diff --git a/cartridges/main.py b/cartridges/main.py
index 84efcc5..f3fa928 100644
--- a/cartridges/main.py
+++ b/cartridges/main.py
@@ -172,7 +172,9 @@ class CartridgesApplication(Adw.Application):
                 try:
                     game_id = args[index + 1]
                     data = json.load(
-                        (path := shared.games_dir / (game_id + ".json")).open("r")
+                        (path := shared.games_dir / (game_id + ".json")).open(
+                            "r", encoding="utf-8"
+                        )
                     )
                     executable = (
                         shlex.join(data["executable"])
@@ -184,7 +186,7 @@ class CartridgesApplication(Adw.Application):
                     run_executable(executable)
 
                     data["last_played"] = int(time())
-                    json.dump(data, path.open("w"))
+                    json.dump(data, path.open("w", encoding="utf-8"))
 
                 except (IndexError, KeyError, OSError, json.decoder.JSONDecodeError):
                     return 1
diff --git a/cartridges/store/managers/file_manager.py b/cartridges/store/managers/file_manager.py
index b1f437a..8215038 100644
--- a/cartridges/store/managers/file_manager.py
+++ b/cartridges/store/managers/file_manager.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class FileManager(AsyncManager):
 
         json.dump(
             {attr: getattr(game, attr) for attr in attrs if attr},
-            (shared.games_dir / f"{game.game_id}.json").open("w"),
+            (shared.games_dir / f"{game.game_id}.json").open("w", encoding="utf-8"),
             indent=4,
             sort_keys=True,
         )
diff --git a/cartridges/utils/migrate_files_v1_to_v2.py b/cartridges/utils/migrate_files_v1_to_v2.py
index 526d48b..50fa2cb 100644
--- a/cartridges/utils/migrate_files_v1_to_v2.py
+++ b/cartridges/utils/migrate_files_v1_to_v2.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def migrate_files_v1_to_v2() -> None:
     imported_execs = set()
     for game_path in shared.games_dir.glob("imported_*.json"):
         try:
-            game_data = json.load(game_path.open("r"))
+            game_data = json.load(game_path.open("r", encoding="utf-8"))
         except (OSError, json.JSONDecodeError):
             continue
         number = int(game_data["game_id"].replace("imported_", ""))
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def migrate_files_v1_to_v2() -> None:
     # Migrate imported game files
     for game_path in old_imported_game_paths:
         try:
-            game_data = json.load(game_path.open("r"))
+            game_data = json.load(game_path.open("r", encoding="utf-8"))
         except (OSError, json.JSONDecodeError):
             continue
 
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ def migrate_files_v1_to_v2() -> None:
         )
         json.dump(
             game_data,
-            destination_game_path.open("w"),
+            destination_game_path.open("w", encoding="utf-8"),
             indent=4,
             sort_keys=True,
         )