diff --git a/beeref/actions/menu_structure.py b/beeref/actions/menu_structure.py
index bb5cd5f..e82bc4d 100644
--- a/beeref/actions/menu_structure.py
+++ b/beeref/actions/menu_structure.py
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ menu_structure = [
         'items': [
             'new_scene',
             'open',
+            {
+                'menu': 'Open &Recent',
+                'items': '_build_recent_files',
+            },
             MENU_SEPARATOR,
             'save',
             'save_as',
diff --git a/beeref/actions/mixin.py b/beeref/actions/mixin.py
index 01448bc..0d55cfd 100644
--- a/beeref/actions/mixin.py
+++ b/beeref/actions/mixin.py
@@ -14,12 +14,16 @@
 # along with BeeRef.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 from collections import defaultdict
+from functools import partial
+import os.path
 
 from PyQt6 import QtGui, QtWidgets
 
 from .actions import actions
 from .menu_structure import menu_structure, MENU_SEPARATOR
 
+from beeref import config
+
 
 class ActionsMixin:
 
@@ -27,17 +31,25 @@ class ActionsMixin:
         for action in self.bee_actiongroups[group]:
             action.setEnabled(value)
 
-    def create_menu_and_actions(self):
+    def build_menu_and_actions(self, menu=None):
+        """Creates a new menu or rebuilds the given menu."""
+        if not menu:
+            menu = QtWidgets.QMenu(self)
+        self.clear_actions(menu)
         self._create_actions()
-        menu = QtWidgets.QMenu(self)
-        menu = self._create_menu(
-            self.bee_actions, QtWidgets.QMenu(self), menu_structure)
+        menu = self._create_menu(self.bee_actions, menu, menu_structure)
         return menu
 
-    def _create_actions(self):
+    def clear_actions(self, menu):
+        if hasattr(self, 'bee_actions'):
+            for action in self.bee_actions.values():
+                self.removeAction(action)
+        if menu:
+            menu.clear()
         self.bee_actions = {}
         self.bee_actiongroups = defaultdict(list)
 
+    def _create_actions(self):
         for action in actions:
             qaction = QtGui.QAction(action['text'], self)
             if 'shortcuts' in action:
@@ -54,6 +66,8 @@ class ActionsMixin:
                 self.bee_actiongroups[action['group']].append(qaction)
 
     def _create_menu(self, actions, menu, items):
+        if isinstance(items, str):
+            items = getattr(self, items)()
         for item in items:
             if isinstance(item, str):
                 menu.addAction(actions[item])
@@ -64,3 +78,17 @@ class ActionsMixin:
                 self._create_menu(actions, submenu, item['items'])
 
         return menu
+
+    def _build_recent_files(self):
+        files = config.BeeSettings().get_recent_files(existing_only=True)
+        items = []
+        for i, filename in enumerate(files):
+            qaction = QtGui.QAction(os.path.basename(filename), self)
+            key = 0 if i == 9 else i + 1
+            if key < 10:
+                qaction.setShortcuts([f'Ctrl+{key}'])
+            qaction.triggered.connect(partial(self.open_from_file, filename))
+            self.addAction(qaction)
+            self.bee_actions[f'recent_files_{i}'] = qaction
+            items.append(f'recent_files_{i}')
+        return items
diff --git a/beeref/config.py b/beeref/config.py
index a07d82b..bf80051 100644
--- a/beeref/config.py
+++ b/beeref/config.py
@@ -13,16 +13,30 @@
 # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 # along with BeeRef.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
+"""Handling of command line args and Qt settings."""
+
 import argparse
 import logging
+import os.path
+
+from PyQt6 import QtCore
+
+from beeref import constants
 
 
-parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='BeeRef referance image viewer')
+logger = logging.getLogger(constants.APPNAME)
+
+
+parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+    description=f'{constants.APPNAME} referance image viewer')
 parser.add_argument(
     'filename',
     nargs='?',
     default=None,
     help='Bee file to open')
+parser.add_argument(
+    '--settings-dir',
+    help='settings directory to use instead of default location')
 parser.add_argument(
     '-l', '--loglevel',
     default='INFO',
@@ -50,15 +64,17 @@ class CommandlineArgs:
 
     Checking for unknown arugments is configurable so that it can be
     deliberately enabled from the main() function while ignored for
-    other imports. This is a singleton so that arguments are only
-    parsed once.
+    other imports so that unit tests won't fail.
+
+    This is a singleton so that arguments are only parsed once, unless
+    ``with_check`` is ``True``.
     """
 
     _instance = None
 
     def __new__(cls, *args, **kwargs):
-        if not cls._instance:
-            cls._instance = super().__new__(cls, *args, **kwargs)
+        if not cls._instance or kwargs.get('with_check'):
+            cls._instance = super().__new__(cls)
         return cls._instance
 
     def __init__(self, with_check=False):
@@ -73,3 +89,49 @@ class CommandlineArgs:
             return super().__getattribute__(name)
         else:
             return getattr(self._args, name)
+
+
+class BeeSettings(QtCore.QSettings):
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        settings_format = QtCore.QSettings.Format.IniFormat
+        settings_scope = QtCore.QSettings.Scope.UserScope
+        settings_dir = self.get_settings_dir()
+        if settings_dir:
+            QtCore.QSettings.setPath(
+                settings_format, settings_scope, settings_dir)
+        super().__init__(
+            settings_format,
+            settings_scope,
+            constants.APPNAME,
+            constants.APPNAME)
+        logger.info(f'Using settings: {self.fileName()}')
+
+    def get_settings_dir(self):  # pragma: no cover
+        args = CommandlineArgs()
+        return args.settings_dir
+
+    def update_recent_files(self, filename):
+        filename = os.path.abspath(filename)
+        values = self.get_recent_files()
+        if filename in values:
+            values.remove(filename)
+        values.insert(0, filename)
+
+        self.beginWriteArray('RecentFiles')
+        for i, filename in enumerate(values[:10]):
+            self.setArrayIndex(i)
+            self.setValue('path', filename)
+        self.endArray()
+
+    def get_recent_files(self, existing_only=False):
+        values = []
+        size = self.beginReadArray('RecentFiles')
+        for i in range(size):
+            self.setArrayIndex(i)
+            values.append(self.value('path'))
+        self.endArray()
+
+        if existing_only:
+            values = [f for f in values if os.path.exists(f)]
+        return values
diff --git a/beeref/view.py b/beeref/view.py
index a42a91a..5491818 100644
--- a/beeref/view.py
+++ b/beeref/view.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from PyQt6.QtCore import Qt
 
 from beeref.actions import ActionsMixin
 from beeref import commands
-from beeref.config import CommandlineArgs
+from beeref.config import CommandlineArgs, BeeSettings
 from beeref import constants
 from beeref import fileio
 from beeref.gui import BeeProgressDialog, WelcomeOverlay, HelpDialog
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ class BeeGraphicsView(QtWidgets.QGraphicsView, ActionsMixin):
     def __init__(self, app, parent=None):
         super().__init__(parent)
         self.app = app
+        self.settings = BeeSettings()
         self.setBackgroundBrush(QtGui.QBrush(QtGui.QColor(60, 60, 60)))
         self.setTransformationAnchor(
             QtWidgets.QGraphicsView.ViewportAnchor.AnchorUnderMouse)
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ class BeeGraphicsView(QtWidgets.QGraphicsView, ActionsMixin):
         self.setContextMenuPolicy(
             Qt.ContextMenuPolicy.CustomContextMenu)
         self.customContextMenuRequested.connect(self.on_context_menu)
-        self.context_menu = self.create_menu_and_actions()
+        self.context_menu = self.build_menu_and_actions()
 
         self.welcome_overlay = WelcomeOverlay(self)
 
@@ -86,6 +87,9 @@ class BeeGraphicsView(QtWidgets.QGraphicsView, ActionsMixin):
     def filename(self, value):
         self._filename = value
         self.update_window_title()
+        if value:
+            self.settings.update_recent_files(value)
+            self.build_menu_and_actions(self.context_menu)
 
     def update_window_title(self):
         clean = self.undo_stack.isClean()
diff --git a/tests/actions/test_mixin.py b/tests/actions/test_mixin.py
index f511bdd..8af9cbf 100644
--- a/tests/actions/test_mixin.py
+++ b/tests/actions/test_mixin.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import os.path
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
 from PyQt6 import QtWidgets
@@ -11,6 +12,12 @@ class FooWidget(QtWidgets.QWidget, ActionsMixin):
     def on_foo(self):
         pass
 
+    def on_bar(self):
+        pass
+
+    def open_from_file(self):
+        pass
+
 
 class ActionsMixinTestCase(BeeTestCase):
 
@@ -33,15 +40,16 @@ class ActionsMixinTestCase(BeeTestCase):
             'callback': 'on_foo',
         }]
 
-        self.widget._create_actions()
+        self.menu_mock.__iter__.return_value = ['foo']
+        self.widget.build_menu_and_actions()
         trigger_mock.connect.assert_called_once_with(self.widget.on_foo)
         toggle_mock.connect.assert_not_called()
 
         assert len(self.widget.actions()) == 1
         qaction = self.widget.actions()[0]
-        qaction.text() == '&Foo'
-        qaction.shortcut() == 'Ctrl+F'
-        qaction.isEnabled() is True
+        assert qaction.text() == '&Foo'
+        assert qaction.shortcut() == 'Ctrl+F'
+        assert qaction.isEnabled() is True
         assert self.widget.bee_actions['foo'] == qaction
 
     @patch('PyQt6.QtGui.QAction.triggered')
@@ -54,14 +62,15 @@ class ActionsMixinTestCase(BeeTestCase):
             'callback': 'on_foo',
         }]
 
-        self.widget._create_actions()
+        self.menu_mock.__iter__.return_value = ['foo']
+        self.widget.build_menu_and_actions()
         trigger_mock.connect.assert_not_called()
         toggle_mock.connect.assert_called_once_with(self.widget.on_foo)
 
         assert len(self.widget.actions()) == 1
         qaction = self.widget.actions()[0]
-        qaction.text() == '&Foo'
-        qaction.isEnabled() is True
+        assert qaction.text() == '&Foo'
+        assert qaction.isEnabled() is True
         assert self.widget.bee_actions['foo'] == qaction
 
     def test_create_actions_enabled_false(self):
@@ -71,7 +80,8 @@ class ActionsMixinTestCase(BeeTestCase):
             'callback': 'on_foo',
             'enabled': False,
         }]
-        self.widget._create_actions()
+        self.menu_mock.__iter__.return_value = ['foo']
+        self.widget.build_menu_and_actions()
         qaction = self.widget.actions()[0]
         qaction.isEnabled() is False
 
@@ -82,12 +92,13 @@ class ActionsMixinTestCase(BeeTestCase):
             'callback': 'on_foo',
             'group': 'bar',
         }]
-        self.widget._create_actions()
+        self.menu_mock.__iter__.return_value = ['foo']
+        self.widget.build_menu_and_actions()
         qaction = self.widget.actions()[0]
-        len(self.widget.bee_actiongroups) == 1
-        self.widget.bee_actiongroups['bar'] == [qaction]
+        assert len(self.widget.bee_actiongroups) == 1
+        assert self.widget.bee_actiongroups['bar'] == [qaction]
 
-    def test_create_menu_and_actions_with_actions(self):
+    def test_build_menu_and_actions_with_actions(self):
         self.actions_mock.__iter__.return_value = [{
             'id': 'foo',
             'text': '&Foo',
@@ -96,18 +107,18 @@ class ActionsMixinTestCase(BeeTestCase):
         }]
         self.menu_mock.__iter__.return_value = ['foo']
         with patch('PyQt6.QtWidgets.QMenu.addAction') as add_mock:
-            menu = self.widget.create_menu_and_actions()
+            menu = self.widget.build_menu_and_actions()
             assert isinstance(menu, QtWidgets.QMenu)
             add_mock.assert_called_once_with(self.widget.bee_actions['foo'])
 
-    def test_create_menu_and_actions_with_separator(self):
+    def test_build_menu_and_actions_with_separator(self):
         self.menu_mock.__iter__.return_value = [MENU_SEPARATOR]
         with patch('PyQt6.QtWidgets.QMenu.addSeparator') as sep_mock:
-            menu = self.widget.create_menu_and_actions()
+            menu = self.widget.build_menu_and_actions()
             assert isinstance(menu, QtWidgets.QMenu)
             sep_mock.assert_called_once_with()
 
-    def test_create_menu_and_actions_with_submenu(self):
+    def test_build_menu_and_actions_with_submenu(self):
         self.actions_mock.__iter__.return_value = [{
             'id': 'foo',
             'text': '&Foo',
@@ -119,7 +130,7 @@ class ActionsMixinTestCase(BeeTestCase):
         with patch('PyQt6.QtWidgets.QMenu.addAction') as add_mock:
             with patch('PyQt6.QtWidgets.QMenu.addMenu') as addmenu_mock:
                 addmenu_mock.return_value = QtWidgets.QMenu()
-                menu = self.widget.create_menu_and_actions()
+                menu = self.widget.build_menu_and_actions()
                 assert isinstance(menu, QtWidgets.QMenu)
                 addmenu_mock.assert_called_once_with('&Bar')
                 add_mock.assert_called_once_with(
@@ -141,7 +152,83 @@ class ActionsMixinTestCase(BeeTestCase):
             },
         ]
 
-        self.widget._create_actions()
+        self.menu_mock.__iter__.return_value = ['foo']
+        self.widget.build_menu_and_actions()
         self.widget.actiongroup_set_enabled('g1', False)
         assert self.widget.bee_actions['foo'].isEnabled() is False
         assert self.widget.bee_actions['bar'].isEnabled() is True
+
+    @patch('beeref.config.BeeSettings.get_recent_files')
+    @patch('PyQt6.QtGui.QAction.triggered')
+    def test_recent_files(self, triggered_mock, files_mock):
+        files_mock.return_value = [
+            os.path.abspath(f'{i}.bee') for i in range(15)]
+
+        self.menu_mock.__iter__.return_value = [{
+            'menu': 'Open &Recent',
+            'items': '_build_recent_files',
+        }]
+
+        self.widget.build_menu_and_actions()
+        triggered_mock.connect.assert_called()
+
+        assert len(self.widget.actions()) == 15
+        qaction1 = self.widget.actions()[0]
+        assert qaction1.text() == '0.bee'
+        assert qaction1.shortcut() == 'Ctrl+1'
+        assert qaction1.isEnabled() is True
+        assert self.widget.bee_actions['recent_files_0'] == qaction1
+        qaction10 = self.widget.actions()[9]
+        assert qaction10.text() == '9.bee'
+        assert qaction10.shortcut() == 'Ctrl+0'
+        assert qaction10.isEnabled() is True
+        assert self.widget.bee_actions['recent_files_9'] == qaction10
+        qaction15 = self.widget.actions()[-1]
+        assert qaction15.text() == '14.bee'
+        assert qaction15.shortcut() == ''
+        assert qaction15.isEnabled() is True
+        assert self.widget.bee_actions['recent_files_14'] == qaction15
+
+    def test_build_menu_and_actions_updates_given_menu(self):
+        self.actions_mock.__iter__.return_value = [{
+            'id': 'foo',
+            'text': '&Foo',
+            'callback': 'on_foo',
+            'group': 'foo',
+        }]
+        self.menu_mock.__iter__.return_value = ['foo']
+        menu = self.widget.build_menu_and_actions()
+        qaction = self.widget.actions()[0]
+        assert qaction.text() == '&Foo'
+
+        self.actions_mock.__iter__.return_value = [{
+            'id': 'bar',
+            'text': '&Bar',
+            'callback': 'on_bar',
+            'group': 'bar',
+        }]
+        self.menu_mock.__iter__.return_value = ['bar']
+        self.widget.build_menu_and_actions(menu)
+        assert len(self.widget.actions()) == 1
+        assert len(menu.actions()) == 1
+        qaction = self.widget.actions()[0]
+        assert qaction.text() == '&Bar'
+        assert self.widget.bee_actions == {'bar': qaction}
+        assert self.widget.bee_actiongroups == {'bar': [qaction]}
+
+    def test_clear_actions(self):
+        self.actions_mock.__iter__.return_value = [{
+            'id': 'foo',
+            'text': '&Foo',
+            'callback': 'on_foo',
+            'group': 'bar',
+        }]
+        self.menu_mock.__iter__.return_value = ['foo']
+        menu = self.widget.build_menu_and_actions()
+        assert menu.actions()
+        assert self.widget.actions()
+        self.widget.clear_actions(menu)
+        assert menu.actions() == []
+        assert self.widget.actions() == []
+        assert self.widget.bee_actions == {}
+        assert self.widget.bee_actiongroups == {}
diff --git a/tests/base.py b/tests/base.py
index d00d486..9599308 100644
--- a/tests/base.py
+++ b/tests/base.py
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 import os.path
-from unittest import TestCase
+import tempfile
+from unittest import mock, TestCase
 
 from PyQt6 import QtWidgets
 
+from beeref.config import BeeSettings
+
 
 root = os.path.dirname(__file__)
 imgfilename3x3 = os.path.join(root, 'assets', 'test3x3.png')
@@ -17,16 +20,24 @@ class BeeTestCase(TestCase):
 
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
+        cls._settings_dir = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
+        settings_dir_patcher = mock.patch(
+            'beeref.config.BeeSettings.get_settings_dir',
+            return_value=cls._settings_dir.name)
+        cls._settings_dir_mock = settings_dir_patcher.start()
         inst = QtWidgets.QApplication.instance()
         cls.app = inst if inst else QtWidgets.QApplication([])
 
+    @classmethod
+    def tearDownClass(cls):
+        cls._settings_dir_mock.stop()
+        cls._settings_dir.cleanup()
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        BeeSettings().clear()
+
     def queue2list(self, queue):
         qlist = []
         while not queue.empty():
             qlist.append(queue.get())
         return qlist
-
-    # @classmethod
-    # def tearDownClass(cls):
-    #     cls.app.quit()
-    #     del cls.app
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
index 5c5fd65..9f93546 100644
--- a/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -1,6 +1,70 @@
-from beeref.config import CommandlineArgs
+import os.path
+import tempfile
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from beeref.config import CommandlineArgs, BeeSettings
+from .base import BeeTestCase
 
 
-def test_singleton():
-    assert CommandlineArgs() is CommandlineArgs()
-    assert CommandlineArgs()._args is CommandlineArgs()._args
+class CommandlineArgsTestCase(BeeTestCase):
+
+    def test_singleton(self):
+        assert CommandlineArgs() is CommandlineArgs()
+        assert CommandlineArgs()._args is CommandlineArgs()._args
+
+    @patch('beeref.config.parser.parse_args')
+    def test_with_check_forces_new_parsing(self, parse_mock):
+        args1 = CommandlineArgs()
+        args2 = CommandlineArgs(with_check=True)
+        parse_mock.assert_called_once()
+        assert args1 is not args2
+
+    def test_get(self):
+        args = CommandlineArgs()
+        assert args.loglevel == 'INFO'
+
+    def test_get_unknown(self):
+        args = CommandlineArgs()
+        with pytest.raises(AttributeError):
+            args.foo
+
+
+class BeeSettingsRecentFilesTestCase(BeeTestCase):
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.settings = BeeSettings()
+
+    def test_get_empty(self):
+        self.settings.get_recent_files() == []
+
+    def test_get_existing_only(self):
+        with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile() as f:
+            self.settings.update_recent_files('foo.bee')
+            self.settings.update_recent_files(f.name)
+        self.settings.get_recent_files(existing_only=True) == [f.name]
+
+    def test_update(self):
+        self.settings.update_recent_files('foo.bee')
+        self.settings.update_recent_files('bar.bee')
+        assert self.settings.get_recent_files() == [
+            os.path.abspath('bar.bee'),
+            os.path.abspath('foo.bee')]
+
+    def test_update_existing(self):
+        self.settings.update_recent_files('foo.bee')
+        self.settings.update_recent_files('bar.bee')
+        self.settings.update_recent_files('foo.bee')
+        assert self.settings.get_recent_files() == [
+            os.path.abspath('foo.bee'),
+            os.path.abspath('bar.bee')]
+
+    def test_update_respects_max_num(self):
+        for i in range(15):
+            self.settings.update_recent_files(f'{i}.bee')
+
+        recent = self.settings.get_recent_files()
+        assert len(recent) == 10
+        assert recent[0] == os.path.abspath('14.bee')
+        assert recent[-1] == os.path.abspath('5.bee')
diff --git a/tests/test_view.py b/tests/test_view.py
index d3b62e5..e8db80f 100644
--- a/tests/test_view.py
+++ b/tests/test_view.py
@@ -23,9 +23,6 @@ class ViewBaseTestCase(BeeTestCase):
         self.parent = QtWidgets.QWidget()
         self.view = BeeGraphicsView(self.app, self.parent)
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        del self.view
-
 
 class BeeGraphicsViewTestCase(ViewBaseTestCase):
 
@@ -37,9 +34,6 @@ class BeeGraphicsViewTestCase(ViewBaseTestCase):
         self.parent = QtWidgets.QWidget()
         self.view = BeeGraphicsView(self.app, self.parent)
 
-    def tearDown(self):
-        del self.view
-
     def test_inits_menu(self):
         parent = QtWidgets.QWidget()
         view = BeeGraphicsView(self.app, parent)