diff --git a/resources/lang/en.json b/resources/lang/en.json
index 812cd07334..967766ddbd 100644
--- a/resources/lang/en.json
+++ b/resources/lang/en.json
@@ -704,6 +704,8 @@
     "coordinate_grid_desc": "Toggle the alphanumeric grid overlay",
     "attacking_troops_overlay_label": "Attacking Troops Overlay",
     "attacking_troops_overlay_desc": "Show attacker vs defender troop counts on active front lines.",
+    "go_to_player_label": "Go to player on start",
+    "go_to_player_desc": "Toggle zooming in on the player in the beginning of a game.",
     "performance_overlay_label": "Performance Overlay",
     "performance_overlay_desc": "Toggle the performance overlay. When enabled, the performance overlay will be displayed. Press shift-D during game to toggle.",
     "easter_writing_speed_label": "Writing Speed Multiplier",
diff --git a/src/client/ClientGameRunner.ts b/src/client/ClientGameRunner.ts
index 51f29e6fd5..401a5c2ee7 100644
--- a/src/client/ClientGameRunner.ts
+++ b/src/client/ClientGameRunner.ts
@@ -291,6 +291,7 @@ async function createClientGame(
       worker,
       gameView,
       soundManager,
+      userSettings,
     );
   } catch (err) {
     soundManager.dispose();
@@ -322,6 +323,7 @@ export class ClientGameRunner {
     private worker: WorkerClient,
     private gameView: GameView,
     private soundManager: SoundManager,
+    private userSettings: UserSettings,
   ) {
     this.lastMessageTime = Date.now();
   }
@@ -534,7 +536,8 @@ export class ClientGameRunner {
         if (
           !this.gameView.inSpawnPhase() &&
           !hasGoneToPlayer &&
-          this.gameView.myPlayer()
+          this.gameView.myPlayer() &&
+          this.userSettings.goToPlayer()
         ) {
           hasGoneToPlayer = true;
           this.eventBus.emit(new GoToPlayerEvent(this.gameView.myPlayer()!, 8));
diff --git a/src/client/UserSettingModal.ts b/src/client/UserSettingModal.ts
index 5bc6f04323..6e11e3db03 100644
--- a/src/client/UserSettingModal.ts
+++ b/src/client/UserSettingModal.ts
@@ -309,6 +309,15 @@ export class UserSettingModal extends BaseModal {
     );
   }
 
+  private toggleGoToPlayer() {
+    this.userSettings.toggleGoToPlayer();
+
+    console.log(
+      "🔍 Go to player:",
+      this.userSettings.goToPlayer() ? "ON" : "OFF",
+    );
+  }
+
   private togglePerformanceOverlay() {
     this.userSettings.togglePerformanceOverlay();
   }
@@ -842,6 +851,15 @@ export class UserSettingModal extends BaseModal {
         @change=${this.toggleTerritoryPatterns}
       ></setting-toggle>
 
+      <!-- 🔍 Go to player -->
+      <setting-toggle
+        label="${translateText("user_setting.go_to_player_label")}"
+        description="${translateText("user_setting.go_to_player_desc")}"
+        id="go-to-player-toggle"
+        .checked=${this.userSettings.goToPlayer()}
+        @change=${this.toggleGoToPlayer}
+      ></setting-toggle>
+
       <!-- 📱 Performance Overlay -->
       <setting-toggle
         label="${translateText("user_setting.performance_overlay_label")}"
diff --git a/src/core/game/UserSettings.ts b/src/core/game/UserSettings.ts
index d22b365539..9faff1a0c6 100644
--- a/src/core/game/UserSettings.ts
+++ b/src/core/game/UserSettings.ts
@@ -164,6 +164,10 @@ export class UserSettings {
     return this.getBool("settings.territoryPatterns", true);
   }
 
+  goToPlayer() {
+    return this.getBool("settings.goToPlayer", true);
+  }
+
   attackingTroopsOverlay() {
     return this.getBool("settings.attackingTroopsOverlay", true);
   }
@@ -225,6 +229,10 @@ export class UserSettings {
     this.setBool("settings.territoryPatterns", !this.territoryPatterns());
   }
 
+  toggleGoToPlayer() {
+    this.setBool("settings.goToPlayer", !this.goToPlayer());
+  }
+
   toggleDarkMode() {
     this.setBool(DARK_MODE_KEY, !this.darkMode());
   }