diff --git a/packages/framework/src/ui/GameUI.tsx b/packages/framework/src/ui/GameUI.tsx
index d9e0161..412194f 100644
--- a/packages/framework/src/ui/GameUI.tsx
+++ b/packages/framework/src/ui/GameUI.tsx
@@ -1,14 +1,28 @@
+import type { JSX } from "preact";
+
 export interface GameUIOptions {
-  container: HTMLElement;
-  root: HTMLElement;
+  container: HTMLElement | string;
+  root: JSX.Element;
 }
 
 export class GameUI {
   private container: HTMLElement;
-  private root: HTMLElement;
+  private root: JSX.Element;
 
   constructor(options: GameUIOptions) {
-    this.container = options.container;
+    if (typeof options.container === "string") {
+      const existing = document.getElementById(options.container);
+      if (existing) {
+        this.container = existing;
+      } else {
+        const newContainer = document.createElement("div");
+        newContainer.id = options.container;
+        document.body.appendChild(newContainer);
+        this.container = newContainer;
+      }
+    } else {
+      this.container = options.container;
+    }
     this.root = options.root;
   }