diff --git a/src/mudlib/player.py b/src/mudlib/player.py
index ebcb88e..f153a31 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/player.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/player.py
@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@ class Player(Entity):
     aliases: dict[str, str] = field(default_factory=dict)
     _last_msdp: dict = field(default_factory=dict, repr=False)
     _power_task: asyncio.Task | None = None
+    kills: int = 0
+    deaths: int = 0
+    mob_kills: dict[str, int] = field(default_factory=dict)
+    play_time_seconds: float = 0.0
+    unlocked_moves: set[str] = field(default_factory=set)
+    session_start: float = 0.0
 
     @property
     def mode(self) -> str:
diff --git a/src/mudlib/server.py b/src/mudlib/server.py
index 975c524..3b16fb7 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/server.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/server.py
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ from mudlib.store import (
     init_db,
     load_aliases,
     load_player_data,
+    load_player_stats,
     save_player,
     update_last_login,
 )
@@ -350,6 +351,17 @@ async def shell(
     # Load aliases from database
     player.aliases = load_aliases(player_name)
 
+    # Load stats from database
+    stats = load_player_stats(player_name)
+    player.kills = stats["kills"]
+    player.deaths = stats["deaths"]
+    player.mob_kills = stats["mob_kills"]
+    player.play_time_seconds = stats["play_time_seconds"]
+    player.unlocked_moves = stats["unlocked_moves"]
+
+    # Set session start time for play time tracking
+    player.session_start = time.monotonic()
+
     # Reconstruct inventory from saved data
     for item_name in player_data.get("inventory", []):
         template = thing_templates.get(item_name)
diff --git a/src/mudlib/store/__init__.py b/src/mudlib/store/__init__.py
index 66b1622..8b8e801 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/store/__init__.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/store/__init__.py
@@ -25,6 +25,16 @@ class PlayerData(TypedDict):
     inventory: list[str]
 
 
+class StatsData(TypedDict):
+    """Shape of persisted stats data from the database."""
+
+    kills: int
+    deaths: int
+    mob_kills: dict[str, int]
+    play_time_seconds: float
+    unlocked_moves: set[str]
+
+
 # Module-level database path
 _db_path: str | None = None
 
@@ -71,6 +81,17 @@ def init_db(db_path: str | Path) -> None:
         )
     """)
 
+    cursor.execute("""
+        CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS player_stats (
+            player_name TEXT PRIMARY KEY COLLATE NOCASE,
+            kills INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+            deaths INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+            mob_kills TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '{}',
+            play_time_seconds REAL NOT NULL DEFAULT 0.0,
+            unlocked_moves TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT '[]'
+        )
+    """)
+
     # Migrations: add columns if they don't exist (old schemas)
     cursor.execute("PRAGMA table_info(accounts)")
     columns = [row[1] for row in cursor.fetchall()]
@@ -235,8 +256,9 @@ def save_player(player: Player) -> None:
     conn.commit()
     conn.close()
 
-    # Save aliases
+    # Save aliases and stats
     save_aliases(player.name, player.aliases)
+    save_player_stats(player)
 
 
 def load_player_data(name: str) -> PlayerData | None:
@@ -371,3 +393,91 @@ def load_aliases(name: str, db_path: str | Path | None = None) -> dict[str, str]
 
     conn.close()
     return result
+
+
+def save_player_stats(player: Player, db_path: str | Path | None = None) -> None:
+    """Save player stats to the database.
+
+    Args:
+        player: Player instance with stats to save
+        db_path: Optional explicit database path (for testing)
+    """
+    conn = sqlite3.connect(str(db_path)) if db_path is not None else _get_connection()
+
+    cursor = conn.cursor()
+
+    # Serialize mob_kills as JSON dict and unlocked_moves as sorted JSON list
+    mob_kills_json = json.dumps(player.mob_kills)
+    unlocked_moves_json = json.dumps(sorted(player.unlocked_moves))
+
+    cursor.execute(
+        """
+        INSERT INTO player_stats
+            (player_name, kills, deaths, mob_kills, play_time_seconds, unlocked_moves)
+        VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?)
+        ON CONFLICT(player_name) DO UPDATE SET
+            kills = excluded.kills,
+            deaths = excluded.deaths,
+            mob_kills = excluded.mob_kills,
+            play_time_seconds = excluded.play_time_seconds,
+            unlocked_moves = excluded.unlocked_moves
+        """,
+        (
+            player.name,
+            player.kills,
+            player.deaths,
+            mob_kills_json,
+            player.play_time_seconds,
+            unlocked_moves_json,
+        ),
+    )
+
+    conn.commit()
+    conn.close()
+
+
+def load_player_stats(name: str, db_path: str | Path | None = None) -> StatsData:
+    """Load player stats from the database.
+
+    Args:
+        name: Player name (case-insensitive)
+        db_path: Optional explicit database path (for testing)
+
+    Returns:
+        Dictionary with stats fields, defaults if no row exists
+    """
+    conn = sqlite3.connect(str(db_path)) if db_path is not None else _get_connection()
+
+    cursor = conn.cursor()
+
+    cursor.execute(
+        """
+        SELECT kills, deaths, mob_kills, play_time_seconds, unlocked_moves
+        FROM player_stats
+        WHERE player_name = ?
+        """,
+        (name,),
+    )
+
+    result = cursor.fetchone()
+    conn.close()
+
+    if result is None:
+        # Return defaults if no stats row exists
+        return {
+            "kills": 0,
+            "deaths": 0,
+            "mob_kills": {},
+            "play_time_seconds": 0.0,
+            "unlocked_moves": set(),
+        }
+
+    kills, deaths, mob_kills_json, play_time_seconds, unlocked_moves_json = result
+
+    return {
+        "kills": kills,
+        "deaths": deaths,
+        "mob_kills": json.loads(mob_kills_json),
+        "play_time_seconds": play_time_seconds,
+        "unlocked_moves": set(json.loads(unlocked_moves_json)),
+    }
diff --git a/tests/test_player_stats.py b/tests/test_player_stats.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9ba8500
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_player_stats.py
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+"""Tests for player stats tracking and persistence."""
+
+import pytest
+
+from mudlib.player import Player
+from mudlib.store import init_db, load_player_stats, save_player_stats
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def db(tmp_path):
+    """Create a temporary test database."""
+    db_path = tmp_path / "test.db"
+    init_db(db_path)
+    return db_path
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def player_with_stats(mock_reader, mock_writer, test_zone):
+    """Create a player with non-default stats."""
+    p = Player(name="Ryu", x=0, y=0, reader=mock_reader, writer=mock_writer)
+    p.location = test_zone
+    p.kills = 5
+    p.deaths = 2
+    p.mob_kills = {"goblin": 3, "rat": 2}
+    p.play_time_seconds = 3600.0
+    p.unlocked_moves = {"roundhouse", "sweep"}
+    p.session_start = 1234567890.0
+    return p
+
+
+def test_player_stats_fields_exist_with_defaults(player):
+    """Player stats fields exist with correct default values."""
+    assert player.kills == 0
+    assert player.deaths == 0
+    assert player.mob_kills == {}
+    assert player.play_time_seconds == 0.0
+    assert player.unlocked_moves == set()
+    assert player.session_start == 0.0
+
+
+def test_stats_persistence_round_trip(db, player_with_stats):
+    """Stats can be saved and loaded back correctly."""
+    # Save stats
+    save_player_stats(player_with_stats, db)
+
+    # Load stats back
+    stats = load_player_stats(player_with_stats.name, db)
+
+    # Verify all values match
+    assert stats["kills"] == 5
+    assert stats["deaths"] == 2
+    assert stats["mob_kills"] == {"goblin": 3, "rat": 2}
+    assert stats["play_time_seconds"] == 3600.0
+    assert stats["unlocked_moves"] == {"roundhouse", "sweep"}
+
+
+def test_stats_persistence_with_fresh_player(db, player):
+    """Loading stats for player without stats row returns defaults."""
+    # player exists in accounts but has no stats row yet
+    stats = load_player_stats(player.name, db)
+
+    # Should get defaults
+    assert stats["kills"] == 0
+    assert stats["deaths"] == 0
+    assert stats["mob_kills"] == {}
+    assert stats["play_time_seconds"] == 0.0
+    assert stats["unlocked_moves"] == set()
+
+
+def test_stats_table_created_on_init_db(tmp_path):
+    """init_db creates the player_stats table."""
+    import sqlite3
+
+    db_path = tmp_path / "test.db"
+    init_db(db_path)
+
+    conn = sqlite3.connect(db_path)
+    cursor = conn.cursor()
+
+    # Check table exists
+    cursor.execute(
+        "SELECT name FROM sqlite_master WHERE type='table' AND name='player_stats'"
+    )
+    result = cursor.fetchone()
+    conn.close()
+
+    assert result is not None
+    assert result[0] == "player_stats"
+
+
+def test_stats_update_existing_row(db, player_with_stats):
+    """Updating stats for existing player overwrites old values."""
+    # Save initial stats
+    save_player_stats(player_with_stats, db)
+
+    # Modify stats
+    player_with_stats.kills = 10
+    player_with_stats.deaths = 5
+    player_with_stats.mob_kills = {"dragon": 1}
+    player_with_stats.play_time_seconds = 7200.0
+    player_with_stats.unlocked_moves = {"fireball"}
+
+    # Save again
+    save_player_stats(player_with_stats, db)
+
+    # Load and verify new values
+    stats = load_player_stats(player_with_stats.name, db)
+    assert stats["kills"] == 10
+    assert stats["deaths"] == 5
+    assert stats["mob_kills"] == {"dragon": 1}
+    assert stats["play_time_seconds"] == 7200.0
+    assert stats["unlocked_moves"] == {"fireball"}
diff --git a/tests/test_stats_login.py b/tests/test_stats_login.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e2b20b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_stats_login.py
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+"""Tests for stats loading on login and session_start initialization."""
+
+import time
+
+import pytest
+
+from mudlib.player import Player, accumulate_play_time
+from mudlib.store import init_db, load_player_stats, save_player
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def db(tmp_path):
+    """Create a temporary test database."""
+    db_path = tmp_path / "test.db"
+    init_db(db_path)
+    return db_path
+
+
+def test_stats_load_and_apply_round_trip(db, mock_reader, mock_writer, test_zone):
+    """Stats can be saved, loaded, and applied to a new player instance."""
+    # Create player with known stats
+    p1 = Player(name="Ken", x=0, y=0, reader=mock_reader, writer=mock_writer)
+    p1.location = test_zone
+    p1.kills = 5
+    p1.deaths = 2
+    p1.mob_kills = {"goblin": 3}
+    p1.play_time_seconds = 1000.0
+    p1.unlocked_moves = {"roundhouse"}
+
+    # Save the player (which saves stats internally)
+    save_player(p1)
+
+    # Load stats from database
+    stats = load_player_stats("Ken", db)
+
+    # Create a new player instance and apply loaded stats
+    p2 = Player(name="Ken", x=0, y=0, reader=mock_reader, writer=mock_writer)
+    p2.location = test_zone
+    p2.kills = stats["kills"]
+    p2.deaths = stats["deaths"]
+    p2.mob_kills = stats["mob_kills"]
+    p2.play_time_seconds = stats["play_time_seconds"]
+    p2.unlocked_moves = stats["unlocked_moves"]
+
+    # Verify all stats match
+    assert p2.kills == 5
+    assert p2.deaths == 2
+    assert p2.mob_kills == {"goblin": 3}
+    assert p2.play_time_seconds == 1000.0
+    assert p2.unlocked_moves == {"roundhouse"}
+
+
+def test_session_start_set_after_login_setup(mock_reader, mock_writer, test_zone):
+    """session_start is set to non-zero after login setup."""
+    # Simulate login setup
+    p = Player(name="Ryu", x=0, y=0, reader=mock_reader, writer=mock_writer)
+    p.location = test_zone
+
+    # Set session_start (this is what server.py does)
+    p.session_start = time.monotonic()
+
+    # Verify it's non-zero
+    assert p.session_start > 0
+
+
+def test_accumulate_play_time_with_real_session_start(
+    mock_reader, mock_writer, test_zone
+):
+    """accumulate_play_time works correctly with real session_start."""
+    p = Player(name="Chun", x=0, y=0, reader=mock_reader, writer=mock_writer)
+    p.location = test_zone
+    p.play_time_seconds = 100.0
+
+    # Set session_start to 60 seconds ago (simulating 60 seconds of play)
+    p.session_start = time.monotonic() - 60.0
+
+    # Accumulate play time
+    accumulate_play_time(p)
+
+    # Play time should have increased by approximately 60 seconds
+    assert p.play_time_seconds >= 159.0
+    assert p.play_time_seconds <= 161.0
+
+    # session_start should be reset to current time
+    assert p.session_start > 0
+    assert time.monotonic() - p.session_start < 1.0