diff --git a/docs/changelog.txt b/docs/changelog.txt
index 9e3060bb7..196ce3d5b 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.txt
+++ b/docs/changelog.txt
@@ -226,6 +226,9 @@ USERS
 + Robotic debugger watchpoints can now watch for particular
   counter or string values. Leaving the value field blank will
   still check for any value.
++ The NDS, PSP, and DOS ports now write zip archives with the
+  fastest zlib compression level. This makes saved files that
+  use compression (worlds, saves, etc.) slightly larger.
 + editor_show_thing_toggles is now enabled by default.
 - board_editor_hide_help and robot_editor_hide_help are no
   longer enabled by default for accessibility.
diff --git a/src/io/zip.c b/src/io/zip.c
index f1f7a522b..15e978ef0 100644
--- a/src/io/zip.c
+++ b/src/io/zip.c
@@ -48,11 +48,19 @@
 // The 3DS has incredibly slow file access that seems to be negatively impacted
 // by backwards seeks in particular, so enable data descriptors for it too.
 // The Switch may similarly benefit with this.
+// DJGPP may be running on exceptionally slow hardware.
 
-#if defined(CONFIG_NDS) || defined(CONFIG_3DS) || defined(CONFIG_SWITCH)
+#if defined(CONFIG_NDS) || defined(CONFIG_3DS) || defined(CONFIG_SWITCH) || \
+ defined(CONFIG_DJGPP)
 #define ZIP_WRITE_DATA_DESCRIPTOR
 #endif
 
+// Similarly, some platforms are slow and need faster compression.
+// TODO: these should probably be runtime configurable instead.
+#if defined(CONFIG_NDS) || defined(CONFIG_PSP) || defined(CONFIG_DJGPP)
+#define ZIP_WRITE_DEFLATE_FAST
+#endif
+
 #define ZIP_VERSION_MINIMUM 20
 #define ZIP64_VERSION_MINIMUM 45
 #define ZIP_VERSION(x) ((x) & 0x00ff)
@@ -2086,10 +2094,13 @@ static enum zip_error zip_write_open_stream(struct zip_archive *zp,
     return ZIP_ALLOC_ERROR;
 
   // Set up the header
-#ifdef ZIP_WRITE_DATA_DESCRIPTOR
-  fh->flags = ZIP_F_DATA_DESCRIPTOR;
-#else
   fh->flags = 0;
+#ifdef ZIP_WRITE_DATA_DESCRIPTOR
+  fh->flags |= ZIP_F_DATA_DESCRIPTOR;
+#endif
+#ifdef ZIP_WRITE_DEFLATE_FAST
+  if(method == ZIP_M_DEFLATE)
+    fh->flags |= ZIP_F_DEFLATE_FAST;
 #endif
   fh->method = method;
   fh->crc32 = 0;
@@ -2124,7 +2135,7 @@ static enum zip_error zip_write_open_stream(struct zip_archive *zp,
   if(zp->stream)
   {
     struct zip_stream_data *stream_data = zp->stream_data;
-    zp->stream->compress_open(stream_data, method, false);
+    zp->stream->compress_open(stream_data, method, fh->flags);
 
     result = zip_set_stream_buffer_size(zp, ZIP_STREAM_BUFFER_SIZE);
     if(result != ZIP_SUCCESS)
@@ -2165,6 +2176,16 @@ static enum zip_error zip_write_autodetect_zip64(struct zip_archive *zp,
   if(zp->stream != NULL && zp->stream->compress_bound != NULL)
   {
     size_t bound_len = 0;
+    int flags = 0;
+
+    // Bounding requires initializing the zstream, so initialize first
+    // using the correct compression level.
+#ifdef ZIP_WRITE_DEFLATE_FAST
+    if(method == ZIP_M_DEFLATE)
+      flags |= ZIP_F_DEFLATE_FAST;
+#endif
+
+    zp->stream->compress_open(zp->stream_data, method, flags);
     result = zp->stream->compress_bound(zp->stream_data, src_len, &bound_len);
     if(result)
       return result;
diff --git a/src/io/zip.h b/src/io/zip.h
index 9bc8bf939..b04fe8377 100644
--- a/src/io/zip.h
+++ b/src/io/zip.h
@@ -90,6 +90,10 @@ enum zip_general_purpose_flag
 #define ZIP_F_UNUSED (ZIP_F_UNUSED_7 | ZIP_F_UNUSED_8 | ZIP_F_UNUSED_9 |\
  ZIP_F_UNUSED_10 | ZIP_F_UNUSED_12 | ZIP_F_UNUSED_14 | ZIP_F_UNUSED_15)
 
+// DEFLATE-specific compression flags.
+#define ZIP_F_DEFLATE_MAXIMUM   ZIP_F_COMPRESSION_1
+#define ZIP_F_DEFLATE_FAST      ZIP_F_COMPRESSION_2
+
 enum zip_internal_state
 {
   ZIP_S_READ_UNINITIALIZED,
diff --git a/src/io/zip_deflate.h b/src/io/zip_deflate.h
index d7474bdbf..0a9fb001e 100644
--- a/src/io/zip_deflate.h
+++ b/src/io/zip_deflate.h
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ struct deflate_stream_data
   boolean is_inflate;
   boolean is_deflate;
   boolean should_finish;
+  uint16_t flags;
 };
 
 static inline struct zip_stream_data *deflate_create(void)
@@ -72,10 +73,18 @@ static inline void deflate_open(struct zip_stream_data *zs, uint16_t method,
  uint16_t flags)
 {
   struct deflate_stream_data *ds = ((struct deflate_stream_data *)zs);
+  int prev_flags = ds->flags;
   // Only clear the common portion of the stream data.
   memset(zs, 0, sizeof(struct zip_stream_data));
   zs->is_compression_stream = true;
   ds->should_finish = false;
+  ds->flags = flags & (ZIP_F_DEFLATE_MAXIMUM | ZIP_F_DEFLATE_FAST);
+
+  if(ds->is_deflate && prev_flags != ds->flags)
+  {
+    deflateEnd(&(ds->z));
+    ds->is_deflate = false;
+  }
 }
 
 static inline void deflate_close(struct zip_stream_data *zs,
@@ -199,9 +208,15 @@ static inline enum zip_error deflate_init(struct zip_stream_data *zs)
 
   if(!ds->is_deflate)
   {
+    int level = Z_DEFAULT_COMPRESSION;
+    if(ds->flags & ZIP_F_DEFLATE_MAXIMUM)
+      level = Z_BEST_COMPRESSION;
+    if(ds->flags & ZIP_F_DEFLATE_FAST)
+      level = Z_BEST_SPEED;
+
     // This is a raw deflate stream, so use -MAX_WBITS.
-    // Note: aside from the windowbits, these are all defaults.
-    deflateInit2(&(ds->z), Z_DEFAULT_COMPRESSION, Z_DEFLATED, -MAX_WBITS,
+    // Note: aside from the compression and windowbits, these are all defaults.
+    deflateInit2(&(ds->z), level, Z_DEFLATED, -MAX_WBITS,
      8, Z_DEFAULT_STRATEGY);
     ds->is_deflate = true;
   }