diff --git a/apps/web/src/app/features/hunting/hunt-page/hunt-page.component.spec.ts b/apps/web/src/app/features/hunting/hunt-page/hunt-page.component.spec.ts
index 039ffb0..5452bc1 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/app/features/hunting/hunt-page/hunt-page.component.spec.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/app/features/hunting/hunt-page/hunt-page.component.spec.ts
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ const threeEncounterHunt: HuntResult = {
 describe('HuntPageComponent', () => {
   let worldStore: {
     currentLocation: ReturnType<typeof signal<CurrentLocationResponse | null>>;
+    load: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>;
   };
   let huntingStore: {
     currentHunt: ReturnType<typeof signal<HuntResult | null>>;
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ describe('HuntPageComponent', () => {
   let router: Router;
 
   async function setup(location: CurrentLocationResponse | null, hunt: HuntResult | null = null) {
-    worldStore = { currentLocation: signal(location) };
+    worldStore = { currentLocation: signal(location), load: vi.fn(() => Promise.resolve()) };
     const currentHunt = signal(hunt);
     huntingStore = {
       currentHunt,
@@ -196,6 +197,18 @@ describe('HuntPageComponent', () => {
     expect(huntingStore.startHunt).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
 
+  it('loads the world state on init when no location has been loaded yet (direct navigation/hard refresh)', async () => {
+    await setup(null);
+
+    expect(worldStore.load).toHaveBeenCalledOnce();
+  });
+
+  it('does not call load again when a location is already present', async () => {
+    await setup(burnedRoad);
+
+    expect(worldStore.load).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
   it('shows a loading state and disables the triggering action', async () => {
     const fixture = await setup(burnedRoad);
     huntingStore.loading.set(true);
diff --git a/apps/web/src/app/features/hunting/hunt-page/hunt-page.component.ts b/apps/web/src/app/features/hunting/hunt-page/hunt-page.component.ts
index bda1567..0f60dfd 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/app/features/hunting/hunt-page/hunt-page.component.ts
+++ b/apps/web/src/app/features/hunting/hunt-page/hunt-page.component.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { Component, inject } from '@angular/core';
+import { Component, OnInit, inject } from '@angular/core';
 import { Router } from '@angular/router';
 import { EncounterCardComponent } from '../encounter-card/encounter-card.component';
 import { HuntingStore } from '../hunting.store';
@@ -10,11 +10,17 @@ import { WorldStore } from '../../world/world.store';
   templateUrl: './hunt-page.component.html',
   styleUrl: './hunt-page.component.scss',
 })
-export class HuntPageComponent {
+export class HuntPageComponent implements OnInit {
   protected readonly worldStore = inject(WorldStore);
   protected readonly huntingStore = inject(HuntingStore);
   private readonly router = inject(Router);
 
+  ngOnInit(): void {
+    if (this.worldStore.currentLocation() === null) {
+      void this.worldStore.load();
+    }
+  }
+
   protected startHunt(): void {
     void this.huntingStore.startHunt();
   }