How To Cite A Video Game MLA: The Complete Academic Guide
Citing a video game in Modern Language Association (MLA) style requires gathering specific metadata—including the game's title, developer, publisher, platform, and release year—and formatting it according to the core container model outlined in the MLA Handbook (9th Edition). Accurately executing this citation prevents academic plagiarism, correctly attributes creative labor to the development studio, and ensures your research remains fully verifiable by readers and instructors alike.
Preparing Your Video Game Citation Data
Before constructing your Works Cited entry or in-text citations, you must collect the precise bibliographic components of the interactive media you studied. Unlike traditional literature, video games span multiple platforms, publishers, and iterations, making granular detail essential for academic integrity.
- Essential tools and materials: Access to the game's title screen, credits roll, or official distribution page (Steam, Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, or Xbox Marketplace) to verify accurate release dates, developers, and publishers.
- Mandatory prerequisite knowledge: Familiarity with the MLA 9th Edition container system, particularly how to treat interactive digital software, hardware platforms, and digital distribution networks.
- Estimated effort and scope: Approximately 5 to 10 minutes per game title to locate, verify, and format the necessary metadata fields correctly.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Formatting Video Game Citations
Step 1: Identify the Core Creator and Title
Begin your Works Cited entry with the primary creator or the developer of the video game. If a specific designer, auteur, or director is the primary focus of your essay, you may begin with their name (e.g., Kojima, Hideo, director). Otherwise, start the entry with the name of the primary development studio or publisher, followed by the title of the game in italics.
Pro-Tip: If the developer and publisher are the same entity, list the name once in the publisher position to avoid redundant text in your citation.
Step 2: Add the Publisher and Release Year
After the italicized game title, provide the name of the publisher responsible for releasing the game, followed by a comma and the year of release. Do not include the month or day unless you are citing a specific, time-sensitive digital patch or beta build. If you played a localized port or a remastered edition released in a different year, use that specific release year rather than the original franchise launch date.
Step 3: Specify the Platform and Medium
Because video games are fundamentally tied to hardware and software environments, you must explicitly state the platform you used to play the game at the end of the entry. Write out the platform name clearly (e.g., PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox Series X). If you played the game via a digital distribution service or streaming application rather than physical media, append the name of the launcher or service as a secondary container if necessary, though noting the console or operating system is the primary requirement.
Step 4: Format In-Text Parenthetical Citations
When referencing the game within the body of your paper, use standard author-page or creator-page style, but substitute the page number with the relevant timestamp, level, or character name if navigating a massive open-world environment. If no individual creator is emphasized in the Works Cited entry, use the title of the game in your parenthetical reference (e.g., Hades). For most general references, mentioning the game title naturally in your sentence structure minimizes clunky parenthetical interruptions.
3 Ways to Cite Sources in MLA Format - wikiHow
Video Game Citation Parameters Across Platforms
| Platform Type | Primary Creator Element | Publisher Placement | Medium/Platform Designation | Example Citation Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Console Physical Disc | Development Studio | Major Publisher Name | Console Hardware Name | Elden Ring. FromSoftware, 2022. PlayStation 5. |
| PC Digital Download | Studio or Designer | Steam / Epic / Valve | Windows PC / macOS | Disco Elysium. ZA/UM, 2019. PC. |
| Mobile Application | Studio Name | App Store / Google Play | iOS or Android | Genshin Impact. miHoYo, 2020. iOS app. |
| Remastered Port | Original or Port Studio | Modern Publisher | Current Hardware | The Last of Us Part I. Naughty Dog, 2022. PlayStation 5. |
Common Citation Errors and Field Fixes
- Root Cause: Omitting the specific hardware platform, leaving evaluators uncertain whether you analyzed the original release, a portable port, or a VR adaptation.
- Actionable Fix: Always append the exact platform name (e.g., Xbox Series X, PC) to the terminal position of your Works Cited entry.
- Root Cause: Crediting the voice actors or musical composers as the primary authors of the entire software package.
- Actionable Fix: Unless your thesis centers specifically on voice performance or musical scoring, credit the primary development studio or director as the authorial entry point.
- Root Cause: Using the original 1990s release date for a modern digital re-release or platform-specific remake.
- Actionable Fix: Check the title screen or copyright metadata of the exact version you played to ensure the publication year matches your specific digital asset.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cite a video game when there is no clear author?
If no individual creator or studio is credited as the primary author on the title screen, start the MLA Works Cited entry directly with the title of the game in italics. Alphabetize the entry in your bibliography by the first principal word of the title, ignoring articles like "A" or "The."
How do I reference an in-game quote or specific scene in my text?
Because video games lack traditional pagination, direct quotes or specific narrative moments should be cited using descriptive locators. Mention the character speaking, the specific quest name, or use a time-stamped marker if you are analyzing a recorded playthrough or cinematic sequence.
Should I cite downloadable content (DLC) or expansions separately?
Yes. If your research specifically analyzes a narrative expansion, downloadable content pack, or major update rather than the base game, treat the DLC as a distinct work. List the title of the DLC in quotation marks, followed by the italicized title of the base game and its corresponding publisher and year.
How do I handle massive multiplayer online games (MMOs) with continuous updates?
For live-service games that change continuously over time, include the specific version number or patch iteration if relevant to your argument, alongside the year you accessed the material. Treat the software distributor or ongoing developer as the publisher in your bibliographic entry.
Master your academic papers by properly attributing interactive media with these precise MLA formatting guidelines and elevate the rigor of your research today.
