diff --git a/catroid/src/androidTest/java/org/catrobat/catroid/uiespresso/ui/fragment/MainMenuFragmentTest.kt b/catroid/src/androidTest/java/org/catrobat/catroid/uiespresso/ui/fragment/MainMenuFragmentTest.kt
index 843fd65aa2b..ae711cb78ea 100644
--- a/catroid/src/androidTest/java/org/catrobat/catroid/uiespresso/ui/fragment/MainMenuFragmentTest.kt
+++ b/catroid/src/androidTest/java/org/catrobat/catroid/uiespresso/ui/fragment/MainMenuFragmentTest.kt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*
  * Catroid: An on-device visual programming system for Android devices
- * Copyright (C) 2010-2022 The Catrobat Team
+ * Copyright (C) 2010-2023 The Catrobat Team
  * (<http://developer.catrobat.org/credits>)
  *
  * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -196,6 +196,17 @@ class MainMenuFragmentTest : KoinTest {
             .check(matches(isDisplayed()))
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun testBackButtonAfterTappingOnPlayButton() {
+        syncBeforeLaunch(false)
+        onView(withId(R.id.playProject))
+            .perform(ViewActions.click())
+        pressBack()
+        pressBack()
+        onView(withId(R.id.projectImageView))
+            .check(matches(isDisplayed()))
+    }
+
     private fun createProject() {
         projectManager.createNewEmptyProject(
             javaClass.simpleName,
diff --git a/catroid/src/main/java/org/catrobat/catroid/ui/recyclerview/fragment/MainMenuFragment.kt b/catroid/src/main/java/org/catrobat/catroid/ui/recyclerview/fragment/MainMenuFragment.kt
index 2f14b246e81..3c21293ac76 100644
--- a/catroid/src/main/java/org/catrobat/catroid/ui/recyclerview/fragment/MainMenuFragment.kt
+++ b/catroid/src/main/java/org/catrobat/catroid/ui/recyclerview/fragment/MainMenuFragment.kt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*
  * Catroid: An on-device visual programming system for Android devices
- * Copyright (C) 2010-2022 The Catrobat Team
+ * Copyright (C) 2010-2023 The Catrobat Team
  * (<http://developer.catrobat.org/credits>)
  *
  * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ import org.catrobat.catroid.io.ProjectAndSceneScreenshotLoader
 import org.catrobat.catroid.io.asynctask.ProjectLoader
 import org.catrobat.catroid.io.asynctask.ProjectLoader.ProjectLoadListener
 import org.catrobat.catroid.io.asynctask.loadProject
+import org.catrobat.catroid.stage.StageActivity
 import org.catrobat.catroid.ui.PROJECT_DIR
 import org.catrobat.catroid.ui.ProjectActivity
 import org.catrobat.catroid.ui.ProjectListActivity
@@ -119,6 +120,7 @@ class MainMenuFragment : Fragment(),
         binding.newProjectFloatingActionButton.setOnClickListener(this)
         binding.myProjectsTextView.setOnClickListener(this)
         binding.projectImageView.setOnClickListener(this)
+        binding.playProject.setOnClickListener(this)
         binding.featuredProjectsTextView.setOnClickListener(this)
 
         setFragment(this)
@@ -329,6 +331,11 @@ class MainMenuFragment : Fragment(),
                 startActivity(intent)
             }
 
+            R.id.playProject -> {
+                viewModel.setIsLoading(true)
+                StageActivity.handlePlayButton(projectManager, activity)
+            }
+
             R.id.myProjectsTextView -> {
                 viewModel.setIsLoading(true)
                 startActivity(Intent(activity, ProjectListActivity::class.java))
diff --git a/catroid/src/main/res/drawable/ic_play_circle.xml b/catroid/src/main/res/drawable/ic_play_circle.xml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..968d41227d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/catroid/src/main/res/drawable/ic_play_circle.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+<!--
+  ~ Catroid: An on-device visual programming system for Android devices
+  ~ Copyright (C) 2010-2023 The Catrobat Team
+  ~ (<http://developer.catrobat.org/credits>)
+  ~
+  ~ This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+  ~ it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+  ~ published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+  ~ License, or (at your option) any later version.
+  ~
+  ~ An additional term exception under section 7 of the GNU Affero
+  ~ General Public License, version 3, is available at
+  ~ http://developer.catrobat.org/license_additional_term
+  ~
+  ~ This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+  ~ but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+  ~ MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+  ~ GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+  ~
+  ~ You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+  ~ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+  -->
+
+<vector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
+    android:width="64dp"
+    android:height="64dp"
+    android:alpha="0.9"
+    android:autoMirrored="true"
+    android:viewportHeight="24"
+    android:viewportWidth="24">
+    <path
+        android:fillAlpha="0.3"
+        android:fillColor="@color/solid_black"
+        android:pathData="M11.995,19.997c4.412,0,7.988-3.6,7.988-8.04c0-0.817-0.123-1.604-0.348-2.347C18.615,6.363,15.578,4,12,4
+		c-4.118,0-7.52,3.131-7.952,7.137c-0.027,0.27-0.041,0.543-0.041,0.82C4.007,16.397,7.583,19.997,11.995,19.997z M10,7.5l6,4.5
+		l-6,4.5V7.5z" />
+	<path
+        android:fillColor="@color/solid_white"
+        android:pathData="M12,2C6.48,2,2,6.48,2,12c0,5.52,4.48,10,10,10c5.52,0,10-4.48,10-10C22,6.48,17.52,2,12,2z M12,20c-4.41,0-8-3.59-8-8
+		c0-0.292,0.018-0.579,0.048-0.863C4.48,7.131,7.882,4,12,4c3.578,0,6.615,2.363,7.635,5.61C19.871,10.365,20,11.168,20,12
+		C20,16.41,16.41,20,12,20z" />
+	<path
+        android:fillColor="@color/solid_white"
+        android:pathData="M 10 7.5 L 10 16.5 L 16 12 Z" />
+</vector>
diff --git a/catroid/src/main/res/layout/fragment_main_menu.xml b/catroid/src/main/res/layout/fragment_main_menu.xml
index 0b92d2d96bc..6c31b77e802 100644
--- a/catroid/src/main/res/layout/fragment_main_menu.xml
+++ b/catroid/src/main/res/layout/fragment_main_menu.xml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <!--
   ~ Catroid: An on-device visual programming system for Android devices
-  ~ Copyright (C) 2010-2022 The Catrobat Team
+  ~ Copyright (C) 2010-2023 The Catrobat Team
   ~ (<http://developer.catrobat.org/credits>)
   ~
   ~ This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -75,6 +75,17 @@
                         android:layout_centerInParent="true"
                         android:src="@drawable/ic_edit_circle" />
 
+                    <ImageView
+                        android:id="@+id/playProject"
+                        android:contentDescription="@string/main_menu_play"
+                        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
+                        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
+                        android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
+                        android:layout_alignParentEnd="true"
+                        android:layout_marginBottom="12dp"
+                        android:layout_marginEnd="12dp"
+                        android:src="@drawable/ic_play_circle" />
+
                     <ImageView
                         android:id="@+id/uploadProject"
                         android:contentDescription="@string/main_menu_upload"
@@ -82,7 +93,7 @@
                         android:layout_height="wrap_content"
                         android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
                         android:layout_alignParentEnd="true"
-                        android:layout_marginBottom="12dp"
+                        android:layout_marginBottom="75dp"
                         android:layout_marginEnd="12dp"
                         android:src="@drawable/ic_publish_circle" />
 
diff --git a/catroid/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/catroid/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 9079eadaba4..847d457df15 100644
--- a/catroid/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/catroid/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@
     <string formatted="false" name="main_menu_help">Help</string>
     <string formatted="false" name="main_menu_web">Catrobat community</string>
     <string formatted="false" name="main_menu_upload">Upload project</string>
+    <string formatted="false" name="main_menu_play">Play project</string>
 
     <string formatted="false" name="main_menu_rate_app">Rate us!</string>
     <string formatted="false" name="main_menu_terms_of_use">Terms of Use and Service</string>