Beyond Words: What It Really Takes to Translate Video Games

1. Context Is King — But Rarely Provided

The biggest challenge in game localization? Lack of context. If you’ve ever been handed a spreadsheet of disembodied strings like:

• “Charge”

• “Save”

• “Unlock”

• “Continue?”

…you know the struggle.

Does “Charge” mean to attack? To store electricity? To take payment? Is “Save” a verb or a noun? Is “Continue?” a prompt or a question from a character?

The truth is, most of the time, translators receive content out of order, out of context, and under tight deadlines. That’s why smart translators learn to ask the right questions — or develop detective-like instincts. We look at filename structures, UI references, character names in adjacent lines, and even placeholder variables to figure out what’s happening.

Pro Tip:

If the client offers a build or reference screenshots, prioritize them. A visual walkthrough of the UI or gameplay can solve 80% of string-related confusion.

2. Character Limits and the Curse of the UI

In-game menus, tooltips, and HUD (heads-up display) elements are often subject to strict character limits — especially in mobile games and Nintendo titles. German and French translators, in particular, know the pain of trying to fit compound-rich phrases into a box designed for short English terms.

And when the space is fixed, we don’t just translate — we compress. We need to find the shortest, clearest way to convey the same meaning, tone, and function.

Add to that the technical constraints: invisible characters, escape sequences, variables like %PLAYERNAME% or [HP_REMAINING] — one wrong move and you break the game.

Pro Tip:

Always test your strings in context when possible. If not, keep a running list of abbreviations and text shortening strategies that still preserve meaning. And never assume you can go over the limit — the game might just cut your sentence mid-word.

3. Tone, Voice, and Personality

A warrior speaks differently than a merchant. A teenager NPC won’t sound like a thousand-year-old vampire queen. And in fantasy and sci-fi games especially, the voice of the world is everything.

Video game translators must act as writers, actors, and linguists at once. We replicate the tone of the original while adapting it to feel natural and immersive in the target language. Literal translations kill atmosphere. But going too creative can cause consistency issues later if you don’t understand the narrative arc.

Pro Tip:

Build a style guide for each project, even if the client doesn’t ask for one. Define your tone, register, character-specific rules, and vocabulary decisions. It’ll save your sanity during patch updates or DLCs.

4. Terminology Management Is a Lifesaver

Is it a potion, vial, flask, or elixir? Is the enemy a goblin, imp, or gremlin? Is the sword “rusty,” “cracked,” or “battered”?

Consistency across quests, inventory, and dialogue is key to immersion. Players notice when terminology is inconsistent — and often post about it in forums.

In large projects, glossaries and termbases are essential. But even in smaller ones, I keep a personal terminology tracker. When collaborating with other translators, shared glossaries help avoid chaos (and embarrassing inconsistencies like “Magic Orb” becoming “Magic Ball” halfway through the game).

Pro Tip:

Tools like memoQ, Trados, or Smartcat let you manage terminology more effectively — but a simple Google Sheet can do the job too, especially when shared across a team.

5. Culturalization (Not Just Localization)

In some projects, translation is not enough. We need to adapt culturally sensitive or outdated content. This could mean tweaking names, avoiding inappropriate references, or finding local equivalents that won’t confuse or offend the player.

For example, games with religious references, alcohol, or suggestive content may need editing to comply with regional rating systems like PEGI, ESRB, or CERO. But even outside of compliance, some jokes or idioms just don’t work in the target culture.

Culturalization means going beyond language and thinking like a player from that culture. It’s empathy-driven localization.

Pro Tip:

Ask clients upfront what level of adaptation is allowed. Some prefer a faithful, “mirror” translation, while others give you full creative freedom. Clarify before you begin — and document every major adaptation you make.

6. Bugs, Builds, and QA Collaboration

One of the most underrated parts of video game localization is what happens after the initial translation: LQA (Linguistic Quality Assurance).

It’s one thing to translate text. It’s another to see it broken in the UI, cut off, mistriggered, or assigned to the wrong character. I’ve seen translated dialogue spoken by the wrong gendered voiceover, item descriptions mismatched with visuals, and button prompts mistranslated due to reused strings.

Being involved in LQA — or at least communicating closely with testers — is gold. It helps refine your skills, improves accuracy, and builds your reputation as someone who cares about the end result.

7. The Human Touch: What AI Can’t Do (Yet)

With the rise of machine translation and AI-powered tools, some might wonder: is video game translation still a viable field?

Absolutely — and more than ever.

Because games are storytelling mediums. They rely on nuance, humor, style, and emotional beats. MT might help with boilerplate strings or technical descriptions, but it can’t write convincing dialogue, maintain in-world consistency, or adapt humor across cultures.

Game localization is human work, and it rewards those who think like both writers and players.

Final Thoughts: Love the Craft

Video game translation is not for everyone. It’s messy, demanding, and sometimes frustrating. But it’s also one of the most rewarding areas of translation — where your words become part of a living, breathing world that players explore and love.

If you're new to this field: read game scripts. Play games in multiple languages. Build your portfolio with mods or indie devs. Join communities like LocJAM or the IGDA LocSIG. And don’t be afraid to ask questions — even veteran translators still do.

And if you’re already working in game localization: keep sharpening your skills, and never lose your player’s curiosity. It’s the best compass we have.

🎮

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