diff --git a/src/artifacts.rs b/src/artifacts.rs
index 3d5fce3..16b1510 100644
--- a/src/artifacts.rs
+++ b/src/artifacts.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ pub trait Artifact {
     /// get the position of the artifact in the level
     fn get_immutable_position(&self) -> &Position;
     /// call to apply the effects of the artifact to the player
-    fn collect(&mut self, player: &mut Player);
+    fn collect(&mut self, player: &mut Player, messages: &mut Vec<String>);
     /// returns if the artifact was collected and can be removed from the level
     fn was_collected(&self) -> bool;
 }
@@ -37,8 +37,9 @@ impl Artifact for Chest {
     }
 
     fn get_immutable_position(&self) -> &Position { &self.position }
-    fn collect(&mut self, player: &mut Player) {
+    fn collect(&mut self, player: &mut Player, messages: &mut Vec<String>) {
         player.retrieve_gold(self.gold);
+        messages.insert(0, format!("opened chest and collected {} gold.", self.gold).to_string());
         self.gold = 0;
     }
 
@@ -67,11 +68,16 @@ impl Artifact for Potion {
         ("P", Color::Green)
     }
     fn get_immutable_position(&self) -> &Position { &self.position }
-    fn collect(&mut self, player: &mut Player) {
+    fn collect(&mut self, player: &mut Player, messages: &mut Vec<String>) {
         // only consume potion of the player can gain at least one health point
         if !player.is_healthy() {
+            let old = player.get_life();
             player.change_life(self.health.try_into().unwrap());
+            let new = player.get_life();
+            messages.insert(0, format!("picked up potion and gained {} hp.", new - old).to_string());
             self.health = 0;
+        } else {
+            messages.insert(0, "not using the potion because you're healthy.".to_string());
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/game.rs b/src/game.rs
index e755617..87a8ec2 100644
--- a/src/game.rs
+++ b/src/game.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ pub struct Game {
     player: Player,
     /// the levels of the game
     levels: Vec<Level>,
+    pub messages: Vec<String>,
 }
 
 impl Game {
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ impl Game {
         let mut g = Game {
             player: p,
             levels: v,
+            messages: Vec::with_capacity(10),
         };
         let start = {
             g.get_level(0).start
@@ -125,12 +127,14 @@ impl Game {
                         (dx, dy) = (0, 0);
                         let (next_level, x, y) = self.next_start();
                         player_level = next_level;
+                        self.messages.insert(0, format!("you climb down to level {}.", next_level));
                         self.get_mutable_player().get_position().set(next_level, x, y);
                     }
                     StructureElement::StairUp => {
                         (dx, dy) = (0, 0);
                         let (next_level, x, y) = self.prev_end();
                         player_level = next_level;
+                        self.messages.insert(0, format!("you climb up to level {}.", next_level));
                         self.get_mutable_player().get_position().set(next_level, x, y);
                     }
                     _ => {}
@@ -155,6 +159,8 @@ impl Game {
                 // TODO fight the monster
                 self.player.change_life(-1);
                 m.decrease_life(1);
+                self.messages.insert(0, format!("{} hits you.", m.get_name()).to_string());
+                self.messages.insert(0, format!("you hit {}.", m.get_name()).to_string());
                 // monster died, player gains experience
                 if m.is_dead() {
                     self.player.gain_experience(m.get_experience_gain());
@@ -172,7 +178,7 @@ impl Game {
         match a {
             None => {}
             Some(a) => {
-                a.collect(&mut self.player);
+                a.collect(&mut self.player, &mut self.messages);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -181,7 +187,7 @@ impl Game {
         let player_pos = &self.player.get_immutable_position();
         let player_level = player_pos.get_level();
         let level = &mut self.levels[player_level];
-        level.update(ticks, &mut self.player);
+        level.update(ticks, &mut self.player, &mut self.messages);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/level.rs b/src/level.rs
index eb07dcd..2b9251a 100644
--- a/src/level.rs
+++ b/src/level.rs
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ impl Level {
             }
         }
     }
-    pub fn update(&mut self, ticks: u128, player: &mut Player) {
+    pub fn update(&mut self, ticks: u128, player: &mut Player, messages: &mut Vec<String>) {
         for (index, a) in &mut self.artifacts.iter().enumerate() {
             if a.was_collected() {
                 self.artifacts.remove(index);
@@ -140,6 +140,8 @@ impl Level {
                     if player.get_immutable_position().get_x() == new_x && player.get_immutable_position().get_y() == new_y {
                         self.monsters[index].decrease_life(1);
                         player.change_life(-1);
+                        messages.insert(0, format!("{} hits you.", self.monsters[index].get_name()).to_string());
+                        messages.insert(0, format!("you hit {}.", self.monsters[index].get_name()).to_string());
                         // if the attack did not kill the opponent, back down
                         if !player.is_dead() {
                             self.monsters[index].get_position().change(-dx, -dy);
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 71d0a95..dc6cc17 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ use whoami::realname;
 
 use crate::game::{Game, GameState};
 use crate::level_widget::LevelWidget;
-// use crate::level_widget::LevelWidget;
 use crate::player::Player;
 use crate::position::HasPosition;
 
@@ -87,20 +86,48 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
                 x: area.x + 50,
                 y: area.y,
                 width: 30,
-                height: 25,
+                height: 15,
             };
+            let block = Block::default()
+                .title(
+                    Title::from(
+                        format!(" {} ", game.get_player().get_name()))
+                        .alignment(Alignment::Center)
+                        .position(Position::Top)
+                )
+                .borders(Borders::TOP)
+                .border_style(Style::default().fg(Color::White))
+                .border_type(BorderType::Rounded)
+                .style(Style::default().bg(Color::Blue));
             frame.render_widget(
-                Paragraph::new(format!("{}\nHealth: {}/{}\nExp: {}\nGold: {}\nLevel: {}",
-                                       game.get_player().get_name(),
+                Paragraph::new(format!("Health: {}/{}\nExp: {}\nGold: {}\nLevel: {}",
                                        game.get_player().get_life(),
                                        game.get_player().get_max_life(),
                                        game.get_player().get_experience(),
                                        game.get_player().get_gold(),
                                        game.get_player().get_immutable_position().get_level()))
-                    .white()
-                    .on_blue(),
+                    .block(block).wrap(Wrap { trim: true }),
                 stats_area,
             );
+            let messages_area = Rect {
+                x: area.x + 50,
+                y: area.y + 15,
+                width: 30,
+                height: 10,
+            };
+            // Display the latest messages from the game to the user
+            let block = Block::default()
+                .title(Title::from(" messages ").alignment(Alignment::Center).position(Position::Top))
+                .borders(Borders::TOP)
+                .border_style(Style::default().fg(Color::White))
+                .border_type(BorderType::Rounded)
+                .style(Style::default().bg(Color::Blue));
+
+            let paragraph1 = if game.messages.is_empty() { "".to_string() } else { format!("> {}", game.messages.join("\n> ")) };
+            frame.render_widget(
+                Paragraph::new(paragraph1).block(block).wrap(Wrap { trim: true }),
+                messages_area,
+            );
         })?;
         if event::poll(std::time::Duration::from_millis(FRAME_LENGTH))? {
             if let event::Event::Key(key) = event::read()? {
@@ -140,7 +167,7 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
             area.width = 40;
             area.height = 20;
             let block = Block::default()
-                .title("Game ended")
+                .title(Title::from(" Game ended ").alignment(Alignment::Center).position(Position::Top))
                 .title(Title::from("Press `q` to quit!").position(Position::Bottom))
                 .borders(Borders::ALL)
                 .border_style(Style::default().fg(Color::White))
diff --git a/src/monster.rs b/src/monster.rs
index 7ab2120..633a6f4 100644
--- a/src/monster.rs
+++ b/src/monster.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use ratatui::prelude::Color;
 use crate::position::{HasPosition, Position};
 
 pub trait Monster: HasPosition {
+    fn get_name(&self) -> &str;
     fn is_dead(&self) -> bool;
     fn get_representation(&self) -> (&str, Color);
     fn decrease_life(&mut self, by: usize);
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ pub trait Monster: HasPosition {
 macro_rules! default_monster {
     ($($t:ty),+ $(,)?) => ($(
         impl Monster for $t {
+            fn get_name(&self) -> &str { &self.name }
             fn is_dead(&self) -> bool { self.life <= 0 }
             fn get_experience_gain(&self) -> usize { self.experience_gain }
             fn get_representation(&self) -> (&str, Color) { (&self.symbol, self.color) }
@@ -39,6 +41,7 @@ macro_rules! default_monster {
 }
 
 pub struct Rat {
+    name: String,
     life: usize,
     position: Position,
     symbol: String,
@@ -50,6 +53,7 @@ pub struct Rat {
 impl Rat {
     pub fn new_with_position(position: Position) -> Self {
         Self {
+            name: "rat".to_string(),
             life: 2,
             position,
             symbol: String::from("R"),
@@ -62,6 +66,7 @@ impl Rat {
 default_monster!(Rat);
 
 pub struct Orc {
+    name: String,
     life: usize,
     position: Position,
     symbol: String,
@@ -73,6 +78,7 @@ pub struct Orc {
 impl Orc {
     pub fn new_with_position(position: Position) -> Self {
         Self {
+            name: "orc".to_string(),
             life: 4,
             position,
             symbol: String::from("O"),
@@ -88,7 +94,7 @@ default_monster!(Orc);
 
 #[test]
 fn monsters_can_move() {
-    let mut m = Rat::new_with_position(Position::new(0,0,0));
+    let mut m = Rat::new_with_position(Position::new(0, 0, 0));
     assert_eq!(m.get_position(), &Position::new(0, 0, 0));
     m.get_position().change(1, 2);
     assert_eq!(m.get_position(), &Position::new(0, 1, 2));
@@ -101,7 +107,7 @@ fn monsters_can_move() {
 
 #[test]
 fn monsters_can_die() {
-    let mut m = Rat::new_with_position(Position::new(0,0,0));
+    let mut m = Rat::new_with_position(Position::new(0, 0, 0));
     assert_eq!(m.get_life(), 2);
     assert_eq!(m.is_dead(), false);
     m.decrease_life(1);