diff --git a/game/persist.go b/game/persist.go
index a4327de..0b615b7 100644
--- a/game/persist.go
+++ b/game/persist.go
@@ -4,8 +4,26 @@ import (
 	"context"
 
 	"github.com/ryanhamamura/c4/db/repository"
+
+	"github.com/rs/zerolog/log"
 )
 
+func (gi *GameInstance) save() error {
+	err := saveGame(gi.queries, gi.game)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Error().Err(err).Str("game_id", gi.game.ID).Msg("failed to save game")
+	}
+	return err
+}
+
+func (gi *GameInstance) savePlayer(player *Player, slot int) error {
+	err := saveGamePlayer(gi.queries, gi.game.ID, player, slot)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Error().Err(err).Str("game_id", gi.game.ID).Int("slot", slot).Msg("failed to save game player")
+	}
+	return err
+}
+
 // saveGame persists the game state via upsert.
 func saveGame(queries *repository.Queries, g *Game) error {
 	var winnerUserID *string
diff --git a/game/store.go b/game/store.go
index ef09aee..d919441 100644
--- a/game/store.go
+++ b/game/store.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func (gs *GameStore) Create() *GameInstance {
 	gs.gamesMu.Unlock()
 
 	if gs.queries != nil {
-		saveGame(gs.queries, gi.game) //nolint:errcheck
+		gi.save() //nolint:errcheck
 	}
 
 	return gi
@@ -152,8 +152,8 @@ func (gi *GameInstance) Join(ps *PlayerSession) bool {
 	}
 
 	if gi.queries != nil {
-		saveGamePlayer(gi.queries, gi.game.ID, ps.Player, slot) //nolint:errcheck
-		saveGame(gi.queries, gi.game)                           //nolint:errcheck
+		gi.savePlayer(ps.Player, slot) //nolint:errcheck
+		gi.save()                      //nolint:errcheck
 	}
 
 	gi.notify()
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ func (gi *GameInstance) CreateRematch(gs *GameStore) *GameInstance {
 	gi.game.RematchGameID = &newID
 
 	if gi.queries != nil {
-		if err := saveGame(gi.queries, gi.game); err != nil {
+		if err := gi.save(); err != nil {
 			gs.Delete(newID) //nolint:errcheck
 			gi.game.RematchGameID = nil
 			return nil
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ func (gi *GameInstance) DropPiece(col int, playerColor int) bool {
 	}
 
 	if gi.queries != nil {
-		saveGame(gi.queries, gi.game) //nolint:errcheck
+		gi.save() //nolint:errcheck
 	}
 
 	gi.notify()
diff --git a/snake/loop.go b/snake/loop.go
index b6d4710..e60f629 100644
--- a/snake/loop.go
+++ b/snake/loop.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func (si *SnakeGameInstance) countdownPhase() {
 				si.game.Status = StatusInProgress
 
 				if si.queries != nil {
-					saveSnakeGame(si.queries, si.game) //nolint:errcheck
+					si.save() //nolint:errcheck
 				}
 				si.gameMu.Unlock()
 				si.notify()
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ func (si *SnakeGameInstance) gamePhase() {
 			if time.Since(lastInput) > inactivityLimit {
 				si.game.Status = StatusFinished
 				if si.queries != nil {
-					saveSnakeGame(si.queries, si.game) //nolint:errcheck
+					si.save() //nolint:errcheck
 				}
 				si.gameMu.Unlock()
 				si.notify()
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ func (si *SnakeGameInstance) gamePhase() {
 
 			// Throttle DB saves: persist on game over or every 2 seconds
 			if si.queries != nil && (gameOver || time.Since(lastSave) >= 2*time.Second) {
-				saveSnakeGame(si.queries, si.game) //nolint:errcheck
+				si.save() //nolint:errcheck
 				lastSave = time.Now()
 			}
 
diff --git a/snake/persist.go b/snake/persist.go
index 0f9d404..dba9da9 100644
--- a/snake/persist.go
+++ b/snake/persist.go
@@ -4,8 +4,26 @@ import (
 	"context"
 
 	"github.com/ryanhamamura/c4/db/repository"
+
+	"github.com/rs/zerolog/log"
 )
 
+func (si *SnakeGameInstance) save() error {
+	err := saveSnakeGame(si.queries, si.game)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Error().Err(err).Str("game_id", si.game.ID).Msg("failed to save snake game")
+	}
+	return err
+}
+
+func (si *SnakeGameInstance) savePlayer(player *Player) error {
+	err := saveSnakePlayer(si.queries, si.game.ID, player)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Error().Err(err).Str("game_id", si.game.ID).Msg("failed to save snake player")
+	}
+	return err
+}
+
 // saveSnakeGame persists the snake game state via upsert.
 func saveSnakeGame(queries *repository.Queries, sg *SnakeGame) error {
 	boardJSON := "{}"
diff --git a/snake/store.go b/snake/store.go
index c842715..4543a92 100644
--- a/snake/store.go
+++ b/snake/store.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func (ss *SnakeStore) Create(width, height int, mode GameMode, speed int) *Snake
 	ss.gamesMu.Unlock()
 
 	if ss.queries != nil {
-		saveSnakeGame(ss.queries, sg) //nolint:errcheck
+		si.save() //nolint:errcheck
 	}
 
 	return si
@@ -206,8 +206,8 @@ func (si *SnakeGameInstance) Join(player *Player) bool {
 	si.game.Players[slot] = player
 
 	if si.queries != nil {
-		saveSnakePlayer(si.queries, si.game.ID, player) //nolint:errcheck
-		saveSnakeGame(si.queries, si.game)              //nolint:errcheck
+		si.savePlayer(player) //nolint:errcheck
+		si.save()             //nolint:errcheck
 	}
 
 	si.notify()
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ func (si *SnakeGameInstance) CreateRematch() *SnakeGameInstance {
 	si.game.RematchGameID = &newID
 
 	if si.queries != nil {
-		saveSnakeGame(si.queries, si.game) //nolint:errcheck
+		si.save() //nolint:errcheck
 	}
 	si.gameMu.Unlock()