diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f74caa5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+[submodule "external/SDL"]
+	path = external/SDL
+	url = https://github.com/libsdl-org/SDL.git
+	branch = release-2.32.x
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 22bb653..b444416 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -20,7 +20,12 @@ if(EMSCRIPTEN)
     )
 else()
     # Native platform
-    find_package(SDL2 REQUIRED)
-    target_include_directories(PortalGame PRIVATE ${SDL2_INCLUDE_DIRS})
-    target_link_libraries(PortalGame PRIVATE ${SDL2_LIBRARIES})
+    # find_package(SDL2 REQUIRED)
+    # SDL2 build options to avoid unwanted components
+    set(SDL_TEST OFF CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
+    set(SDL_SHARED OFF CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
+    set(SDL_STATIC ON CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
+    add_subdirectory(external/SDL)
+    target_include_directories(PortalGame PRIVATE "external/SDL/include")
+    target_link_libraries(PortalGame PRIVATE SDL2main SDL2-static)
 endif()