Video Game Citation Generator
Cite a video game in seconds. Enter the developer, game title, version or platform, publisher, and year and get a complete, formatted citation in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and 10,832 styles. Free, no sign-up.
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How to Cite a Video Game
- 1. Enter the game details. Put the development studio in the author position — the developer is the "author" of a game — then the title, the publisher, and the release year. Add the version number or platform (Switch, PC, PS5) so readers know exactly which release you played.
- 2. Pick a style. Choose APA, MLA, Chicago, or any of the 10,832 styles. APA adds a [Video game] descriptor after the title and puts the version in parentheses; MLA lists the version and platform after the publisher.
- 3. Generate. We build a full software-style game reference. Edit any field, then copy it or export to BibTeX, RIS, CSV, or Word.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I generate a citation for a video game?
- Enter the developer or studio, the game's title, the version or platform, the publisher, and the release year, then pick your citation style and click Generate Citation. Games are cited as software, so the source type is preset accordingly — copy or export the finished reference.
- Who is the author of a video game citation?
- The development studio, not an individual. Put the developer (e.g. Nintendo EPD, FromSoftware, Mojang Studios) in the author position and the publisher (Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Xbox Game Studios) as the publisher. If the developer and publisher are the same company, most styles let you drop the duplicate publisher.
- How do I cite a video game in APA?
- APA 7th format: Developer. (Year). Title of game (Version x.x) [Video game]. Publisher. The '[Video game]' descriptor in brackets tells the reader what kind of source it is, and the version or platform in parentheses pins down exactly which release you played — important for games that change with updates.
- Do I need to include the platform or version?
- Yes, whenever it matters to your point. Games differ across platforms and patch versions, so include the platform (Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5) or a version number so a reader can match your experience. MLA lists the version and platform after the publisher; APA puts the version in parentheses after the title.
- How do I cite downloadable content or an in-game event?
- Cite the expansion or DLC as its own release when it has its own title and date (e.g. an expansion pack), keeping the base game's developer and publisher. For something you observed inside a game — dialogue, an event, a mechanic — cite the game itself and describe the moment in your text, since there are no page numbers to point to.
- Is the video game citation generator free?
- Yes. It is 100% free with no sign-up, no ads, and no limits — and it supports all 10,832 styles in our library, including APA 7th, MLA 9th, Chicago, and Harvard. Your citations are saved locally in your browser and can be exported to BibTeX, RIS, CSV, or Word.