The Complete Guide to Italicizing Video Game Titles Across Different Style Guides

Formatting might look like a small detail, but when you write about games you quickly realize one thing. Style guides don’t always agree on how to handle video game titles. Some want italics. Some want quotation marks. One refuses italics altogether.

That inconsistency leaves writers guessing, which leads to formatting mistakes that can weaken credibility. You’ve probably seen a mix of Elden Ring, “Elden Ring”, Elden Ring, and even Elden Ring left plain because the writer wasn’t sure which rule applied.

This guide removes the uncertainty. You’ll learn exactly how APA, MLA, Chicago, and AP handle italicizing video game titles and how to format expansions, collections, DLC, board games, and citations.

This is the guide writers, journalists, students, and content creators bookmark because it gives clear, direct, usable instructions.

Table of Contents

Why Italicizing Video Game Titles Matters

Formatting tells readers something instantly: This writer knows what they’re doing. It creates clarity, avoids distraction, and improves readability.

When you use the wrong formatting, your credibility takes a hit even if your content is solid. Readers might question the accuracy of your research, especially if you write academic or journalism-style pieces.

Italicizing video game titles affects:

Academic papers
Game reviews
News articles
Walkthroughs and guides
YouTube video descriptions
Scripts for content creators
Business documentation for gaming companies
Legal or professional documents referencing software

Correct formatting isn’t just aesthetic. It shows discipline, professionalism, and attention to detail.

What Actually Counts as a Title in Gaming?

Before applying any style guide rules, you need to know what should or shouldn’t be italicized in the first place. Not every gaming element qualifies as a “title.”

Here’s the quick breakdown.

Elements That Get Italicized (Depending on Style Guide)

Standalone video games
Remasters and definitive editions
Full expansions with unique titles
Complete game series when referred to as a whole

Elements That Never Get Italicized

Game modes (e.g., Survival Mode, Arena Mode)
Chapters or missions within games
In-game items, currencies, characters, or maps
Online servers
Consoles or platforms (e.g., PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch)
Company names (e.g., Capcom, FromSoftware, Bethesda)

Examples

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — italicized
“The Master Trials” (expansion in quotation marks depending on style)
Hyrule Castle — not italicized
PlayStation 5 — not italicized
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree — expansion formatted as a titled work

Knowing these categories prevents unnecessary formatting errors before you even reach APA or MLA rules.

APA Style and Italicizing Video Game Titles

APA treats video games the same way it treats software, which means standalone game titles are italicized.

APA 7 is extremely clear here.

When APA Uses Italics for Video Game Titles

APA italicizes:

Standalone video games
Full series (when referencing the entire franchise)
Remasters and re-releases

Examples:

Fortnite
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Halo (the series)
Mass Effect Legendary Edition

APA In-Text Citations

You cite a video game like software with the developer as author.

Format:
Author (Developer), Year

Example:
(Epic Games, 2017)

Inside the sentence:

In Fortnite (Epic Games, 2017), players compete…

Notice APA italicizes the game title within the narrative form too.

APA Reference List Format

APA requires:

Developer or publisher
Year of release
Game title (italicized)
Version if relevant
Platform (optional but recommended)

APA Reference Example

Epic Games. (2017). Fortnite [Video game]. PlayStation 5.

APA Special Cases

APA never italicizes:

In-game terminology
Level names or missions
DLC without a standalone title

If you reference an expansion with its own title, APA may use italics or treat it like software depending on the context.

Example:

Epic Games. (2020). Fortnite: Save the World [Game mode].

APA is straightforward, which makes it easy for academic gaming papers.

MLA Style and Italicizing Video Game Titles

MLA also italicizes standalone video game titles, but it treats smaller works differently.

When MLA Uses Italics

MLA italicizes:

Full video games
Game collections
Remasters
Series titles

Examples:

Hollow Knight
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Resident Evil Village
The Witcher (series)

When MLA Uses Quotation Marks

MLA uses quotation marks only for “short works within larger works.”

In gaming, that means:

Missions
Quests
Map names
In-game books or documents
DLC episodes (if considered part of a larger game)

Example:

In Skyrim, the quest “Bleak Falls Barrow” introduces…

MLA doesn’t put full games in quotation marks. That’s a common mistake.

MLA In-Text Citations

MLA uses the developer or publisher as author.

Example:
(Bethesda Game Studios)

If you reference a specific edition or platform, MLA allows extra detail inside Works Cited but not in the in-text citation.

MLA Works Cited Format

Format:
Developer. Game Title. Year. Platform.

Example:
Nintendo. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. 2017. Nintendo Switch.

MLA Nuances Writers Often Miss

MLA has strict rules on capitalization. You capitalize major words in the title regardless of how the game’s branding stylizes it.

Correct:
NieR: Automata

Incorrect:
Nier: automata

MLA also allows multiple contributors, which is helpful for large studios.

Chicago Manual of Style and Italicizing Video Game Titles

Chicago is flexible, so it works well for research papers or historical gaming content.

Chicago’s Italics Rule

Chicago italicizes:

Standalone video game titles
Game collections
Franchises when referenced broadly

Example:

Red Dead Redemption 2 sets a new benchmark…

Chicago Notes/Bibliography Example

Footnote:

Rockstar Games, Red Dead Redemption 2 (New York: Rockstar Games, 2018), PlayStation 4.

Bibliography:
Rockstar Games. Red Dead Redemption 2. New York: Rockstar Games, 2018.

Chicago emphasizes platform and publisher location, which makes the citation more formal.

Chicago Author-Date Example

Rockstar Games. 2018. Red Dead Redemption 2. PlayStation 4.

Unique Chicago Scenarios

Chicago may treat a game differently if:

It’s part of a multimedia study
It’s an online-only game with continuous updates
You’re analyzing a modded version

In these cases, Chicago allows added detail like build number or patch versions.

AP Style: The Outlier in Italicizing Video Game Titles

AP Style refuses italics entirely.

AP Does NOT Italicize Video Game Titles

Instead, AP puts titles of major works in quotation marks:

Correct in AP:
“God of War Ragnarök”

Incorrect in AP:
God of War Ragnarök

AP does this because many news outlets can’t rely on italic support across platforms.

AP Formatting Rules

You always use:

Title Case
Quotation marks
No italics
No bolding

AP Example:
The studio released “Horizon Forbidden West” on PlayStation 5.

AP Exceptions

AP rarely allows italics, but exceptions exist for:

Specialized publications
Technical documents
Magazines that set their own internal style

Newsrooms usually follow AP strictly.

ReadMore:Differential vs Deferential – Understanding the Difference Clearly

Comparing Italicizing Video Game Titles Across All Style Guides

A comparison chart makes the differences clearer.

Formatting Comparison Table

Style Guide	Full Game Titles	Expansions	Missions/Quests	Series Titles	In-Game Items	Platforms
APA	Italicized	Usually italicized	Not italicized	Italicized	Not italicized	Not italicized
MLA	Italicized	Depends	Quotation marks	Italicized	Not italicized	Not italicized
Chicago	Italicized	Italicized	Quotation marks	Italicized	Not italicized	Not italicized
AP	Quotation marks	Quotation marks	Quotation marks	Quotation marks	Not italicized	Not italicized

This table helps you format confidently at a glance.

How to Handle Expansions, DLC, and Editions

Gaming content often references expansions and DLC. Each style treats them differently.

Expansions With Their Own Title

Example:
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade

APA: Italicized
MLA: Italicized
Chicago: Italicized
AP: “The Burning Crusade”

DLC Episodes (Not Standalone)

For example:
“Left Behind” (DLC for The Last of Us)

Most guides use quotation marks because it’s a sub-part of a game.

Remasters and Definitive Editions

The Last of Us Part I
Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Treat as full games in APA, MLA, and Chicago.

AP still uses quotes.

Multiple Examples Table

Type of Content	APA	MLA	Chicago	AP
Full game	Italics	Italics	Italics	Quotes
Expansion	Italics	Italics	Italics	Quotes
DLC chapter	Not italics	Quotes	Quotes	Quotes
Mission	Not italics	Quotes	Quotes	Quotes

How to Format Video Game Titles in Digital Content

Online content creators often blend rules from multiple guides, which creates inconsistency.

For Blogs and Articles

Use a consistent style throughout the site. Most gaming websites use:

Italics for major titles
Quotes for missions and small works

This creates visual clarity and mirrors MLA/Chicago norms.

For Game Journalism

Many gaming news outlets follow a hybrid approach:

Use AP for news reporting
Use Chicago or MLA in long-form editorial pieces

Polygon, IGN, and Kotaku all follow internal style guides inspired by AP but adapted for gaming.

For Academic Papers

Follow your professor or department’s preferred style. If none is given, APA or MLA are safest.

Common Mistakes Writers Make When Italicizing Video Game Titles

Even experienced writers slip up. These errors show up everywhere.

Incorrectly Italicizing Platform Names

Wrong: Nintendo Switch
Correct: Nintendo Switch

Putting Quotation Marks on Full Games in MLA

Wrong: “Dark Souls III”
Correct: Dark Souls III

Using Stylized Branding Instead of Style Guide Rules

Wrong: nier:automata
Correct: NieR: Automata

Treating Expansions Like Missions

Wrong: “Shadow of the Erdtree”
Correct in APA/MLA/Chicago: Shadow of the Erdtree

Inconsistent Formatting Within the Same Article

Readers notice inconsistency instantly.

conclusion

Italicizing video game titles may seem like a small detail, but it plays a big role in clear, professional writing. As this guide shows, there’s no single rule that fits every situation. Instead, correct formatting depends on the style guide you’re following and the context in which you’re writing. Academic styles like MLA and Chicago generally recommend italicizing video game titles, treating them like other standalone creative works. APA is more flexible, often favoring italics in formal writing but allowing plain text in casual or digital contexts. In contrast, AP style usually avoids italics altogether, which makes it a common exception for journalists and news writers.

faqs

1. Should video game titles always be italicized?

No. Whether you italicize a video game title depends on the style guide you’re using. MLA and Chicago usually require italics, while AP style avoids them.