Button Up Shirts for Game Fans: Fit, Fabric, and Styling
By Fangamer - Video game shirts, plushes, books, and more. | Published: 2026-10-15
Category: Buying Guides
A practical buying guide to video game button up shirts: how to judge fit, fabric, and print placement so your game themed dress shirt works at the office and beyond.
Quick answer
Buy a video game button up shirt in a solid woven fabric like chambray cotton, check the size chart for chest and sleeve length, and treat the print as a detail rather than the whole shirt. If you want one shirt that reads as a game reference without shouting, start with the Rare Curiosities Button Up Shirt and size for your chest, not your usual T-shirt size.
Why fabric matters more than the graphic
A button up shirt lives or dies by its cloth. Woven cotton holds a collar shape, drapes cleanly over a belt, and takes a print without turning stiff. Chambray cotton in particular has a subtle two-tone weave that hides wrinkles and reads as business casual from a few feet away, which is exactly what a game themed dress shirt needs.
Knit fabrics behave differently. A soft cotton T-shirt is comfortable and cheap, but it collapses at the collar and shows every crease. If your goal is gaming apparel for work, a woven button up will outlast and out-dress a printed tee every time. Check the fiber content before you buy: 100% cotton is easy to wash and breathe, while poly-cotton blends resist shrinking but can feel warmer.
How to read fit without trying it on
Button up sizing is not T-shirt sizing. A unisex cut is usually straighter through the waist and longer in the body, so if you normally wear a medium tee, you may still wear a medium button up, but check the chest measurement first. Measure a shirt you already like across the chest, pit to pit, and compare that number to the size chart.
Sleeve length is the second checkpoint. A sleeve that ends at your wrist bone looks intentional; one that stops mid-forearm looks borrowed. If you are between sizes, size up for shoulder room and plan to tuck, or size down for a trimmer look if the fabric has some give. Garment unisex ranges often run XS through 5X, so most body types can find a match without guessing.
Print placement and styling for daily wear
The best patterned button up shirts put the artwork where a pocket or yoke would sit, then leave the rest of the shirt quiet. That balance lets you wear it with plain chinos, dark jeans, or a skirt without the outfit turning into a costume. If the print is large and centered, treat the shirt as the statement piece and keep everything else neutral.
For gaming apparel for work, button the collar one button lower than you would for a formal shirt and skip the tie unless the dress code calls for one. Roll the cuffs once if the sleeves run long. A shirt with a subtle all-over pattern can also layer under a cardigan or jacket, which stretches it across more of your week.
Decision rules for buying a game-themed button up
- Choose woven cotton if you need work-appropriate coverage: A 100% chambray or cotton woven holds a collar and hides wrinkles better than a knit. Pick the Rare Curiosities Button Up Shirt when you want one shirt that passes as business casual. If you can only buy one, buy the woven one.
- Size by chest measurement, not by T-shirt size: Measure a shirt you already like across the chest and compare it to the size chart. Unisex cuts run straight through the waist, so between sizes, size up for shoulders or down for a trimmer fit. Write your chest measurement down before you order.
- Match the print scale to your wardrobe: A small chest or yoke print layers under a jacket; a large all-over print like the crystal tie-dye on the Shaman's Quest shirt works best as the only pattern in the outfit. One patterned piece per outfit is the safe limit.
- Check the fiber blend if you run hot: 100% cotton breathes and washes easily, while poly-cotton blends resist shrinking but can feel warmer. The Farmhouse Patchwork Throw Blanket uses a 70/30 poly-cotton blend, which is a different use case than a shirt. For shirts, lean cotton; for blankets, blends are fine.
Catalog details that affect your decision
- Rare Curiosities Button Up Shirt: Official Banjo-Kazooie button up shirt designed by Jon Kay, made from 100% chambray cotton, and each one includes a bonus pin. Chambray cotton gives you a woven, business-casual texture rather than a flat tee feel, so this is the strongest pick if you need one shirt that works at the office and on weekends. The included pin is a small extra, not a reason to buy on its own.
- Emulated Mind: Official Citizen Sleeper shirt designed by Nina Matsumoto and printed by Forward on soft, 100% cotton shirts from Canvas and District. The 100% cotton build keeps it breathable and easy to wash, and the unisex sizing runs XS-4X with women's XS-4X and unisex 5X-6X options, so you can match your usual size instead of sizing up blindly.
- Shaman's Quest: Official ENA: Dream BBQ shirt designed by Marilyn Mitchell and printed by Forward on 100% cotton crystal tie-dyed shirts from Colortone. The crystal tie-dye makes each shirt visually unique, which is great if you want a patterned button up shirt that stands out, but it also means the exact dye pattern will differ from the product photo.
Who should buy a button up shirt versus another option
Best for
- Fans who want gaming apparel for work or semi-formal settings
- Anyone building a small wardrobe of patterned button up shirts that layer under jackets
- Buyers who prefer a woven collar and a print that reads as a subtle reference
Not for
- Shoppers who want a cheap everyday tee and do not care about collar shape
- People who refuse to check a size chart and want a guaranteed fit without measuring
- Anyone looking for a fully formal dress shirt with no game artwork
