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In order to cite a video game in MLA, use the following steps:
Note: The ellipses (...) after each example are to let the reader know that the citation continues.
1. Title
First, write down the title of the game, along with the subtitle if it has one.
Ex: Alan Wake II...
(If the game has a subtitle, write down the title, add a colon (:), and write the subtitle after the colon).
2. Contributor (Director & Actors)
Next, you must fill in the Contributor slot. This is where the game director will go. If the game does not list anyone as the director, you need not include this in your citation.
Ex: Alan Wake II. Directed by Sam Lake and Kyle Rowley...
If the portion of the video game you are using directly focuses on motion capture or voice performance, include the actors' names in the Contributor slot as well.
Ex: Death Stranding. Directed by Hideo Kojima, performances by Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelsen...
3. Version
If the portion of the video game you are using focuses on the version of the game, follow this step. If the version of the game does not matter, skip this step.
Ex: Alan Wake II. Directed by Sam Lake and Kyle Rowley, version 1.000.014...
4. Publisher
This is where you'll include the publisher and developer of the game. If the publisher and developer are different companies, separate them with a slash (/). Otherwise, only list the single studio. Format: Developer / Publisher
Ex: Alan Wake II. Directed by Sam Lake and Kyle Rowley, version 1.000.014, Remedy Entertainment / Epic Games...
5. Publication Date
For this step, simply include the year that the game was published.
Ex: Alan Wake II. Directed by Sam Lake and Kyle Rowley, version 1.000.014, Remedy Entertainment / Epic Games, 2023...
6. Platform
For this step, you must identify what platform you played the video game on (e.g. Sony PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC, etc.) followed by the word "game."
Ex: Alan Wake II. Directed by Sam Lake and Kyle Rowley, version 1.000.014, Remedy Entertainment / Epic Games, 2023. Sony PlayStation 5 game.
That is your final MLA citation!
In-Text Citation
Following the example we used previously with Alan Wake II, the in-text citation would just be the title of the game surrounded by parenthesis.
Ex: (Alan Wake II).
If you had trouble following this guide, use the more detailed guide below:
Most of the following citation examples are recommendations from Seneca Libraries.
In order to cite a video game in APA, use the following steps:
Note: The ellipses (...) after each example are to let the reader know that the citation continues.
1. Developer
For the first step, write down the developer of the game. If it is a single person, or multiple people, write their names as such, separated by ampersands (&): Last Name, First Name Initial.
Ex: Amaya, D...
If the developer is a company, just write down the company's name. If the developer is the same as the publisher, you may skip this step and simply write down the title of the game.
Ex: Animal Crossing: New Horizons...
2. Year of Publication
Next, write down the year the game was released, encased in parenthesis. If you began with the title of the game rather than the developer, this step will come later.
Ex: Amaya, D. (2017).
3. Title
If you already have the title of your game in the citation (e.g. there was no developer, or the developer is the same as the publisher), proceed to the next step.
Otherwise, if you have the developer and year of publication, write down the title of the game.
Ex: Amaya, D. (2017). Cave Story+...
4. Version
After the title of the game, if the version is known, format your citation like the one below.
Ex: Amaya, D. (2017). Cave Story+ (v. 1.0.0)...
Ex: Candy Crush Saga (v. 1.219.0.6)...
Make sure you put "v." before the version number, it is necessary.
5. Platform
Next, write down the platform you played the game on, surrounded by brackets.
Ex: Amaya, D. (2017). Cave Story+ (v. 1.0.0) [Windows PC]...
Ex: Candy Crush Saga (v. 1.219.0.6) [iOS]...
6. Publisher
After the platform, write down the publisher of the game here, followed by a period.
If you are on the route of having the title as the first part of your citation, instead of the publisher, write the year of publication instead, followed by the publisher.
Ex: Amaya, D. (2017). Cave Story+ (v. 1.0.0) [Windows PC]. Nicalis.
Ex: Candy Crush Saga (v. 1.219.0.6) [iOS]. (2022). King.
7. URL (Only if game is from Web)
If your game can be played on a website, write down the URL after the publisher is given.
Ex: Wardle, J. (2021). Wordle [Web]. https://www.powerlanguage.co.uk/wordle/
Your final citation should look like one of the following below.
IF DEVELOPER FIRST: Amaya, D. (2017). Cave Story+ (v. 1.0.0) [Windows PC]. Nicalis.
IF TITLE FIRST: Candy Crush Saga (v. 1.219.0.6) [iOS]. (2022). King.
In-Text Citation
For an in-text citation in APA format, follow the format below.
If the author is known, (Author's Last Name, Year Published).
If the author is unknown, (Game Title, Year Published).
Ex:
If this guide was difficult to follow, use the template on the following website:
