diff --git a/destrum/CMakeLists.txt b/destrum/CMakeLists.txt
index 25ae391..98e53ca 100644
--- a/destrum/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/destrum/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -109,6 +109,9 @@ set(SRC_FILES
         "src/Assets/AssetManager.cpp"
 
         "src/Serialization/SceneSerializer.cpp"
+        "src/Serialization/ObjectSerialization.cpp"
+        "src/Serialization/PrefabSerializer.cpp"
+        "src/Serialization/PrefabCache.cpp"
         "src/Serialization/ComponentRegistry.cpp"
 
         "src/Util/DeltaTime.cpp"
diff --git a/destrum/include/destrum/Scene/Scene.h b/destrum/include/destrum/Scene/Scene.h
index 1d23a2e..78a82a5 100644
--- a/destrum/include/destrum/Scene/Scene.h
+++ b/destrum/include/destrum/Scene/Scene.h
@@ -27,11 +27,13 @@ struct SceneEnvironment {
     float skyboxRotation{0.0f};
 };
 class SceneSerializer;
+class PrefabSerializer;
 class PhysicsWorld;
 
 class Scene final {
     friend Scene& SceneManager::CreateScene(const std::string& name);
     friend class SceneSerializer;
+    friend class PrefabSerializer;
 
 public:
     // void Add(std::shared_ptr<GameObject> object);
diff --git a/destrum/include/destrum/Serialization/ObjectSerialization.h b/destrum/include/destrum/Serialization/ObjectSerialization.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ee8e5a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/destrum/include/destrum/Serialization/ObjectSerialization.h
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+#ifndef DESTRUM_OBJECTSERIALIZATION_H
+#define DESTRUM_OBJECTSERIALIZATION_H
+
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <optional>
+#include <string>
+#include <unordered_map>
+#include <vector>
+
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+#include <destrum/ObjectModel/ObjectId.h>
+
+class GameObject;
+class Scene;
+
+namespace ObjectSerialization {
+    using ObjectMap = std::unordered_map<ObjectId, GameObject*>;
+    using ValidationError = std::optional<std::string>;
+
+    constexpr int CurrentObjectVersion = 2;
+
+    [[nodiscard]] std::optional<std::string> FindNonFinite(const nlohmann::json& value, const std::string& path);
+
+    [[nodiscard]] ValidationError ValidateObjects(const nlohmann::json& objects, int version);
+
+    void WarnMissingAssets(const nlohmann::json& objects, const std::filesystem::path& source);
+
+    [[nodiscard]] nlohmann::json SerializeObjects(const std::vector<const GameObject*>& objects);
+
+    [[nodiscard]] std::vector<const GameObject*> CollectHierarchy(const GameObject& root);
+
+    struct BuiltObjects {
+        std::vector<GameObject*> objects;
+        ObjectMap idMap;
+    };
+
+    [[nodiscard]] BuiltObjects BuildObjects(Scene& scene, const nlohmann::json& objects,
+                                            const ObjectMap& externalObjects = {});
+
+    [[nodiscard]] bool WriteFileAtomically(const std::filesystem::path& path, const std::string& contents);
+}
+
+#endif //DESTRUM_OBJECTSERIALIZATION_H
diff --git a/destrum/include/destrum/Serialization/PrefabCache.h b/destrum/include/destrum/Serialization/PrefabCache.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..67bc240
--- /dev/null
+++ b/destrum/include/destrum/Serialization/PrefabCache.h
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+#ifndef DESTRUM_PREFABCACHE_H
+#define DESTRUM_PREFABCACHE_H
+
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <memory>
+#include <string>
+#include <string_view>
+#include <unordered_map>
+
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+#include <destrum/Singleton.h>
+
+class PrefabCache final : public Singleton<PrefabCache> {
+    friend class Singleton<PrefabCache>;
+
+public:
+    [[nodiscard]] std::shared_ptr<const nlohmann::json> Get(std::string_view path);
+    void Invalidate(const std::filesystem::path& path);
+    void Clear();
+
+    [[nodiscard]] static std::filesystem::path ResolvePath(std::string_view path);
+
+private:
+    PrefabCache() = default;
+
+    struct Entry {
+        std::shared_ptr<const nlohmann::json> prefab;
+        std::filesystem::file_time_type writeTime;
+    };
+
+    [[nodiscard]] static std::string MakeKey(const std::filesystem::path& path);
+
+    std::unordered_map<std::string, Entry> m_Prefabs;
+};
+
+#endif //DESTRUM_PREFABCACHE_H
diff --git a/destrum/include/destrum/Serialization/PrefabSerializer.h b/destrum/include/destrum/Serialization/PrefabSerializer.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7a18ddb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/destrum/include/destrum/Serialization/PrefabSerializer.h
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#ifndef DESTRUM_PREFABSERIALIZER_H
+#define DESTRUM_PREFABSERIALIZER_H
+
+#include <filesystem>
+#include <optional>
+#include <string>
+#include <string_view>
+
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+
+class GameObject;
+class Scene;
+class Transform;
+
+class PrefabSerializer final {
+public:
+    static constexpr int CurrentPrefabVersion = 1;
+
+    [[nodiscard]] static std::optional<nlohmann::json> Capture(const GameObject& root);
+    static bool Save(const GameObject& root, const std::filesystem::path& path);
+
+    [[nodiscard]] static std::optional<nlohmann::json> LoadFile(const std::filesystem::path& path);
+    [[nodiscard]] static std::optional<std::string> Validate(const nlohmann::json& prefab);
+
+    static GameObject* InstantiateFromJson(Scene& scene, const nlohmann::json& prefab, Transform* parent = nullptr);
+    static GameObject* Instantiate(Scene& scene, std::string_view path, Transform* parent = nullptr);
+
+    static GameObject* Duplicate(GameObject& object);
+};
+
+#endif //DESTRUM_PREFABSERIALIZER_H
diff --git a/destrum/src/Serialization/ObjectSerialization.cpp b/destrum/src/Serialization/ObjectSerialization.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e1768a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/destrum/src/Serialization/ObjectSerialization.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,531 @@
+#include <destrum/Serialization/ObjectSerialization.h>
+
+#include <cmath>
+#include <fstream>
+#include <functional>
+#include <limits>
+#include <stdexcept>
+#include <unordered_set>
+
+#include <spdlog/spdlog.h>
+
+#include <destrum/Assets/AssetReference.h>
+#include <destrum/Components/Physics/Collider.h>
+#include <destrum/Components/Physics/Rigidbody.h>
+#include <destrum/FS/AssetFS.h>
+#include <destrum/Graphics/Resources/PrimitiveMeshes.h>
+#include <destrum/ObjectModel/Component.h>
+#include <destrum/ObjectModel/GameObject.h>
+#include <destrum/ObjectModel/Transform.h>
+#include <destrum/Scene/Scene.h>
+#include <destrum/Serialization/ComponentFactory.h>
+#include <destrum/Serialization/GlmJson.h>
+
+using json = nlohmann::json;
+
+namespace {
+    using ObjectSerialization::ValidationError;
+
+    [[nodiscard]] bool IsFiniteNumber(const json& value) {
+        if (!value.is_number()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        return std::isfinite(value.get<double>());
+    }
+
+    [[nodiscard]] bool IsFiniteArray(const json& value, std::size_t size) {
+        if (!value.is_array() || value.size() != size) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        for (const auto& element : value) {
+            if (!IsFiniteNumber(element)) {
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    [[nodiscard]] std::string DescribeObject(std::size_t index, const json& objectJson) {
+        std::string description = "objects[" + std::to_string(index) + "]";
+        if (objectJson.is_object() && objectJson.contains("name") && objectJson.at("name").is_string()) {
+            description += " \"" + objectJson.at("name").get<std::string>() + "\"";
+        }
+        return description;
+    }
+
+    [[nodiscard]] ValidationError ValidateTransform(const json& objectJson, int version) {
+        if (!objectJson.contains("transform")) {
+            return std::nullopt;
+        }
+
+        const auto& transform = objectJson.at("transform");
+        if (!transform.is_object()) {
+            return "transform must be an object";
+        }
+
+        // Version 1 wrote an empty placeholder transform object.
+        if (version <= 1 && transform.empty()) {
+            return std::nullopt;
+        }
+
+        for (const char* key : {"position", "rotation", "scale"}) {
+            if (!transform.contains(key)) {
+                return std::string{"transform is missing \""} + key + "\"";
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (!IsFiniteArray(transform.at("position"), 3)) {
+            return "transform.position must be 3 finite numbers";
+        }
+        if (!IsFiniteArray(transform.at("scale"), 3)) {
+            return "transform.scale must be 3 finite numbers";
+        }
+
+        const auto& rotation = transform.at("rotation");
+        if (!IsFiniteArray(rotation, 3) && !IsFiniteArray(rotation, 4)) {
+            return "transform.rotation must be 3 (euler) or 4 (quaternion) finite numbers";
+        }
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+
+    [[nodiscard]] ValidationError ValidateComponents(const json& objectJson) {
+        if (!objectJson.contains("components")) {
+            return std::nullopt;
+        }
+
+        const auto& components = objectJson.at("components");
+        if (!components.is_array()) {
+            return "components must be an array";
+        }
+
+        for (std::size_t i = 0; i < components.size(); ++i) {
+            const auto& componentJson = components.at(i);
+            const std::string where = "components[" + std::to_string(i) + "]";
+
+            if (!componentJson.is_object() || !componentJson.contains("type") ||
+                !componentJson.at("type").is_string()) {
+                return where + " must be an object with a string \"type\"";
+            }
+
+            const std::string type = componentJson.at("type").get<std::string>();
+            const std::string named = where + " " + type;
+
+            if (componentJson.contains("enabled") && !componentJson.at("enabled").is_boolean()) {
+                return named + ": \"enabled\" must be a boolean";
+            }
+
+            if (componentJson.contains("data")) {
+                const auto& data = componentJson.at("data");
+                if (!data.is_object()) {
+                    return named + ": \"data\" must be an object, got " + std::string{data.type_name()};
+                }
+                if (auto bad = ObjectSerialization::FindNonFinite(data, "data")) {
+                    return named + ": " + *bad + " is not a finite number";
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (!ComponentFactory::IsRegistered(type)) {
+                return named + ": unknown component type";
+            }
+        }
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+
+    [[nodiscard]] bool AssetFileExists(const std::string& path) {
+        if (path.empty() || PrimitiveMeshes::IsPrimitiveKey(path)) {
+            return true;
+        }
+
+        std::filesystem::path fullPath;
+        if (path.find("://") != std::string::npos) {
+            try {
+                fullPath = AssetFS::GetInstance().GetFullPath(path);
+            } catch (const std::exception&) {
+                return false;
+            }
+        } else {
+            fullPath = path;
+        }
+
+        return std::filesystem::exists(fullPath);
+    }
+
+    void CollectHierarchyRecursive(const GameObject& object, std::vector<const GameObject*>& out,
+                                   std::unordered_set<const GameObject*>& visited) {
+        if (object.IsBeingDestroyed() || !visited.insert(&object).second) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        out.push_back(&object);
+        for (const Transform* child : object.GetTransform().GetChildren()) {
+            if (child != nullptr && child->GetOwner() != nullptr) {
+                CollectHierarchyRecursive(*child->GetOwner(), out, visited);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+namespace ObjectSerialization {
+    // Returns the JSON path of the first NaN/Inf, nlohmann would write it as null
+    std::optional<std::string> FindNonFinite(const json& value, const std::string& path) {
+        if (value.is_number_float()) {
+            if (!std::isfinite(value.get<double>())) {
+                return path;
+            }
+            return std::nullopt;
+        }
+        if (value.is_array()) {
+            for (std::size_t i = 0; i < value.size(); ++i) {
+                if (auto bad = FindNonFinite(value.at(i), path + "[" + std::to_string(i) + "]")) {
+                    return bad;
+                }
+            }
+            return std::nullopt;
+        }
+        if (value.is_object()) {
+            for (auto it = value.begin(); it != value.end(); ++it) {
+                if (auto bad = FindNonFinite(it.value(), path + "." + it.key())) {
+                    return bad;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+
+    ValidationError ValidateObjects(const json& objects, int version) {
+        if (!objects.is_array()) {
+            return "\"objects\" must be an array";
+        }
+
+        std::unordered_set<ObjectId> ids;
+        std::unordered_map<ObjectId, ObjectId> parents;
+        std::unordered_map<ObjectId, std::string> descriptions;
+
+        for (std::size_t index = 0; index < objects.size(); ++index) {
+            const auto& objectJson = objects.at(index);
+            const std::string where = DescribeObject(index, objectJson);
+
+            if (!objectJson.is_object()) {
+                return where + " must be an object";
+            }
+            if (!objectJson.contains("id") || !objectJson.at("id").is_number_unsigned()) {
+                return where + " must have a non-negative integer \"id\"";
+            }
+
+            const ObjectId id = objectJson.at("id").get<ObjectId>();
+            if (id == InvalidObjectId || id >= std::numeric_limits<ObjectId>::max() - 1) {
+                return where + " uses reserved id " + std::to_string(id);
+            }
+            if (!ids.insert(id).second) {
+                return where + " reuses id " + std::to_string(id);
+            }
+            descriptions.emplace(id, where);
+
+            if (objectJson.contains("name") && !objectJson.at("name").is_string()) {
+                return where + ": \"name\" must be a string";
+            }
+            if (objectJson.contains("active") && !objectJson.at("active").is_boolean()) {
+                return where + ": \"active\" must be a boolean";
+            }
+            if (auto error = ValidateTransform(objectJson, version)) {
+                return where + ": " + *error;
+            }
+
+            ObjectId parent = InvalidObjectId;
+            if (objectJson.contains("parent")) {
+                if (!objectJson.at("parent").is_number_unsigned()) {
+                    return where + ": \"parent\" must be an object id";
+                }
+                parent = objectJson.at("parent").get<ObjectId>();
+            }
+            if (parent == id) {
+                return where + " is its own parent";
+            }
+            parents.emplace(id, parent);
+
+            if (auto error = ValidateComponents(objectJson)) {
+                return where + " " + *error;
+            }
+        }
+
+        for (const auto& [id, parent] : parents) {
+            if (parent != InvalidObjectId && !ids.contains(parent)) {
+                return descriptions.at(id) + " has missing parent id " + std::to_string(parent);
+            }
+
+            std::unordered_set<ObjectId> visited;
+            ObjectId current = id;
+            while (current != InvalidObjectId) {
+                if (!visited.insert(current).second) {
+                    return descriptions.at(id) + " is part of a parent cycle";
+                }
+                const auto parentIt = parents.find(current);
+                if (parentIt == parents.end()) {
+                    return descriptions.at(id) + " has missing ancestor id " + std::to_string(current);
+                }
+                current = parentIt->second;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+
+    void WarnMissingAssets(const json& objects, const std::filesystem::path& source) {
+        const auto report = [&](const std::string& objectName, const std::string& detail) {
+            spdlog::warn("Asset warning ({}): {} references \"{}\" which could not be found",
+                         source.string(), objectName, detail);
+        };
+
+        for (const auto& objectJson : objects) {
+            const std::string objectName = objectJson.value("name", "GameObject");
+            if (!objectJson.contains("components")) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            for (const auto& componentJson : objectJson.at("components")) {
+                if (!componentJson.contains("data")) {
+                    continue;
+                }
+                const auto& data = componentJson.at("data");
+
+                // MeshRendererComponent: meshKey / materialKey are asset cache keys.
+                for (const char* key : {"meshKey", "materialKey"}) {
+                    if (data.contains(key) && data.at(key).is_string()) {
+                        const std::string cacheKey = data.at(key).get<std::string>();
+                        if (cacheKey.empty()) continue;
+                        const auto asset = AssetReference::fromCacheKey(cacheKey);
+                        // Runtime-only keys like "BulbMaterial#2" are not file paths
+                        const bool looksLikePath = asset &&
+                            asset->path.find_first_of(":/\\") != std::string::npos;
+                        if (looksLikePath && !AssetFileExists(asset->path)) {
+                            report(objectName, cacheKey);
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+
+                // Generic: any nested object with a "path" field is an AssetReference.
+                std::function<void(const json&)> walk = [&](const json& node) {
+                    if (node.is_object()) {
+                        if (node.contains("path") && node.at("path").is_string()) {
+                            const std::string path = node.at("path").get<std::string>();
+                            if (!path.empty() && !AssetFileExists(path)) {
+                                report(objectName, path);
+                            }
+                        }
+                        for (auto it = node.begin(); it != node.end(); ++it) {
+                            walk(it.value());
+                        }
+                    } else if (node.is_array()) {
+                        for (const auto& element : node) {
+                            walk(element);
+                        }
+                    }
+                };
+                walk(data);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    std::vector<const GameObject*> CollectHierarchy(const GameObject& root) {
+        std::vector<const GameObject*> objects;
+        std::unordered_set<const GameObject*> visited;
+        CollectHierarchyRecursive(root, objects, visited);
+        return objects;
+    }
+
+    json SerializeObjects(const std::vector<const GameObject*>& objects) {
+        const std::unordered_set<const GameObject*> included(objects.begin(), objects.end());
+
+        json result = json::array();
+        for (const GameObject* objectPtr : objects) {
+            if (objectPtr == nullptr || objectPtr->IsBeingDestroyed()) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            const GameObject& object = *objectPtr;
+            if (object.GetComponent<Rigidbody>() != nullptr &&
+                object.GetComponent<Collider>() == nullptr) {
+                throw std::runtime_error("\"" + object.GetName() + "\" has a Rigidbody but no Collider");
+            }
+            const Transform& transform = object.GetTransform();
+
+            json objectJson;
+            objectJson["id"] = object.GetId();
+            objectJson["name"] = object.GetName();
+            objectJson["active"] = object.IsActive();
+            objectJson["transform"] = {
+                {"position", transform.GetLocalPosition()},
+                {"rotation", transform.GetLocalRotation()},
+                {"scale", transform.GetLocalScale()}
+            };
+
+            const Transform* parent = transform.GetParent();
+            const GameObject* parentObject = parent != nullptr ? parent->GetOwner() : nullptr;
+            objectJson["parent"] = parentObject != nullptr && included.contains(parentObject) &&
+                !parentObject->IsBeingDestroyed()
+                ? parentObject->GetId()
+                : InvalidObjectId;
+
+            objectJson["components"] = json::array();
+            for (const auto& componentPtr : object.GetComponents()) {
+                if (!componentPtr || componentPtr->IsBeingDestroyed()) {
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                const Component& component = *componentPtr;
+                json data;
+                try {
+                    data = component.Serialize();
+                } catch (const std::exception& exception) {
+                    throw std::runtime_error("failed to serialize " + component.GetTypeName() +
+                                             " on \"" + object.GetName() + "\": " + exception.what());
+                }
+
+                if (data.is_null()) {
+                    data = json::object();
+                }
+                if (auto bad = FindNonFinite(data, "data")) {
+                    throw std::runtime_error(component.GetTypeName() + " on \"" + object.GetName() +
+                                             "\": " + *bad + " is NaN or Inf");
+                }
+
+                objectJson["components"].push_back({
+                    {"type", component.GetTypeName()},
+                    {"enabled", component.isEnabled()},
+                    {"data", std::move(data)}
+                });
+            }
+
+            result.push_back(std::move(objectJson));
+        }
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    BuiltObjects BuildObjects(Scene& scene, const json& objects, const ObjectMap& externalObjects) {
+        BuiltObjects built;
+        std::vector<const json*> objectJsonList;
+        std::string context = "objects";
+
+        try {
+            for (const auto& objectJson : objects) {
+                const ObjectId id = objectJson.at("id").get<ObjectId>();
+                const std::string name = objectJson.value("name", "GameObject");
+                const bool active = objectJson.value("active", true);
+
+                // File ids are local to the file, every loaded object gets a fresh runtime id
+                GameObject* object = scene.CreateGameObject(name);
+                object->SetActive(active);
+
+                built.objects.push_back(object);
+                built.idMap.emplace(id, object);
+                objectJsonList.push_back(&objectJson);
+            }
+
+            for (std::size_t i = 0; i < objectJsonList.size(); ++i) {
+                const json& objectJson = *objectJsonList[i];
+                GameObject* object = built.objects[i];
+                context = "\"" + object->GetName() + "\" transform";
+
+                if (objectJson.contains("transform") &&
+                    !objectJson.at("transform").empty()) {
+                    const auto& transformJson = objectJson.at("transform");
+                    const auto& rotation = transformJson.at("rotation");
+
+                    object->GetTransform().SetLocalPosition(transformJson.at("position").get<glm::vec3>());
+
+                    if (rotation.size() == 4) {
+                        object->GetTransform().SetLocalRotation(rotation.get<glm::quat>());
+                    } else {
+                        // Version 1 scene files used three Euler angles in
+                        // degrees. Continue reading that format safely.
+                        object->GetTransform().SetLocalRotation(rotation.get<glm::vec3>());
+                    }
+
+                    object->GetTransform().SetLocalScale(transformJson.at("scale").get<glm::vec3>());
+                }
+
+                const ObjectId parentId = objectJson.value("parent", InvalidObjectId);
+                if (parentId != InvalidObjectId) {
+                    object->GetTransform().SetParent(&built.idMap.at(parentId)->GetTransform(), false);
+                }
+            }
+
+            for (std::size_t i = 0; i < objectJsonList.size(); ++i) {
+                const json& objectJson = *objectJsonList[i];
+                GameObject* object = built.objects[i];
+                if (!objectJson.contains("components")) {
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                for (const auto& componentJson : objectJson.at("components")) {
+                    const std::string type = componentJson.at("type").get<std::string>();
+                    context = type + " on \"" + object->GetName() + "\"";
+                    Component* component = ComponentFactory::Create(type, *object);
+                    if (component == nullptr) {
+                        throw std::runtime_error("unknown component type");
+                    }
+
+                    component->SetEnabled(componentJson.value("enabled", true));
+                    if (componentJson.contains("data")) {
+                        component->Deserialize(componentJson.at("data"));
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            ObjectMap referenceMap = built.idMap;
+            referenceMap.insert(externalObjects.begin(), externalObjects.end());
+
+            for (GameObject* object : built.objects) {
+                for (const auto& componentPtr : object->GetComponents()) {
+                    if (componentPtr) {
+                        context = componentPtr->GetTypeName() + " on \"" + object->GetName() + "\" references";
+                        componentPtr->ResolveReferences(referenceMap);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        } catch (const std::exception& exception) {
+            for (GameObject* object : built.objects) {
+                object->Destroy();
+            }
+            throw std::runtime_error(context + ": " + exception.what());
+        }
+
+        return built;
+    }
+
+    bool WriteFileAtomically(const std::filesystem::path& path, const std::string& contents) {
+        std::filesystem::path tempPath = path;
+        tempPath += ".tmp";
+
+        {
+            std::ofstream file(tempPath, std::ios::binary | std::ios::trunc);
+            if (!file.is_open()) {
+                spdlog::error("Failed to open file for writing: {}", tempPath.string());
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            file << contents;
+            file.flush();
+            if (!file.good()) {
+                spdlog::error("Failed to write file: {}", tempPath.string());
+                file.close();
+                std::error_code ignored;
+                std::filesystem::remove(tempPath, ignored);
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+
+        std::error_code error;
+        std::filesystem::rename(tempPath, path, error);
+        if (error) {
+            spdlog::error("Failed to replace file {}: {}", path.string(), error.message());
+            std::error_code ignored;
+            std::filesystem::remove(tempPath, ignored);
+            return false;
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/destrum/src/Serialization/PrefabCache.cpp b/destrum/src/Serialization/PrefabCache.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8012d55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/destrum/src/Serialization/PrefabCache.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+#include <destrum/Serialization/PrefabCache.h>
+
+#include <spdlog/spdlog.h>
+
+#include <destrum/FS/AssetFS.h>
+#include <destrum/Serialization/PrefabSerializer.h>
+
+std::shared_ptr<const nlohmann::json> PrefabCache::Get(std::string_view path) {
+    std::filesystem::path fullPath;
+    try {
+        fullPath = ResolvePath(path);
+    } catch (const std::exception& exception) {
+        spdlog::error("Cannot resolve prefab path \"{}\": {}", path, exception.what());
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+
+    std::error_code error;
+    const auto writeTime = std::filesystem::last_write_time(fullPath, error);
+    if (error) {
+        spdlog::error("Prefab file not found: {}", fullPath.string());
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+
+    const std::string key = MakeKey(fullPath);
+    if (const auto it = m_Prefabs.find(key); it != m_Prefabs.end() && it->second.writeTime == writeTime) {
+        return it->second.prefab;
+    }
+
+    auto prefab = PrefabSerializer::LoadFile(fullPath);
+    if (!prefab) {
+        m_Prefabs.erase(key);
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+
+    auto shared = std::make_shared<const nlohmann::json>(std::move(*prefab));
+    m_Prefabs[key] = Entry{shared, writeTime};
+    return shared;
+}
+
+void PrefabCache::Invalidate(const std::filesystem::path& path) {
+    m_Prefabs.erase(MakeKey(path));
+}
+
+void PrefabCache::Clear() {
+    m_Prefabs.clear();
+}
+
+std::filesystem::path PrefabCache::ResolvePath(std::string_view path) {
+    if (path.find("://") != std::string_view::npos) {
+        return AssetFS::GetInstance().GetFullPath(path);
+    }
+    return std::filesystem::path{path};
+}
+
+std::string PrefabCache::MakeKey(const std::filesystem::path& path) {
+    std::error_code error;
+    const auto absolute = std::filesystem::absolute(path, error);
+    return (error ? path : absolute).lexically_normal().generic_string();
+}
diff --git a/destrum/src/Serialization/PrefabSerializer.cpp b/destrum/src/Serialization/PrefabSerializer.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..74b5d8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/destrum/src/Serialization/PrefabSerializer.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,190 @@
+#include <destrum/Serialization/PrefabSerializer.h>
+
+#include <fstream>
+
+#include <spdlog/spdlog.h>
+
+#include <destrum/ObjectModel/GameObject.h>
+#include <destrum/ObjectModel/Transform.h>
+#include <destrum/Scene/Scene.h>
+#include <destrum/Serialization/ComponentRegistry.h>
+#include <destrum/Serialization/ObjectSerialization.h>
+#include <destrum/Serialization/PrefabCache.h>
+
+using json = nlohmann::json;
+
+namespace {
+    GameObject* InstantiateWith(Scene& scene, const json& prefab, Transform* parent,
+                                const ObjectSerialization::ObjectMap& externalObjects) {
+        if (scene.IsBeingUnloaded()) {
+            spdlog::error("Cannot instantiate a prefab into a scene that is being unloaded: {}", scene.GetName());
+            return nullptr;
+        }
+        if (auto error = PrefabSerializer::Validate(prefab)) {
+            spdlog::error("Cannot instantiate invalid prefab: {}", *error);
+            return nullptr;
+        }
+
+        GameObject* parentObject = parent != nullptr ? parent->GetOwner() : nullptr;
+        if (parentObject != nullptr && parentObject->GetScene() != &scene) {
+            spdlog::error("Cannot instantiate a prefab under \"{}\", it belongs to another scene",
+                          parentObject->GetName());
+            return nullptr;
+        }
+
+        try {
+            auto built = ObjectSerialization::BuildObjects(scene, prefab.at("objects"), externalObjects);
+            GameObject* root = built.objects.front();
+            if (parent != nullptr) {
+                root->GetTransform().SetParent(parent, false);
+            }
+            return root;
+        } catch (const std::exception& exception) {
+            spdlog::error("Failed to instantiate prefab \"{}\" ({})",
+                          prefab.value("name", "Prefab"), exception.what());
+            return nullptr;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+std::optional<json> PrefabSerializer::Capture(const GameObject& root) {
+    if (root.IsBeingDestroyed()) {
+        spdlog::error("Cannot capture a prefab from destroyed object \"{}\"", root.GetName());
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+
+    json prefab;
+    prefab["version"] = CurrentPrefabVersion;
+    prefab["name"] = root.GetName();
+    try {
+        prefab["objects"] = ObjectSerialization::SerializeObjects(ObjectSerialization::CollectHierarchy(root));
+    } catch (const std::exception& exception) {
+        spdlog::error("Cannot capture prefab \"{}\": {}", root.GetName(), exception.what());
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+
+    if (auto error = Validate(prefab)) {
+        spdlog::error("Cannot capture prefab \"{}\", it would not load back: {}", root.GetName(), *error);
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+    return prefab;
+}
+
+bool PrefabSerializer::Save(const GameObject& root, const std::filesystem::path& path) {
+    const auto prefab = Capture(root);
+    if (!prefab) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    std::string contents;
+    try {
+        contents = prefab->dump(4);
+    } catch (const std::exception& exception) {
+        spdlog::error("Failed to encode prefab \"{}\": {}", root.GetName(), exception.what());
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    if (!ObjectSerialization::WriteFileAtomically(path, contents)) {
+        return false;
+    }
+    PrefabCache::GetInstance().Invalidate(path);
+    return true;
+}
+
+std::optional<json> PrefabSerializer::LoadFile(const std::filesystem::path& path) {
+    std::ifstream file(path);
+    if (!file.is_open()) {
+        spdlog::error("Failed to open prefab file for reading: {}", path.string());
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+
+    json prefab;
+    try {
+        file >> prefab;
+    } catch (const std::exception& exception) {
+        spdlog::error("Failed to parse prefab file {}: {}", path.string(), exception.what());
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+
+    if (auto error = Validate(prefab)) {
+        spdlog::error("Invalid prefab data in {}: {}", path.string(), *error);
+        return std::nullopt;
+    }
+
+    ObjectSerialization::WarnMissingAssets(prefab.at("objects"), path);
+    return prefab;
+}
+
+std::optional<std::string> PrefabSerializer::Validate(const json& prefab) {
+    RegisterEngineComponents();
+
+    if (!prefab.is_object()) {
+        return "root must be an object";
+    }
+    if (!prefab.contains("version") || !prefab.at("version").is_number_integer()) {
+        return "\"version\" must be an integer";
+    }
+    const int version = prefab.at("version").get<int>();
+    if (version < 1 || version > CurrentPrefabVersion) {
+        return "unsupported prefab version " + std::to_string(version);
+    }
+    if (prefab.contains("name") && !prefab.at("name").is_string()) {
+        return "\"name\" must be a string";
+    }
+    if (!prefab.contains("objects") || !prefab.at("objects").is_array() || prefab.at("objects").empty()) {
+        return "prefab must contain a non-empty \"objects\" array";
+    }
+
+    const auto& objects = prefab.at("objects");
+    if (auto error = ObjectSerialization::ValidateObjects(objects, ObjectSerialization::CurrentObjectVersion)) {
+        return error;
+    }
+
+    for (std::size_t i = 0; i < objects.size(); ++i) {
+        const bool isRoot = objects.at(i).value("parent", InvalidObjectId) == InvalidObjectId;
+        if (i == 0 && !isRoot) {
+            return "objects[0] must be the prefab root";
+        }
+        if (i != 0 && isRoot) {
+            return "objects[" + std::to_string(i) + "] is a second root, a prefab has exactly one";
+        }
+    }
+    return std::nullopt;
+}
+
+GameObject* PrefabSerializer::InstantiateFromJson(Scene& scene, const json& prefab, Transform* parent) {
+    return InstantiateWith(scene, prefab, parent, {});
+}
+
+GameObject* PrefabSerializer::Instantiate(Scene& scene, std::string_view path, Transform* parent) {
+    const auto prefab = PrefabCache::GetInstance().Get(path);
+    if (!prefab) {
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+    return InstantiateWith(scene, *prefab, parent, {});
+}
+
+GameObject* PrefabSerializer::Duplicate(GameObject& object) {
+    Scene* scene = object.GetScene();
+    if (scene == nullptr) {
+        spdlog::error("Cannot duplicate \"{}\", it is not in a scene", object.GetName());
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+
+    const auto prefab = Capture(object);
+    if (!prefab) {
+        return nullptr;
+    }
+
+    // References to objects outside the copied hierarchy keep pointing at the originals
+    ObjectSerialization::ObjectMap sceneObjects;
+    for (const auto* list : {&scene->m_objects, &scene->m_pendingAdditions}) {
+        for (const auto& sceneObject : *list) {
+            if (sceneObject && !sceneObject->IsBeingDestroyed()) {
+                sceneObjects.emplace(sceneObject->GetId(), sceneObject.get());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    return InstantiateWith(*scene, *prefab, object.GetTransform().GetParent(), sceneObjects);
+}
diff --git a/destrum/src/Serialization/SceneSerializer.cpp b/destrum/src/Serialization/SceneSerializer.cpp
index e6fdd56..5e1c25c 100644
--- a/destrum/src/Serialization/SceneSerializer.cpp
+++ b/destrum/src/Serialization/SceneSerializer.cpp
@@ -1,171 +1,26 @@
 #include <destrum/Serialization/SceneSerializer.h>
 
-#include <cmath>
-#include <algorithm>
 #include <fstream>
-#include <limits>
-#include <optional>
-#include <unordered_map>
-#include <unordered_set>
 #include <vector>
 
 #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
 #include <spdlog/spdlog.h>
 
 #include <destrum/Scene/Scene.h>
-#include <destrum/ObjectModel/Component.h>
 #include <destrum/ObjectModel/GameObject.h>
 #include <destrum/ObjectModel/ObjectId.h>
-#include <destrum/ObjectModel/Transform.h>
-#include <destrum/Assets/AssetReference.h>
 #include <destrum/Components/Physics/Collider.h>
 #include <destrum/Components/Physics/Rigidbody.h>
-#include <destrum/FS/AssetFS.h>
-#include <destrum/Graphics/Resources/PrimitiveMeshes.h>
-#include <destrum/Serialization/ComponentFactory.h>
 #include <destrum/Serialization/ComponentRegistry.h>
 #include <destrum/Serialization/GlmJson.h>
+#include <destrum/Serialization/ObjectSerialization.h>
 
 using json = nlohmann::json;
 
 namespace {
-    using ValidationError = std::optional<std::string>;
+    using ObjectSerialization::ValidationError;
 
-    constexpr int CurrentSceneVersion = 2;
-
-    [[nodiscard]] bool IsFiniteNumber(const json& value) {
-        if (!value.is_number()) {
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        return std::isfinite(value.get<double>());
-    }
-
-    [[nodiscard]] bool IsFiniteArray(const json& value, std::size_t size) {
-        if (!value.is_array() || value.size() != size) {
-            return false;
-        }
-
-        for (const auto& element : value) {
-            if (!IsFiniteNumber(element)) {
-                return false;
-            }
-        }
-
-        return true;
-    }
-
-    // Returns the JSON path of the first NaN/Inf, nlohmann would write it as null
-    [[nodiscard]] std::optional<std::string> FindNonFinite(const json& value, const std::string& path) {
-        if (value.is_number_float()) {
-            if (!std::isfinite(value.get<double>())) {
-                return path;
-            }
-            return std::nullopt;
-        }
-        if (value.is_array()) {
-            for (std::size_t i = 0; i < value.size(); ++i) {
-                if (auto bad = FindNonFinite(value.at(i), path + "[" + std::to_string(i) + "]")) {
-                    return bad;
-                }
-            }
-            return std::nullopt;
-        }
-        if (value.is_object()) {
-            for (auto it = value.begin(); it != value.end(); ++it) {
-                if (auto bad = FindNonFinite(it.value(), path + "." + it.key())) {
-                    return bad;
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        return std::nullopt;
-    }
-
-    [[nodiscard]] std::string DescribeObject(std::size_t index, const json& objectJson) {
-        std::string description = "objects[" + std::to_string(index) + "]";
-        if (objectJson.is_object() && objectJson.contains("name") && objectJson.at("name").is_string()) {
-            description += " \"" + objectJson.at("name").get<std::string>() + "\"";
-        }
-        return description;
-    }
-
-    [[nodiscard]] ValidationError ValidateTransform(const json& objectJson, int version) {
-        if (!objectJson.contains("transform")) {
-            return std::nullopt;
-        }
-
-        const auto& transform = objectJson.at("transform");
-        if (!transform.is_object()) {
-            return "transform must be an object";
-        }
-
-        // Version 1 wrote an empty placeholder transform object.
-        if (version <= 1 && transform.empty()) {
-            return std::nullopt;
-        }
-
-        for (const char* key : {"position", "rotation", "scale"}) {
-            if (!transform.contains(key)) {
-                return std::string{"transform is missing \""} + key + "\"";
-            }
-        }
-
-        if (!IsFiniteArray(transform.at("position"), 3)) {
-            return "transform.position must be 3 finite numbers";
-        }
-        if (!IsFiniteArray(transform.at("scale"), 3)) {
-            return "transform.scale must be 3 finite numbers";
-        }
-
-        const auto& rotation = transform.at("rotation");
-        if (!IsFiniteArray(rotation, 3) && !IsFiniteArray(rotation, 4)) {
-            return "transform.rotation must be 3 (euler) or 4 (quaternion) finite numbers";
-        }
-        return std::nullopt;
-    }
-
-    [[nodiscard]] ValidationError ValidateComponents(const json& objectJson) {
-        if (!objectJson.contains("components")) {
-            return std::nullopt;
-        }
-
-        const auto& components = objectJson.at("components");
-        if (!components.is_array()) {
-            return "components must be an array";
-        }
-
-        for (std::size_t i = 0; i < components.size(); ++i) {
-            const auto& componentJson = components.at(i);
-            const std::string where = "components[" + std::to_string(i) + "]";
-
-            if (!componentJson.is_object() || !componentJson.contains("type") ||
-                !componentJson.at("type").is_string()) {
-                return where + " must be an object with a string \"type\"";
-            }
-
-            const std::string type = componentJson.at("type").get<std::string>();
-            const std::string named = where + " " + type;
-
-            if (componentJson.contains("enabled") && !componentJson.at("enabled").is_boolean()) {
-                return named + ": \"enabled\" must be a boolean";
-            }
-
-            if (componentJson.contains("data")) {
-                const auto& data = componentJson.at("data");
-                if (!data.is_object()) {
-                    return named + ": \"data\" must be an object, got " + std::string{data.type_name()};
-                }
-                if (auto bad = FindNonFinite(data, "data")) {
-                    return named + ": " + *bad + " is not a finite number";
-                }
-            }
-
-            if (!ComponentFactory::IsRegistered(type)) {
-                return named + ": unknown component type";
-            }
-        }
-        return std::nullopt;
-    }
+    constexpr int CurrentSceneVersion = ObjectSerialization::CurrentObjectVersion;
 
     [[nodiscard]] ValidationError ValidateSceneJson(const json& root) {
         if (!root.is_object()) {
@@ -194,186 +49,7 @@ namespace {
             return "\"currentCamera\" must be an object id";
         }
 
-        std::unordered_set<ObjectId> ids;
-        std::unordered_map<ObjectId, ObjectId> parents;
-        std::unordered_map<ObjectId, std::string> descriptions;
-
-        const auto& objects = root.at("objects");
-        for (std::size_t index = 0; index < objects.size(); ++index) {
-            const auto& objectJson = objects.at(index);
-            const std::string where = DescribeObject(index, objectJson);
-
-            if (!objectJson.is_object()) {
-                return where + " must be an object";
-            }
-            if (!objectJson.contains("id") || !objectJson.at("id").is_number_unsigned()) {
-                return where + " must have a non-negative integer \"id\"";
-            }
-
-            const ObjectId id = objectJson.at("id").get<ObjectId>();
-            if (id == InvalidObjectId || id >= std::numeric_limits<ObjectId>::max() - 1) {
-                return where + " uses reserved id " + std::to_string(id);
-            }
-            if (!ids.insert(id).second) {
-                return where + " reuses id " + std::to_string(id);
-            }
-            descriptions.emplace(id, where);
-
-            if (objectJson.contains("name") && !objectJson.at("name").is_string()) {
-                return where + ": \"name\" must be a string";
-            }
-            if (objectJson.contains("active") && !objectJson.at("active").is_boolean()) {
-                return where + ": \"active\" must be a boolean";
-            }
-            if (auto error = ValidateTransform(objectJson, version)) {
-                return where + ": " + *error;
-            }
-
-            ObjectId parent = InvalidObjectId;
-            if (objectJson.contains("parent")) {
-                if (!objectJson.at("parent").is_number_unsigned()) {
-                    return where + ": \"parent\" must be an object id";
-                }
-                parent = objectJson.at("parent").get<ObjectId>();
-            }
-            if (parent == id) {
-                return where + " is its own parent";
-            }
-            parents.emplace(id, parent);
-
-            if (auto error = ValidateComponents(objectJson)) {
-                return where + " " + *error;
-            }
-        }
-
-        for (const auto& [id, parent] : parents) {
-            if (parent != InvalidObjectId && !ids.contains(parent)) {
-                return descriptions.at(id) + " has missing parent id " + std::to_string(parent);
-            }
-
-            std::unordered_set<ObjectId> visited;
-            ObjectId current = id;
-            while (current != InvalidObjectId) {
-                if (!visited.insert(current).second) {
-                    return descriptions.at(id) + " is part of a parent cycle";
-                }
-                const auto parentIt = parents.find(current);
-                if (parentIt == parents.end()) {
-                    return descriptions.at(id) + " has missing ancestor id " + std::to_string(current);
-                }
-                current = parentIt->second;
-            }
-        }
-
-        return std::nullopt;
-    }
-
-    [[nodiscard]] bool AssetFileExists(const std::string& path) {
-        if (path.empty() || PrimitiveMeshes::IsPrimitiveKey(path)) {
-            return true;
-        }
-
-        std::filesystem::path fullPath;
-        if (path.find("://") != std::string::npos) {
-            try {
-                fullPath = AssetFS::GetInstance().GetFullPath(path);
-            } catch (const std::exception&) {
-                return false;
-            }
-        } else {
-            fullPath = path;
-        }
-
-        return std::filesystem::exists(fullPath);
-    }
-
-    void ValidateAssetReferences(const json& root, const std::filesystem::path& scenePath) {
-        const auto report = [&](const std::string& objectName, const std::string& detail) {
-            spdlog::warn("Scene asset warning ({}): {} references \"{}\" which could not be found",
-                         scenePath.string(), objectName, detail);
-        };
-
-        for (const auto& objectJson : root.at("objects")) {
-            const std::string objectName = objectJson.value("name", "GameObject");
-            if (!objectJson.contains("components")) {
-                continue;
-            }
-
-            for (const auto& componentJson : objectJson.at("components")) {
-                if (!componentJson.contains("data")) {
-                    continue;
-                }
-                const auto& data = componentJson.at("data");
-
-                // MeshRendererComponent: meshKey / materialKey are asset cache keys.
-                for (const char* key : {"meshKey", "materialKey"}) {
-                    if (data.contains(key) && data.at(key).is_string()) {
-                        const std::string cacheKey = data.at(key).get<std::string>();
-                        if (cacheKey.empty()) continue;
-                        const auto asset = AssetReference::fromCacheKey(cacheKey);
-                        // Runtime-only keys like "BulbMaterial#2" are not file paths
-                        const bool looksLikePath = asset &&
-                            asset->path.find_first_of(":/\\") != std::string::npos;
-                        if (looksLikePath && !AssetFileExists(asset->path)) {
-                            report(objectName, cacheKey);
-                        }
-                    }
-                }
-
-                // Generic: any nested object with a "path" field is an AssetReference.
-                std::function<void(const json&)> walk = [&](const json& node) {
-                    if (node.is_object()) {
-                        if (node.contains("path") && node.at("path").is_string()) {
-                            const std::string path = node.at("path").get<std::string>();
-                            if (!path.empty() && !AssetFileExists(path)) {
-                                report(objectName, path);
-                            }
-                        }
-                        for (auto it = node.begin(); it != node.end(); ++it) {
-                            walk(it.value());
-                        }
-                    } else if (node.is_array()) {
-                        for (const auto& element : node) {
-                            walk(element);
-                        }
-                    }
-                };
-                walk(data);
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    [[nodiscard]] bool WriteFileAtomically(const std::filesystem::path& path, const std::string& contents) {
-        std::filesystem::path tempPath = path;
-        tempPath += ".tmp";
-
-        {
-            std::ofstream file(tempPath, std::ios::binary | std::ios::trunc);
-            if (!file.is_open()) {
-                spdlog::error("Failed to open scene file for writing: {}", tempPath.string());
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            file << contents;
-            file.flush();
-            if (!file.good()) {
-                spdlog::error("Failed to write scene file: {}", tempPath.string());
-                file.close();
-                std::error_code ignored;
-                std::filesystem::remove(tempPath, ignored);
-                return false;
-            }
-        }
-
-        std::error_code error;
-        std::filesystem::rename(tempPath, path, error);
-        if (error) {
-            spdlog::error("Failed to replace scene file {}: {}", path.string(), error.message());
-            std::error_code ignored;
-            std::filesystem::remove(tempPath, ignored);
-            return false;
-        }
-        return true;
+        return ObjectSerialization::ValidateObjects(root.at("objects"), version);
     }
 }
 
@@ -408,72 +84,22 @@ bool SceneSerializer::Save(Scene& scene, const std::filesystem::path& path) {
         {"skyboxRotation", environment.skyboxRotation},
     };
 
+    std::vector<const GameObject*> objects;
+    objects.reserve(scene.GetObjects().size());
     for (const auto& objectPtr : scene.GetObjects()) {
-        if (!objectPtr || objectPtr->IsBeingDestroyed()) {
-            continue;
+        if (objectPtr && !objectPtr->IsBeingDestroyed()) {
+            objects.push_back(objectPtr.get());
         }
-
-        const GameObject& object = *objectPtr;
-        if (object.GetComponent<Rigidbody>() != nullptr &&
-            object.GetComponent<Collider>() == nullptr) {
-            spdlog::error("Cannot save object with a Rigidbody but no Collider: {}", object.GetName());
-            return false;
-        }
-        const Transform& transform = object.GetTransform();
-
-        json objectJson;
-        objectJson["id"] = object.GetId();
-        objectJson["name"] = object.GetName();
-        objectJson["active"] = object.IsActive();
-        objectJson["transform"] = {
-            {"position", transform.GetLocalPosition()},
-            {"rotation", transform.GetLocalRotation()},
-            {"scale", transform.GetLocalScale()}
-        };
-
-        const Transform* parent = transform.GetParent();
-        objectJson["parent"] = parent != nullptr && parent->GetOwner() != nullptr &&
-            parent->GetOwner()->GetScene() == &scene &&
-            !parent->GetOwner()->IsBeingDestroyed()
-            ? parent->GetOwner()->GetId()
-            : InvalidObjectId;
-
-        objectJson["components"] = json::array();
-        for (const auto& componentPtr : object.GetComponents()) {
-            if (!componentPtr || componentPtr->IsBeingDestroyed()) {
-                continue;
-            }
-
-            const Component& component = *componentPtr;
-            json data;
-            try {
-                data = component.Serialize();
-            } catch (const std::exception& exception) {
-                spdlog::error("Failed to serialize {} on \"{}\": {}",
-                              component.GetTypeName(), object.GetName(), exception.what());
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            if (data.is_null()) {
-                data = json::object();
-            }
-            if (auto bad = FindNonFinite(data, "data")) {
-                spdlog::error("Cannot save {} on \"{}\": {} is NaN or Inf",
-                              component.GetTypeName(), object.GetName(), *bad);
-                return false;
-            }
-
-            objectJson["components"].push_back({
-                {"type", component.GetTypeName()},
-                {"enabled", component.isEnabled()},
-                {"data", std::move(data)}
-            });
-        }
-
-        root["objects"].push_back(std::move(objectJson));
     }
 
-    if (auto bad = FindNonFinite(root, "scene")) {
+    try {
+        root["objects"] = ObjectSerialization::SerializeObjects(objects);
+    } catch (const std::exception& exception) {
+        spdlog::error("Cannot save scene \"{}\": {}", scene.GetName(), exception.what());
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    if (auto bad = ObjectSerialization::FindNonFinite(root, "scene")) {
         spdlog::error("Cannot save scene \"{}\": {} is NaN or Inf", scene.GetName(), *bad);
         return false;
     }
@@ -492,7 +118,7 @@ bool SceneSerializer::Save(Scene& scene, const std::filesystem::path& path) {
         return false;
     }
 
-    return WriteFileAtomically(path, contents);
+    return ObjectSerialization::WriteFileAtomically(path, contents);
 }
 
 SceneSerializer::LoadResult SceneSerializer::LoadSceneFile(const std::filesystem::path& path) {
@@ -520,7 +146,7 @@ SceneSerializer::LoadResult SceneSerializer::LoadSceneFile(const std::filesystem
         return result;
     }
 
-    ValidateAssetReferences(result.root, path);
+    ObjectSerialization::WarnMissingAssets(result.root.at("objects"), path);
     result.success = true;
     return result;
 }
@@ -552,26 +178,12 @@ bool SceneSerializer::ConstructScene(Scene& scene, LoadResult& result,
     // No physics world is created for the staging scene - physics bodies are
     // registered directly in the live scene's world once loading succeeds.
     Scene stagingScene(scene.GetName(), nullptr);
-    std::unordered_map<ObjectId, GameObject*> idMap;
-    std::vector<const json*> objectJsonList;
+    ObjectSerialization::ObjectMap idMap;
     std::vector<GameObject*> registeredObjects;
     std::string context = "scene";
 
     try {
-        for (const auto& objectJson : root.at("objects")) {
-            const ObjectId id = objectJson.at("id").get<ObjectId>();
-            const std::string name = objectJson.value("name", "GameObject");
-            const bool active = objectJson.value("active", true);
-
-            // File ids are local to the file, every loaded object gets a fresh runtime id
-            GameObject* object = stagingScene.CreateGameObject(name);
-            object->SetActive(active);
-
-            idMap.emplace(id, object);
-            objectJsonList.push_back(&objectJson);
-        }
-
-        if (progressCallback) progressCallback(0.4f);
+        idMap = ObjectSerialization::BuildObjects(stagingScene, root.at("objects")).idMap;
 
         // Move objects from pending to objects list without physics registration
         // (staging scene has no physics world).
@@ -582,73 +194,6 @@ bool SceneSerializer::ConstructScene(Scene& scene, LoadResult& result,
         }
         stagingScene.m_pendingAdditions.clear();
 
-        for (const json* objectJson : objectJsonList) {
-            const ObjectId id = objectJson->at("id").get<ObjectId>();
-            GameObject* object = idMap.at(id);
-            context = "\"" + object->GetName() + "\" transform";
-
-            if (objectJson->contains("transform") &&
-                !objectJson->at("transform").empty()) {
-                const auto& transformJson = objectJson->at("transform");
-                const auto& rotation = transformJson.at("rotation");
-
-                object->GetTransform().SetLocalPosition(transformJson.at("position").get<glm::vec3>());
-
-                if (rotation.size() == 4) {
-                    object->GetTransform().SetLocalRotation(rotation.get<glm::quat>());
-                } else {
-                    // Version 1 scene files used three Euler angles in
-                    // degrees. Continue reading that format safely.
-                    object->GetTransform().SetLocalRotation(rotation.get<glm::vec3>());
-                }
-
-                object->GetTransform().SetLocalScale(transformJson.at("scale").get<glm::vec3>());
-            }
-
-            const ObjectId parentId = objectJson->value("parent", InvalidObjectId);
-            if (parentId != InvalidObjectId) {
-                object->GetTransform().SetParent(&idMap.at(parentId)->GetTransform(), false);
-            }
-        }
-
-        if (progressCallback) progressCallback(0.5f);
-
-        for (const json* objectJson : objectJsonList) {
-            GameObject* object = idMap.at(objectJson->at("id").get<ObjectId>());
-            if (!objectJson->contains("components")) {
-                continue;
-            }
-
-            for (const auto& componentJson : objectJson->at("components")) {
-                const std::string type = componentJson.at("type").get<std::string>();
-                context = type + " on \"" + object->GetName() + "\"";
-                Component* component = ComponentFactory::Create(type, *object);
-                if (component == nullptr) {
-                    throw std::runtime_error("unknown component type");
-                }
-
-                component->SetEnabled(componentJson.value("enabled", true));
-                if (componentJson.contains("data")) {
-                    component->Deserialize(componentJson.at("data"));
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        if (progressCallback) progressCallback(0.6f);
-
-        for (const auto& objectPtr : stagingScene.GetObjects()) {
-            if (!objectPtr) {
-                continue;
-            }
-
-            for (const auto& componentPtr : objectPtr->GetComponents()) {
-                if (componentPtr) {
-                    context = componentPtr->GetTypeName() + " on \"" + objectPtr->GetName() + "\" references";
-                    componentPtr->ResolveReferences(idMap);
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
         if (progressCallback) progressCallback(0.7f);
 
         // Register the replacement bodies in the live physics world before
diff --git a/destrum/src/Util/ImGuiUtils.cpp b/destrum/src/Util/ImGuiUtils.cpp
index 8eec824..9c7ea7c 100644
--- a/destrum/src/Util/ImGuiUtils.cpp
+++ b/destrum/src/Util/ImGuiUtils.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include <destrum/ObjectModel/Transform.h>
 #include <destrum/Serialization/ComponentFactory.h>
 #include <destrum/Serialization/ComponentRegistry.h>
+#include <destrum/Serialization/PrefabSerializer.h>
 
 namespace {
     [[nodiscard]] bool IsInspectableObject(const GameObject* object) {
@@ -242,6 +243,14 @@ namespace ImGuiUtils {
                 if (ImGui::Checkbox("Active", &active)) {
                     selectedObject->SetActive(active);
                 }
+                ImGui::SameLine();
+                const bool duplicateShortcut = ImGui::IsWindowFocused(ImGuiFocusedFlags_RootAndChildWindows) &&
+                    ImGui::IsKeyChordPressed(ImGuiMod_Ctrl | ImGuiKey_D);
+                if (ImGui::Button("Duplicate") || duplicateShortcut) {
+                    if (GameObject* duplicate = PrefabSerializer::Duplicate(*selectedObject)) {
+                        selectedObjectId = duplicate->GetId();
+                    }
+                }
 
                 const Transform* parent = selectedObject->GetTransform().GetParent();
                 if (parent != nullptr && parent->GetOwner() != nullptr) {
diff --git a/lightkeeper/include/Lightkeeper.h b/lightkeeper/include/Lightkeeper.h
index 8e2e4ab..066aa76 100644
--- a/lightkeeper/include/Lightkeeper.h
+++ b/lightkeeper/include/Lightkeeper.h
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ private:
     void saveCurrentScene();
     void loadScene();
     void createEmptyScene();
+    void saveSelectedPrefab();
+    void instantiatePrefab();
     void findPlayer();
     void submitDebugDraws();
     void submitColliderDebugLines();
@@ -62,6 +64,7 @@ private:
 
     char scenePath[512]{"scenes/debug_scene.json"};
     char newSceneName[128]{"EmptyScene"};
+    char prefabPath[512]{"prefabs/selected.prefab"};
     std::string sceneStatus;
     bool renderColliders{false};
     bool render2DShapes{true};
diff --git a/lightkeeper/src/LightkeeperDebugUi.cpp b/lightkeeper/src/LightkeeperDebugUi.cpp
index dec08c6..ef99243 100644
--- a/lightkeeper/src/LightkeeperDebugUi.cpp
+++ b/lightkeeper/src/LightkeeperDebugUi.cpp
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@
 #include <destrum/Graphics/Managers/LineRenderingManager.h>
 #include <destrum/Graphics/Managers/Renderer2D.h>
 #include <destrum/Input/InputManager.h>
+#include <destrum/ObjectModel/GameObject.h>
 #include <destrum/Scene/Scene.h>
+#include <destrum/Serialization/PrefabSerializer.h>
 #include <destrum/Serialization/SceneSerializer.h>
 
 #include <components/FirstPersonController.h>
@@ -120,6 +122,20 @@ void LightKeeper::drawDebugMenuBar()
             saveCurrentScene();
         }
 
+        ImGui::Separator();
+        ImGui::TextDisabled("Prefab");
+
+        ImGui::SetNextItemWidth(320.0f);
+        ImGui::InputText("Prefab path", prefabPath, sizeof(prefabPath));
+
+        const bool hasSelection = SceneManager::GetInstance().GetCurrentScene().GetSelectedObject() != nullptr;
+        if (ImGui::MenuItem("Save Selected as Prefab", nullptr, false, hasSelection)) {
+            saveSelectedPrefab();
+        }
+        if (ImGui::MenuItem("Instantiate Prefab")) {
+            instantiatePrefab();
+        }
+
         if (!sceneStatus.empty()) {
             ImGui::Separator();
             ImGui::TextWrapped("%s", sceneStatus.c_str());
@@ -270,6 +286,43 @@ void LightKeeper::saveCurrentScene()
     }
 }
 
+void LightKeeper::saveSelectedPrefab()
+{
+    try {
+        const GameObject* selected = SceneManager::GetInstance().GetCurrentScene().GetSelectedObject();
+        if (selected == nullptr) {
+            sceneStatus = "Select an object to save as a prefab";
+            return;
+        }
+
+        const auto path = ResolveScenePath(prefabPath, m_params.exeDir);
+        const auto parent = path.parent_path();
+        if (!parent.empty()) {
+            std::filesystem::create_directories(parent);
+        }
+
+        sceneStatus = PrefabSerializer::Save(*selected, path)
+            ? "Saved prefab \"" + selected->GetName() + "\" to " + path.string()
+            : "Failed to save prefab to " + path.string();
+    } catch (const std::exception& exception) {
+        sceneStatus = std::string{"Prefab save failed: "} + exception.what();
+    }
+}
+
+void LightKeeper::instantiatePrefab()
+{
+    try {
+        const auto path = ResolveScenePath(prefabPath, m_params.exeDir);
+        const GameObject* instance = PrefabSerializer::Instantiate(
+            SceneManager::GetInstance().GetCurrentScene(), path.string());
+        sceneStatus = instance != nullptr
+            ? "Instantiated \"" + instance->GetName() + "\" from " + path.string()
+            : "Failed to instantiate prefab " + path.string();
+    } catch (const std::exception& exception) {
+        sceneStatus = std::string{"Prefab instantiate failed: "} + exception.what();
+    }
+}
+
 void LightKeeper::loadScene()
 {
     try {
diff --git a/lightkeeper/src/scenes/MainScene.cpp b/lightkeeper/src/scenes/MainScene.cpp
index 0494be3..0650fef 100644
--- a/lightkeeper/src/scenes/MainScene.cpp
+++ b/lightkeeper/src/scenes/MainScene.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include <memory>
 #include <optional>
 #include <string>
+#include <vector>
 
 namespace {
     // The visible ground plane is at y = -1
@@ -268,11 +269,12 @@ namespace {
         float top;
     };
 
-    void CreateWall(Scene& scene, GfxDevice& gfxDevice, RenderResources& resources, const std::string& name,
+    std::vector<GameObject*> CreateWall(Scene& scene, GfxDevice& gfxDevice, RenderResources& resources, const std::string& name,
                     const glm::vec3& floorCenter, float length, float height, bool alongX, MaterialID materialID,
                     const std::optional<WallOpening>& opening = std::nullopt)
     {
         constexpr float thickness = 0.3f;
+        std::vector<GameObject*> pieces;
 
         const auto createPiece = [&](const std::string& suffix, float from, float to, float bottom, float top)
         {
@@ -285,13 +287,14 @@ namespace {
             const glm::vec3 size = alongX
                 ? glm::vec3{to - from, top - bottom, thickness}
                 : glm::vec3{thickness, top - bottom, to - from};
-            CreateBox(scene, gfxDevice, resources, name + suffix, center, size, materialID, RigidbodyType::Static);
+            pieces.push_back(
+                CreateBox(scene, gfxDevice, resources, name + suffix, center, size, materialID, RigidbodyType::Static));
         };
 
         const float halfLength = length * 0.5f;
         if (!opening) {
             createPiece("", -halfLength, halfLength, 0.0f, height);
-            return;
+            return pieces;
         }
 
         const float openingStart = opening->offset - opening->width * 0.5f;
@@ -300,6 +303,7 @@ namespace {
         createPiece("_Right", openingEnd, halfLength, 0.0f, height);
         createPiece("_Below", openingStart, openingEnd, 0.0f, opening->bottom);
         createPiece("_Above", openingStart, openingEnd, opening->top, height);
+        return pieces;
     }
 
     GameObject* CreateCeilingLight(Scene& scene, GfxDevice& gfxDevice, RenderResources& resources,
@@ -336,26 +340,40 @@ namespace {
         constexpr float doorOffset = -1.5f;
         constexpr float doorWidth = 1.2f;
 
-        CreateBox(scene, gfxDevice, resources, "House_Floor", center + glm::vec3{0.0f, 0.03f, 0.0f},
-                  {width, 0.06f, depth}, floorMaterial, RigidbodyType::Static);
+        GameObject* house = scene.CreateGameObject("House");
+        house->GetTransform().SetWorldPosition(center);
+        const auto addToHouse = [&](GameObject* object)
+        {
+            object->GetTransform().SetParent(&house->GetTransform(), true);
+        };
+        const auto addWallToHouse = [&](const std::vector<GameObject*>& pieces)
+        {
+            for (GameObject* piece : pieces) {
+                addToHouse(piece);
+            }
+        };
 
-        CreateWall(scene, gfxDevice, resources, "House_FrontWall", center + glm::vec3{0.0f, 0.0f, depth * 0.5f},
-                   width + 0.3f, wallHeight, true, wallMaterial,
-                   WallOpening{.offset = doorOffset, .width = doorWidth, .bottom = 0.0f, .top = 2.2f});
-        CreateWall(scene, gfxDevice, resources, "House_BackWall", center - glm::vec3{0.0f, 0.0f, depth * 0.5f},
-                   width + 0.3f, wallHeight, true, wallMaterial,
-                   WallOpening{.offset = 1.5f, .width = 1.4f, .bottom = 1.0f, .top = 2.0f});
-        CreateWall(scene, gfxDevice, resources, "House_LeftWall", center - glm::vec3{width * 0.5f, 0.0f, 0.0f},
-                   depth - 0.3f, wallHeight, false, wallMaterial);
-        CreateWall(scene, gfxDevice, resources, "House_RightWall", center + glm::vec3{width * 0.5f, 0.0f, 0.0f},
-                   depth - 0.3f, wallHeight, false, wallMaterial,
-                   WallOpening{.offset = 0.0f, .width = 1.6f, .bottom = 1.0f, .top = 2.0f});
+        addToHouse(CreateBox(scene, gfxDevice, resources, "House_Floor", center + glm::vec3{0.0f, 0.03f, 0.0f},
+                             {width, 0.06f, depth}, floorMaterial, RigidbodyType::Static));
 
-        CreateBox(scene, gfxDevice, resources, "House_Roof", center + glm::vec3{0.0f, wallHeight + 0.15f, 0.0f},
-                  {width + 0.8f, 0.3f, depth + 0.8f}, roofMaterial, RigidbodyType::Static);
+        addWallToHouse(CreateWall(scene, gfxDevice, resources, "House_FrontWall", center + glm::vec3{0.0f, 0.0f, depth * 0.5f},
+                                  width + 0.3f, wallHeight, true, wallMaterial,
+                                  WallOpening{.offset = doorOffset, .width = doorWidth, .bottom = 0.0f, .top = 2.2f}));
+        addWallToHouse(CreateWall(scene, gfxDevice, resources, "House_BackWall", center - glm::vec3{0.0f, 0.0f, depth * 0.5f},
+                                  width + 0.3f, wallHeight, true, wallMaterial,
+                                  WallOpening{.offset = 1.5f, .width = 1.4f, .bottom = 1.0f, .top = 2.0f}));
+        addWallToHouse(CreateWall(scene, gfxDevice, resources, "House_LeftWall", center - glm::vec3{width * 0.5f, 0.0f, 0.0f},
+                                  depth - 0.3f, wallHeight, false, wallMaterial));
+        addWallToHouse(CreateWall(scene, gfxDevice, resources, "House_RightWall", center + glm::vec3{width * 0.5f, 0.0f, 0.0f},
+                                  depth - 0.3f, wallHeight, false, wallMaterial,
+                                  WallOpening{.offset = 0.0f, .width = 1.6f, .bottom = 1.0f, .top = 2.0f}));
 
-        const GameObject* ceilingLight =
+        addToHouse(CreateBox(scene, gfxDevice, resources, "House_Roof", center + glm::vec3{0.0f, wallHeight + 0.15f, 0.0f},
+                             {width + 0.8f, 0.3f, depth + 0.8f}, roofMaterial, RigidbodyType::Static));
+
+        GameObject* ceilingLight =
             CreateCeilingLight(scene, gfxDevice, resources, center + glm::vec3{0.0f, wallHeight - 0.06f, 0.0f});
+        addToHouse(ceilingLight);
 
         // Inside, next to the door
         Material switchMaterial = Material::SimpleColor(glm::vec3{0.9f}, "LightSwitchMaterial");
@@ -369,6 +387,7 @@ namespace {
         auto* switchButton = lightSwitch->AddComponent<InteractableButton>();
         switchButton->SetCycleColors(false);
         switchButton->AddTarget(*ceilingLight);
+        addToHouse(lightSwitch);
 
         GameObject* sofa = ModelSpawner::SpawnStaticModel(
             scene, gfxDevice, resources, "game://sofa.glb", StaticModelOptions(),
@@ -377,6 +396,7 @@ namespace {
         sofa->GetTransform().SetWorldPosition({-3.7, -1, -17.5});
         sofa->GetTransform().SetWorldRotation({180, 0, 180});
         sofa->GetTransform().SetWorldScale({3, 3, 3});
+        addToHouse(sofa);
     }
 
     void CreateFlightHelmet(Scene& scene, GfxDevice& gfxDevice, RenderResources& resources)
diff --git a/tests/destrum_tests.cpp b/tests/destrum_tests.cpp
index 5ac1a1f..f6e978c 100644
--- a/tests/destrum_tests.cpp
+++ b/tests/destrum_tests.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
 #include <destrum/Serialization/ComponentFactory.h>
 #include <destrum/Serialization/ComponentRegistry.h>
 #include <destrum/Serialization/GlmJson.h>
+#include <destrum/Serialization/PrefabCache.h>
+#include <destrum/Serialization/PrefabSerializer.h>
 #include <destrum/Serialization/SceneSerializer.h>
 #include <destrum/Physics/SimplePhysicsWorld.h>
 #include <destrum/Physics/JoltPhysicsWorld.h>
@@ -1615,6 +1617,134 @@ namespace {
 
         SceneManager::GetInstance().Destroy();
     }
+
+    GameObject* buildTurret(Scene& scene, const GameObject& door)
+    {
+        GameObject* turret = scene.CreateGameObject("turret");
+        turret->GetTransform().SetLocalPosition(glm::vec3{5.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f});
+        GameObject* barrel = scene.CreateGameObject("barrel");
+        barrel->GetTransform().SetParent(&turret->GetTransform(), false);
+        barrel->GetTransform().SetLocalPosition(glm::vec3{0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f});
+        barrel->AddComponent<TestActivatable>();
+
+        auto* button = turret->AddComponent<InteractableButton>();
+        button->SetCycleColors(false);
+        button->AddTarget(*barrel);
+        button->AddTarget(door);
+        return turret;
+    }
+
+    GameObject* onlyChild(GameObject& object)
+    {
+        const auto& children = object.GetTransform().GetChildren();
+        return children.size() == 1 ? children.front()->GetOwner() : nullptr;
+    }
+
+    void testPrefabRoundTrip()
+    {
+        ComponentFactory::Register<InteractableButton>("InteractableButton");
+        ComponentFactory::Register<TestActivatable>("TestActivatable");
+
+        Scene& source = SceneManager::GetInstance().CreateScene("prefab source");
+        GameObject* door = source.CreateGameObject("door");
+        door->AddComponent<TestActivatable>();
+        GameObject* turret = buildTurret(source, *door);
+        source.CommitPendingAdditions();
+
+        const auto path = std::filesystem::temp_directory_path() / "destrum_turret.prefab";
+        check(PrefabSerializer::Save(*turret, path), "a hierarchy must save as a prefab");
+
+        Scene& target = SceneManager::GetInstance().CreateScene("prefab target");
+        GameObject* holder = target.CreateGameObject("holder");
+        GameObject* first = PrefabSerializer::Instantiate(target, path.string());
+        GameObject* second = PrefabSerializer::Instantiate(target, path.string(), &holder->GetTransform());
+        target.CommitPendingAdditions();
+        check(first != nullptr && second != nullptr, "a saved prefab must instantiate");
+        check(target.GetObjects().size() == 5, "each instance must create the root and its child");
+        check(first != second && first->GetId() != turret->GetId(), "instances must get fresh objects");
+        check(first->GetName() == "turret" && first->GetTransform().GetParent() == nullptr,
+              "an instance without a parent must be a scene root");
+        check(second->GetTransform().GetParent() == &holder->GetTransform(),
+              "an instance must be parented to the given transform");
+        check(close(first->GetTransform().GetLocalPosition().x, 5.0f),
+              "the root transform must come from the prefab");
+
+        for (GameObject* instance : {first, second}) {
+            GameObject* barrel = onlyChild(*instance);
+            check(barrel != nullptr && barrel->GetName() == "barrel" &&
+                  close(barrel->GetTransform().GetLocalPosition().y, 1.0f),
+                  "prefab children must keep their local transform");
+
+            const auto* button = instance->GetComponent<InteractableButton>();
+            check(button != nullptr && button->GetTargets().size() == 1 &&
+                  button->GetTargets().front().Get(target) == barrel,
+                  "references inside the prefab must point at the instance's own objects, outside ones are dropped");
+        }
+
+        check(PrefabCache::GetInstance().Get(path.string()) == PrefabCache::GetInstance().Get(path.string()),
+              "a cached prefab must be parsed once");
+        const auto before = PrefabCache::GetInstance().Get(path.string());
+        turret->SetName("tower");
+        check(PrefabSerializer::Save(*turret, path), "a prefab must save over an existing file");
+        const auto after = PrefabCache::GetInstance().Get(path.string());
+        check(after != before && after->at("name") == "tower", "saving a prefab must refresh the cache");
+
+        std::filesystem::remove(path);
+        check(PrefabSerializer::Instantiate(target, path.string()) == nullptr,
+              "instantiating a missing prefab must fail");
+
+        PrefabCache::GetInstance().Clear();
+        SceneManager::GetInstance().Destroy();
+    }
+
+    void testPrefabDuplicate()
+    {
+        ComponentFactory::Register<InteractableButton>("InteractableButton");
+        ComponentFactory::Register<TestActivatable>("TestActivatable");
+
+        Scene& scene = SceneManager::GetInstance().CreateScene("duplicate");
+        GameObject* door = scene.CreateGameObject("door");
+        door->AddComponent<TestActivatable>();
+        GameObject* holder = scene.CreateGameObject("holder");
+        GameObject* turret = buildTurret(scene, *door);
+        turret->GetTransform().SetParent(&holder->GetTransform(), false);
+
+        GameObject* copy = PrefabSerializer::Duplicate(*turret);
+        scene.CommitPendingAdditions();
+        check(copy != nullptr && copy != turret && copy->GetName() == "turret",
+              "duplicate must create a new object");
+        check(copy->GetTransform().GetParent() == &holder->GetTransform(),
+              "a duplicate must keep the original's parent");
+
+        GameObject* barrel = onlyChild(*copy);
+        check(barrel != nullptr && barrel != onlyChild(*turret), "a duplicate must copy children");
+
+        const auto* button = copy->GetComponent<InteractableButton>();
+        check(button != nullptr && button->GetTargets().size() == 2 &&
+              button->GetTargets()[0].Get(scene) == barrel &&
+              button->GetTargets()[1].Get(scene) == door,
+              "a duplicate must remap inner references and keep outer ones");
+
+        SceneManager::GetInstance().Destroy();
+    }
+
+    void testPrefabValidation()
+    {
+        using nlohmann::json;
+        check(PrefabSerializer::Validate(json::object()).has_value(), "an empty prefab must be rejected");
+
+        const json twoRoots = json::parse(R"({"version":1,"objects":[{"id":1},{"id":2}]})");
+        check(PrefabSerializer::Validate(twoRoots).has_value(), "a prefab with two roots must be rejected");
+
+        const json childFirst = json::parse(R"({"version":1,"objects":[{"id":2,"parent":1},{"id":1}]})");
+        check(PrefabSerializer::Validate(childFirst).has_value(), "the prefab root must come first");
+
+        const json valid = json::parse(R"({"version":1,"objects":[{"id":1},{"id":2,"parent":1}]})");
+        check(!PrefabSerializer::Validate(valid).has_value(), "a single-root prefab must validate");
+
+        const json future = json::parse(R"({"version":99,"objects":[{"id":1}]})");
+        check(PrefabSerializer::Validate(future).has_value(), "an unknown prefab version must be rejected");
+    }
 }
 
 int main()
@@ -1663,6 +1793,9 @@ int main()
     testSceneFileIdsAreLocal();
     testButtonTargetsRoundTrip();
     testButtonDropsMissingTargets();
+    testPrefabRoundTrip();
+    testPrefabDuplicate();
+    testPrefabValidation();
     std::cout << "destrum tests passed\n";
     return EXIT_SUCCESS;
 }