diff --git a/Assets/Data/Settings/DefaultSettings.asset b/Assets/Resources/DefaultSettings.asset
similarity index 100%
rename from Assets/Data/Settings/DefaultSettings.asset
rename to Assets/Resources/DefaultSettings.asset
diff --git a/Assets/Data/Settings/DefaultSettings.asset.meta b/Assets/Resources/DefaultSettings.asset.meta
similarity index 100%
rename from Assets/Data/Settings/DefaultSettings.asset.meta
rename to Assets/Resources/DefaultSettings.asset.meta
diff --git a/Assets/Scripts/Core/GameManager.cs b/Assets/Scripts/Core/GameManager.cs
index 452e5938..bc92da72 100644
--- a/Assets/Scripts/Core/GameManager.cs
+++ b/Assets/Scripts/Core/GameManager.cs
@@ -35,6 +35,14 @@ public class GameManager : MonoBehaviour
     void Awake()
     {
         _instance = this;
+        if (gameSettings == null)
+        {
+            gameSettings = Resources.Load<GameSettings>("DefaultSettings");
+            if (gameSettings == null)
+            {
+                Debug.LogError("GameSettings asset not found in Resources!");
+            }
+        }
         // DontDestroyOnLoad(gameObject);
     }
 
@@ -69,7 +77,8 @@ public class GameManager : MonoBehaviour
         if (gameSettings == null || gameSettings.combinationRules == null) return null;
         foreach (var rule in gameSettings.combinationRules)
         {
-            if ((rule.itemA == item1 && rule.itemB == item2) || (rule.itemA == item2 && rule.itemB == item1))
+            if ((PickupItemData.AreEquivalent(rule.itemA, item1) && PickupItemData.AreEquivalent(rule.itemB, item2)) ||
+                (PickupItemData.AreEquivalent(rule.itemA, item2) && PickupItemData.AreEquivalent(rule.itemB, item1)))
             {
                 return rule;
             }
@@ -85,7 +94,7 @@ public class GameManager : MonoBehaviour
         if (gameSettings == null || gameSettings.slotItemConfigs == null || slotItem == null) return null;
         foreach (var config in gameSettings.slotItemConfigs)
         {
-            if (config.slotItem == slotItem)
+            if (PickupItemData.AreEquivalent(slotItem, config.slotItem))
                 return config;
         }
         return null;
diff --git a/Assets/Scripts/Interactions/ItemSlot.cs b/Assets/Scripts/Interactions/ItemSlot.cs
index 3ca58876..cd529315 100644
--- a/Assets/Scripts/Interactions/ItemSlot.cs
+++ b/Assets/Scripts/Interactions/ItemSlot.cs
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ namespace Interactions
             if (heldItemData != null && _currentlySlottedItemObject == null)
             {
                 // First check for forbidden items at the very start so we don't continue unnecessarily
-                if (forbidden.Contains(heldItemData))
+                if (PickupItemData.ListContainsEquivalent(forbidden, heldItemData))
                 {
                     DebugUIMessage.Show("Can't place that here.", Color.red);
                     onForbiddenItemSlotted?.Invoke();
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ namespace Interactions
             // the correct item we're looking for
             var config = GameManager.Instance.GetSlotItemConfig(itemData);
             var allowed = config?.allowedItems ?? new List<PickupItemData>();
-            if (allowed.Contains(itemToSlotData))
+            if (PickupItemData.ListContainsEquivalent(allowed, itemToSlotData))
             {
                 if (itemToSlot != null)
                 {
diff --git a/Assets/Scripts/Interactions/PickupItemData.cs b/Assets/Scripts/Interactions/PickupItemData.cs
index 0982549d..09d64a22 100644
--- a/Assets/Scripts/Interactions/PickupItemData.cs
+++ b/Assets/Scripts/Interactions/PickupItemData.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 using UnityEngine;
+using System.Collections.Generic;
 
 [CreateAssetMenu(fileName = "PickupItemData", menuName = "Game/Pickup Item Data")]
 public class PickupItemData : ScriptableObject
@@ -7,4 +8,22 @@ public class PickupItemData : ScriptableObject
     [TextArea]
     public string description;
     public Sprite mapSprite;
+
+    public static bool AreEquivalent(PickupItemData a, PickupItemData b)
+    {
+        if (ReferenceEquals(a, b)) return true;
+        if (a is null || b is null) return false;
+        // Compare by itemName as a fallback
+        return a.itemName == b.itemName;
+    }
+
+    public static bool ListContainsEquivalent(List<PickupItemData> list, PickupItemData item)
+    {
+        foreach (var entry in list)
+        {
+            if (AreEquivalent(entry, item))
+                return true;
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
 }