The laws of when to use italics and when not to can be very confusing for learners of English. This article looks at how to cite a video game in formal writing and breaks down how they vary depending on the style.
Are Video Game Titles Italicized?
Most of the time, for MLA, APA, and Chicago styles, the title of the game is in italics. In MLA, it is sometimes in quotation marks too. In AP Style, you should not use italics. Furthermore, board games are also in italics in APA, Chicago, and MLA.
When referring to video games in an essay or any type of formal writing, it is essential to know how to cite them correctly. The rules vary depending on whether you cite in-text or at the end of the document on a reference list.
For MLA Style, if you mention the video game as a stand-alone program in the text, you should use italics without mentioning the developer or year.
However, if you mention it on a reference list, you should use italics and include the developer, year, and format, as shown below. Also, some institutions demand that the game title is in quotation marks.
This is the format for a reference at the end of a text in MLA:
- Developer, title (in italics), distributor, year, platform
Here is an MLA reference for a video game:
- Pac-Man was one of the most popular video games of its generation. (in-text)
- Pac Man. Atari, 1982. (Reference list)
- Firaxis Games, Sid Meier’s Civilization III, Take-two interactive, 2001, PC. (Reference list)
- Firaxis Games, “Sid Meier’s Civilization III” Take-two interactive, 2001, PC. (Reference list)
For APA Style, the guide states that “stand-alone” works such as books, films, and games should be in italics.
APA Format – Developer, (Year Released). Title of Game [Video game]. Location: Publisher.
Which looks something like this:
- Players reported not enjoying Sid Meier’s Civilization III (2001) as much as the previous version. (In-text)
- Firaxis Games, (2001). Sid Meier’s Civilization III {Video game}. France, Atari Europe. (Referencing list)
Are Video Game Titles Quoted?
In APA Style, video games will never appear in quotation marks. However, in MLA Style, you may see video game titles with quotation marks at the end of a text on the reference list.
The 8th Edition of the MLA Style guide says that in-text references of video games should just be in italics, whereas when listing them on the final reference page, they should also have quotation marks.
Are Video Game Titles Italicized in APA Style?
In APA Style, you should use italics for the titles of video games in-text and on the reference list. On the reference list, you must also add {computer software} or {video game} after the title to indicate that it is a video game.
Furthermore, when writing the title of the game, unless they are proper nouns, only the first word of the title should use capital letters.
The APA format should be as follows:
- Developer, (Year Released). Title of Game [Video game]. Location: Publisher.
Therefore, a citation would look like this:
- Players said that Call of duty (2003) was the most realistic game ever. (In-text)
- Infinity Ward, (2003). Call of duty {video game}. USA: Activision. (Reference list)
Are Video Game Titles Italicized in AP Style?
Media and news organizations mainly use AP Style to report the news. Therefore, it is not usual to have a reference list at the end of a text; instead, people use in-text citations to reference sources.
In AP Style, it is not necessary to use italics in any part of a video game; however, it is needed to put the video game title in quotation marks.
- The video game “Grand Theft Auto” has caused a great deal of controversy.
- In the 1980s, “Donkey Kong” was one of the first worldwide video game hits.
Are Video Game Titles Italicized in Chicago Style?
When referencing a video game in the Chicago Style, it is necessary to put the title in italics for both the in-text citation and the reference list.
The format for listing the game in Chicago Style is as follows:
- Production company. Game title. Version. Production company, release year. Platform.
Therefore a reference for a video game in Chicago Style would look something like this:
- Super Mario Bros (1983), which was released by Nintendo, was one of the most successful platform games of its time. – (In-text)
- Nintendo. Super Mario Bros. Nintendo. 1983. Nintendo. – (Reference list)
Are Video Game Titles Italicized in MLA Style?
In the MLA Style, it is necessary to use italics for the names of video games for both in-text citations and on the reference list.
Here is the format that a video game should follow in MLA Style:
- Developer, title (in italics), distributor, year, platform.
This is how video games would look referenced in MLA Style:
- The popular video game Settlers IV was a successful role-playing game. – (in-text)
- Blue Byte, Settlers VI, Ubi Soft, 2001, USA, PC. – (Reference list)
- Blue Byte, “Settlers VI”, Ubi Soft, 2001, USA, PC. – (Reference list)
Are Board Game Titles Italicized?
The rules concerning board games being in italics vary according to the style you are using. Here is a brief description of the rules for each style: Please note that some individual institutions or professors may vary the rules slightly for board games or websites; however, the descriptions below are a general guide:
APA – Board game titles should use italics for both in-text citations and on the reference list. They should follow the same format as a stand-alone work such as a film or video game.
- Darrow, C, D, (1980) Monopoly: the board game. Hasbro, USA
Chicago – Board games should follow the same rules as films and books, so they would be in italics.
- Darrow, C, D, Monopoly: the board game. Hasbro, USA, (1980).
MLA – This style uses the same rules for board games as for video games. Therefore, the title of board games should be in italics.
- Darrow, C, D, Monopoly: the board game. Hasbro, USA, (1980).
AP – You do not need to use italics to refer to a board game in AP style. Considering that there is not usually a comprehensive reference list for many AP articles, here is an example of an in-text citation.
- The game of Monopoly has been enjoyed across the world for almost a hundred years.
Final Thoughts
For APA, Chicago, and MLA styles, you should use italics for video game and board game titles in both in-text citations and on the reference list. However, for AP Style, it is unnecessary to put video or board game titles in italics.