diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/GameInfo.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/GameInfo.kt
index 4ef6adc2ea..3e1ea99a1d 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/GameInfo.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/GameInfo.kt
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ class GameInfo : IsPartOfGameInfoSerialization, HasGameInfoSerializationVersion
         checksum = "" // Checksum calculation cannot include old checksum, obvs
         val bytes = MessageDigest
             .getInstance("SHA-1")
-            .digest(json().toJson(this).toByteArray())
+            .digest(json().toJson(this).toByteArray(Charsets.UTF_8))
         checksum = oldChecksum
         return Gzip.encode(bytes)
     }
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/files/LinuxX11SaverLoader.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/files/LinuxX11SaverLoader.kt
index 959151a492..daabc5c25a 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/files/LinuxX11SaverLoader.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/files/LinuxX11SaverLoader.kt
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class LinuxX11SaverLoader : PlatformSaverLoader {
                 success, file ->
                 if (!success) return@createSaveDialog
                 try {
-                    file.writeString(data, false, "UTF-8")
+                    file.writeString(data, false, Charsets.UTF_8.name())
                     onSaved(file.path())
                 } catch (ex: Exception) {
                     onError(ex)
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class LinuxX11SaverLoader : PlatformSaverLoader {
             FileChooser.createLoadDialog(stage, "Load game") { success, file ->
                 if (!success) return@createLoadDialog
                 try {
-                    val data = file.readString("UTF-8")
+                    val data = file.readString(Charsets.UTF_8.name())
                     onLoaded(data, file.path())
                 } catch (ex: Exception) {
                     onError(ex)
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/files/MapSaver.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/files/MapSaver.kt
index b3e807cac0..f06fd853b4 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/files/MapSaver.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/files/MapSaver.kt
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import com.unciv.json.json
 import com.unciv.logic.map.MapParameters
 import com.unciv.logic.map.TileMap
 import com.unciv.ui.screens.savescreens.Gzip
-import com.unciv.utils.Log
 
 object MapSaver {
 
@@ -30,11 +29,11 @@ object MapSaver {
     }
 
     fun saveMap(mapName: String, tileMap: TileMap) {
-        getMap(mapName).writeString(mapToSavedString(tileMap), false)
+        getMap(mapName).writeString(mapToSavedString(tileMap), false, Charsets.UTF_8.name())
     }
 
     fun loadMap(mapFile: FileHandle): TileMap {
-        return mapFromSavedString(mapFile.readString())
+        return mapFromSavedString(mapFile.readString(Charsets.UTF_8.name()))
     }
 
     fun getMaps(): Array<FileHandle> = Gdx.files.local(mapsFolder).list()
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/files/UncivFiles.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/files/UncivFiles.kt
index db20695e9f..4458f46751 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/files/UncivFiles.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/files/UncivFiles.kt
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import com.badlogic.gdx.Files
 import com.badlogic.gdx.Gdx
 import com.badlogic.gdx.files.FileHandle
 import com.badlogic.gdx.utils.JsonReader
+import com.badlogic.gdx.utils.GdxRuntimeException  // Kdoc
 import com.badlogic.gdx.utils.SerializationException
 import com.unciv.UncivGame
 import com.unciv.json.fromJsonFile
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ class UncivFiles(
         } else {
             files.local(path)
         }
-        return file.writer(append)
+        return file.writer(append, Charsets.UTF_8.name())
     }
 
     fun getMultiplayerSaves(): Sequence<FileHandle> {
@@ -226,7 +227,7 @@ class UncivFiles(
             loadGameFromFile(getSave(gameName))
 
     fun loadGameFromFile(gameFile: FileHandle): GameInfo {
-        val gameData = gameFile.readString()
+        val gameData = gameFile.readString(Charsets.UTF_8.name())
         if (gameData.isNullOrBlank()) {
             throw emptyFile(gameFile)
         }
@@ -304,7 +305,7 @@ class UncivFiles(
     }
 
     fun setGeneralSettings(gameSettings: GameSettings) {
-        getGeneralSettingsFile().writeString(json().toJson(gameSettings), false)
+        getGeneralSettingsFile().writeString(json().toJson(gameSettings), false, Charsets.UTF_8.name())
     }
 
     companion object {
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/multiplayer/storage/DropBox.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/multiplayer/storage/DropBox.kt
index 68559d5927..fccbeeb8eb 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/multiplayer/storage/DropBox.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/multiplayer/storage/DropBox.kt
@@ -38,8 +38,7 @@ object DropBox: FileStorage {
 
             try {
                 if (data != "") {
-                    // StandardCharsets.UTF_8 requires API 19
-                    val postData: ByteArray = data.toByteArray(Charset.forName("UTF-8"))
+                    val postData: ByteArray = data.toByteArray(Charsets.UTF_8)
                     val outputStream = DataOutputStream(outputStream)
                     outputStream.write(postData)
                     outputStream.flush()
@@ -48,7 +47,7 @@ object DropBox: FileStorage {
                 return inputStream
             } catch (ex: Exception) {
                 debug("Dropbox exception", ex)
-                val reader = BufferedReader(InputStreamReader(errorStream))
+                val reader = BufferedReader(InputStreamReader(errorStream, Charsets.UTF_8))
                 val responseString = reader.readText()
                 debug("Response: %s", responseString)
 
@@ -63,7 +62,7 @@ object DropBox: FileStorage {
                 return null
             } catch (error: Error) {
                 Log.error("Dropbox error", error)
-                debug("Error stream: %s", { BufferedReader(InputStreamReader(errorStream)).readText() })
+                debug("Error stream: %s", { BufferedReader(InputStreamReader(errorStream, Charsets.UTF_8)).readText() })
                 return null
             }
         }
@@ -86,7 +85,7 @@ object DropBox: FileStorage {
             data="{\"path\":\"${getLocalGameLocation(fileName)}\"}",
             contentType="application/json"
         )!!
-        val reader = BufferedReader(InputStreamReader(stream))
+        val reader = BufferedReader(InputStreamReader(stream, Charsets.UTF_8))
         return json().fromJson(MetaData::class.java, reader.readText())
     }
 
@@ -101,7 +100,7 @@ object DropBox: FileStorage {
 
     override fun loadFileData(fileName: String): String {
         val inputStream = downloadFile(getLocalGameLocation(fileName))
-        return BufferedReader(InputStreamReader(inputStream)).readText()
+        return BufferedReader(InputStreamReader(inputStream, Charsets.UTF_8)).readText()
     }
 
     override fun authenticate(userId: String, password: String): Boolean {
@@ -148,7 +147,7 @@ object DropBox: FileStorage {
 //        val result =  dropboxApi("https://api.dropboxapi.com/2/file_properties/templates/add_for_user",
 //                "{\"name\": \"Security\",\"description\": \"These properties describe how confidential this file or folder is.\",\"fields\": [{\"name\": \"Security Policy\",\"description\": \"This is the security policy of the file or folder described.\nPolicies can be Confidential, Public or Internal.\",\"type\": \"string\"}]}"
 //                ,"application/json")
-//        return BufferedReader(InputStreamReader(result)).readText()
+//        return BufferedReader(InputStreamReader(result, Charsets.UTF_8)).readText()
 //    }
 
 //    private class FolderList{
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/multiplayer/storage/SimpleHttp.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/multiplayer/storage/SimpleHttp.kt
index b38ff938a8..589a8ad046 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/multiplayer/storage/SimpleHttp.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/multiplayer/storage/SimpleHttp.kt
@@ -51,19 +51,18 @@ object SimpleHttp {
             try {
                 if (content.isNotEmpty()) {
                     doOutput = true
-                    // StandardCharsets.UTF_8 requires API 19
-                    val postData: ByteArray = content.toByteArray(Charset.forName("UTF-8"))
+                    val postData: ByteArray = content.toByteArray(Charsets.UTF_8)
                     val outputStream = DataOutputStream(outputStream)
                     outputStream.write(postData)
                     outputStream.flush()
                 }
 
-                val text = BufferedReader(InputStreamReader(inputStream)).readText()
+                val text = BufferedReader(InputStreamReader(inputStream, Charsets.UTF_8)).readText()
                 action(true, text, responseCode)
             } catch (t: Throwable) {
                 debug("Error during HTTP request", t)
                 val errorMessageToReturn =
-                    if (errorStream != null) BufferedReader(InputStreamReader(errorStream)).readText()
+                    if (errorStream != null) BufferedReader(InputStreamReader(errorStream, Charsets.UTF_8)).readText()
                     else t.message!!
                 debug("Returning error message [%s]", errorMessageToReturn)
                 action(false, errorMessageToReturn, responseCode)
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/models/metadata/ModCategories.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/models/metadata/ModCategories.kt
index 5dc0d68d73..bf2e9b8fdc 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/models/metadata/ModCategories.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/models/metadata/ModCategories.kt
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class ModCategories : ArrayList<ModCategories.Category>() {
         val json = json()
         val compact = json.toJson(this, ModCategories::class.java, Category::class.java)
         val verbose = json.prettyPrint(compact)
-        Gdx.files.local(fileLocation).writeString(verbose, false, "UTF-8")
+        Gdx.files.local(fileLocation).writeString(verbose, false, Charsets.UTF_8.name())
     }
 
     fun fromSelectBox(selectBox: TranslatedSelectBox): Category {
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/models/translations/TranslationFileReader.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/models/translations/TranslationFileReader.kt
index e523a341b0..72270b1ff7 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/models/translations/TranslationFileReader.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/models/translations/TranslationFileReader.kt
@@ -2,13 +2,12 @@ package com.unciv.models.translations
 
 import com.badlogic.gdx.Gdx
 import com.badlogic.gdx.files.FileHandle
-import java.nio.charset.Charset
 import kotlin.collections.set
 
 object TranslationFileReader {
 
     const val percentagesFileLocation = "jsons/translations/completionPercentages.properties"
-    val charset: String = Charset.forName("UTF-8").name()
+    val charset: String = Charsets.UTF_8.name()
 
     fun read(file: FileHandle): LinkedHashMap<String, String> {
         val translations = LinkedHashMap<String, String>()
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/ui/screens/pickerscreens/GitHub.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/ui/screens/pickerscreens/GitHub.kt
index 5b293398b3..fdc5b32147 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/ui/screens/pickerscreens/GitHub.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/ui/screens/pickerscreens/GitHub.kt
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ object Github {
                 } catch (ex: Exception) {
                     // No error handling, just log the message.
                     // NOTE that this 'read error stream' CAN ALSO fail, but will be caught by the big try/catch
-                    val reader = BufferedReader(InputStreamReader(errorStream))
+                    val reader = BufferedReader(InputStreamReader(errorStream, Charsets.UTF_8))
                     Log.error("Message from GitHub: %s", reader.readText())
                     throw ex
                 }
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/ui/screens/savescreens/Gzip.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/ui/screens/savescreens/Gzip.kt
index 22cfeb0d0c..07b4f46ca2 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/ui/screens/savescreens/Gzip.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/ui/screens/savescreens/Gzip.kt
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ import java.util.zip.GZIPOutputStream
 
 object Gzip {
 
-    fun zip(data:String):String = encode(compress(data))
-    fun unzip(data:String):String  = decompress(decode(data))
+    fun zip(data: String): String = encode(compress(data))
+    fun unzip(data: String): String  = decompress(decode(data))
 
     private fun compress(data: String): ByteArray {
         val bos = ByteArrayOutputStream(data.length)
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ object Gzip {
     private fun decompress(compressed: ByteArray): String {
         val bis = ByteArrayInputStream(compressed)
         val gis = GZIPInputStream(bis)
-        val br = BufferedReader(InputStreamReader(gis, "UTF-8"))
+        val br = BufferedReader(InputStreamReader(gis, Charsets.UTF_8))
         val sb = StringBuilder()
         var line: String? = br.readLine()
         while (line != null) {
@@ -40,11 +40,11 @@ object Gzip {
     }
 
 
-    fun encode(bytes:ByteArray): String{
+    fun encode(bytes: ByteArray): String {
         return String(Base64Coder.encode(bytes))
     }
 
-    private fun decode(base64Str: String): ByteArray{
+    private fun decode(base64Str: String): ByteArray {
         return Base64Coder.decode(base64Str)
     }
 }
diff --git a/desktop/src/com/unciv/app/desktop/DesktopLauncher.kt b/desktop/src/com/unciv/app/desktop/DesktopLauncher.kt
index bc361b10b3..e3f9171899 100644
--- a/desktop/src/com/unciv/app/desktop/DesktopLauncher.kt
+++ b/desktop/src/com/unciv/app/desktop/DesktopLauncher.kt
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ internal object DesktopLauncher {
                 width = maximumWindowBounds.width,
                 height = maximumWindowBounds.height
             )
-            FileHandle(SETTINGS_FILE_NAME).writeString(json().toJson(settings), false) // so when we later open the game we get fullscreen
+            FileHandle(SETTINGS_FILE_NAME).writeString(json().toJson(settings), false, Charsets.UTF_8.name()) // so when we later open the game we get fullscreen
         }
         // Kludge! This is a workaround - the matching call in DesktopDisplay doesn't "take" quite permanently,
         // the window might revert to the "config" values when the user moves the window - worse if they
diff --git a/desktop/src/com/unciv/app/desktop/ImagePacker.kt b/desktop/src/com/unciv/app/desktop/ImagePacker.kt
index 2f2ffd2852..db4b4a2430 100644
--- a/desktop/src/com/unciv/app/desktop/ImagePacker.kt
+++ b/desktop/src/com/unciv/app/desktop/ImagePacker.kt
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ internal object ImagePacker {
         // An image folder can optionally have a TexturePacker settings file
         val settingsFile = File("$input${File.separator}TexturePacker.settings")
         val settings = if (settingsFile.exists())
-            Json().fromJson(TexturePacker.Settings::class.java, settingsFile.reader())
+            Json().fromJson(TexturePacker.Settings::class.java, settingsFile.reader(Charsets.UTF_8))
         else defaultSettings
 
         TexturePacker.process(settings, input, output, packFileName)
diff --git a/desktop/src/com/unciv/app/desktop/SystemUtils.kt b/desktop/src/com/unciv/app/desktop/SystemUtils.kt
index 4fde41f678..8fae5a58ae 100644
--- a/desktop/src/com/unciv/app/desktop/SystemUtils.kt
+++ b/desktop/src/com/unciv/app/desktop/SystemUtils.kt
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@ object SystemUtils {
             builder.appendLine("Max Memory: $maxMemory MB")
         }
 
+        // Encoding used by Java when not explicitly specified/-able (such as atlas loader)
+        builder.appendLine("System default encoding: " + Charset.defaultCharset().name())
+
         return builder.toString()
     }