diff --git a/src/components/navbar-editor.tsx b/src/components/navbar-editor.tsx
index 8f9b902542..e9a741645a 100644
--- a/src/components/navbar-editor.tsx
+++ b/src/components/navbar-editor.tsx
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ import beautifier from "js-beautify";
 import { collapseRanges } from "../lib/codemirror/util";
 import { foldAllTemplateLiterals, onRun} from "./big-interactive-pages/editor";
 import { showKeyBinding } from '../lib/state';
-import { validateGitHubToken, forkRepository, createBranch, createCommit, fetchLatestCommitSha, createTreeAndCommit, createPullRequest, fetchForkedRepository, updateBranch, createBlobForImage, findGamePullRequest, recordGamePullRequest, fetchCommitTreeSha, updatePullRequest, EDITOR_BRANCH_PREFIX } from "../lib/game-saving/github";
+import { validateGitHubToken, forkRepository, createBranch, createCommit, fetchLatestCommitSha, createTreeAndCommit, createPullRequest, fetchForkedRepository, updateBranch, createBlobForImage, findGamePullRequest, recordGamePullRequest, fetchCommitTreeSha, updatePullRequest, EDITOR_BRANCH_PREFIX, delay } from "../lib/game-saving/github";
 
 const saveName = throttle(500, async (gameId: string, newName: string) => {
 	try {
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ export default function EditorNavbar(props: EditorNavbarProps) {
     const publishError = useSignal(false);
 	const publishErrorMessage = useSignal<string | null>(null);
 	const githubPRUrl = useSignal<string | null>(null);
-	const publishOutcome = useSignal<"new" | "updated" | "unchanged">("new");
+	const publishOutcome = useSignal<"new" | "updated" | "unchanged" | "reopened" | "closed_updated">("new");
 	const publishFormTitle = useSignal<string | null>(null);
 	const publishFormAuthor = useSignal<string | null>(null);
 	const publishFormDescription = useSignal("");
@@ -640,28 +640,42 @@ export default function EditorNavbar(props: EditorNavbarProps) {
 				branchName = openPR.pullRequest.head.ref;
 				try {
 					baseSha = await fetchLatestCommitSha(accessToken, repoOwner, repoName, branchName);
-				} catch (error) {
-					trackFailure("github_publish.failure.commit_sha");
-					throw new Error("Failed to fetch the pull request's latest commit: " + (error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)));
+				} catch (error: any) {
+					if (openPR.pullRequest.state === "closed" && (error?.status === 404 || error?.message?.includes("404"))) {
+						console.warn(`Branch ${branchName} not found on closed PR #${pullNumber}, creating new PR instead.`);
+						openPR = null;
+					} else {
+						trackFailure("github_publish.failure.commit_sha");
+						throw new Error("Failed to fetch the pull request's latest commit: " + (error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)));
+					}
 				}
 
-				if (!openPR.files.some((file: any) => file.filename === gamePath && file.status !== "removed")) {
+				if (openPR && !openPR.files.some((file: any) => file.filename === gamePath && file.status !== "removed")) {
 					const addedGames = openPR.files.filter((file: any) => file.status === "added" && /^games\/[^/]+\.js$/.test(file.filename));
 					if (addedGames.length !== 1 || openPR.pullRequest.head.sha !== baseSha) {
-						throw new Error(`Couldn't match this game to pull request #${pullNumber}. Try again in a moment, or update it on GitHub.`);
+						if (openPR.pullRequest.state === "closed") {
+							console.warn(`Game mismatch on closed PR #${pullNumber}, creating new PR instead.`);
+							openPR = null;
+						} else {
+							throw new Error(`Couldn't match this game to pull request #${pullNumber}. Try again in a moment, or update it on GitHub.`);
+						}
 					}
-					const oldName = addedGames[0].filename.slice("games/".length, -".js".length);
-					if (!window.confirm(`This renames your game in pull request #${pullNumber} from "${oldName}" to "${sanitizedGameTitle}". Continue?`)) {
-						reportMetric("github_publish.cancel_rename");
-						readyPublish.value = true;
-						return;
+					if (openPR) {
+						const oldName = addedGames[0].filename.slice("games/".length, -".js".length);
+						if (!window.confirm(`This renames your game in pull request #${pullNumber} from "${oldName}" to "${sanitizedGameTitle}". Continue?`)) {
+							reportMetric("github_publish.cancel_rename");
+							readyPublish.value = true;
+							return;
+						}
+						renamedFrom = {
+							game: addedGames[0],
+							image: openPR.files.find((file: any) => file.status === "added" && file.filename === `games/img/${oldName}.png`),
+						};
 					}
-					renamedFrom = {
-						game: addedGames[0],
-						image: openPR.files.find((file: any) => file.status === "added" && file.filename === `games/img/${oldName}.png`),
-					};
 				}
-			} else {
+			}
+
+			if (!openPR) {
 				let forkedRepo;
 				try {
 					forkedRepo = await forkRepository(accessToken, "hackclub", "sprig");
@@ -676,7 +690,7 @@ export default function EditorNavbar(props: EditorNavbarProps) {
 					}
 				}
 
-				const latestCommitSha = await fetchLatestCommitSha(accessToken, "hackclub", "sprig", forkedRepo.default_branch);
+				const latestCommitSha = await fetchLatestCommitSha(accessToken, "hackclub", "sprig", "main");
 				if (!latestCommitSha) {
 					trackFailure("github_publish.failure.commit_sha");
 					throw new Error("Failed to fetch the latest commit SHA.");
@@ -685,9 +699,20 @@ export default function EditorNavbar(props: EditorNavbarProps) {
 				const newBranchName = `${EDITOR_BRANCH_PREFIX}${Date.now()}`;
 				try {
 					await createBranch(accessToken, forkedRepo.owner.login, forkedRepo.name, newBranchName, latestCommitSha);
-				} catch (error) {
-					trackFailure("github_publish.failure.branch");
-					throw new Error("Failed to create branch: " + (error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)));
+				} catch (error: any) {
+					if (error?.status === 404 || error?.message?.includes("404")) {
+						console.warn("Branch creation returned 404, repository may still be provisioning. Retrying after delay...");
+						await delay(3000);
+						try {
+							await createBranch(accessToken, forkedRepo.owner.login, forkedRepo.name, newBranchName, latestCommitSha);
+						} catch (retryError) {
+							trackFailure("github_publish.failure.branch");
+							throw new Error("Failed to create branch: " + (retryError instanceof Error ? retryError.message : String(retryError)));
+						}
+					} else {
+						trackFailure("github_publish.failure.branch");
+						throw new Error("Failed to create branch: " + (error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)));
+					}
 				}
 
 				repoOwner = forkedRepo.owner.login;
@@ -764,7 +789,32 @@ export default function EditorNavbar(props: EditorNavbarProps) {
 				const titleChanged = pullRequest.title !== prTitle;
 				const normalizeBody = (body?: string | null) => (body ?? "").replace(/\r\n/g, "\n").trim();
 				const bodyChanged = Boolean(prBody && normalizeBody(pullRequest.body) !== normalizeBody(prBody));
-				if (titleChanged || bodyChanged) {
+				let isReopened = false;
+				let closedNeedsReviewer = false;
+
+				if (pullRequest.state === "closed") {
+					try {
+						await updatePullRequest(accessToken, "hackclub", "sprig", pullRequest.number, {
+							state: "open",
+							...(titleChanged ? { title: prTitle } : {}),
+							...(bodyChanged ? { body: prBody } : {}),
+						});
+						isReopened = true;
+					} catch (err: any) {
+						console.warn("Could not automatically reopen closed pull request:", err);
+						closedNeedsReviewer = true;
+						if (titleChanged || bodyChanged) {
+							try {
+								await updatePullRequest(accessToken, "hackclub", "sprig", pullRequest.number, {
+									...(titleChanged ? { title: prTitle } : {}),
+									...(bodyChanged ? { body: prBody } : {}),
+								});
+							} catch (updateErr) {
+								console.warn("Failed to update closed pull request metadata:", updateErr);
+							}
+						}
+					}
+				} else if (titleChanged || bodyChanged) {
 					try {
 						await updatePullRequest(accessToken, "hackclub", "sprig", pullRequest.number, {
 							title: prTitle,
@@ -787,7 +837,13 @@ export default function EditorNavbar(props: EditorNavbarProps) {
 
 				rememberPullRequest(pullRequest.html_url);
 				const prUpdated = codeChanged || titleChanged || bodyChanged;
-				publishOutcome.value = prUpdated ? "updated" : "unchanged";
+				if (isReopened) {
+					publishOutcome.value = "reopened";
+				} else if (closedNeedsReviewer) {
+					publishOutcome.value = "closed_updated";
+				} else {
+					publishOutcome.value = prUpdated ? "updated" : "unchanged";
+				}
 				reportMetric("github_publish.success");
 				reportMetric(prUpdated ? "github_publish.success.updated_pr" : "github_publish.success.unchanged_pr");
 
@@ -1186,6 +1242,8 @@ export default function EditorNavbar(props: EditorNavbarProps) {
 											new: "Your game has been successfully published to GitHub.",
 											updated: "Your open pull request for this game was updated with this version.",
 											unchanged: "Your pull request is already up to date with this version.",
+											reopened: "Your pull request was updated and reopened on GitHub.",
+											closed_updated: `Your game is up to date in pull request #${githubPRUrl.value?.match(/\/pull\/(\d+)/)?.[1] ?? ""}. Because it was closed by a reviewer, ask a reviewer to reopen it when you're ready!`,
 										}[publishOutcome.value]}
 									</p>
 									<Button onClick={() => { githubPRUrl.value && window.open(githubPRUrl.value, "_blank") }}>
diff --git a/src/lib/game-saving/github.ts b/src/lib/game-saving/github.ts
index 35bcbcf5dc..2c742c38e1 100644
--- a/src/lib/game-saving/github.ts
+++ b/src/lib/game-saving/github.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-const delay = (ms: number) => new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
+export const delay = (ms: number) => new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
 
 export class GitHubApiError extends Error {
 	status: number;
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ export async function fetchGitHubUser(accessToken: string): Promise<any> {
 export async function validateGitHubToken(
 	accessToken: string
 ): Promise<boolean> {
-	const response = await fetchWithRetry("https://api.github.com/", {
+	const response = await fetchWithRetry("https://api.github.com/user", {
 		headers: getAuthHeaders(accessToken),
 	});
 
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ export async function createBranch(
 		`https://api.github.com/repos/${owner}/${repo}/git/refs`, // GitHub API endpoint to create a branch
 		{
 			method: "POST",
-			headers: getAuthHeaders(accessToken),
+			headers: getJsonHeaders(accessToken),
 			body: JSON.stringify({
 				ref: `refs/heads/${branchName}`,
 				sha: sha,
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ export async function createCommit(
 		`https://api.github.com/repos/${owner}/${repo}/git/commits`, // GitHub API endpoint to create a commit
 		{
 			method: "POST",
-			headers: getAuthHeaders(accessToken),
+			headers: getJsonHeaders(accessToken),
 			body: JSON.stringify({
 				message: message,
 				tree: treeSha,
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ export async function createPullRequest(
 			`https://api.github.com/repos/${owner}/${repo}/pulls`, // GitHub API endpoint for creating pull requests
 			{
 				method: "POST",
-				headers: getAuthHeaders(accessToken),
+				headers: getJsonHeaders(accessToken),
 				body: JSON.stringify({
 					title: title,
 					head: fullHead,
@@ -328,11 +328,12 @@ export async function recordGamePullRequest(
 export const EDITOR_BRANCH_PREFIX = "Automated-PR-";
 export const EDITOR_BRANCH_REGEX = /^Automated-PR-\d+$/;
 
-function isEditorPullRequest(pullRequest: any, author: string): boolean {
+export function isEditorPullRequest(pullRequest: any, author: string, allowClosed = false): boolean {
+	const validState = pullRequest?.state === "open" || (allowClosed && pullRequest?.state === "closed" && !pullRequest?.merged_at);
 	return (
-		pullRequest?.state === "open" &&
-		pullRequest.head?.repo?.owner?.login?.toLowerCase() === author.toLowerCase() &&
-		EDITOR_BRANCH_REGEX.test(pullRequest.head?.ref ?? "")
+		Boolean(validState) &&
+		pullRequest?.head?.repo?.owner?.login?.toLowerCase() === author.toLowerCase() &&
+		EDITOR_BRANCH_REGEX.test(pullRequest?.head?.ref ?? "")
 	);
 }
 
@@ -372,10 +373,14 @@ export async function findGamePullRequest(
 	}
 
 	const saved = savedPullRequestUrl?.match(new RegExp(`^https://github\\.com/${owner}/${repo}/pull/(\\d+)`));
+	let closedSavedPR: { pullRequest: any; files: any[] } | null = null;
 	if (saved) {
 		try {
 			const found = await fetchPullRequestWithFiles(accessToken, owner, repo, Number(saved[1]));
-			if (isEditorPullRequest(found.pullRequest, author)) return found;
+			if (isEditorPullRequest(found.pullRequest, author, false)) return found;
+			if (isEditorPullRequest(found.pullRequest, author, true)) {
+				closedSavedPR = found;
+			}
 		} catch (error: any) {
 			if (error?.status === 404 || error?.message?.includes("404")) {
 				console.warn(`Saved pull request #${saved[1]} not found (404). Falling through to search.`);
@@ -442,7 +447,68 @@ export async function findGamePullRequest(
 		throw new Error(`Failed to check all open pull requests (${skippedCount} failed to load). Please try again.`);
 	}
 
-	return null;
+	if (closedSavedPR && closedSavedPR.files.some((file: any) => file.filename === gamePath && file.status !== "removed")) {
+		return closedSavedPR;
+	}
+
+	const closedQuery = encodeURIComponent(`repo:${owner}/${repo} is:pr is:closed is:unmerged author:${author}`);
+	const closedSearchResponse = await fetchWithRetry(
+		`https://api.github.com/search/issues?q=${closedQuery}&sort=updated&order=desc&per_page=100`,
+		{
+			headers: getAuthHeaders(accessToken),
+		}
+	);
+	const closedResults = await handleResponse(closedSearchResponse);
+
+	if (closedResults.incomplete_results) {
+		throw new Error("GitHub PR search timed out or returned incomplete results. Please try again.");
+	}
+
+	let closedSkippedCount = 0;
+	for (const item of closedResults.items ?? []) {
+		let pullRequest;
+		try {
+			const pullResponse = await fetchWithRetry(
+				`https://api.github.com/repos/${owner}/${repo}/pulls/${item.number}`,
+				{
+					headers: getAuthHeaders(accessToken),
+				}
+			);
+			pullRequest = await handleResponse(pullResponse);
+		} catch (error: any) {
+			if (error?.status !== 404 && !error?.message?.includes("404")) {
+				closedSkippedCount++;
+			}
+			console.warn(`Skipping closed pull request #${item.number} while looking for this game's pull request:`, error);
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		if (!isEditorPullRequest(pullRequest, author, true)) continue;
+
+		try {
+			const filesResponse = await fetchWithRetry(
+				`https://api.github.com/repos/${owner}/${repo}/pulls/${item.number}/files?per_page=100`,
+				{
+					headers: getAuthHeaders(accessToken),
+				}
+			);
+			const files = await handleResponse(filesResponse);
+			if (files.some((file: any) => file.filename === gamePath && file.status !== "removed")) {
+				return { pullRequest, files };
+			}
+		} catch (error: any) {
+			if (error?.status !== 404 && !error?.message?.includes("404")) {
+				closedSkippedCount++;
+			}
+			console.warn(`Skipping files for closed pull request #${item.number}:`, error);
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (closedSkippedCount > 0) {
+		throw new Error(`Failed to check all closed pull requests (${closedSkippedCount} failed to load). Please try again.`);
+	}
+
+	return closedSavedPR ?? null;
 }
 
 export async function fetchCommitTreeSha(
@@ -469,7 +535,7 @@ export async function updatePullRequest(
 	owner: string,
 	repo: string,
 	pullNumber: number,
-	updates: { title?: string; body?: string }
+	updates: { title?: string; body?: string; state?: "open" | "closed" }
 ): Promise<any> {
 	const response = await fetchWithRetry(
 		`https://api.github.com/repos/${owner}/${repo}/pulls/${pullNumber}`,
@@ -540,8 +606,27 @@ export async function fetchForkedRepository(
 	repo: string,
 	yourGithubUsername: string
 ): Promise<any> {
+	if (yourGithubUsername) {
+		try {
+			const directResponse = await fetchWithRetry(
+				`https://api.github.com/repos/${yourGithubUsername}/${repo}`,
+				{
+					headers: getAuthHeaders(accessToken),
+				}
+			);
+			if (directResponse.ok) {
+				const repoData = await handleResponse(directResponse);
+				if (repoData?.fork) {
+					return repoData;
+				}
+			}
+		} catch {
+			// Fall back to listing forks if direct access fails (e.g., custom fork repo name)
+		}
+	}
+
 	const response = await fetchWithRetry(
-		`https://api.github.com/repos/${owner}/${repo}/forks`, // GitHub API endpoint to fetch forks
+		`https://api.github.com/repos/${owner}/${repo}/forks?per_page=100`, // GitHub API endpoint to fetch forks
 		{
 			headers: getAuthHeaders(accessToken),
 		}
@@ -549,7 +634,7 @@ export async function fetchForkedRepository(
 
 	const forks = await handleResponse(response);
 	const forkedRepo = forks.find(
-		(fork: any) => fork.owner.login === yourGithubUsername // Find the fork created by the current user
+		(fork: any) => fork.owner.login?.toLowerCase() === yourGithubUsername.toLowerCase() // Find the fork created by the current user
 	);
 	if (!forkedRepo) {
 		throw new Error("Forked repository not found.");