diff --git a/docs/docs/accessing-properties.md b/docs/docs/accessing-properties.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0269b88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/docs/accessing-properties.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+# Accessing properties
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/docs/toc.yml b/docs/docs/toc.yml
index 13cc1f7..d582202 100644
--- a/docs/docs/toc.yml
+++ b/docs/docs/toc.yml
@@ -3,4 +3,5 @@
 - href: quickstart.md
 
 - name: Essentials
-- href: loading-a-map.md
\ No newline at end of file
+- href: loading-a-map.md
+- href: accessing-properties.md
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/DotTiled.Tests/Assert/AssertMap.cs b/src/DotTiled.Tests/Assert/AssertMap.cs
index 6f25f45..6984b79 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled.Tests/Assert/AssertMap.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled.Tests/Assert/AssertMap.cs
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ public static partial class DotTiledAssert
     AssertEqual(expected.NextObjectID, actual.NextObjectID, nameof(Map.NextObjectID));
     AssertEqual(expected.Infinite, actual.Infinite, nameof(Map.Infinite));
 
-    AssertPropertiesList(actual.Properties, expected.Properties);
+    AssertProperties(actual.Properties, expected.Properties);
 
     Assert.NotNull(actual.Tilesets);
     AssertEqual(expected.Tilesets.Count, actual.Tilesets.Count, "Tilesets.Count");
diff --git a/src/DotTiled.Tests/Assert/AssertProperties.cs b/src/DotTiled.Tests/Assert/AssertProperties.cs
index ad4dc53..21fa639 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled.Tests/Assert/AssertProperties.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled.Tests/Assert/AssertProperties.cs
@@ -4,24 +4,7 @@ namespace DotTiled.Tests;
 
 public static partial class DotTiledAssert
 {
-  internal static void AssertProperties(Dictionary<string, IProperty>? expected, Dictionary<string, IProperty>? actual)
-  {
-    if (expected is null)
-    {
-      Assert.Null(actual);
-      return;
-    }
-
-    Assert.NotNull(actual);
-    AssertEqual(expected.Count, actual.Count, "Properties.Count");
-    foreach (var kvp in expected)
-    {
-      Assert.Contains(kvp.Key, actual.Keys);
-      AssertProperty((dynamic)kvp.Value, (dynamic)actual[kvp.Key]);
-    }
-  }
-
-  internal static void AssertPropertiesList(IList<IProperty>? expected, IList<IProperty>? actual)
+  internal static void AssertProperties(IList<IProperty>? expected, IList<IProperty>? actual)
   {
     if (expected is null)
     {
@@ -36,17 +19,13 @@ public static partial class DotTiledAssert
       Assert.Contains(actual, p => p.Name == prop.Name);
 
       var actualProp = actual.First(p => p.Name == prop.Name);
+      AssertEqual(prop.Type, actualProp.Type, "Property.Type");
+      AssertEqual(prop.Name, actualProp.Name, "Property.Name");
+
       AssertProperty((dynamic)prop, (dynamic)actualProp);
     }
   }
 
-  private static void AssertProperty(IProperty expected, IProperty actual)
-  {
-    AssertEqual(expected.Type, actual.Type, "Property.Type");
-    AssertEqual(expected.Name, actual.Name, "Property.Name");
-    AssertProperties((dynamic)actual, (dynamic)expected);
-  }
-
   private static void AssertProperty(StringProperty expected, StringProperty actual) => AssertEqual(expected.Value, actual.Value, "StringProperty.Value");
 
   private static void AssertProperty(IntProperty expected, IntProperty actual) => AssertEqual(expected.Value, actual.Value, "IntProperty.Value");
@@ -64,6 +43,6 @@ public static partial class DotTiledAssert
   private static void AssertProperty(ClassProperty expected, ClassProperty actual)
   {
     AssertEqual(expected.PropertyType, actual.PropertyType, "ClassProperty.PropertyType");
-    AssertPropertiesList(expected.Value, actual.Value);
+    AssertProperties(expected.Value, actual.Value);
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/DotTiled.Tests/Serialization/TestData/Map/map-external-tileset-multi/map-external-tileset-multi.cs b/src/DotTiled.Tests/Serialization/TestData/Map/map-external-tileset-multi/map-external-tileset-multi.cs
index 6dac137..a937685 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled.Tests/Serialization/TestData/Map/map-external-tileset-multi/map-external-tileset-multi.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled.Tests/Serialization/TestData/Map/map-external-tileset-multi/map-external-tileset-multi.cs
@@ -49,16 +49,15 @@ public partial class TestData
           Width = 1,
           Height = 1
         },
-        Properties = new Dictionary<string, IProperty>
-        {
-          ["tilesetbool"] = new BoolProperty { Name = "tilesetbool", Value = true },
-          ["tilesetcolor"] = new ColorProperty { Name = "tilesetcolor", Value = Color.Parse("#ffff0000", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) },
-          ["tilesetfile"] = new FileProperty { Name = "tilesetfile", Value = "" },
-          ["tilesetfloat"] = new FloatProperty { Name = "tilesetfloat", Value = 5.2f },
-          ["tilesetint"] = new IntProperty { Name = "tilesetint", Value = 9 },
-          ["tilesetobject"] = new ObjectProperty { Name = "tilesetobject", Value = 0 },
-          ["tilesetstring"] = new StringProperty { Name = "tilesetstring", Value = "hello world!" }
-        },
+        Properties = [
+          new BoolProperty { Name = "tilesetbool", Value = true },
+          new ColorProperty { Name = "tilesetcolor", Value = Color.Parse("#ffff0000", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture) },
+          new FileProperty { Name = "tilesetfile", Value = "" },
+          new FloatProperty { Name = "tilesetfloat", Value = 5.2f },
+          new IntProperty { Name = "tilesetint", Value = 9 },
+          new ObjectProperty { Name = "tilesetobject", Value = 0 },
+          new StringProperty { Name = "tilesetstring", Value = "hello world!" }
+        ],
         Tiles = [
           new Tile
           {
diff --git a/src/DotTiled.Tests/Serialization/TestData/Map/map-with-many-layers/map-with-many-layers.cs b/src/DotTiled.Tests/Serialization/TestData/Map/map-with-many-layers/map-with-many-layers.cs
index 6e4ae55..ba0013a 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled.Tests/Serialization/TestData/Map/map-with-many-layers/map-with-many-layers.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled.Tests/Serialization/TestData/Map/map-with-many-layers/map-with-many-layers.cs
@@ -95,10 +95,9 @@ public partial class TestData
                   new Vector2(35.6667f, 32.3333f)
                 ],
                 Template = fileExt == "tmx" ? "poly.tx" : "poly.tj",
-                Properties = new Dictionary<string, IProperty>
-                {
-                  ["templateprop"] = new StringProperty { Name = "templateprop", Value = "helo there" }
-                }
+                Properties = [
+                  new StringProperty { Name = "templateprop", Value = "helo there" }
+                ]
               },
               new TileObject
               {
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Model/Layers/BaseLayer.cs b/src/DotTiled/Model/Layers/BaseLayer.cs
index aa78191..a16b41a 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Model/Layers/BaseLayer.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Model/Layers/BaseLayer.cs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ namespace DotTiled.Model;
 /// To check the type of a layer, <see href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/csharp/fundamentals/functional/pattern-matching">use C# pattern matching</see>,
 /// or some other mechanism to determine the type of the layer at runtime.
 /// </summary>
-public abstract class BaseLayer
+public abstract class BaseLayer : HasPropertiesBase
 {
   /// <summary>
   /// Unique ID of the layer. Each layer that is added to a map gets a unique ID. Even if a layer is deleted, no layer ever gets the same ID.
@@ -62,5 +62,8 @@ public abstract class BaseLayer
   /// <summary>
   /// Layer properties.
   /// </summary>
-  public Dictionary<string, IProperty>? Properties { get; set; }
+  public List<IProperty> Properties { get; set; } = [];
+
+  /// <inheritdoc/>
+  public override IList<IProperty> GetProperties() => Properties;
 }
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Model/Layers/Objects/Object.cs b/src/DotTiled/Model/Layers/Objects/Object.cs
index fad05db..f2990dc 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Model/Layers/Objects/Object.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Model/Layers/Objects/Object.cs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ namespace DotTiled.Model;
 /// <summary>
 /// Base class for objects in object layers.
 /// </summary>
-public abstract class Object
+public abstract class Object : HasPropertiesBase
 {
   /// <summary>
   /// Unique ID of the objects. Each object that is placed on a map gets a unique ID. Even if an object was deleted, no object gets the same ID.
@@ -60,5 +60,8 @@ public abstract class Object
   /// <summary>
   /// Object properties.
   /// </summary>
-  public Dictionary<string, IProperty>? Properties { get; set; }
+  public List<IProperty> Properties { get; set; } = [];
+
+  /// <inheritdoc/>
+  public override IList<IProperty> GetProperties() => Properties;
 }
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Model/Tilesets/Tile.cs b/src/DotTiled/Model/Tilesets/Tile.cs
index c6b964d..9919cfd 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Model/Tilesets/Tile.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Model/Tilesets/Tile.cs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ namespace DotTiled.Model;
 /// Represents a single tile in a tileset, when using a collection of images to represent the tileset.
 /// <see href="https://doc.mapeditor.org/en/stable/reference/tmx-map-format/#tile">Tiled documentation for Tileset tiles</see>
 /// </summary>
-public class Tile
+public class Tile : HasPropertiesBase
 {
   /// <summary>
   /// The local tile ID within its tileset.
@@ -46,7 +46,10 @@ public class Tile
   /// <summary>
   /// Tile properties.
   /// </summary>
-  public Dictionary<string, IProperty>? Properties { get; set; }
+  public List<IProperty> Properties { get; set; } = [];
+
+  /// <inheritdoc/>
+  public override IList<IProperty> GetProperties() => Properties;
 
   /// <summary>
   /// The image representing this tile. Only used for tilesets that composed of a collection of images.
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Model/Tilesets/Tileset.cs b/src/DotTiled/Model/Tilesets/Tileset.cs
index 147f3d2..47f2021 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Model/Tilesets/Tileset.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Model/Tilesets/Tileset.cs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ namespace DotTiled.Model;
 public enum ObjectAlignment
 {
   /// <summary>
-  /// The alignment is unspecified. Tile objects will use <see cref="BottomLeft"/> in orthogonal maps, and <see cref="Bottom"/> in isometric maps. 
+  /// The alignment is unspecified. Tile objects will use <see cref="BottomLeft"/> in orthogonal maps, and <see cref="Bottom"/> in isometric maps.
   /// </summary>
   Unspecified,
 
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ public enum FillMode
 /// <summary>
 /// A tileset is a collection of tiles that can be used in a tile layer, or by tile objects.
 /// </summary>
-public class Tileset
+public class Tileset : HasPropertiesBase
 {
   /// <summary>
   /// The TMX format version. Is incremented to match minor Tiled releases.
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ public class Tileset
   public ObjectAlignment ObjectAlignment { get; set; } = ObjectAlignment.Unspecified;
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// The size to use when rendering tiles from thie tileset on a tile layer. When set to <see cref="TileRenderSize.Grid"/>, the tile is drawn at the tile grid size of the map. 
+  /// The size to use when rendering tiles from thie tileset on a tile layer. When set to <see cref="TileRenderSize.Grid"/>, the tile is drawn at the tile grid size of the map.
   /// </summary>
   public TileRenderSize RenderSize { get; set; } = TileRenderSize.Tile;
 
@@ -188,7 +188,10 @@ public class Tileset
   /// <summary>
   /// Tileset properties.
   /// </summary>
-  public Dictionary<string, IProperty>? Properties { get; set; }
+  public List<IProperty> Properties { get; set; } = [];
+
+  /// <inheritdoc/>
+  public override IList<IProperty> GetProperties() => Properties;
 
   // public List<Terrain>? TerrainTypes { get; set; } TODO: Implement Terrain -> Wangset conversion during deserialization
 
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Model/Tilesets/WangColor.cs b/src/DotTiled/Model/Tilesets/WangColor.cs
index 20678cb..f5d1186 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Model/Tilesets/WangColor.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Model/Tilesets/WangColor.cs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ namespace DotTiled.Model;
 /// <summary>
 /// Represents a Wang color in a Wang set.
 /// </summary>
-public class WangColor
+public class WangColor : HasPropertiesBase
 {
   /// <summary>
   /// The name of this color.
@@ -35,5 +35,8 @@ public class WangColor
   /// <summary>
   /// The Wang color properties.
   /// </summary>
-  public Dictionary<string, IProperty>? Properties { get; set; }
+  public List<IProperty> Properties { get; set; } = [];
+
+  /// <inheritdoc/>
+  public override IList<IProperty> GetProperties() => Properties;
 }
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Model/Tilesets/Wangset.cs b/src/DotTiled/Model/Tilesets/Wangset.cs
index 1a6f7c3..66952e8 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Model/Tilesets/Wangset.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Model/Tilesets/Wangset.cs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ namespace DotTiled.Model;
 /// <summary>
 /// Defines a list of colors and any number of Wang tiles using these colors.
 /// </summary>
-public class Wangset
+public class Wangset : HasPropertiesBase
 {
   /// <summary>
   /// The name of the Wang set.
@@ -25,7 +25,10 @@ public class Wangset
   /// <summary>
   /// The Wang set properties.
   /// </summary>
-  public Dictionary<string, IProperty>? Properties { get; set; }
+  public List<IProperty> Properties { get; set; } = [];
+
+  /// <inheritdoc/>
+  public override IList<IProperty> GetProperties() => Properties;
 
   // Up to 254 Wang colors
   /// <summary>
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Helpers.cs b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Helpers.cs
index 0028650..073a19f 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Helpers.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Helpers.cs
@@ -76,39 +76,7 @@ internal static partial class Helpers
   internal static List<IProperty> CreateInstanceOfCustomClass(CustomClassDefinition customClassDefinition) =>
     customClassDefinition.Members.Select(x => x.Clone()).ToList();
 
-  internal static Dictionary<string, IProperty> MergeProperties(Dictionary<string, IProperty>? baseProperties, Dictionary<string, IProperty>? overrideProperties)
-  {
-    if (baseProperties is null)
-      return overrideProperties ?? new Dictionary<string, IProperty>();
-
-    if (overrideProperties is null)
-      return baseProperties;
-
-    var result = baseProperties.ToDictionary(kvp => kvp.Key, kvp => kvp.Value.Clone());
-    foreach (var (key, value) in overrideProperties)
-    {
-      if (!result.TryGetValue(key, out var baseProp))
-      {
-        result[key] = value;
-        continue;
-      }
-      else
-      {
-        if (value is ClassProperty classProp)
-        {
-          ((ClassProperty)baseProp).Value = MergePropertiesList(((ClassProperty)baseProp).Value, classProp.Value);
-        }
-        else
-        {
-          result[key] = value;
-        }
-      }
-    }
-
-    return result;
-  }
-
-  internal static IList<IProperty> MergePropertiesList(IList<IProperty>? baseProperties, IList<IProperty>? overrideProperties)
+  internal static IList<IProperty> MergeProperties(IList<IProperty>? baseProperties, IList<IProperty>? overrideProperties)
   {
     if (baseProperties is null)
       return overrideProperties ?? [];
@@ -129,7 +97,7 @@ internal static partial class Helpers
         var existingProp = result.First(x => x.Name == overrideProp.Name);
         if (existingProp is ClassProperty classProp)
         {
-          classProp.Value = MergePropertiesList(classProp.Value, ((ClassProperty)overrideProp).Value);
+          classProp.Value = MergeProperties(classProp.Value, ((ClassProperty)overrideProp).Value);
         }
         else
         {
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.Group.cs b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.Group.cs
index ae44a75..a714038 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.Group.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.Group.cs
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ internal partial class Tmj
     var offsetY = element.GetOptionalProperty<float>("offsety", 0.0f);
     var parallaxX = element.GetOptionalProperty<float>("parallaxx", 1.0f);
     var parallaxY = element.GetOptionalProperty<float>("parallaxy", 1.0f);
-    var properties = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<Dictionary<string, IProperty>?>("properties", e => ReadProperties(e, customTypeDefinitions), null);
+    var properties = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom("properties", e => ReadProperties(e, customTypeDefinitions), []);
     var layers = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<List<BaseLayer>>("layers", e => e.GetValueAsList<BaseLayer>(el => ReadLayer(el, externalTemplateResolver, customTypeDefinitions)), []);
 
     return new Group
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.ImageLayer.cs b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.ImageLayer.cs
index bbbb151..74fb230 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.ImageLayer.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.ImageLayer.cs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ internal partial class Tmj
     var offsetY = element.GetOptionalProperty<float>("offsety", 0.0f);
     var parallaxX = element.GetOptionalProperty<float>("parallaxx", 1.0f);
     var parallaxY = element.GetOptionalProperty<float>("parallaxy", 1.0f);
-    var properties = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<Dictionary<string, IProperty>?>("properties", e => ReadProperties(e, customTypeDefinitions), null);
+    var properties = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom("properties", e => ReadProperties(e, customTypeDefinitions), []);
 
     var image = element.GetRequiredProperty<string>("image");
     var repeatX = element.GetOptionalProperty<bool>("repeatx", false);
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.Map.cs b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.Map.cs
index cdde458..eeb47b0 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.Map.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.Map.cs
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ internal partial class Tmj
     var nextObjectID = element.GetRequiredProperty<uint>("nextobjectid");
     var infinite = element.GetOptionalProperty<bool>("infinite", false);
 
-    var properties = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<List<IProperty>?>("properties", el => ReadPropertiesList(el, customTypeDefinitions), null);
+    var properties = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom("properties", el => ReadProperties(el, customTypeDefinitions), []);
 
     List<BaseLayer> layers = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<List<BaseLayer>>("layers", e => e.GetValueAsList<BaseLayer>(el => ReadLayer(el, externalTemplateResolver, customTypeDefinitions)), []);
     List<Tileset> tilesets = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<List<Tileset>>("tilesets", e => e.GetValueAsList<Tileset>(el => ReadTileset(el, externalTilesetResolver, externalTemplateResolver, customTypeDefinitions)), []);
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ internal partial class Tmj
       NextLayerID = nextLayerID,
       NextObjectID = nextObjectID,
       Infinite = infinite,
-      Properties = properties ?? [],
+      Properties = properties,
       Tilesets = tilesets,
       Layers = layers
     };
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.ObjectLayer.cs b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.ObjectLayer.cs
index 75d5ee0..589c151 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.ObjectLayer.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.ObjectLayer.cs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ internal partial class Tmj
     var offsetY = element.GetOptionalProperty<float>("offsety", 0.0f);
     var parallaxX = element.GetOptionalProperty<float>("parallaxx", 1.0f);
     var parallaxY = element.GetOptionalProperty<float>("parallaxy", 1.0f);
-    var properties = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<Dictionary<string, IProperty>?>("properties", e => ReadProperties(e, customTypeDefinitions), null);
+    var properties = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom("properties", e => ReadProperties(e, customTypeDefinitions), []);
 
     var x = element.GetOptionalProperty<uint>("x", 0);
     var y = element.GetOptionalProperty<uint>("y", 0);
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ internal partial class Tmj
     bool pointDefault = false;
     List<Vector2>? polygonDefault = null;
     List<Vector2>? polylineDefault = null;
-    Dictionary<string, IProperty>? propertiesDefault = null;
+    List<IProperty> propertiesDefault = [];
 
     var template = element.GetOptionalProperty<string?>("template", null);
     if (template is not null)
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ internal partial class Tmj
     var point = element.GetOptionalProperty<bool>("point", pointDefault);
     var polygon = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<List<Vector2>?>("polygon", ReadPoints, polygonDefault);
     var polyline = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<List<Vector2>?>("polyline", ReadPoints, polylineDefault);
-    var properties = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<Dictionary<string, IProperty>?>("properties", e => ReadProperties(e, customTypeDefinitions), propertiesDefault);
+    var properties = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom("properties", e => ReadProperties(e, customTypeDefinitions), propertiesDefault);
     var rotation = element.GetOptionalProperty<float>("rotation", rotationDefault);
     var text = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<TextObject?>("text", ReadText, null);
     var type = element.GetOptionalProperty<string>("type", typeDefault);
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.Properties.cs b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.Properties.cs
index caa5fbe..d9777e7 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.Properties.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.Properties.cs
@@ -8,42 +8,7 @@ namespace DotTiled.Serialization.Tmj;
 
 internal partial class Tmj
 {
-  internal static Dictionary<string, IProperty> ReadProperties(
-    JsonElement element,
-    IReadOnlyCollection<ICustomTypeDefinition> customTypeDefinitions) =>
-    element.GetValueAsList<IProperty>(e =>
-    {
-      var name = e.GetRequiredProperty<string>("name");
-      var type = e.GetOptionalPropertyParseable<PropertyType>("type", s => s switch
-      {
-        "string" => PropertyType.String,
-        "int" => PropertyType.Int,
-        "float" => PropertyType.Float,
-        "bool" => PropertyType.Bool,
-        "color" => PropertyType.Color,
-        "file" => PropertyType.File,
-        "object" => PropertyType.Object,
-        "class" => PropertyType.Class,
-        _ => throw new JsonException("Invalid property type")
-      }, PropertyType.String);
-
-      IProperty property = type switch
-      {
-        PropertyType.String => new StringProperty { Name = name, Value = e.GetRequiredProperty<string>("value") },
-        PropertyType.Int => new IntProperty { Name = name, Value = e.GetRequiredProperty<int>("value") },
-        PropertyType.Float => new FloatProperty { Name = name, Value = e.GetRequiredProperty<float>("value") },
-        PropertyType.Bool => new BoolProperty { Name = name, Value = e.GetRequiredProperty<bool>("value") },
-        PropertyType.Color => new ColorProperty { Name = name, Value = e.GetRequiredPropertyParseable<Color>("value") },
-        PropertyType.File => new FileProperty { Name = name, Value = e.GetRequiredProperty<string>("value") },
-        PropertyType.Object => new ObjectProperty { Name = name, Value = e.GetRequiredProperty<uint>("value") },
-        PropertyType.Class => ReadClassProperty(e, customTypeDefinitions),
-        _ => throw new JsonException("Invalid property type")
-      };
-
-      return property!;
-    }).ToDictionary(p => p.Name);
-
-  internal static List<IProperty> ReadPropertiesList(
+  internal static List<IProperty> ReadProperties(
     JsonElement element,
     IReadOnlyCollection<ICustomTypeDefinition> customTypeDefinitions) =>
     element.GetValueAsList<IProperty>(e =>
@@ -92,7 +57,7 @@ internal partial class Tmj
       var propsInType = Helpers.CreateInstanceOfCustomClass(ccd);
       var props = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<List<IProperty>>("value", el => ReadCustomClassProperties(el, ccd, customTypeDefinitions), []);
 
-      var mergedProps = Helpers.MergePropertiesList(propsInType, props);
+      var mergedProps = Helpers.MergeProperties(propsInType, props);
 
       return new ClassProperty
       {
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.TileLayer.cs b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.TileLayer.cs
index cdda654..905e447 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.TileLayer.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.TileLayer.cs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ internal partial class Tmj
     var opacity = element.GetOptionalProperty<float>("opacity", 1.0f);
     var parallaxx = element.GetOptionalProperty<float>("parallaxx", 1.0f);
     var parallaxy = element.GetOptionalProperty<float>("parallaxy", 1.0f);
-    var properties = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<Dictionary<string, IProperty>?>("properties", e => ReadProperties(e, customTypeDefinitions), null);
+    var properties = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom("properties", e => ReadProperties(e, customTypeDefinitions), []);
     var repeatX = element.GetOptionalProperty<bool>("repeatx", false);
     var repeatY = element.GetOptionalProperty<bool>("repeaty", false);
     var startX = element.GetOptionalProperty<int>("startx", 0);
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.Tileset.cs b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.Tileset.cs
index 7f3d6be..466b5d3 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.Tileset.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmj/Tmj.Tileset.cs
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ internal partial class Tmj
       "bottomright" => ObjectAlignment.BottomRight,
       _ => throw new JsonException($"Unknown object alignment '{s}'")
     }, ObjectAlignment.Unspecified);
-    var properties = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<Dictionary<string, IProperty>?>("properties", el => ReadProperties(el, customTypeDefinitions), null);
+    var properties = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom("properties", el => ReadProperties(el, customTypeDefinitions), []);
     var source = element.GetOptionalProperty<string?>("source", null);
     var spacing = element.GetOptionalProperty<uint?>("spacing", null);
     var tileCount = element.GetOptionalProperty<uint?>("tilecount", null);
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ internal partial class Tmj
       var height = e.GetOptionalProperty<uint>("height", imageHeight ?? 0);
       var objectGroup = e.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<ObjectLayer?>("objectgroup", e => ReadObjectLayer(e, externalTemplateResolver, customTypeDefinitions), null);
       var probability = e.GetOptionalProperty<float>("probability", 0.0f);
-      var properties = e.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<Dictionary<string, IProperty>?>("properties", el => ReadProperties(el, customTypeDefinitions), null);
+      var properties = e.GetOptionalPropertyCustom("properties", el => ReadProperties(el, customTypeDefinitions), []);
       // var terrain, replaced by wangsets
       var type = e.GetOptionalProperty<string>("type", "");
 
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ internal partial class Tmj
     var @clalss = element.GetOptionalProperty<string>("class", "");
     var colors = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<List<WangColor>>("colors", e => e.GetValueAsList<WangColor>(el => ReadWangColor(el, customTypeDefinitions)), []);
     var name = element.GetRequiredProperty<string>("name");
-    var properties = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<Dictionary<string, IProperty>?>("properties", e => ReadProperties(e, customTypeDefinitions), null);
+    var properties = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom("properties", e => ReadProperties(e, customTypeDefinitions), []);
     var tile = element.GetOptionalProperty<int>("tile", 0);
     var type = element.GetOptionalProperty<string>("type", "");
     var wangTiles = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<List<WangTile>>("wangtiles", e => e.GetValueAsList<WangTile>(ReadWangTile), []);
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ internal partial class Tmj
     var color = element.GetRequiredPropertyParseable<Color>("color", s => Color.Parse(s, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
     var name = element.GetRequiredProperty<string>("name");
     var probability = element.GetOptionalProperty<float>("probability", 1.0f);
-    var properties = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom<Dictionary<string, IProperty>?>("properties", e => ReadProperties(e, customTypeDefinitions), null);
+    var properties = element.GetOptionalPropertyCustom("properties", e => ReadProperties(e, customTypeDefinitions), []);
     var tile = element.GetOptionalProperty<int>("tile", 0);
 
     return new WangColor
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.Map.cs b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.Map.cs
index cabfdcc..4ce03a4 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.Map.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.Map.cs
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
 
     reader.ProcessChildren("map", (r, elementName) => elementName switch
     {
-      "properties" => () => Helpers.SetAtMostOnce(ref properties, ReadPropertiesList(r, customTypeDefinitions), "Properties"),
+      "properties" => () => Helpers.SetAtMostOnce(ref properties, ReadProperties(r, customTypeDefinitions), "Properties"),
       "tileset" => () => tilesets.Add(ReadTileset(r, externalTilesetResolver, externalTemplateResolver, customTypeDefinitions)),
       "layer" => () => layers.Add(ReadTileLayer(r, infinite, customTypeDefinitions)),
       "objectgroup" => () => layers.Add(ReadObjectLayer(r, externalTemplateResolver, customTypeDefinitions)),
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.ObjectLayer.cs b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.ObjectLayer.cs
index 4929ede..2ce3ca3 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.ObjectLayer.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.ObjectLayer.cs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
     }) ?? DrawOrder.TopDown;
 
     // Elements
-    Dictionary<string, IProperty>? properties = null;
+    List<IProperty>? properties = null;
     List<Model.Object> objects = [];
 
     reader.ProcessChildren("objectgroup", (r, elementName) => elementName switch
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
       ParallaxX = parallaxX,
       ParallaxY = parallaxY,
       Color = color,
-      Properties = properties,
+      Properties = properties ?? [],
       DrawOrder = drawOrder,
       Objects = objects
     };
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
     float rotationDefault = obj?.Rotation ?? 0f;
     uint? gidDefault = obj is TileObject tileObj ? tileObj.GID : null;
     bool visibleDefault = obj?.Visible ?? true;
-    Dictionary<string, IProperty>? propertiesDefault = obj?.Properties ?? null;
+    List<IProperty>? propertiesDefault = obj?.Properties ?? null;
 
     var id = reader.GetOptionalAttributeParseable<uint>("id") ?? idDefault;
     var name = reader.GetOptionalAttribute("name") ?? nameDefault;
@@ -109,11 +109,11 @@ internal partial class Tmx
     // Elements
     Model.Object? foundObject = null;
     int propertiesCounter = 0;
-    Dictionary<string, IProperty>? properties = propertiesDefault;
+    List<IProperty>? properties = propertiesDefault;
 
     reader.ProcessChildren("object", (r, elementName) => elementName switch
     {
-      "properties" => () => Helpers.SetAtMostOnceUsingCounter(ref properties, Helpers.MergeProperties(properties, ReadProperties(r, customTypeDefinitions)), "Properties", ref propertiesCounter),
+      "properties" => () => Helpers.SetAtMostOnceUsingCounter(ref properties, Helpers.MergeProperties(properties, ReadProperties(r, customTypeDefinitions)).ToList(), "Properties", ref propertiesCounter),
       "ellipse" => () => Helpers.SetAtMostOnce(ref foundObject, ReadEllipseObject(r), "Object marker"),
       "point" => () => Helpers.SetAtMostOnce(ref foundObject, ReadPointObject(r), "Object marker"),
       "polygon" => () => Helpers.SetAtMostOnce(ref foundObject, ReadPolygonObject(r), "Object marker"),
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
     foundObject.Height = height;
     foundObject.Rotation = rotation;
     foundObject.Visible = visible;
-    foundObject.Properties = properties;
+    foundObject.Properties = properties ?? [];
     foundObject.Template = template;
 
     return OverrideObject(obj, foundObject);
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
       obj.Height = foundObject.Height;
       obj.Rotation = foundObject.Rotation;
       obj.Visible = foundObject.Visible;
-      obj.Properties = Helpers.MergeProperties(obj.Properties, foundObject.Properties);
+      obj.Properties = Helpers.MergeProperties(obj.Properties, foundObject.Properties).ToList();
       obj.Template = foundObject.Template;
       return obj;
     }
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.Properties.cs b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.Properties.cs
index f641c4f..2e288a5 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.Properties.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.Properties.cs
@@ -7,43 +7,7 @@ namespace DotTiled.Serialization.Tmx;
 
 internal partial class Tmx
 {
-  internal static Dictionary<string, IProperty> ReadProperties(
-    XmlReader reader,
-    IReadOnlyCollection<ICustomTypeDefinition> customTypeDefinitions)
-  {
-    return reader.ReadList("properties", "property", (r) =>
-    {
-      var name = r.GetRequiredAttribute("name");
-      var type = r.GetOptionalAttributeEnum<PropertyType>("type", (s) => s switch
-      {
-        "string" => PropertyType.String,
-        "int" => PropertyType.Int,
-        "float" => PropertyType.Float,
-        "bool" => PropertyType.Bool,
-        "color" => PropertyType.Color,
-        "file" => PropertyType.File,
-        "object" => PropertyType.Object,
-        "class" => PropertyType.Class,
-        _ => throw new XmlException("Invalid property type")
-      }) ?? PropertyType.String;
-
-      IProperty property = type switch
-      {
-        PropertyType.String => new StringProperty { Name = name, Value = r.GetRequiredAttribute("value") },
-        PropertyType.Int => new IntProperty { Name = name, Value = r.GetRequiredAttributeParseable<int>("value") },
-        PropertyType.Float => new FloatProperty { Name = name, Value = r.GetRequiredAttributeParseable<float>("value") },
-        PropertyType.Bool => new BoolProperty { Name = name, Value = r.GetRequiredAttributeParseable<bool>("value") },
-        PropertyType.Color => new ColorProperty { Name = name, Value = r.GetRequiredAttributeParseable<Color>("value") },
-        PropertyType.File => new FileProperty { Name = name, Value = r.GetRequiredAttribute("value") },
-        PropertyType.Object => new ObjectProperty { Name = name, Value = r.GetRequiredAttributeParseable<uint>("value") },
-        PropertyType.Class => ReadClassProperty(r, customTypeDefinitions),
-        _ => throw new XmlException("Invalid property type")
-      };
-      return (name, property);
-    }).ToDictionary(x => x.name, x => x.property);
-  }
-
-  internal static List<IProperty> ReadPropertiesList(
+  internal static List<IProperty> ReadProperties(
     XmlReader reader,
     IReadOnlyCollection<ICustomTypeDefinition> customTypeDefinitions)
   {
@@ -91,8 +55,8 @@ internal partial class Tmx
     {
       reader.ReadStartElement("property");
       var propsInType = Helpers.CreateInstanceOfCustomClass(ccd);
-      var props = ReadPropertiesList(reader, customTypeDefinitions);
-      var mergedProps = Helpers.MergePropertiesList(propsInType, props);
+      var props = ReadProperties(reader, customTypeDefinitions);
+      var mergedProps = Helpers.MergeProperties(propsInType, props);
 
       reader.ReadEndElement();
       return new ClassProperty { Name = name, PropertyType = propertyType, Value = mergedProps };
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.TileLayer.cs b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.TileLayer.cs
index 320019d..8605ade 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.TileLayer.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.TileLayer.cs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
     var parallaxX = reader.GetOptionalAttributeParseable<float>("parallaxx") ?? 1.0f;
     var parallaxY = reader.GetOptionalAttributeParseable<float>("parallaxy") ?? 1.0f;
 
-    Dictionary<string, IProperty>? properties = null;
+    List<IProperty>? properties = null;
     Data? data = null;
 
     reader.ProcessChildren("layer", (r, elementName) => elementName switch
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
       ParallaxX = parallaxX,
       ParallaxY = parallaxY,
       Data = data,
-      Properties = properties
+      Properties = properties ?? []
     };
   }
 
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
     var repeatX = (reader.GetOptionalAttributeParseable<uint>("repeatx") ?? 0) == 1;
     var repeatY = (reader.GetOptionalAttributeParseable<uint>("repeaty") ?? 0) == 1;
 
-    Dictionary<string, IProperty>? properties = null;
+    List<IProperty>? properties = null;
     Image? image = null;
 
     reader.ProcessChildren("imagelayer", (r, elementName) => elementName switch
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
       OffsetY = offsetY,
       ParallaxX = parallaxX,
       ParallaxY = parallaxY,
-      Properties = properties,
+      Properties = properties ?? [],
       Image = image,
       RepeatX = repeatX,
       RepeatY = repeatY
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
     var parallaxX = reader.GetOptionalAttributeParseable<float>("parallaxx") ?? 1.0f;
     var parallaxY = reader.GetOptionalAttributeParseable<float>("parallaxy") ?? 1.0f;
 
-    Dictionary<string, IProperty>? properties = null;
+    List<IProperty>? properties = null;
     List<BaseLayer> layers = [];
 
     reader.ProcessChildren("group", (r, elementName) => elementName switch
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
       OffsetY = offsetY,
       ParallaxX = parallaxX,
       ParallaxY = parallaxY,
-      Properties = properties,
+      Properties = properties ?? [],
       Layers = layers
     };
   }
diff --git a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.Tileset.cs b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.Tileset.cs
index 6fb1ff5..84ccd24 100644
--- a/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.Tileset.cs
+++ b/src/DotTiled/Serialization/Tmx/Tmx.Tileset.cs
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
     Image? image = null;
     TileOffset? tileOffset = null;
     Grid? grid = null;
-    Dictionary<string, IProperty>? properties = null;
+    List<IProperty>? properties = null;
     List<Wangset>? wangsets = null;
     Transformations? transformations = null;
     List<Tile> tiles = [];
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
       Image = image,
       TileOffset = tileOffset,
       Grid = grid,
-      Properties = properties,
+      Properties = properties ?? [],
       Wangsets = wangsets,
       Transformations = transformations,
       Tiles = tiles
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
     var height = reader.GetOptionalAttributeParseable<uint>("height");
 
     // Elements
-    Dictionary<string, IProperty>? properties = null;
+    List<IProperty>? properties = null;
     Image? image = null;
     ObjectLayer? objectLayer = null;
     List<Frame>? animation = null;
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
       Y = y,
       Width = width ?? image?.Width ?? 0,
       Height = height ?? image?.Height ?? 0,
-      Properties = properties,
+      Properties = properties ?? [],
       Image = image,
       ObjectLayer = objectLayer,
       Animation = animation
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
     var tile = reader.GetRequiredAttributeParseable<int>("tile");
 
     // Elements
-    Dictionary<string, IProperty>? properties = null;
+    List<IProperty>? properties = null;
     List<WangColor> wangColors = [];
     List<WangTile> wangTiles = [];
 
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
       Name = name,
       Class = @class,
       Tile = tile,
-      Properties = properties,
+      Properties = properties ?? [],
       WangColors = wangColors,
       WangTiles = wangTiles
     };
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
     var probability = reader.GetOptionalAttributeParseable<float>("probability") ?? 0f;
 
     // Elements
-    Dictionary<string, IProperty>? properties = null;
+    List<IProperty>? properties = null;
 
     reader.ProcessChildren("wangcolor", (r, elementName) => elementName switch
     {
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ internal partial class Tmx
       Color = color,
       Tile = tile,
       Probability = probability,
-      Properties = properties
+      Properties = properties ?? []
     };
   }