diff --git a/src/app/constants.ts b/src/app/constants.ts
index 90d4addcc..d5860a908 100644
--- a/src/app/constants.ts
+++ b/src/app/constants.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
-// Copyright (c) 2021-2023 The Pybricks Authors
+// Copyright (c) 2021-2024 The Pybricks Authors
 import docsPackage from '@pybricks/ide-docs/package.json';
 
 // Definitions for compile-time UI settings.
@@ -87,3 +87,6 @@ export const zipFileExtension = '.zip';
 
 /** The ZIP file MIME type ('application/zip') */
 export const zipFileMimeType = 'application/zip';
+
+/** maximum number of recent file displayed */
+export const recentFileCount = 3;
diff --git a/src/editor/Editor.tsx b/src/editor/Editor.tsx
index 3f6a438ad..167111980 100644
--- a/src/editor/Editor.tsx
+++ b/src/editor/Editor.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
-// Copyright (c) 2020-2023 The Pybricks Authors
+// Copyright (c) 2020-2024 The Pybricks Authors
 
 import './editor.scss';
 import {
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ const Editor: React.FunctionComponent = () => {
                 <ContextMenu
                     className={classNames('pb-editor-tabpanel', isEmpty && 'pb-empty')}
                     role="tabpanel"
-                    aria-label={isEmpty ? i18n.translate('welcome') : fileName}
+                    aria-label={isEmpty ? i18n.translate('welcome.label') : fileName}
                     // NB: we have to create a new context menu each time it is
                     // shown in order to get some state, like canUndo and canRedo
                     // that don't have events to monitor changes.
diff --git a/src/editor/Welcome.tsx b/src/editor/Welcome.tsx
index 7b7cbd9ae..96c7a9f25 100644
--- a/src/editor/Welcome.tsx
+++ b/src/editor/Welcome.tsx
@@ -1,13 +1,23 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
-// Copyright (c) 2022-2023 The Pybricks Authors
+// Copyright (c) 2022-2024 The Pybricks Authors
 
 // welcome screen that is shown when no editor is open.
 
-import { Colors } from '@blueprintjs/core';
-import React, { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
+import { Button, Colors } from '@blueprintjs/core';
+import { DocumentOpen, Plus } from '@blueprintjs/icons';
+import React, { useCallback, useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
+import { useDispatch } from 'react-redux';
 import Two from 'two.js';
 import { useTernaryDarkMode } from 'usehooks-ts';
+import { Activity, useActivitiesSelectedActivity } from '../activities/hooks';
+import { recentFileCount } from '../app/constants';
+import { explorerCreateNewFile } from '../explorer/actions';
+import { UUID } from '../fileStorage';
+import { useSelector } from '../reducers';
+import { editorActivateFile } from './actions';
+import { useI18n } from './i18n';
 import logoSvg from './logo.svg';
+import { RecentFileMetadata } from '.';
 
 const defaultRotation = -Math.PI / 9; // radians
 const rotationSpeedIncrement = 0.1; // radians per second
@@ -61,6 +71,8 @@ type WelcomeProps = {
 };
 
 const Welcome: React.FunctionComponent<WelcomeProps> = ({ isVisible }) => {
+    const i18n = useI18n();
+    const dispatch = useDispatch();
     const stateRef = useRef<State>({
         rotation: defaultRotation,
         rotationSpeed: 0,
@@ -93,6 +105,7 @@ const Welcome: React.FunctionComponent<WelcomeProps> = ({ isVisible }) => {
 
         const logo = two.load(logoSvg, (g) => {
             g.center();
+
             two.add(logo);
             two.play();
         });
@@ -156,15 +169,63 @@ const Welcome: React.FunctionComponent<WelcomeProps> = ({ isVisible }) => {
         };
     }, [isVisible]);
 
+    const [, setSelectedActivity] = useActivitiesSelectedActivity();
+    const handleOpenNewProject = useCallback(() => {
+        setSelectedActivity(Activity.Explorer);
+        dispatch(explorerCreateNewFile());
+    }, [dispatch, setSelectedActivity]);
+
+    const handleOpenExplorer = useCallback(
+        (uuid: UUID) => {
+            setSelectedActivity(Activity.Explorer);
+            dispatch(editorActivateFile(uuid));
+        },
+        [dispatch, setSelectedActivity],
+    );
+
+    const recentFiles: readonly RecentFileMetadata[] = useSelector(
+        (s) => s.editor.recentFiles,
+    );
+
+    const getRecentFileShortCuts = () => (
+        <>
+            {recentFiles.slice(0, recentFileCount).map((fitem: RecentFileMetadata) => (
+                <dl key={fitem.uuid}>
+                    <dt>
+                        {i18n.translate('welcome.openProject', {
+                            fileName: fitem.path,
+                        })}
+                    </dt>
+                    <dd>
+                        <Button
+                            icon={<DocumentOpen />}
+                            onClick={() => handleOpenExplorer(fitem.uuid)}
+                        />
+                    </dd>
+                </dl>
+            ))}
+        </>
+    );
+
     return (
         <div
             className="pb-editor-welcome"
-            ref={elementRef}
             onContextMenuCapture={(e) => {
                 e.stopPropagation();
                 e.preventDefault();
             }}
-        />
+        >
+            <div className="logo" ref={elementRef}></div>
+            <div className="shortcuts">
+                {getRecentFileShortCuts()}
+                <dl>
+                    <dt>{i18n.translate('welcome.newProject')}</dt>
+                    <dd>
+                        <Button icon={<Plus />} onClick={handleOpenNewProject} />
+                    </dd>
+                </dl>
+            </div>
+        </div>
     );
 };
 
diff --git a/src/editor/actions.ts b/src/editor/actions.ts
index 497eedf2c..8ce8c14b7 100644
--- a/src/editor/actions.ts
+++ b/src/editor/actions.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
-// Copyright (c) 2022-2023 The Pybricks Authors
+// Copyright (c) 2022-2024 The Pybricks Authors
 
 import { createAction } from '../actions';
 import { UUID } from '../fileStorage';
+import { RecentFileMetadata } from '.';
 export {
     didFailToInit as editorCompletionDidFailToInit,
     didInit as editorCompletionDidInit,
@@ -132,3 +133,12 @@ export const editorReplaceFile = createAction((uuid: UUID, value: string) => ({
     uuid,
     value,
 }));
+
+/**
+ * Requests to replace the value a file in the editor.
+ * @param files The recent files.
+ */
+export const editorRecentFiles = createAction((files: RecentFileMetadata[]) => ({
+    type: 'editor.action.recentFiles',
+    files,
+}));
diff --git a/src/editor/editor.scss b/src/editor/editor.scss
index 9142f662f..3bdeefd9b 100644
--- a/src/editor/editor.scss
+++ b/src/editor/editor.scss
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
-// Copyright (c) 2020-2023 The Pybricks Authors
+// Copyright (c) 2020-2024 The Pybricks Authors
 
 // Custom styling for the Editor control.
 
@@ -63,13 +63,58 @@
         flex: 1 1 auto;
     }
 
+    .pb-editor-tabpanel.pb-empty {
+        display: flex;
+        justify-content: space-around;
+    }
+
     &-welcome {
         display: none;
-
         .pb-editor-tabpanel.pb-empty > & {
-            display: block;
+            display: flex;
+            flex-direction: column;
+            justify-content: center;
+            align-items: center;
+
             width: 100%;
             height: 100%;
+
+            .logo {
+                flex: 1;
+                display: flex;
+                min-height: 0;
+                width: 100%;
+
+                svg {
+                    width: 100%;
+                    height: 100%;
+                    object-fit: contain;
+                    min-height: 10;
+                    flex: 1;
+                }
+            }
+            .shortcuts {
+                padding: 20px;
+                text-align: center;
+
+                border-collapse: separate;
+                border-spacing: 11px 17px;
+                dl {
+                    display: table-row;
+                    opacity: 0.8;
+                }
+                dt,
+                dd {
+                    display: table-cell;
+                    vertical-align: middle;
+                }
+                dd {
+                    text-align: left;
+                }
+                dt {
+                    text-align: right;
+                }
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/editor/index.ts b/src/editor/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..039ff5573
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/editor/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+// Copyright (c) 2024 The Pybricks Authors
+
+import { UUID } from '../fileStorage';
+
+/**
+ * LocalStorage recent files data type.
+ */
+export type RecentFileMetadata = Readonly<{
+    /** A globally unique identifier that serves a a file handle. */
+    uuid: UUID;
+    /** The path of the file in storage. */
+    path: string;
+}>;
diff --git a/src/editor/reducers.ts b/src/editor/reducers.ts
index 6ae1acc46..fcf6ac445 100644
--- a/src/editor/reducers.ts
+++ b/src/editor/reducers.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
-// Copyright (c) 2022 The Pybricks Authors
+// Copyright (c) 2022-2024 The Pybricks Authors
 
 import { Reducer, combineReducers } from 'redux';
 import { UUID } from '../fileStorage';
@@ -8,8 +8,10 @@ import {
     editorDidCloseFile,
     editorDidCreate,
     editorDidOpenFile,
+    editorRecentFiles,
 } from './actions';
 import codeCompletion from './redux/codeCompletion';
+import { RecentFileMetadata } from '.';
 
 /** Indicates that the code editor is ready for use. */
 const isReady: Reducer<boolean> = (state = false, action) => {
@@ -46,9 +48,26 @@ const openFileUuids: Reducer<readonly UUID[]> = (state = [], action) => {
     return state;
 };
 
+/** A list of recent files in the order they should be displayed to the user. */
+const initialStateRecentFiles = JSON.parse(
+    localStorage.getItem('editor.recentFiles') || '[]',
+) as readonly RecentFileMetadata[];
+const recentFiles: Reducer<readonly RecentFileMetadata[]> = (
+    state = initialStateRecentFiles,
+    action,
+) => {
+    if (editorRecentFiles.matches(action)) {
+        return action.files;
+        //return { ...state, recentFiles: action.files };
+    }
+
+    return state;
+};
+
 export default combineReducers({
     codeCompletion,
     isReady,
     activeFileUuid,
     openFileUuids,
+    recentFiles,
 });
diff --git a/src/editor/sagas.ts b/src/editor/sagas.ts
index b74c36769..acdbbdc34 100644
--- a/src/editor/sagas.ts
+++ b/src/editor/sagas.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
-// Copyright (c) 2022-2023 The Pybricks Authors
+// Copyright (c) 2022-2024 The Pybricks Authors
 
 import type { DatabaseChangeType, IDatabaseChange } from 'dexie-observable/api';
 import * as monaco from 'monaco-editor';
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import {
     takeEvery,
 } from 'typed-redux-saga/macro';
 import { alertsShowAlert } from '../alerts/actions';
+import { recentFileCount } from '../app/constants';
 import { FileStorageDb, UUID } from '../fileStorage';
 import {
     fileStorageDidFailToLoadTextFile,
@@ -62,11 +63,13 @@ import {
     editorGetValueResponse,
     editorGoto,
     editorOpenFile,
+    editorRecentFiles,
     editorReplaceFile,
 } from './actions';
 import { EditorError } from './error';
 import { ActiveFileHistoryManager, OpenFileManager } from './lib';
 import { pybricksMicroPythonId } from './pybricksMicroPython';
+import { RecentFileMetadata } from '.';
 
 function* handleEditorGetValueRequest(
     editor: monaco.editor.ICodeEditor,
@@ -273,6 +276,33 @@ function* handleEditorActivateFile(
 
         editor.focus();
 
+        // store the activated uuid in the recent files queue
+        let recentFiles = (() => {
+            try {
+                return JSON.parse(
+                    localStorage.getItem('editor.recentFiles') ?? '',
+                ) as RecentFileMetadata[];
+            } catch {
+                return [];
+            }
+        })();
+
+        // Check if the file already exists
+        const fileIndex = recentFiles.findIndex((fitem: RecentFileMetadata) => {
+            return fitem.uuid === action.uuid;
+        });
+        if (fileIndex !== -1) {
+            recentFiles.splice(fileIndex, 1);
+        }
+
+        const db = yield* getContext<FileStorageDb>('fileStorage');
+        const metadata = yield* call(() => db.metadata.get(action.uuid));
+        recentFiles.unshift({ uuid: action.uuid, path: metadata?.path ?? '' }); // Add new (or existing) file to the beginning
+        recentFiles = [...recentFiles.slice(0, recentFileCount)]; // Keep only the first 10 items
+        localStorage.setItem('editor.recentFiles', JSON.stringify(recentFiles));
+        yield* put(editorRecentFiles(recentFiles));
+
+        // signal activation done
         yield* put(editorDidActivateFile(action.uuid));
     } catch (err) {
         yield* put(editorDidFailToActivateFile(action.uuid, ensureError(err)));
diff --git a/src/editor/translations/en.json b/src/editor/translations/en.json
index 28d4fa967..42cb5755a 100644
--- a/src/editor/translations/en.json
+++ b/src/editor/translations/en.json
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
     "tablist": {
         "label": "Editor"
     },
-    "welcome": "Welcome",
     "placeholder": "Write your program here...",
     "check": "Check syntax",
     "toggleDocs": "Toggle documentation",
@@ -16,5 +15,10 @@
     "docs": {
         "show": "Show documentation",
         "hide": "Hide documentation"
+    },
+    "welcome": {
+        "label": "Welcome",
+        "openProject": "Open {fileName}",
+        "newProject": "Open a new project"
     }
 }