diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 83e325a..772656f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ const instance = new BaseWithOptions();
 instance.options; // {foo: 'bar'}
 ```
 
+### Defaults
+
+TypeScript will not complain when chaining `.defaults()` calls endlessly: the static `.defaultOptions` property will be set correctly. However, when instantiating from a class with 4+ chained `.defaults()` calls, then only the defaults from the first 3 calls are supported. See [#57](https://github.com/gr2m/javascript-plugin-architecture-with-typescript-definitions/pull/57) for details.
+
 ## Credit
 
 This plugin architecture was extracted from [`@octokit/core`](https://github.com/octokit/core.js). The implementation was made possible by help from [@karol-majewski](https://github.com/karol-majewski), [@dragomirtitian](https://github.com/dragomirtitian), and [StackOverflow user "hackape"](https://stackoverflow.com/a/58706699/206879).
diff --git a/index.d.ts b/index.d.ts
index 6489eb8..ad8fffc 100644
--- a/index.d.ts
+++ b/index.d.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-export namespace Base {
+export declare namespace Base {
   interface Options {
+    version: string;
     [key: string]: unknown;
   }
 }
@@ -30,33 +31,103 @@ declare type ReturnTypeOf<T extends AnyFunction | AnyFunction[]> =
     ? UnionToIntersection<Exclude<ReturnType<T[number]>, void>>
     : never;
 
+type ClassWithPlugins = Constructor<any> & {
+  plugins: any[];
+};
+
+type ConstructorRequiringVersion<Class extends ClassWithPlugins, PredefinedOptions> = {
+  defaultOptions: PredefinedOptions;
+} & (PredefinedOptions extends { version: string }
+  ? {
+      new <NowProvided>(options?: NowProvided): Class & {
+        options: NowProvided & PredefinedOptions;
+      };
+    }
+  : {
+      new <NowProvided>(options: Base.Options & NowProvided): Class & {
+        options: NowProvided & PredefinedOptions;
+      };
+    });
+
 export declare class Base<TOptions extends Base.Options = Base.Options> {
   static plugins: Plugin[];
+
+  /**
+   * Pass one or multiple plugin functions to extend the `Base` class.
+   * The instance of the new class will be extended with any keys returned by the passed plugins.
+   * Pass one argument per plugin function.
+   *
+   * ```js
+   * export function helloWorld() {
+   *   return {
+   *     helloWorld () {
+   *       console.log('Hello world!');
+   *     }
+   *   };
+   * }
+   *
+   * const MyBase = Base.plugin(helloWorld);
+   * const base = new MyBase();
+   * base.helloWorld(); // `base.helloWorld` is typed as function
+   * ```
+   */
   static plugin<
-    S extends Constructor<any> & {
-      plugins: any[];
-    },
-    T1 extends Plugin,
-    T2 extends Plugin[]
+    Class extends ClassWithPlugins,
+    Plugins extends [Plugin, ...Plugin[]],
   >(
-    this: S,
-    plugin1: T1,
-    ...additionalPlugins: T2
-  ): S & {
-    plugins: any[];
-  } & Constructor<UnionToIntersection<ReturnTypeOf<T1> & ReturnTypeOf<T2>>>;
+    this: Class,
+    ...plugins: Plugins,
+  ): Class & {
+    plugins: [...Class['plugins'], ...Plugins];
+  } & Constructor<UnionToIntersection<ReturnTypeOf<Plugins>>>;
+
+  /**
+   * Set defaults for the constructor
+   *
+   * ```js
+   * const MyBase = Base.defaults({ version: '1.0.0', otherDefault: 'value' });
+   * const base = new MyBase({ option: 'value' }); // `version` option is not required
+   * base.options // typed as `{ version: string, otherDefault: string, option: string }`
+   * ```
+   * @remarks
+   * Ideally, we would want to make this infinitely recursive: allowing any number of
+   * .defaults({ ... }).defaults({ ... }).defaults({ ... }).defaults({ ... })...
+   * However, we don't see a clean way in today's TypeScript syntax to do so.
+   * We instead artificially limit accurate type inference to just three levels,
+   * since real users are not likely to go past that.
+   * @see https://github.com/gr2m/javascript-plugin-architecture-with-typescript-definitions/pull/57
+   */
   static defaults<
-    TDefaults extends Base.Options,
-    S extends Constructor<Base<TDefaults>>
+    PredefinedOptionsOne,
+    ClassOne extends Constructor<Base<Base.Options & PredefinedOptionsOne>> & ClassWithPlugins
   >(
-    this: S,
-    defaults: TDefaults
-  ): {
-    new (...args: any[]): {
-      options: TDefaults;
-    };
-  } & S;
-  constructor(options?: TOptions);
+    this: ClassOne,
+    defaults: PredefinedOptionsOne
+  ): ConstructorRequiringVersion<ClassOne, PredefinedOptionsOne> & {
+    defaults<ClassTwo, PredefinedOptionsTwo>(
+      this: ClassTwo,
+      defaults: PredefinedOptionsTwo
+    ): ConstructorRequiringVersion<
+      ClassOne & ClassTwo,
+      PredefinedOptionsOne & PredefinedOptionsTwo
+    > & {
+      defaults<ClassThree, PredefinedOptionsThree>(
+        this: ClassThree,
+        defaults: PredefinedOptionsThree
+      ): ConstructorRequiringVersion<
+        ClassOne & ClassTwo & ClassThree,
+        PredefinedOptionsOne & PredefinedOptionsTwo & PredefinedOptionsThree
+      > & ClassOne & ClassTwo & ClassThree;
+    } & ClassOne & ClassTwo;
+  } & ClassOne;
+
+  static defaultOptions: {};
+
+  /**
+   * options passed to the constructor as constructor defaults
+   */
   options: TOptions;
+
+  constructor(options: TOptions);
 }
 export {};
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 0de99a3..ad02bc1 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ export class Base {
       );
     };
   }
+
   static defaults(defaults) {
     return class extends this {
       constructor(options) {
@@ -22,8 +23,12 @@ export class Base {
           ...options,
         });
       }
+
+      static defaultOptions = { ...defaults, ...this.defaultOptions };
     };
   }
 
+  static defaultOptions = {};
+
   static plugins = [];
 }
diff --git a/index.test-d.ts b/index.test-d.ts
index dc522d0..0d06ac9 100644
--- a/index.test-d.ts
+++ b/index.test-d.ts
@@ -6,30 +6,125 @@ import { barPlugin } from "./plugins/bar/index.js";
 import { voidPlugin } from "./plugins/void/index.js";
 import { withOptionsPlugin } from "./plugins/with-options";
 
-const base = new Base();
+const base = new Base({
+  version: "1.2.3",
+});
 
 // @ts-expect-error unknown properties cannot be used, see #31
 base.unknown;
 
-const FooBase = Base.plugin(fooPlugin).defaults({
-  default: "value",
+const BaseWithEmptyDefaults = Base.defaults({
+  // there should be no required options
+});
+
+// 'version' is missing and should still be required
+// @ts-expect-error
+new BaseWithEmptyDefaults()
+
+// 'version' is missing and should still be required
+// @ts-expect-error
+new BaseWithEmptyDefaults({})
+
+const BaseLevelOne = Base.plugin(fooPlugin).defaults({
+  defaultOne: "value",
+  version: "1.2.3",
+});
+
+// Because 'version' is already provided, this needs no argument
+new BaseLevelOne();
+new BaseLevelOne({});
+
+expectType<{
+  defaultOne: string,
+  version: string,
+}>(BaseLevelOne.defaultOptions);
+
+const baseLevelOne = new BaseLevelOne({
+  optionOne: "value",
 });
-const fooBase = new FooBase({
-  option: "value",
+
+expectType<string>(baseLevelOne.options.defaultOne);
+expectType<string>(baseLevelOne.options.optionOne);
+expectType<string>(baseLevelOne.options.version);
+// @ts-expect-error unknown properties cannot be used, see #31
+baseLevelOne.unknown;
+
+const BaseLevelTwo = BaseLevelOne.defaults({
+  defaultTwo: 0,
 });
 
-expectType<string>(fooBase.options.default);
-expectType<string>(fooBase.options.option);
-expectType<string>(fooBase.foo);
+expectType<{
+  defaultOne: string,
+  defaultTwo: number,
+  version: string,
+}>({ ...BaseLevelTwo.defaultOptions });
+
+// Because 'version' is already provided, this needs no argument
+new BaseLevelTwo();
+new BaseLevelTwo({});
+
+// 'version' may be overriden, though it's not necessary
+new BaseLevelTwo({
+  version: 'new version',
+});
+
+const baseLevelTwo = new BaseLevelTwo({
+  optionTwo: true
+});
+
+expectType<number>(baseLevelTwo.options.defaultTwo);
+expectType<string>(baseLevelTwo.options.defaultOne);
+expectType<boolean>(baseLevelTwo.options.optionTwo);
+expectType<string>(baseLevelTwo.options.version);
+// @ts-expect-error unknown properties cannot be used, see #31
+baseLevelTwo.unknown;
+
+const BaseLevelThree = BaseLevelTwo.defaults({
+  defaultThree: ['a', 'b', 'c'],
+});
+
+expectType<{
+  defaultOne: string,
+  defaultTwo: number,
+  defaultThree: string[],
+  version: string,
+}>({ ...BaseLevelThree.defaultOptions });
+
+// Because 'version' is already provided, this needs no argument
+new BaseLevelThree();
+new BaseLevelThree({});
+
+// Previous settings may be overriden, though it's not necessary
+new BaseLevelThree({
+  optionOne: '',
+  optionTwo: false,
+  version: 'new version',
+});
+
+const baseLevelThree = new BaseLevelThree({
+  optionThree: [0, 1, 2]
+});
+
+expectType<string>(baseLevelThree.options.defaultOne);
+expectType<number>(baseLevelThree.options.defaultTwo);
+expectType<string[]>(baseLevelThree.options.defaultThree);
+expectType<number[]>(baseLevelThree.options.optionThree);
+expectType<string>(baseLevelThree.options.version);
+// @ts-expect-error unknown properties cannot be used, see #31
+baseLevelThree.unknown;
 
 const BaseWithVoidPlugin = Base.plugin(voidPlugin);
-const baseWithVoidPlugin = new BaseWithVoidPlugin();
+const baseWithVoidPlugin = new BaseWithVoidPlugin({
+  version: "1.2.3",
+});
 
 // @ts-expect-error unknown properties cannot be used, see #31
 baseWithVoidPlugin.unknown;
 
 const BaseWithFooAndBarPlugins = Base.plugin(barPlugin, fooPlugin);
-const baseWithFooAndBarPlugins = new BaseWithFooAndBarPlugins();
+const baseWithFooAndBarPlugins = new BaseWithFooAndBarPlugins({
+  version: "1.2.3",
+});
 
 expectType<string>(baseWithFooAndBarPlugins.foo);
 expectType<string>(baseWithFooAndBarPlugins.bar);
@@ -42,7 +137,9 @@ const BaseWithVoidAndNonVoidPlugins = Base.plugin(
   voidPlugin,
   fooPlugin
 );
-const baseWithVoidAndNonVoidPlugins = new BaseWithVoidAndNonVoidPlugins();
+const baseWithVoidAndNonVoidPlugins = new BaseWithVoidAndNonVoidPlugins({
+  version: "1.2.3",
+});
 
 expectType<string>(baseWithVoidAndNonVoidPlugins.foo);
 expectType<string>(baseWithVoidAndNonVoidPlugins.bar);
@@ -51,6 +148,83 @@ expectType<string>(baseWithVoidAndNonVoidPlugins.bar);
 baseWithVoidAndNonVoidPlugins.unknown;
 
 const BaseWithOptionsPlugin = Base.plugin(withOptionsPlugin);
-const baseWithOptionsPlugin = new BaseWithOptionsPlugin();
+const baseWithOptionsPlugin = new BaseWithOptionsPlugin({
+  version: "1.2.3",
+});
 
 expectType<string>(baseWithOptionsPlugin.getFooOption());
+
+// Test depth limits of `.defaults()` chaining
+const BaseLevelFour = BaseLevelThree.defaults({ defaultFour: 4 });
+
+expectType<{
+  version: string;
+  defaultOne: string;
+  defaultTwo: number;
+  defaultThree: string[];
+  defaultFour: number;
+}>({ ...BaseLevelFour.defaultOptions });
+
+const baseLevelFour = new BaseLevelFour();
+
+// See the node on static defaults in index.d.ts for why defaultFour is missing
+// .options from .defaults() is only supported until a depth of 4
+expectType<{
+  version: string;
+  defaultOne: string;
+  defaultTwo: number;
+  defaultThree: string[];
+}>({ ...baseLevelFour.options });
+
+expectType<{
+  version: string;
+  defaultOne: string;
+  defaultTwo: number;
+  defaultThree: string[];
+  defaultFour: number;
+  // @ts-expect-error - .options from .defaults() is only supported until a depth of 4
+}>({ ...baseLevelFour.options });
+
+const BaseWithChainedDefaultsAndPlugins = Base
+  .defaults({
+    defaultOne: "value",
+  })
+  .plugin(fooPlugin)
+  .defaults({
+    defaultTwo: 0,
+  });
+
+const baseWithChainedDefaultsAndPlugins =
+  new BaseWithChainedDefaultsAndPlugins({
+    version: "1.2.3",
+  });
+
+expectType<string>(baseWithChainedDefaultsAndPlugins.foo);
+
+const BaseWithManyChainedDefaultsAndPlugins = Base.defaults({
+  defaultOne: "value",
+})
+  .plugin(fooPlugin, barPlugin, voidPlugin)
+  .defaults({
+    defaultTwo: 0,
+  })
+  .plugin(withOptionsPlugin)
+  .defaults({
+    defaultThree: ["a", "b", "c"],
+  });
+
+expectType<{
+  defaultOne: string;
+  defaultTwo: number;
+  defaultThree: string[];
+}>({ ...BaseWithManyChainedDefaultsAndPlugins.defaultOptions });
+
+const baseWithManyChainedDefaultsAndPlugins =
+  new BaseWithManyChainedDefaultsAndPlugins({
+    version: "1.2.3",
+    foo: "bar",
+  });
+
+expectType<string>(baseWithManyChainedDefaultsAndPlugins.foo);
+expectType<string>(baseWithManyChainedDefaultsAndPlugins.bar);
+expectType<string>(baseWithManyChainedDefaultsAndPlugins.getFooOption());
diff --git a/test/base.test.js b/test/base.test.js
index 4bbc9e2..a250839 100644
--- a/test/base.test.js
+++ b/test/base.test.js
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ test(".defaults({foo: 'bar'})", () => {
   const BaseWithDefaults = Base.defaults({ foo: "bar" });
   const defaultsTest = new BaseWithDefaults();
   const mergedOptionsTest = new BaseWithDefaults({ baz: "daz" });
+  assert.equal(BaseWithDefaults.defaultOptions, { foo: "bar" });
   assert.equal(defaultsTest.options, { foo: "bar" });
   assert.equal(mergedOptionsTest.options, { foo: "bar", baz: "daz" });
 });
@@ -44,6 +45,15 @@ test(".defaults({one: 1}).defaults({two: 2})", () => {
   assert.equal(mergedOptionsTest.options, { one: 1, two: 2, three: 3 });
 });
 
+test(".defaults({foo: 'bar', baz: 'daz' })", () => {
+  const BaseWithDefaults = Base.defaults({ foo: "bar" }).defaults({ baz: "daz" });
+  const defaultsTest = new BaseWithDefaults();
+  const mergedOptionsTest = new BaseWithDefaults({ faz: "boo" });
+  assert.equal(BaseWithDefaults.defaultOptions, { foo: "bar", baz: "daz" });
+  assert.equal(defaultsTest.options, { foo: "bar", baz: "daz" });
+  assert.equal(mergedOptionsTest.options, { foo: "bar", baz: "daz", faz: "boo" });
+});
+
 test(".plugin().defaults()", () => {
   const BaseWithPluginAndDefaults = Base.plugin(fooPlugin).defaults({
     baz: "daz",