24 files changed, 493 insertions, 151 deletions
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
index d268aa0cb..98b1ffe8a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ jobs:
     env:
       VCPKG_VERSION: 0bf3923f9fab4001c00f0f429682a0853b5749e0
 #                    2020.11
-      vcpkg_packages: irrlicht zlib curl[winssl] openal-soft libvorbis libogg sqlite3 freetype luajit
+      vcpkg_packages: irrlicht zlib zstd curl[winssl] openal-soft libvorbis libogg sqlite3 freetype luajit
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/macos.yml b/.github/workflows/macos.yml
index 3ec157d0e..d97cff1aa 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/macos.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/macos.yml
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v2
       - name: Install deps
         run: |
-          pkgs=(cmake freetype gettext gmp hiredis jpeg jsoncpp leveldb libogg libpng libvorbis luajit)
+          pkgs=(cmake freetype gettext gmp hiredis jpeg jsoncpp leveldb libogg libpng libvorbis luajit zstd)
           brew update
           brew install ${pkgs[@]}
           brew unlink $(brew ls --formula)
diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index cabce627f..252ed8a5b 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ variables:
   stage: build
   before_script:
    - apt-get update
-   - apt-get -y install build-essential git cmake libpng-dev libjpeg-dev libxxf86vm-dev libgl1-mesa-dev libsqlite3-dev libleveldb-dev libogg-dev libvorbis-dev libopenal-dev libcurl4-gnutls-dev libfreetype6-dev zlib1g-dev libgmp-dev libjsoncpp-dev
+   - apt-get -y install build-essential git cmake libpng-dev libjpeg-dev libxxf86vm-dev libgl1-mesa-dev libsqlite3-dev libleveldb-dev libogg-dev libvorbis-dev libopenal-dev libcurl4-gnutls-dev libfreetype6-dev zlib1g-dev libgmp-dev libjsoncpp-dev libzstd-dev
   script:
     - git clone https://github.com/minetest/irrlicht -b $IRRLICHT_TAG lib/irrlichtmt
     - mkdir cmakebuild
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ build:fedora-28:
   extends: .build_template
   image: fedora:28
   before_script:
-    - dnf -y install make git gcc gcc-c++ kernel-devel cmake libjpeg-devel libpng-devel libcurl-devel openal-soft-devel libvorbis-devel libXxf86vm-devel libogg-devel freetype-devel mesa-libGL-devel zlib-devel jsoncpp-devel gmp-devel sqlite-devel luajit-devel leveldb-devel ncurses-devel spatialindex-devel
+    - dnf -y install make git gcc gcc-c++ kernel-devel cmake libjpeg-devel libpng-devel libcurl-devel openal-soft-devel libvorbis-devel libXxf86vm-devel libogg-devel freetype-devel mesa-libGL-devel zlib-devel jsoncpp-devel gmp-devel sqlite-devel luajit-devel leveldb-devel ncurses-devel spatialindex-devel libzstd-devel
 
 ##
 ## MinGW for Windows
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 8843e4bbc..481dab237 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ COPY textures /usr/src/minetest/textures
 
 WORKDIR /usr/src/minetest
 
-RUN apk add --no-cache git build-base cmake sqlite-dev curl-dev zlib-dev \
+RUN apk add --no-cache git build-base cmake sqlite-dev curl-dev zlib-dev zstd-dev \
 		gmp-dev jsoncpp-dev postgresql-dev ninja luajit-dev ca-certificates && \
 	git clone --depth=1 -b ${MINETEST_GAME_VERSION} https://github.com/minetest/minetest_game.git ./games/minetest_game && \
 	rm -fr ./games/minetest_game/.git
diff --git a/android/native/jni/Android.mk b/android/native/jni/Android.mk
index f92ac1d60..26e9b058b 100644
--- a/android/native/jni/Android.mk
+++ b/android/native/jni/Android.mk
@@ -58,6 +58,11 @@ LOCAL_SRC_FILES := deps/Android/Vorbis/${NDK_TOOLCHAIN_VERSION}/$(APP_ABI)/libvo
 include $(PREBUILT_STATIC_LIBRARY)
 
 include $(CLEAR_VARS)
+LOCAL_MODULE := Zstd
+LOCAL_SRC_FILES := deps/Android/Zstd/${NDK_TOOLCHAIN_VERSION}/$(APP_ABI)/libzstd.a
+include $(PREBUILT_STATIC_LIBRARY)
+
+include $(CLEAR_VARS)
 LOCAL_MODULE := Minetest
 
 LOCAL_CFLAGS += \
@@ -101,7 +106,8 @@ LOCAL_C_INCLUDES := \
 	deps/Android/LuaJIT/src                         \
 	deps/Android/OpenAL-Soft/include                \
 	deps/Android/sqlite                             \
-	deps/Android/Vorbis/include
+	deps/Android/Vorbis/include                     \
+	deps/Android/Zstd/include
 
 LOCAL_SRC_FILES := \
 	$(wildcard ../../src/client/*.cpp)           \
@@ -201,7 +207,7 @@ LOCAL_SRC_FILES += \
 # SQLite3
 LOCAL_SRC_FILES += deps/Android/sqlite/sqlite3.c
 
-LOCAL_STATIC_LIBRARIES += Curl Freetype Irrlicht OpenAL mbedTLS mbedx509 mbedcrypto Vorbis LuaJIT GetText android_native_app_glue $(PROFILER_LIBS) #LevelDB
+LOCAL_STATIC_LIBRARIES += Curl Freetype Irrlicht OpenAL mbedTLS mbedx509 mbedcrypto Vorbis LuaJIT GetText Zstd android_native_app_glue $(PROFILER_LIBS) #LevelDB
 
 LOCAL_LDLIBS := -lEGL -lGLESv1_CM -lGLESv2 -landroid -lOpenSLES
 
diff --git a/builtin/settingtypes.txt b/builtin/settingtypes.txt
index 25a51b888..43e70e052 100644
--- a/builtin/settingtypes.txt
+++ b/builtin/settingtypes.txt
@@ -1100,11 +1100,10 @@ full_block_send_enable_min_time_from_building (Delay in sending blocks after bui
 #    client number.
 max_packets_per_iteration (Max. packets per iteration) int 1024
 
-#    ZLib compression level to use when sending mapblocks to the client.
-#    -1 - Zlib's default compression level
-#     0 - no compresson, fastest
+#    Compression level to use when sending mapblocks to the client.
+#    -1 - use default compression level
+#     0 - least compresson, fastest
 #     9 - best compression, slowest
-#     (levels 1-3 use Zlib's "fast" method, 4-9 use the normal method)
 map_compression_level_net (Map Compression Level for Network Transfer) int -1 -1 9
 
 [*Game]
@@ -1303,12 +1302,11 @@ max_objects_per_block (Maximum objects per block) int 64
 #    See https://www.sqlite.org/pragma.html#pragma_synchronous
 sqlite_synchronous (Synchronous SQLite) enum 2 0,1,2
 
-#    ZLib compression level to use when saving mapblocks to disk.
-#    -1 - Zlib's default compression level
-#     0 - no compresson, fastest
+#    Compression level to use when saving mapblocks to disk.
+#    -1 - use default compression level
+#     0 - least compresson, fastest
 #     9 - best compression, slowest
-#     (levels 1-3 use Zlib's "fast" method, 4-9 use the normal method)
-map_compression_level_disk (Map Compression Level for Disk Storage) int 3 -1 9
+map_compression_level_disk (Map Compression Level for Disk Storage) int -1 -1 9
 
 #    Length of a server tick and the interval at which objects are generally updated over
 #    network.
diff --git a/cmake/Modules/FindZstd.cmake b/cmake/Modules/FindZstd.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..461e4d5a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmake/Modules/FindZstd.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+mark_as_advanced(ZSTD_LIBRARY ZSTD_INCLUDE_DIR)
+
+find_path(ZSTD_INCLUDE_DIR NAMES zstd.h)
+
+find_library(ZSTD_LIBRARY NAMES zstd)
+
+include(FindPackageHandleStandardArgs)
+find_package_handle_standard_args(Zstd DEFAULT_MSG ZSTD_LIBRARY ZSTD_INCLUDE_DIR)
+
diff --git a/doc/world_format.txt b/doc/world_format.txt
index a8a9e463e..eb1d7f728 100644
--- a/doc/world_format.txt
+++ b/doc/world_format.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 =============================
-Minetest World Format 22...27
+Minetest World Format 22...29
 =============================
 
 This applies to a world format carrying the block serialization version
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ This applies to a world format carrying the block serialization version
 - 0.4.0 (23)
 - 24 was never released as stable and existed for ~2 days
 - 27 was added in 0.4.15-dev
+- 29 was added in 5.5.0-dev
 
 The block serialization version does not fully specify every aspect of this
 format; if compliance with this format is to be checked, it needs to be
@@ -281,6 +282,8 @@ MapBlock serialization format
 NOTE: Byte order is MSB first (big-endian).
 NOTE: Zlib data is in such a format that Python's zlib at least can
       directly decompress.
+NOTE: Since version 29 zstd is used instead of zlib. In addition the entire
+      block is first serialized and then compressed (except the version byte).
 
 u8 version
 - map format version number, see serialisation.h for the latest number
@@ -324,6 +327,20 @@ u16 lighting_complete
   then Minetest will correct lighting in the day light bank when
   the block at (1, 0, 0) is also loaded.
 
+if map format version >= 29:
+  u32 timestamp
+  - Timestamp when last saved, as seconds from starting the game.
+  - 0xffffffff = invalid/unknown timestamp, nothing should be done with the time
+                 difference when loaded
+
+  u16 num_name_id_mappings
+  foreach num_name_id_mappings
+    u16 id
+    u16 name_len
+    u8[name_len] name
+if map format version < 29:
+  -- Nothing right here, timpstamp and node id mappings are serialized later
+
 u8 content_width
 - Number of bytes in the content (param0) fields of nodes
 if map format version <= 23:
@@ -335,7 +352,7 @@ u8 params_width
 - Number of bytes used for parameters per node
 - Always 2
 
-zlib-compressed node data:
+node data (zlib-compressed if version < 29):
 if content_width == 1:
     - content:
       u8[4096]: param0 fields
@@ -348,31 +365,31 @@ if content_width == 2:
       u8[4096]: param2 fields
 - The location of a node in each of those arrays is (z*16*16 + y*16 + x).
 
-zlib-compressed node metadata list
+node metadata list (zlib-compressed if version < 29):
 - content:
-if map format version <= 22:
-  u16 version (=1)
-  u16 count of metadata
-  foreach count:
-    u16 position (p.Z*MAP_BLOCKSIZE*MAP_BLOCKSIZE + p.Y*MAP_BLOCKSIZE + p.X)
-    u16 type_id
-    u16 content_size
-    u8[content_size] content of metadata. Format depends on type_id, see below.
-if map format version >= 23:
-  u8 version -- Note: type was u16 for map format version <= 22
-    -- = 1 for map format version < 28
-    -- = 2 since map format version 28
-  u16 count of metadata
-  foreach count:
-    u16 position (p.Z*MAP_BLOCKSIZE*MAP_BLOCKSIZE + p.Y*MAP_BLOCKSIZE + p.X)
-    u32 num_vars
-    foreach num_vars:
-      u16 key_len
-      u8[key_len] key
-      u32 val_len
-      u8[val_len] value
-      u8 is_private -- only for version >= 2. 0 = not private, 1 = private
-    serialized inventory
+  if map format version <= 22:
+    u16 version (=1)
+    u16 count of metadata
+    foreach count:
+      u16 position (p.Z*MAP_BLOCKSIZE*MAP_BLOCKSIZE + p.Y*MAP_BLOCKSIZE + p.X)
+      u16 type_id
+      u16 content_size
+      u8[content_size] content of metadata. Format depends on type_id, see below.
+  if map format version >= 23:
+    u8 version -- Note: type was u16 for map format version <= 22
+      -- = 1 for map format version < 28
+      -- = 2 since map format version 28
+    u16 count of metadata
+    foreach count:
+      u16 position (p.Z*MAP_BLOCKSIZE*MAP_BLOCKSIZE + p.Y*MAP_BLOCKSIZE + p.X)
+      u32 num_vars
+      foreach num_vars:
+        u16 key_len
+        u8[key_len] key
+        u32 val_len
+        u8[val_len] value
+        u8 is_private -- only for version >= 2. 0 = not private, 1 = private
+      serialized inventory
 
 - Node timers
 if map format version == 23:
@@ -403,20 +420,18 @@ foreach static_object_count:
   u16 data_size
   u8[data_size] data
 
-u32 timestamp
-- Timestamp when last saved, as seconds from starting the game.
-- 0xffffffff = invalid/unknown timestamp, nothing should be done with the time
-               difference when loaded
-
-u8 name-id-mapping version
-- Always 0
+if map format version < 29:
+  u32 timestamp
+  - Same meaning as the timestamp further up
 
-u16 num_name_id_mappings
+  u8 name-id-mapping version
+  - Always 0
 
-foreach num_name_id_mappings
-  u16 id
-  u16 name_len
-  u8[name_len] name
+  u16 num_name_id_mappings
+  foreach num_name_id_mappings
+    u16 id
+    u16 name_len
+    u8[name_len] name
 
 - Node timers
 if map format version == 25:
diff --git a/misc/debpkg-control b/misc/debpkg-control
index 7c0134bb0..e867f3eb9 100644
--- a/misc/debpkg-control
+++ b/misc/debpkg-control
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ Priority: extra
 Standards-Version: 3.6.2
 Package: minetest-staging
 Version: 5.4.0-DATEPLACEHOLDER
-Depends: libc6, libcurl3-gnutls, libfreetype6, libgl1, JPEG_PLACEHOLDER, JSONCPP_PLACEHOLDER, LEVELDB_PLACEHOLDER, libopenal1, libpng16-16, libsqlite3-0, libstdc++6, libvorbisfile3, libx11-6, libxxf86vm1, zlib1g
+Depends: libc6, libcurl3-gnutls, libfreetype6, libgl1, JPEG_PLACEHOLDER, JSONCPP_PLACEHOLDER, LEVELDB_PLACEHOLDER, libopenal1, libpng16-16, libsqlite3-0, libstdc++6, libvorbisfile3, libx11-6, libxxf86vm1, libzstd1, zlib1g
 Maintainer: Loic Blot <loic.blot@unix-experience.fr>
 Homepage: https://www.minetest.net/
 Vcs-Git: https://github.com/minetest/minetest.git
diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 7a5e48b49..addb0af3f 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -271,9 +271,13 @@ if(WIN32)
 	find_path(ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIR "zlib.h" DOC "Zlib include directory")
 	find_library(ZLIB_LIBRARIES "zlib" DOC "Path to zlib library")
 
+	find_path(ZSTD_INCLUDE_DIR "zstd.h" DOC "Zstd include directory")
+	find_library(ZSTD_LIBRARY "zstd" DOC "Path to zstd library")
+
 	# Dll's are automatically copied to the output directory by vcpkg when VCPKG_APPLOCAL_DEPS=ON
 	if(NOT VCPKG_APPLOCAL_DEPS)
 		find_file(ZLIB_DLL NAMES "zlib.dll" "zlib1.dll" DOC "Path to zlib.dll for installation (optional)")
+		find_file(ZSTD_DLL NAMES "zstd.dll" DOC "Path to zstd.dll for installation (optional)")
 		if(ENABLE_SOUND)
 			set(OPENAL_DLL "" CACHE FILEPATH "Path to OpenAL32.dll for installation (optional)")
 			set(OGG_DLL "" CACHE FILEPATH "Path to libogg.dll for installation (optional)")
@@ -296,6 +300,7 @@ else()
 	endif()
 
 	find_package(ZLIB REQUIRED)
+	find_package(Zstd REQUIRED)
 	set(PLATFORM_LIBS -lpthread ${CMAKE_DL_LIBS})
 	if(APPLE)
 		set(PLATFORM_LIBS "-framework CoreFoundation" ${PLATFORM_LIBS})
@@ -486,6 +491,7 @@ include_directories(
 	${PROJECT_BINARY_DIR}
 	${PROJECT_SOURCE_DIR}
 	${ZLIB_INCLUDE_DIR}
+	${ZSTD_INCLUDE_DIR}
 	${SOUND_INCLUDE_DIRS}
 	${SQLITE3_INCLUDE_DIR}
 	${LUA_INCLUDE_DIR}
@@ -521,6 +527,7 @@ if(BUILD_CLIENT)
 		${PROJECT_NAME}
 		${ZLIB_LIBRARIES}
 		IrrlichtMt::IrrlichtMt
+		${ZSTD_LIBRARY}
 		${X11_LIBRARIES}
 		${SOUND_LIBRARIES}
 		${SQLITE3_LIBRARY}
@@ -605,6 +612,7 @@ if(BUILD_SERVER)
 	target_link_libraries(
 		${PROJECT_NAME}server
 		${ZLIB_LIBRARIES}
+		${ZSTD_LIBRARY}
 		${SQLITE3_LIBRARY}
 		${JSON_LIBRARY}
 		${LUA_LIBRARY}
@@ -821,6 +829,9 @@ if(WIN32)
 		if(ZLIB_DLL)
 			install(FILES ${ZLIB_DLL} DESTINATION ${BINDIR})
 		endif()
+		if(ZSTD_DLL)
+			install(FILES ${ZSTD_DLL} DESTINATION ${BINDIR})
+		endif()
 		if(BUILD_CLIENT AND FREETYPE_DLL)
 			install(FILES ${FREETYPE_DLL} DESTINATION ${BINDIR})
 		endif()
diff --git a/src/defaultsettings.cpp b/src/defaultsettings.cpp
index faf839b3a..2cb345ba7 100644
--- a/src/defaultsettings.cpp
+++ b/src/defaultsettings.cpp
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ void set_default_settings()
 	settings->setDefault("chat_message_limit_per_10sec", "8.0");
 	settings->setDefault("chat_message_limit_trigger_kick", "50");
 	settings->setDefault("sqlite_synchronous", "2");
-	settings->setDefault("map_compression_level_disk", "3");
+	settings->setDefault("map_compression_level_disk", "-1");
 	settings->setDefault("map_compression_level_net", "-1");
 	settings->setDefault("full_block_send_enable_min_time_from_building", "2.0");
 	settings->setDefault("dedicated_server_step", "0.09");
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ void set_default_settings()
 	settings->setDefault("max_objects_per_block", "20");
 	settings->setDefault("sqlite_synchronous", "1");
 	settings->setDefault("map_compression_level_disk", "-1");
-	settings->setDefault("map_compression_level_net", "3");
+	settings->setDefault("map_compression_level_net", "-1");
 	settings->setDefault("server_map_save_interval", "15");
 	settings->setDefault("client_mapblock_limit", "1000");
 	settings->setDefault("active_block_range", "2");
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index ffbdb7b5b..543b70333 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "player.h"
 #include "porting.h"
 #include "network/socket.h"
+#include "mapblock.h"
 #if USE_CURSES
 	#include "terminal_chat_console.h"
 #endif
@@ -111,6 +112,7 @@ static bool determine_subgame(GameParams *game_params);
 
 static bool run_dedicated_server(const GameParams &game_params, const Settings &cmd_args);
 static bool migrate_map_database(const GameParams &game_params, const Settings &cmd_args);
+static bool recompress_map_database(const GameParams &game_params, const Settings &cmd_args, const Address &addr);
 
 /**********************************************************************/
 
@@ -302,6 +304,8 @@ static void set_allowed_options(OptionList *allowed_options)
 		_("Migrate from current auth backend to another (Only works when using minetestserver or with --server)"))));
 	allowed_options->insert(std::make_pair("terminal", ValueSpec(VALUETYPE_FLAG,
 			_("Feature an interactive terminal (Only works when using minetestserver or with --server)"))));
+	allowed_options->insert(std::make_pair("recompress", ValueSpec(VALUETYPE_FLAG,
+			_("Recompress the blocks of the given map database."))));
 #ifndef SERVER
 	allowed_options->insert(std::make_pair("speedtests", ValueSpec(VALUETYPE_FLAG,
 			_("Run speed tests"))));
@@ -875,7 +879,7 @@ static bool run_dedicated_server(const GameParams &game_params, const Settings &
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	// Database migration
+	// Database migration/compression
 	if (cmd_args.exists("migrate"))
 		return migrate_map_database(game_params, cmd_args);
 
@@ -885,6 +889,9 @@ static bool run_dedicated_server(const GameParams &game_params, const Settings &
 	if (cmd_args.exists("migrate-auth"))
 		return ServerEnvironment::migrateAuthDatabase(game_params, cmd_args);
 
+	if (cmd_args.getFlag("recompress"))
+		return recompress_map_database(game_params, cmd_args, bind_addr);
+
 	if (cmd_args.exists("terminal")) {
 #if USE_CURSES
 		bool name_ok = true;
@@ -1034,3 +1041,67 @@ static bool migrate_map_database(const GameParams &game_params, const Settings &
 
 	return true;
 }
+
+static bool recompress_map_database(const GameParams &game_params, const Settings &cmd_args, const Address &addr)
+{
+	Settings world_mt;
+	const std::string world_mt_path = game_params.world_path + DIR_DELIM + "world.mt";
+
+	if (!world_mt.readConfigFile(world_mt_path.c_str())) {
+		errorstream << "Cannot read world.mt at " << world_mt_path << std::endl;
+		return false;
+	}
+	const std::string &backend = world_mt.get("backend");
+	Server server(game_params.world_path, game_params.game_spec, false, addr, false);
+	MapDatabase *db = ServerMap::createDatabase(backend, game_params.world_path, world_mt);
+
+	u32 count = 0;
+	u64 last_update_time = 0;
+	bool &kill = *porting::signal_handler_killstatus();
+	const u8 serialize_as_ver = SER_FMT_VER_HIGHEST_WRITE;
+
+	// This is ok because the server doesn't actually run
+	std::vector<v3s16> blocks;
+	db->listAllLoadableBlocks(blocks);
+	db->beginSave();
+	std::istringstream iss(std::ios_base::binary);
+	std::ostringstream oss(std::ios_base::binary);
+	for (auto it = blocks.begin(); it != blocks.end(); ++it) {
+		if (kill) return false;
+
+		std::string data;
+		db->loadBlock(*it, &data);
+		if (data.empty()) {
+			errorstream << "Failed to load block " << PP(*it) << std::endl;
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		iss.str(data);
+		iss.clear();
+
+		MapBlock mb(nullptr, v3s16(0,0,0), &server);
+		u8 ver = readU8(iss);
+		mb.deSerialize(iss, ver, true);
+
+		oss.str("");
+		oss.clear();
+		writeU8(oss, serialize_as_ver);
+		mb.serialize(oss, serialize_as_ver, true, -1);
+
+		db->saveBlock(*it, oss.str());
+
+		count++;
+		if (count % 0xFF == 0 && porting::getTimeS() - last_update_time >= 1) {
+			std::cerr << " Recompressed " << count << " blocks, "
+				<< (100.0f * count / blocks.size()) << "% completed.\r";
+			db->endSave();
+			db->beginSave();
+			last_update_time = porting::getTimeS();
+		}
+	}
+	std::cerr << std::endl;
+	db->endSave();
+
+	actionstream << "Done, " << count << " blocks were recompressed." << std::endl;
+	return true;
+}
diff --git a/src/mapblock.cpp b/src/mapblock.cpp
index 0ca71e643..4958d3a65 100644
--- a/src/mapblock.cpp
+++ b/src/mapblock.cpp
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ static void correctBlockNodeIds(const NameIdMapping *nimap, MapNode *nodes,
 	}
 }
 
-void MapBlock::serialize(std::ostream &os, u8 version, bool disk, int compression_level)
+void MapBlock::serialize(std::ostream &os_compressed, u8 version, bool disk, int compression_level)
 {
 	if(!ser_ver_supported(version))
 		throw VersionMismatchException("ERROR: MapBlock format not supported");
@@ -365,6 +365,9 @@ void MapBlock::serialize(std::ostream &os, u8 version, bool disk, int compressio
 
 	FATAL_ERROR_IF(version < SER_FMT_VER_LOWEST_WRITE, "Serialisation version error");
 
+	std::ostringstream os_raw(std::ios_base::binary);
+	std::ostream &os = version >= 29 ? os_raw : os_compressed;
+
 	// First byte
 	u8 flags = 0;
 	if(is_underground)
@@ -382,37 +385,52 @@ void MapBlock::serialize(std::ostream &os, u8 version, bool disk, int compressio
 		Bulk node data
 	*/
 	NameIdMapping nimap;
-	if(disk)
+	SharedBuffer<u8> buf;
+	const u8 content_width = 2;
+	const u8 params_width = 2;
+ 	if(disk)
 	{
 		MapNode *tmp_nodes = new MapNode[nodecount];
-		for(u32 i=0; i<nodecount; i++)
-			tmp_nodes[i] = data[i];
+		memcpy(tmp_nodes, data, nodecount * sizeof(MapNode));
 		getBlockNodeIdMapping(&nimap, tmp_nodes, m_gamedef->ndef());
 
-		u8 content_width = 2;
-		u8 params_width = 2;
-		writeU8(os, content_width);
-		writeU8(os, params_width);
-		MapNode::serializeBulk(os, version, tmp_nodes, nodecount,
-				content_width, params_width, compression_level);
+		buf = MapNode::serializeBulk(version, tmp_nodes, nodecount,
+				content_width, params_width);
 		delete[] tmp_nodes;
+
+		// write timestamp and node/id mapping first
+		if (version >= 29) {
+			writeU32(os, getTimestamp());
+
+			nimap.serialize(os);
+		}
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		u8 content_width = 2;
-		u8 params_width = 2;
-		writeU8(os, content_width);
-		writeU8(os, params_width);
-		MapNode::serializeBulk(os, version, data, nodecount,
-				content_width, params_width, compression_level);
+		buf = MapNode::serializeBulk(version, data, nodecount,
+				content_width, params_width);
+	}
+
+	writeU8(os, content_width);
+	writeU8(os, params_width);
+	if (version >= 29) {
+		os.write(reinterpret_cast<char*>(*buf), buf.getSize());
+	} else {
+		// prior to 29 node data was compressed individually
+		compress(buf, os, version, compression_level);
 	}
 
 	/*
 		Node metadata
 	*/
-	std::ostringstream oss(std::ios_base::binary);
-	m_node_metadata.serialize(oss, version, disk);
-	compressZlib(oss.str(), os, compression_level);
+	if (version >= 29) {
+		m_node_metadata.serialize(os, version, disk);
+	} else {
+		// use os_raw from above to avoid allocating another stream object
+		m_node_metadata.serialize(os_raw, version, disk);
+		// prior to 29 node data was compressed individually
+		compress(os_raw.str(), os, version, compression_level);
+	}
 
 	/*
 		Data that goes to disk, but not the network
@@ -427,17 +445,24 @@ void MapBlock::serialize(std::ostream &os, u8 version, bool disk, int compressio
 		// Static objects
 		m_static_objects.serialize(os);
 
-		// Timestamp
-		writeU32(os, getTimestamp());
+		if(version < 29){
+			// Timestamp
+			writeU32(os, getTimestamp());
 
-		// Write block-specific node definition id mapping
-		nimap.serialize(os);
+			// Write block-specific node definition id mapping
+			nimap.serialize(os);
+		}
 
 		if(version >= 25){
 			// Node timers
 			m_node_timers.serialize(os, version);
 		}
 	}
+
+	if (version >= 29) {
+		// now compress the whole thing
+		compress(os_raw.str(), os_compressed, version, compression_level);
+	}
 }
 
 void MapBlock::serializeNetworkSpecific(std::ostream &os)
@@ -449,7 +474,7 @@ void MapBlock::serializeNetworkSpecific(std::ostream &os)
 	writeU8(os, 2); // version
 }
 
-void MapBlock::deSerialize(std::istream &is, u8 version, bool disk)
+void MapBlock::deSerialize(std::istream &in_compressed, u8 version, bool disk)
 {
 	if(!ser_ver_supported(version))
 		throw VersionMismatchException("ERROR: MapBlock format not supported");
@@ -460,10 +485,16 @@ void MapBlock::deSerialize(std::istream &is, u8 version, bool disk)
 
 	if(version <= 21)
 	{
-		deSerialize_pre22(is, version, disk);
+		deSerialize_pre22(in_compressed, version, disk);
 		return;
 	}
 
+	// Decompress the whole block (version >= 29)
+	std::stringstream in_raw(std::ios_base::binary | std::ios_base::in | std::ios_base::out);
+	if (version >= 29)
+		decompress(in_compressed, in_raw, version);
+	std::istream &is = version >= 29 ? in_raw : in_compressed;
+
 	u8 flags = readU8(is);
 	is_underground = (flags & 0x01) != 0;
 	m_day_night_differs = (flags & 0x02) != 0;
@@ -473,9 +504,20 @@ void MapBlock::deSerialize(std::istream &is, u8 version, bool disk)
 		m_lighting_complete = readU16(is);
 	m_generated = (flags & 0x08) == 0;
 
-	/*
-		Bulk node data
-	*/
+	NameIdMapping nimap;
+	if (disk && version >= 29) {
+		// Timestamp
+		TRACESTREAM(<<"MapBlock::deSerialize "<<PP(getPos())
+				<<": Timestamp"<<std::endl);
+		setTimestampNoChangedFlag(readU32(is));
+		m_disk_timestamp = m_timestamp;
+
+		// Node/id mapping
+		TRACESTREAM(<<"MapBlock::deSerialize "<<PP(getPos())
+				<<": NameIdMapping"<<std::endl);
+		nimap.deSerialize(is);
+	}
+
 	TRACESTREAM(<<"MapBlock::deSerialize "<<PP(getPos())
 			<<": Bulk node data"<<std::endl);
 	u8 content_width = readU8(is);
@@ -484,29 +526,44 @@ void MapBlock::deSerialize(std::istream &is, u8 version, bool disk)
 		throw SerializationError("MapBlock::deSerialize(): invalid content_width");
 	if(params_width != 2)
 		throw SerializationError("MapBlock::deSerialize(): invalid params_width");
-	MapNode::deSerializeBulk(is, version, data, nodecount,
+
+	/*
+		Bulk node data
+	*/
+	if (version >= 29) {
+		MapNode::deSerializeBulk(is, version, data, nodecount,
 			content_width, params_width);
+	} else {
+		// use in_raw from above to avoid allocating another stream object
+		decompress(is, in_raw, version);
+		MapNode::deSerializeBulk(in_raw, version, data, nodecount,
+			content_width, params_width);
+	}
 
 	/*
 		NodeMetadata
 	*/
 	TRACESTREAM(<<"MapBlock::deSerialize "<<PP(getPos())
 			<<": Node metadata"<<std::endl);
-	// Ignore errors
-	try {
-		std::ostringstream oss(std::ios_base::binary);
-		decompressZlib(is, oss);
-		std::istringstream iss(oss.str(), std::ios_base::binary);
-		if (version >= 23)
-			m_node_metadata.deSerialize(iss, m_gamedef->idef());
-		else
-			content_nodemeta_deserialize_legacy(iss,
-				&m_node_metadata, &m_node_timers,
-				m_gamedef->idef());
-	} catch(SerializationError &e) {
-		warningstream<<"MapBlock::deSerialize(): Ignoring an error"
-				<<" while deserializing node metadata at ("
-				<<PP(getPos())<<": "<<e.what()<<std::endl;
+	if (version >= 29) {
+		m_node_metadata.deSerialize(is, m_gamedef->idef());
+	} else {
+		try {
+			// reuse in_raw
+			in_raw.str("");
+			in_raw.clear();
+			decompress(is, in_raw, version);
+			if (version >= 23)
+				m_node_metadata.deSerialize(in_raw, m_gamedef->idef());
+			else
+				content_nodemeta_deserialize_legacy(in_raw,
+					&m_node_metadata, &m_node_timers,
+					m_gamedef->idef());
+		} catch(SerializationError &e) {
+			warningstream<<"MapBlock::deSerialize(): Ignoring an error"
+					<<" while deserializing node metadata at ("
+					<<PP(getPos())<<": "<<e.what()<<std::endl;
+		}
 	}
 
 	/*
@@ -530,17 +587,20 @@ void MapBlock::deSerialize(std::istream &is, u8 version, bool disk)
 				<<": Static objects"<<std::endl);
 		m_static_objects.deSerialize(is);
 
-		// Timestamp
-		TRACESTREAM(<<"MapBlock::deSerialize "<<PP(getPos())
-				<<": Timestamp"<<std::endl);
-		setTimestampNoChangedFlag(readU32(is));
-		m_disk_timestamp = m_timestamp;
+		if(version < 29) {
+			// Timestamp
+			TRACESTREAM(<<"MapBlock::deSerialize "<<PP(getPos())
+				    <<": Timestamp"<<std::endl);
+			setTimestampNoChangedFlag(readU32(is));
+			m_disk_timestamp = m_timestamp;
+
+			// Node/id mapping
+			TRACESTREAM(<<"MapBlock::deSerialize "<<PP(getPos())
+				    <<": NameIdMapping"<<std::endl);
+			nimap.deSerialize(is);
+		}
 
 		// Dynamically re-set ids based on node names
-		TRACESTREAM(<<"MapBlock::deSerialize "<<PP(getPos())
-				<<": NameIdMapping"<<std::endl);
-		NameIdMapping nimap;
-		nimap.deSerialize(is);
 		correctBlockNodeIds(&nimap, data, m_gamedef);
 
 		if(version >= 25){
diff --git a/src/mapblock.h b/src/mapblock.h
index 2e3eb0d76..8de631a29 100644
--- a/src/mapblock.h
+++ b/src/mapblock.h
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ public:
 	// These don't write or read version by itself
 	// Set disk to true for on-disk format, false for over-the-network format
 	// Precondition: version >= SER_FMT_VER_LOWEST_WRITE
-	void serialize(std::ostream &os, u8 version, bool disk, int compression_level);
+	void serialize(std::ostream &result, u8 version, bool disk, int compression_level);
 	// If disk == true: In addition to doing other things, will add
 	// unknown blocks from id-name mapping to wndef
 	void deSerialize(std::istream &is, u8 version, bool disk);
diff --git a/src/mapgen/mg_schematic.cpp b/src/mapgen/mg_schematic.cpp
index 848a43626..b9ba70302 100644
--- a/src/mapgen/mg_schematic.cpp
+++ b/src/mapgen/mg_schematic.cpp
@@ -339,7 +339,9 @@ bool Schematic::deserializeFromMts(std::istream *is)
 	delete []schemdata;
 	schemdata = new MapNode[nodecount];
 
-	MapNode::deSerializeBulk(ss, SER_FMT_VER_HIGHEST_READ, schemdata,
+	std::stringstream d_ss(std::ios_base::binary | std::ios_base::in | std::ios_base::out);
+	decompress(ss, d_ss, MTSCHEM_MAPNODE_SER_FMT_VER);
+	MapNode::deSerializeBulk(d_ss, MTSCHEM_MAPNODE_SER_FMT_VER, schemdata,
 		nodecount, 2, 2);
 
 	// Fix probability values for nodes that were ignore; removed in v2
@@ -384,8 +386,9 @@ bool Schematic::serializeToMts(std::ostream *os) const
 	}
 
 	// compressed bulk node data
-	MapNode::serializeBulk(ss, SER_FMT_VER_HIGHEST_WRITE,
-		schemdata, size.X * size.Y * size.Z, 2, 2, -1);
+	SharedBuffer<u8> buf = MapNode::serializeBulk(MTSCHEM_MAPNODE_SER_FMT_VER,
+		schemdata, size.X * size.Y * size.Z, 2, 2);
+	compress(buf, ss, MTSCHEM_MAPNODE_SER_FMT_VER);
 
 	return true;
 }
diff --git a/src/mapgen/mg_schematic.h b/src/mapgen/mg_schematic.h
index 5f64ea280..9189bb3a7 100644
--- a/src/mapgen/mg_schematic.h
+++ b/src/mapgen/mg_schematic.h
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ class Server;
 #define MTSCHEM_FILE_SIGNATURE 0x4d54534d // 'MTSM'
 #define MTSCHEM_FILE_VER_HIGHEST_READ  4
 #define MTSCHEM_FILE_VER_HIGHEST_WRITE 4
+#define MTSCHEM_MAPNODE_SER_FMT_VER    28 // Fixed serialization version for schematics since these still need to use Zlib
 
 #define MTSCHEM_PROB_MASK       0x7F
 
diff --git a/src/mapnode.cpp b/src/mapnode.cpp
index f212ea8c9..73bd620fb 100644
--- a/src/mapnode.cpp
+++ b/src/mapnode.cpp
@@ -730,9 +730,10 @@ void MapNode::deSerialize(u8 *source, u8 version)
 		}
 	}
 }
-void MapNode::serializeBulk(std::ostream &os, int version,
+
+SharedBuffer<u8> MapNode::serializeBulk(int version,
 		const MapNode *nodes, u32 nodecount,
-		u8 content_width, u8 params_width, int compression_level)
+		u8 content_width, u8 params_width)
 {
 	if (!ser_ver_supported(version))
 		throw VersionMismatchException("ERROR: MapNode format not supported");
@@ -746,8 +747,7 @@ void MapNode::serializeBulk(std::ostream &os, int version,
 		throw SerializationError("MapNode::serializeBulk: serialization to "
 				"version < 24 not possible");
 
-	size_t databuf_size = nodecount * (content_width + params_width);
-	u8 *databuf = new u8[databuf_size];
+	SharedBuffer<u8> databuf(nodecount * (content_width + params_width));
 
 	u32 start1 = content_width * nodecount;
 	u32 start2 = (content_width + 1) * nodecount;
@@ -758,14 +758,7 @@ void MapNode::serializeBulk(std::ostream &os, int version,
 		writeU8(&databuf[start1 + i], nodes[i].param1);
 		writeU8(&databuf[start2 + i], nodes[i].param2);
 	}
-
-	/*
-		Compress data to output stream
-	*/
-
-	compressZlib(databuf, databuf_size, os, compression_level);
-
-	delete [] databuf;
+	return databuf;
 }
 
 // Deserialize bulk node data
@@ -781,15 +774,10 @@ void MapNode::deSerializeBulk(std::istream &is, int version,
 			|| params_width != 2)
 		FATAL_ERROR("Deserialize bulk node data error");
 
-	// Uncompress or read data
-	u32 len = nodecount * (content_width + params_width);
-	std::ostringstream os(std::ios_base::binary);
-	decompressZlib(is, os);
-	std::string s = os.str();
-	if(s.size() != len)
-		throw SerializationError("deSerializeBulkNodes: "
-				"decompress resulted in invalid size");
-	const u8 *databuf = reinterpret_cast<const u8*>(s.c_str());
+	// read data
+	const u32 len = nodecount * (content_width + params_width);
+	Buffer<u8> databuf(len);
+	is.read(reinterpret_cast<char*>(*databuf), len);
 
 	// Deserialize content
 	if(content_width == 1)
diff --git a/src/mapnode.h b/src/mapnode.h
index 28ff9e43d..afd3a96be 100644
--- a/src/mapnode.h
+++ b/src/mapnode.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 
 #include "irrlichttypes_bloated.h"
 #include "light.h"
+#include "util/pointer.h"
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
@@ -293,9 +294,9 @@ struct MapNode
 	//   content_width = the number of bytes of content per node
 	//   params_width = the number of bytes of params per node
 	//   compressed = true to zlib-compress output
-	static void serializeBulk(std::ostream &os, int version,
+	static SharedBuffer<u8> serializeBulk(int version,
 			const MapNode *nodes, u32 nodecount,
-			u8 content_width, u8 params_width, int compression_level);
+			u8 content_width, u8 params_width);
 	static void deSerializeBulk(std::istream &is, int version,
 			MapNode *nodes, u32 nodecount,
 			u8 content_width, u8 params_width);
diff --git a/src/serialization.cpp b/src/serialization.cpp
index 310604f54..b6ce3b37f 100644
--- a/src/serialization.cpp
+++ b/src/serialization.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 
 #include "util/serialize.h"
 
-#include "zlib.h"
+#include <zlib.h>
+#include <zstd.h>
 
 /* report a zlib or i/o error */
 void zerr(int ret)
@@ -197,27 +198,133 @@ void decompressZlib(std::istream &is, std::ostream &os, size_t limit)
 	inflateEnd(&z);
 }
 
-void compress(const SharedBuffer<u8> &data, std::ostream &os, u8 version)
+struct ZSTD_Deleter {
+	void operator() (ZSTD_CStream* cstream) {
+		ZSTD_freeCStream(cstream);
+	}
+
+	void operator() (ZSTD_DStream* dstream) {
+		ZSTD_freeDStream(dstream);
+	}
+};
+
+void compressZstd(const u8 *data, size_t data_size, std::ostream &os, int level)
+{
+	// reusing the context is recommended for performance
+	// it will destroyed when the thread ends
+	thread_local std::unique_ptr<ZSTD_CStream, ZSTD_Deleter> stream(ZSTD_createCStream());
+
+	ZSTD_initCStream(stream.get(), level);
+
+	const size_t bufsize = 16384;
+	char output_buffer[bufsize];
+
+	ZSTD_inBuffer input = { data, data_size, 0 };
+	ZSTD_outBuffer output = { output_buffer, bufsize, 0 };
+
+	while (input.pos < input.size) {
+		size_t ret = ZSTD_compressStream(stream.get(), &output, &input);
+		if (ZSTD_isError(ret)) {
+			dstream << ZSTD_getErrorName(ret) << std::endl;
+			throw SerializationError("compressZstd: failed");
+		}
+		if (output.pos) {
+			os.write(output_buffer, output.pos);
+			output.pos = 0;
+		}
+	}
+
+	size_t ret;
+	do {
+		ret = ZSTD_endStream(stream.get(), &output);
+		if (ZSTD_isError(ret)) {
+			dstream << ZSTD_getErrorName(ret) << std::endl;
+			throw SerializationError("compressZstd: failed");
+		}
+		if (output.pos) {
+			os.write(output_buffer, output.pos);
+			output.pos = 0;
+		}
+	} while (ret != 0);
+
+}
+
+void compressZstd(const std::string &data, std::ostream &os, int level)
 {
+	compressZstd((u8*)data.c_str(), data.size(), os, level);
+}
+
+void decompressZstd(std::istream &is, std::ostream &os)
+{
+	// reusing the context is recommended for performance
+	// it will destroyed when the thread ends
+	thread_local std::unique_ptr<ZSTD_DStream, ZSTD_Deleter> stream(ZSTD_createDStream());
+
+	ZSTD_initDStream(stream.get());
+
+	const size_t bufsize = 16384;
+	char output_buffer[bufsize];
+	char input_buffer[bufsize];
+
+	ZSTD_outBuffer output = { output_buffer, bufsize, 0 };
+	ZSTD_inBuffer input = { input_buffer, 0, 0 };
+	size_t ret;
+	do
+	{
+		if (input.size == input.pos) {
+			is.read(input_buffer, bufsize);
+			input.size = is.gcount();
+			input.pos = 0;
+		}
+
+		ret = ZSTD_decompressStream(stream.get(), &output, &input);
+		if (ZSTD_isError(ret)) {
+			dstream << ZSTD_getErrorName(ret) << std::endl;
+			throw SerializationError("decompressZstd: failed");
+		}
+		if (output.pos) {
+			os.write(output_buffer, output.pos);
+			output.pos = 0;
+		}
+	} while (ret != 0);
+
+	// Unget all the data that ZSTD_decompressStream didn't take
+	is.clear(); // Just in case EOF is set
+	for (u32 i = 0; i < input.size - input.pos; i++) {
+		is.unget();
+		if (is.fail() || is.bad())
+			throw SerializationError("decompressZstd: unget failed");
+	}
+}
+
+void compress(u8 *data, u32 size, std::ostream &os, u8 version, int level)
+{
+	if(version >= 29)
+	{
+		// map the zlib levels [0,9] to [1,10]. -1 becomes 0 which indicates the default (currently 3)
+		compressZstd(data, size, os, level + 1);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	if(version >= 11)
 	{
-		compressZlib(*data ,data.getSize(), os);
+		compressZlib(data, size, os, level);
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if(data.getSize() == 0)
+	if(size == 0)
 		return;
 
 	// Write length (u32)
 
 	u8 tmp[4];
-	writeU32(tmp, data.getSize());
+	writeU32(tmp, size);
 	os.write((char*)tmp, 4);
 
 	// We will be writing 8-bit pairs of more_count and byte
 	u8 more_count = 0;
 	u8 current_byte = data[0];
-	for(u32 i=1; i<data.getSize(); i++)
+	for(u32 i=1; i<size; i++)
 	{
 		if(
 			data[i] != current_byte
@@ -240,8 +347,24 @@ void compress(const SharedBuffer<u8> &data, std::ostream &os, u8 version)
 	os.write((char*)&current_byte, 1);
 }
 
+void compress(const SharedBuffer<u8> &data, std::ostream &os, u8 version, int level)
+{
+	compress(*data, data.getSize(), os, version, level);
+}
+
+void compress(const std::string &data, std::ostream &os, u8 version, int level)
+{
+	compress((u8*)data.c_str(), data.size(), os, version, level);
+}
+
 void decompress(std::istream &is, std::ostream &os, u8 version)
 {
+	if(version >= 29)
+	{
+		decompressZstd(is, os);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	if(version >= 11)
 	{
 		decompressZlib(is, os);
diff --git a/src/serialization.h b/src/serialization.h
index f399983c4..e83a8c179 100644
--- a/src/serialization.h
+++ b/src/serialization.h
@@ -63,13 +63,14 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 	26: Never written; read the same as 25
 	27: Added light spreading flags to blocks
 	28: Added "private" flag to NodeMetadata
+	29: Switched compression to zstd, a bit of reorganization
 */
 // This represents an uninitialized or invalid format
 #define SER_FMT_VER_INVALID 255
 // Highest supported serialization version
-#define SER_FMT_VER_HIGHEST_READ 28
+#define SER_FMT_VER_HIGHEST_READ 29
 // Saved on disk version
-#define SER_FMT_VER_HIGHEST_WRITE 28
+#define SER_FMT_VER_HIGHEST_WRITE 29
 // Lowest supported serialization version
 #define SER_FMT_VER_LOWEST_READ 0
 // Lowest serialization version for writing
@@ -89,7 +90,12 @@ void compressZlib(const u8 *data, size_t data_size, std::ostream &os, int level
 void compressZlib(const std::string &data, std::ostream &os, int level = -1);
 void decompressZlib(std::istream &is, std::ostream &os, size_t limit = 0);
 
+void compressZstd(const u8 *data, size_t data_size, std::ostream &os, int level = 0);
+void compressZstd(const std::string &data, std::ostream &os, int level = 0);
+void decompressZstd(std::istream &is, std::ostream &os);
+
 // These choose between zlib and a self-made one according to version
-void compress(const SharedBuffer<u8> &data, std::ostream &os, u8 version);
-//void compress(const std::string &data, std::ostream &os, u8 version);
+void compress(const SharedBuffer<u8> &data, std::ostream &os, u8 version, int level = -1);
+void compress(const std::string &data, std::ostream &os, u8 version, int level = -1);
+void compress(u8 *data, u32 size, std::ostream &os, u8 version, int level = -1);
 void decompress(std::istream &is, std::ostream &os, u8 version);
diff --git a/src/unittest/test_compression.cpp b/src/unittest/test_compression.cpp
index dfcadd4b2..a96282f58 100644
--- a/src/unittest/test_compression.cpp
+++ b/src/unittest/test_compression.cpp
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ public:
 	void testRLECompression();
 	void testZlibCompression();
 	void testZlibLargeData();
+	void testZstdLargeData();
 	void testZlibLimit();
 	void _testZlibLimit(u32 size, u32 limit);
 };
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ void TestCompression::runTests(IGameDef *gamedef)
 	TEST(testRLECompression);
 	TEST(testZlibCompression);
 	TEST(testZlibLargeData);
+	TEST(testZstdLargeData);
 	TEST(testZlibLimit);
 }
 
@@ -111,7 +113,7 @@ void TestCompression::testZlibCompression()
 	fromdata[3]=1;
 
 	std::ostringstream os(std::ios_base::binary);
-	compress(fromdata, os, SER_FMT_VER_HIGHEST_READ);
+	compressZlib(*fromdata, fromdata.getSize(), os);
 
 	std::string str_out = os.str();
 
@@ -124,7 +126,7 @@ void TestCompression::testZlibCompression()
 	std::istringstream is(str_out, std::ios_base::binary);
 	std::ostringstream os2(std::ios_base::binary);
 
-	decompress(is, os2, SER_FMT_VER_HIGHEST_READ);
+	decompressZlib(is, os2);
 	std::string str_out2 = os2.str();
 
 	infostream << "decompress: ";
@@ -174,6 +176,42 @@ void TestCompression::testZlibLargeData()
 	}
 }
 
+void TestCompression::testZstdLargeData()
+{
+	infostream << "Test: Testing zstd wrappers with a large amount "
+		"of pseudorandom data" << std::endl;
+
+	u32 size = 500000;
+	infostream << "Test: Input size of large compressZstd is "
+		<< size << std::endl;
+
+	std::string data_in;
+	data_in.resize(size);
+	PseudoRandom pseudorandom(9420);
+	for (u32 i = 0; i < size; i++)
+		data_in[i] = pseudorandom.range(0, 255);
+
+	std::ostringstream os_compressed(std::ios::binary);
+	compressZstd(data_in, os_compressed, 0);
+	infostream << "Test: Output size of large compressZstd is "
+		<< os_compressed.str().size()<<std::endl;
+
+	std::istringstream is_compressed(os_compressed.str(), std::ios::binary);
+	std::ostringstream os_decompressed(std::ios::binary);
+	decompressZstd(is_compressed, os_decompressed);
+	infostream << "Test: Output size of large decompressZstd is "
+		<< os_decompressed.str().size() << std::endl;
+
+	std::string str_decompressed = os_decompressed.str();
+	UASSERTEQ(size_t, str_decompressed.size(), data_in.size());
+
+	for (u32 i = 0; i < size && i < str_decompressed.size(); i++) {
+		UTEST(str_decompressed[i] == data_in[i],
+				"index out[%i]=%i differs from in[%i]=%i",
+				i, str_decompressed[i], i, data_in[i]);
+	}
+}
+
 void TestCompression::testZlibLimit()
 {
 	// edge cases
diff --git a/util/buildbot/buildwin32.sh b/util/buildbot/buildwin32.sh
index 8ce9d4bd4..b6c188739 100755
--- a/util/buildbot/buildwin32.sh
+++ b/util/buildbot/buildwin32.sh
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ sqlite3_version=3.35.5
 luajit_version=2.1.0-beta3
 leveldb_version=1.23
 zlib_version=1.2.11
+zstd_version=1.4.9
 
 mkdir -p $libdir
 
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ download () {
 cd $libdir
 download "https://github.com/minetest/irrlicht/releases/download/$irrlicht_version/win32.zip" irrlicht-$irrlicht_version.zip
 download "http://minetest.kitsunemimi.pw/zlib-$zlib_version-win32.zip"
+download "http://minetest.kitsunemimi.pw/zstd-$zstd_version-win32.zip"
 download "http://minetest.kitsunemimi.pw/libogg-$ogg_version-win32.zip"
 download "http://minetest.kitsunemimi.pw/libvorbis-$vorbis_version-win32.zip"
 download "http://minetest.kitsunemimi.pw/curl-$curl_version-win32.zip"
@@ -120,6 +122,10 @@ cmake -S $sourcedir -B . \
 	-DZLIB_LIBRARIES=$libdir/zlib/lib/libz.dll.a \
 	-DZLIB_DLL=$libdir/zlib/bin/zlib1.dll \
 	\
+	-DZSTD_INCLUDE_DIR=$libdir/zstd/include \
+	-DZSTD_LIBRARY=$libdir/zstd/lib/libzstd.dll.a \
+	-DZSTD_DLL=$libdir/zstd/bin/libzstd.dll \
+	\
 	-DLUA_INCLUDE_DIR=$libdir/luajit/include \
 	-DLUA_LIBRARY=$libdir/luajit/libluajit.a \
 	\
diff --git a/util/buildbot/buildwin64.sh b/util/buildbot/buildwin64.sh
index 0e09f010f..c6cb80cda 100755
--- a/util/buildbot/buildwin64.sh
+++ b/util/buildbot/buildwin64.sh
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ sqlite3_version=3.35.5
 luajit_version=2.1.0-beta3
 leveldb_version=1.23
 zlib_version=1.2.11
+zstd_version=1.4.9
 
 mkdir -p $libdir
 
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ download () {
 cd $libdir
 download "https://github.com/minetest/irrlicht/releases/download/$irrlicht_version/win64.zip" irrlicht-$irrlicht_version.zip
 download "http://minetest.kitsunemimi.pw/zlib-$zlib_version-win64.zip"
+download "http://minetest.kitsunemimi.pw/zstd-$zstd_version-win64.zip"
 download "http://minetest.kitsunemimi.pw/libogg-$ogg_version-win64.zip"
 download "http://minetest.kitsunemimi.pw/libvorbis-$vorbis_version-win64.zip"
 download "http://minetest.kitsunemimi.pw/curl-$curl_version-win64.zip"
@@ -120,6 +122,10 @@ cmake -S $sourcedir -B . \
 	-DZLIB_LIBRARIES=$libdir/zlib/lib/libz.dll.a \
 	-DZLIB_DLL=$libdir/zlib/bin/zlib1.dll \
 	\
+	-DZSTD_INCLUDE_DIR=$libdir/zstd/include \
+	-DZSTD_LIBRARY=$libdir/zstd/lib/libzstd.dll.a \
+	-DZSTD_DLL=$libdir/zstd/bin/libzstd.dll \
+	\
 	-DLUA_INCLUDE_DIR=$libdir/luajit/include \
 	-DLUA_LIBRARY=$libdir/luajit/libluajit.a \
 	\
diff --git a/util/ci/common.sh b/util/ci/common.sh
index 47b6650ce..88bed9ed4 100644
--- a/util/ci/common.sh
+++ b/util/ci/common.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ install_linux_deps() {
 	local pkgs=(cmake libpng-dev \
 		libjpeg-dev libxxf86vm-dev libgl1-mesa-dev libsqlite3-dev \
 		libhiredis-dev libogg-dev libgmp-dev libvorbis-dev libopenal-dev \
-		gettext libpq-dev libleveldb-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev)
+		gettext libpq-dev libleveldb-dev libcurl4-openssl-dev libzstd-dev)
 
 	if [[ "$1" == "--old-irr" ]]; then
 		shift