How to Cite a Video Game in Chicago (17th edition)
Learn how to cite video games and interactive game software in Chicago format (17th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
Chicago Bibliography Format
Here is the standard Chicago format for citing a video game in your bibliography:
Developer. Title of Game. Version. Publisher, Platform, Year.
Chicago Example for a Video Game
A complete Chicago reference for a video game, formatted by the official Chicago CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Tessellate Studio. 2022. Archive of Lost Books. Version 1.6. Tessellate Studio. Video game.
Matching in-text citation: (Tessellate Studio 2022)
Chicago In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Developer 2024)
Narrative
Developer (2024) released...
Key Chicago Formatting Rules
- Italicize the title of the game and name the developer as author.
- Give the version or edition you played.
- List the publisher, the platform, and the year of release.
- Video games are usually cited in notes and may be added to the bibliography.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your video game.
- Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Chicago (17th edition) template shown above.
- Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
- Add to your bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Chicago requirements.
Evidence and review notes
Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.
CSL style record: chicago.csl
Editorial sources
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I cite a video game in Chicago?
- To cite a video game in Chicago (17th edition), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
- What is the Chicago format for a video game citation?
- The Chicago format for a video game is: Developer. Title of Game. Version. Publisher, Platform, Year.
- What does the in-text citation look like for a video game in Chicago?
- In Chicago, the in-text citation for the example above is (Developer 2024)
Generate This Citation Automatically
Skip the manual formatting. Paste a DOI, URL, or ISBN into CitationEasy and get a perfectly formatted Chicago citation in seconds.
Cite in Chicago Now →Generate this citation
Paste a URL, DOI, ISBN, or the source details and get a finished Chicago citation for a Video Game.
Open the Video Game Citation Generator →Bibliography Studio
Saved citations build a full bibliography in the Studio