diff --git a/CMakeSettings.json b/CMakeSettings.json
index 1252c441..6dd8ced6 100644
--- a/CMakeSettings.json
+++ b/CMakeSettings.json
@@ -64,7 +64,14 @@
       "cmakeCommandArgs": "-DVCPKG_TARGET_TRIPLET=x64-windows-static",
       "buildCommandArgs": "-v",
       "ctestCommandArgs": "",
-      "inheritEnvironments": [ "msvc_x64_x64" ]
+      "inheritEnvironments": [ "msvc_x64_x64" ],
+      "variables": [
+        {
+          "name": "VCPKG_MANIFEST_FEATURES",
+          "value": "fonts",
+          "type": "STRING"
+        }
+      ]
     }
   ]
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1a670e02..e514934f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ On windows, the program can be compiled with Visual Studio (recommended) or with
 
 =======
 ````
-.\vcpkg install pkgconf wxwidgets boost-smart-ptr boost-regex boost-logic boost-pool boost-iterator hunspell --triplet=x64-windows-static
+.\vcpkg install pkgconf wxwidgets[fonts] boost-smart-ptr boost-regex boost-logic boost-pool boost-iterator hunspell --triplet=x64-windows-static
 ````
 and/or
 ````
diff --git a/src/data/font.cpp b/src/data/font.cpp
index db81e41b..65a9153f 100644
--- a/src/data/font.cpp
+++ b/src/data/font.cpp
@@ -8,7 +8,10 @@
 
 #include <util/prec.hpp>
 #include <data/font.hpp>
-
+#include <wx/stdpaths.h>
+#include <wx/dir.h>
+#include <wx/font.h>
+
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Font
 
 Font::Font()
@@ -23,6 +26,51 @@ Font::Font()
   , separator_color(Color(0,0,0,128))
   , flags(FONT_NORMAL)
 {}
+
+bool Font::PreloadResourceFonts(String fontsDirectoryPath, bool recursive) {
+#if wxUSE_PRIVATE_FONTS
+  String pathSeparator(wxFileName::GetPathSeparator());
+  String appPath( wxFileName(wxStandardPaths::Get().GetExecutablePath()).GetPath() );
+  fontsDirectoryPath = appPath + pathSeparator + fontsDirectoryPath + (fontsDirectoryPath.EndsWith(pathSeparator) ? wxEmptyString : pathSeparator);
+
+  if (!wxDirExists(fontsDirectoryPath)) return false;
+  
+  // tally fonts
+  vector<String> fontFilePaths;
+  TallyResourceFonts(fontsDirectoryPath, fontFilePaths, recursive);
+  if (fontFilePaths.size() == 0) return false;
+
+  // load fonts
+  bool preloadHadErrors = false;
+  for (String fontFilePath : fontFilePaths) {
+    if (!wxFont::AddPrivateFont(fontFilePath)) {
+      preloadHadErrors = true;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return preloadHadErrors;
+
+#endif // wxUSE_PRIVATE_FONTS
+  return false;
+}
+
+void Font::TallyResourceFonts(String fontsDirectoryPath, vector<String>& fontFilePaths, bool recursive) {
+  wxDir fontsDirectory(fontsDirectoryPath);
+  String fontFileName = wxEmptyString;
+  bool hasNext = fontsDirectory.GetFirst(&fontFileName);
+  while (hasNext) {
+    String fontFilePath = fontsDirectoryPath + fontFileName;
+    if (wxDirExists(fontFilePath)) {
+      if (recursive) {
+        TallyResourceFonts(fontFilePath + wxFileName::GetPathSeparator(), fontFilePaths, true);
+      }
+    }
+    else if (fontFilePath.EndsWith(_(".ttf")) || fontFilePath.EndsWith(_(".otf"))) {
+      fontFilePaths.push_back(fontFilePath);
+    }
+    hasNext = fontsDirectory.GetNext(&fontFileName);
+  }
+}
 
 bool Font::update(Context& ctx) {
   bool changes = false;
diff --git a/src/data/font.hpp b/src/data/font.hpp
index cc030f92..9a3368b1 100644
--- a/src/data/font.hpp
+++ b/src/data/font.hpp
@@ -45,10 +45,14 @@ public:
   RealSize           shadow_displacement;  ///< Position of the shadow
   double             shadow_blur;          ///< Blur radius of the shadow
   Color              separator_color;      ///< Color for <sep> text
-  int                flags;                ///< FontFlags for this font
-  
+  int                flags;                ///< FontFlags for this font
+
   Font();
-  
+
+  /// Load fonts (.ttf or .otf) from the given directory and its subdirectories, returns true if there were errors
+  static bool PreloadResourceFonts(String fontsDirectoryPath, bool recursive);
+  /// Adds font file paths from the given directory into fontFilePaths
+  static void TallyResourceFonts(String fontsDirectoryPath, vector<String>& fontFilePaths, bool recursive);
   /// Update the scritables, returns true if there is a change
   bool update(Context& ctx);
   /// Add the given dependency to the dependent_scripts list for the variables this font depends on
@@ -64,7 +68,7 @@ public:
   
   /// Convert this font to a wxFont
   wxFont toWxFont(double scale) const;
-  
+
 private:
   DECLARE_REFLECTION();
 };
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index ca0ab3f1..73979853 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include <data/locale.hpp>
 #include <data/installer.hpp>
 #include <data/format/formats.hpp>
+#include <data/font.hpp>
 #include <cli/cli_main.hpp>
 #include <cli/text_io_handler.hpp>
 #include <gui/welcome_window.hpp>
@@ -85,7 +86,8 @@ int MSE::OnRun() {
     #else
       // Platform friendly appname
       SetAppName(_("magicseteditor"));
-    #endif
+    #endif
+    Font::PreloadResourceFonts(_("Magic - Fonts"), false);
     wxInitAllImageHandlers();
     wxFileSystem::AddHandler(new wxInternetFSHandler); // needed for update checker
     wxSocketBase::Initialize();