diff --git a/docs/COMMAND_LINE.md b/docs/COMMAND_LINE.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9fca2d295
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/COMMAND_LINE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# Command line options
+
+Currently the following command line interface options are available:
+
+`-g/--gold` (legacy: `-gold`):
+    Runs the Unfinished Business or the Golden Mask expansion pack, depending
+    on the game.
+
+`--demo-pc` (TR1X only, legacy: `-demo_pc`):
+    Runs the PC demo level.
+
+`-l/--level <path>`:
+    Runs the game immediately launching it into the specified level.
+    The path should be absolute. Internally, this option uses
+    `TR*X_gameflow_level.json5` as a template instructing it how to run the
+    game.
+
+`-s/--save <num>`:
+    Runs the game immediately loading a specific save slot. The first save
+    starts at `num=1`. This option can be combined with `-l/--level`.
diff --git a/docs/tr1/CHANGELOG.md b/docs/tr1/CHANGELOG.md
index 6ca1234bd..7047d5433 100644
--- a/docs/tr1/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/docs/tr1/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 - added support for aspect ratio-specific images (#1840)
 - added an option to wraparound when scrolling UI dialogs, such as save/load (#2834)
 - changed the `draw_distance_fade` and `draw_distance_max` to `fog_start` and `fog_end`
+- added aliases to CLI options (`-gold` becomes `-g/--gold`, `-demo_pc` becomes `--demo-pc`)
+- added a `--help` CLI option (may not output anything on Windows machines – OS bug)
 - changed `Select Detail` dialog title to `Graphic Options`
 - changed the number of static mesh slots from 50 to 256 (#2734)
 - changed the "enable EIDOS logo" option to disable the Core Design and Bink Video Codec FMVs as well; renamed to "enable legal" (#2741)
diff --git a/docs/tr2/CHANGELOG.md b/docs/tr2/CHANGELOG.md
index fa31d551c..11a28dcb9 100644
--- a/docs/tr2/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/docs/tr2/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 ## [Unreleased](https://github.com/LostArtefacts/TRX/compare/tr2-1.0.1...develop) - ××××-××-××
+- added aliases to CLI options (`-gold` becomes `-g/--gold`)
+- added a `--help` CLI option (may not output anything on Windows machines – OS bug)
 - changed the sound dialog appearance (repositioned, added text labels and arrows)
 - fixed Lara voiding if she stops on a tile with a closing door, and the door isn't on a portal (#2848)
 - fixed guns carried by enemies not being converted to ammo if Lara has picked up the same gun elsewhere in the same level (#2856)
diff --git a/src/libtrx/game/shell/main.c b/src/libtrx/game/shell/main.c
index 1a29106ab..4e3ce7d41 100644
--- a/src/libtrx/game/shell/main.c
+++ b/src/libtrx/game/shell/main.c
@@ -21,13 +21,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     Log_Init(log_path);
     Memory_FreePointer(&log_path);
 
-    LOG_INFO("Game directory: %s", File_GetGameDirectory());
-
     m_ArgCount = argc;
     m_ArgStrings = (const char **)argv;
 
     Shell_Setup();
-    Shell_Main();
-    Shell_Terminate(0);
-    return 0;
+    int32_t exit_code = Shell_Main();
+    Shell_Terminate(exit_code);
+    return exit_code;
 }
diff --git a/src/libtrx/include/libtrx/game/shell.h b/src/libtrx/include/libtrx/game/shell.h
index 3128bda38..e1cfc303a 100644
--- a/src/libtrx/include/libtrx/game/shell.h
+++ b/src/libtrx/include/libtrx/game/shell.h
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ extern void Shell_Shutdown(void);
 extern SDL_Window *Shell_GetWindow(void);
 
 void Shell_Setup(void);
-extern void Shell_Main(void);
+extern int32_t Shell_Main(void);
 void Shell_Terminate(int32_t exit_code);
 void Shell_ExitSystem(const char *message);
 void Shell_ExitSystemFmt(const char *fmt, ...);
diff --git a/src/tr1/game/output.c b/src/tr1/game/output.c
index 9bed2681b..c63c73c94 100644
--- a/src/tr1/game/output.c
+++ b/src/tr1/game/output.c
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ typedef struct {
     int32_t thickness;
 } LIGHTNING;
 
+static bool m_Initialized = false;
 static int32_t m_LightningCount = 0;
 static LIGHTNING m_LightningTable[MAX_LIGHTNINGS];
 static int32_t m_TextureMap[GFX_MAX_TEXTURES] = { GFX_NO_TEXTURE };
@@ -385,6 +386,11 @@ static void M_DrawSprite(
 
 bool Output_Init(void)
 {
+    if (m_Initialized) {
+        return true;
+    }
+    m_Initialized = true;
+
     for (int32_t i = 0; i < GFX_MAX_TEXTURES; i++) {
         m_TextureMap[i] = GFX_NO_TEXTURE;
         m_TextureSurfaces[i] = nullptr;
@@ -406,6 +412,11 @@ bool Output_Init(void)
 
 void Output_Shutdown(void)
 {
+    if (!m_Initialized) {
+        return;
+    }
+    m_Initialized = false;
+
     Output_Meshes_Shutdown();
     Output_Sprites_Shutdown();
     Output_Textures_Shutdown();
diff --git a/src/tr1/game/shell.c b/src/tr1/game/shell.c
index f892719ba..72910c037 100644
--- a/src/tr1/game/shell.c
+++ b/src/tr1/game/shell.c
@@ -81,11 +81,22 @@ static SHELL_ARGS m_Args = {
 
 static const char *m_CurrentGameFlowPath;
 
-static void M_ParseArgs(SHELL_ARGS *out_args);
+static void M_ShowHelp(void);
+static bool M_ParseArgs(SHELL_ARGS *out_args);
 static void M_LoadConfig(void);
 static void M_HandleConfigChange(const EVENT *event, void *data);
 
-static void M_ParseArgs(SHELL_ARGS *const out_args)
+static void M_ShowHelp(void)
+{
+    puts("Currently available options:");
+    puts("");
+    puts("-g/--gold: launch The Unfinished Business expansion pack.");
+    puts("   --demo-pc: launch the PC demo level file.");
+    puts("-l/--level <PATH>: launch a specific level file.");
+    puts("-s/--save <NUM>: launch from a specific save slot (starts at 1).");
+}
+
+static bool M_ParseArgs(SHELL_ARGS *const out_args)
 {
     const char **args = nullptr;
     int32_t arg_count = 0;
@@ -94,10 +105,15 @@ static void M_ParseArgs(SHELL_ARGS *const out_args)
     out_args->mod = M_MOD_OG;
 
     for (int32_t i = 0; i < arg_count; i++) {
-        if (!strcmp(args[i], "-gold")) {
+        if (!strcmp(args[i], "-h") || !strcmp(args[i], "--help")) {
+            M_ShowHelp();
+            return false;
+        }
+        if (!strcmp(args[i], "-g") || !strcmp(args[i], "--gold")
+            || !strcmp(args[i], "-gold")) {
             out_args->mod = M_MOD_UB;
         }
-        if (!strcmp(args[i], "-demo_pc")) {
+        if (!strcmp(args[i], "--demo-pc") || !strcmp(args[i], "-demo_pc")) {
             out_args->mod = M_MOD_DEMO_PC;
         }
         if ((!strcmp(args[i], "-l") || !strcmp(args[i], "--level"))
@@ -112,6 +128,7 @@ static void M_ParseArgs(SHELL_ARGS *const out_args)
             }
         }
     }
+    return true;
 }
 
 static void M_HandleConfigChange(const EVENT *const event, void *const data)
@@ -174,9 +191,11 @@ const char *Shell_GetGameFlowPath(void)
     return m_ModPaths[m_Args.mod].game_flow_path;
 }
 
-void Shell_Main(void)
+int32_t Shell_Main(void)
 {
-    M_ParseArgs(&m_Args);
+    if (!M_ParseArgs(&m_Args)) {
+        return 0;
+    }
 
     GameString_Init();
     EnumMap_Init();
@@ -200,7 +219,7 @@ void Shell_Main(void)
 
     if (!Output_Init()) {
         Shell_ExitSystem("Could not initialise video system");
-        return;
+        return 1;
     }
     Screen_Init();
 
@@ -312,6 +331,7 @@ void Shell_Main(void)
     if (m_Args.level_to_play != nullptr) {
         Memory_FreePointer(&g_GameFlow.level_tables[GFLT_MAIN].levels[0].path);
     }
+    return 0;
 }
 
 void Shell_ProcessInput(void)
diff --git a/src/tr2/game/render/common.c b/src/tr2/game/render/common.c
index bcfb617ff..82b232443 100644
--- a/src/tr2/game/render/common.c
+++ b/src/tr2/game/render/common.c
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ static RENDERER *M_GetRenderer(void)
     } else if (g_Config.rendering.render_mode == RM_HARDWARE) {
         r = &m_Renderer_HW;
     }
-    ASSERT(r != nullptr);
     return r;
 }
 
@@ -124,7 +123,6 @@ void Render_Init(void)
 
 void Render_Shutdown(void)
 {
-    LOG_DEBUG("");
     RENDERER *const r = M_GetRenderer();
     if (r != nullptr) {
         r->Close(r);
diff --git a/src/tr2/game/shell/common.c b/src/tr2/game/shell/common.c
index f7d00b73d..a1e87969b 100644
--- a/src/tr2/game/shell/common.c
+++ b/src/tr2/game/shell/common.c
@@ -99,7 +99,8 @@ static void M_HandleQuit(void);
 static void M_ConfigureOpenGL(void);
 static bool M_CreateGameWindow(void);
 
-static void M_ParseArgs(SHELL_ARGS *out_args);
+static void M_ShowHelp(void);
+static bool M_ParseArgs(SHELL_ARGS *out_args);
 static void M_LoadConfig(void);
 static void M_HandleConfigChange(const EVENT *event, void *data);
 
@@ -342,7 +343,16 @@ static bool M_CreateGameWindow(void)
     return true;
 }
 
-static void M_ParseArgs(SHELL_ARGS *const out_args)
+static void M_ShowHelp(void)
+{
+    puts("Currently available options:");
+    puts("");
+    puts("-g/--gold: launch The Golden Mask expansion pack.");
+    puts("-l/--level <PATH>: launch a specific level file.");
+    puts("-s/--save <NUM>: launch from a specific save slot (starts at 1).");
+}
+
+static bool M_ParseArgs(SHELL_ARGS *const out_args)
 {
     const char **args = nullptr;
     int32_t arg_count = 0;
@@ -351,7 +361,12 @@ static void M_ParseArgs(SHELL_ARGS *const out_args)
     out_args->mod = M_MOD_OG;
 
     for (int32_t i = 0; i < arg_count; i++) {
-        if (!strcmp(args[i], "-gold")) {
+        if (!strcmp(args[i], "-h") || !strcmp(args[i], "--help")) {
+            M_ShowHelp();
+            return false;
+        }
+        if (!strcmp(args[i], "-g") || !strcmp(args[i], "--gold")
+            || !strcmp(args[i], "-gold")) {
             out_args->mod = M_MOD_GM;
         }
         if ((!strcmp(args[i], "-l") || !strcmp(args[i], "--level"))
@@ -366,6 +381,7 @@ static void M_ParseArgs(SHELL_ARGS *const out_args)
             }
         }
     }
+    return true;
 }
 
 static void M_LoadConfig(void)
@@ -434,9 +450,13 @@ static void M_HandleConfigChange(const EVENT *const event, void *const data)
 }
 
 // TODO: refactor the hell out of me
-void Shell_Main(void)
+int32_t Shell_Main(void)
 {
-    M_ParseArgs(&m_Args);
+    if (!M_ParseArgs(&m_Args)) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    LOG_INFO("Game directory: %s", File_GetGameDirectory());
 
     if (m_Args.mod == M_MOD_GM) {
         Object_Get(O_MONK_3)->setup_func = Monk3_Setup;
@@ -465,7 +485,7 @@ void Shell_Main(void)
 
     if (!M_CreateGameWindow()) {
         Shell_ExitSystem("Failed to create game window");
-        return;
+        return 1;
     }
 
     Random_Seed();
@@ -556,7 +576,7 @@ void Shell_Main(void)
                 if (gf_cmd.action == GF_NOOP
                     || gf_cmd.action == GF_EXIT_TO_TITLE) {
                     Shell_ExitSystem("Title disabled & no replacement");
-                    return;
+                    return 1;
                 }
             } else {
                 gf_cmd = GF_RunTitle();
@@ -578,6 +598,7 @@ void Shell_Main(void)
     if (m_Args.level_to_play != nullptr) {
         Memory_FreePointer(&g_GameFlow.level_tables[GFLT_MAIN].levels[0].path);
     }
+    return 0;
 }
 
 void Shell_Shutdown(void)