) {
             res.status(500).send();
         } else {
-            res.send(result); // game was created successfully, and access code was returned
+            res.status(201).send(result); // game was created successfully, and access code was returned
         }
     }).catch((e) => {
         if (e === globals.ERROR_MESSAGE.BAD_CREATE_REQUEST) {
diff --git a/server/config/globals.js b/server/config/globals.js
index b686fcb..75a3e84 100644
--- a/server/config/globals.js
+++ b/server/config/globals.js
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ const globals = {
             res.status(400).send('Request has invalid content type.');
         }
     },
-    STALE_GAME_HOURS: 12,
+    STALE_GAME_HOURS: 24,
     CLIENT_COMMANDS: {
         FETCH_GAME_STATE: 'fetchGameState',
         START_GAME: 'startGame',
diff --git a/server/modules/GameManager.js b/server/modules/GameManager.js
index e83b8e1..d292f24 100644
--- a/server/modules/GameManager.js
+++ b/server/modules/GameManager.js
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@ function pruneStaleGames (activeGames, timerThreads, logger) {
     for (const [accessCode, game] of Object.entries(activeGames)) {
         if (game.createTime) {
             const createDate = new Date(game.createTime);
-            if (createDate.setHours(createDate.getHours() + globals.STALE_GAME_HOURS) < Date.now()) { // clear games created more than 12 hours ago
+            if (createDate.setHours(createDate.getHours() + globals.STALE_GAME_HOURS) < Date.now()) {
                 logger.info('PRUNING STALE GAME ' + accessCode);
                 delete activeGames[accessCode];
                 if (timerThreads[accessCode]) {