diff --git a/res/project.toml b/res/project/project.toml
similarity index 100%
rename from res/project.toml
rename to res/project/project.toml
diff --git a/res/project_client.lua b/res/project/project_client.lua
similarity index 100%
rename from res/project_client.lua
rename to res/project/project_client.lua
diff --git a/src/constants.hpp b/src/constants.hpp
index 03900b9e3..a64a05e38 100644
--- a/src/constants.hpp
+++ b/src/constants.hpp
@@ -86,3 +86,4 @@ inline const std::string SOUNDS_FOLDER = "sounds";
 inline const std::string TEXTURES_FOLDER = "textures";
 
 inline const std::string FONT_DEFAULT = "normal";
+inline const std::string DEFAULT_PROJECT_PATH = "project";
diff --git a/src/engine/Engine.cpp b/src/engine/Engine.cpp
index b3185f371..1a4361f9e 100644
--- a/src/engine/Engine.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/Engine.cpp
@@ -132,7 +132,17 @@ void Engine::initialize(CoreParameters coreParameters) {
         logger.info() << "engine runs in headless mode";
     }
     if (params.projectFolder.empty()) {
-        params.projectFolder = params.resFolder;
+        auto userDefProjectPath =
+            params.userFolder / std::filesystem::u8path(DEFAULT_PROJECT_PATH);
+        auto resDefProjectPath =
+            params.resFolder / std::filesystem::u8path(DEFAULT_PROJECT_PATH);
+        if (std::filesystem::is_directory(userDefProjectPath)) {
+            params.projectFolder = userDefProjectPath;
+        } else if (std::filesystem::is_directory(resDefProjectPath)) {
+            params.projectFolder = resDefProjectPath;
+        } else {
+            params.projectFolder = params.resFolder;
+        }
     }
     paths = std::make_unique<EnginePaths>(params);
     loadProject();