Are Games Italicized Rules Explained

Are Games Italicized? Exploring the Rules of Titles

Have you ever written about your favorite video game and wondered if you should put its title in italics? It’s a pretty common question! Sometimes it can feel like there are a lot of rules about writing, especially when it comes to titles of things. Let’s dive into the world of game titles and figure out when we should use italics, and when we shouldn’t.

Understanding Italics and Titles

Before we get to games specifically, let’s talk about why we use italics in the first place. Italics are a special kind of text that looks slanted like this: italics. We use them to make certain words or phrases stand out. Think of it like giving a word a little spotlight! They tell the reader, “Hey, pay attention to this!” We don’t just use italics for fun; we use them for very particular reasons.

Why Use Italics?

So, why exactly do we use italics? Here are some main reasons:

• Titles of Longer Works: We often use italics for titles of things like books, movies, and TV shows, but we also use them for games too.
• Foreign Words and Phrases: If you use a word that isn’t from English, it’s often put in italics. For example, “bon appétit”.
• Emphasis: We can use italics to show that a word is important or being stressed. Like, “I really don’t want to go to the dentist.”
• Specific words and letters: When writing about a word itself or a specific letter, italics help set it apart. For example, “The word cat has three letters”.

When Game Titles Get Italicized

Now, the big question – do we put game titles in italics? The short answer is: it depends! But, generally, we use italics for the titles of games just like books, movies, and TV shows.

Video Games and Italics

Most of the time, titles of video games, whether on a console, PC or mobile, get italicized. This is because they are considered published works, just like books or movies. Think of it like this, Super Mario Odyssey is treated the same way as the book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. They are both published works of art and entertainment.

So, if you’re writing about that awesome game you played last night, you’d write it like this:

• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
• Minecraft
• Fortnite
• Among Us
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Board Games and Italics

Board games are also in that same boat. When writing about board game titles, you generally want to use italics. Consider these examples:

• Monopoly
• Scrabble
• Ticket to Ride
• Clue
• Settlers of Catan

Card Games and Italics

Yes, card games also usually follow this rule. This includes collectible card games or standard deck card games. Here are some examples:

• Magic: The Gathering
• Pokémon Trading Card Game
• Uno
• Poker
• Blackjack

Mobile Games and Italics

Many of the mobile games that you play on your tablet or phone are also treated in the same way, they use italics. For example:

• Candy Crush Saga
• Temple Run
• Angry Birds
• Clash of Clans
• Genshin Impact

When to Skip the Italics

While we often italicize game titles, there are times when it’s not needed, or even incorrect. It’s crucial to know these exceptions to properly present game titles in your writing.

Short Informal Game References

Sometimes, we just talk about a game in a casual, everyday conversation. In those cases, we often skip the italics. If it’s not the actual name of the game, it does not need italics. It is a short form, and not an official title. For example, if you tell your friend, “I played a lot of Mario last night,” you wouldn’t use italics on “Mario,” because it’s a casual reference, not the full title. Here are some more examples:

• “I’m going to play some Zelda.” (instead of, I’m going to play The Legend of Zelda)
• “Want to play some Among Us?” (instead of, Want to play Among Us?)
• “I love playing Minecraft.”(instead of, I love playing Minecraft)

When a Game is Part of a Bigger Title

Sometimes game titles appear inside the title of something else, like an article. When a game title is a part of a bigger title of an article, or chapter, we typically don’t italicize it within that context. It keeps things from looking too cluttered.

For example:

• “The Best Strategies for Minecraft Survival Mode”
• “An In-depth Analysis of the Legend of Zelda Series”
• “Exploring the World of Animal Crossing and its Unique Appeal”

Game System Names

It’s also important to understand that game system names are not italicized. These are proper nouns, like brands. So we write about a “PlayStation 5,” not a PlayStation 5. Same for an “Xbox Series X,” or “Nintendo Switch.”

Here are some examples:

• “I play Mario Kart on my Nintendo Switch.”
• “Have you tried that new game on the PlayStation?”
• “The graphics on the Xbox are incredible.”

Game Characters

Game character names are usually not put in italics either. Character names are proper nouns; therefore, they do not need to be italicized. For example:

• “Mario is my favorite character to play in Mario Kart.”
• “I love playing with Link in The Legend of Zelda.”
• “My favorite Pokemon is Pikachu.”

Specific Considerations

Sometimes, things are a bit more complex. Let’s delve into some specific cases where we need to be extra careful with italics.

Series Titles

Series titles can be tricky! When writing about a whole series of games, it might depend on how you’re using the title. If you’re referring to the series generally, without mentioning one specific title, you would not use italics. However, when you mention a specific game title from the series, you will italicize it. For Example:

• “I love the Final Fantasy series” (general series)
• “Have you played Final Fantasy VII Remake?”(referring to a specific game in the series)

Reboots, Remakes and Remasters

When game titles have a reboot, remake, or remaster, those names are usually italicized. These are treated as the names of a new work. Consider these examples:

• Resident Evil 2 Remake
• Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
• The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

Games with Numbers

Numbers in the game titles are still italicized along with the letters. For example, Grand Theft Auto V is correctly written with the number in italics.

• Halo 3
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
• NBA 2K24

When the Game Title is also a Location

In cases where game titles are also locations, the italicization rule still applies if it’s the name of the game. If we use it as a location, however, it may not always need italics. For example:

• “Have you ever played Bioshock? I love the city of Rapture.”(Here, “Bioshock” is the name of the game, italicized; “Rapture” is a location, not italicized.)
• “I spent hours exploring Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda.”(“Hyrule” here refers to the location and it’s not italicized.)

Consistency is Key

No matter what rules you follow, the most important thing is to be consistent throughout your writing. Once you decide on using italics for game titles, you should use it every time throughout your article. Don’t switch between using and not using italics. It’s like picking a font for your text; you stick with it through out! Consistency makes your writing clear and easy to understand.

If you are writing an article for school or for publication, always follow the guidelines in the style guide you are working with. If you have a specific style you are following, make sure that your use of italics always meets those standards.

Examples in Action

Let’s put all of this information together. Here is an example of how you might write about games, with everything in the correct format:

“Last night, I played a lot of Minecraft on my PC. It’s one of my all-time favorite games, especially because I love building things. My little sister enjoys playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons on her Nintendo Switch. We sometimes play together, which is a lot of fun. While I enjoy Minecraft, my older brother always plays Call of Duty. We were trying to decide on what to play next; maybe a game of Monopoly?”

As you can see, the italicization of game titles and console names makes your writing clearer, making it easy for the reader to know what we’re talking about!

So there you have it! Understanding when to use italics for game titles doesn’t have to be a mystery. With these helpful tips, you’ll be writing about your favorite games like a pro!