How to Choose the Right Size in Video Game T-Shirts and Tank Tops

Quick answer

Start with the size range listed on the specific product page, because game apparel is built on different blank garments that don't fit the same way. If a shirt lists a unisex range like S-3X, it runs straight through the body and you can usually take your normal size. If it also lists a women's cut, that version is narrower through the waist and shoulders, so read the two ranges as separate garments rather than one chart.

Two shirts can both say "Large" and still fit nothing alike. Game apparel is printed on whatever blank the designer and printer chose, so the same label size can feel boxy on one shirt and trim on another. The fastest way to avoid a return is to read the size range and garment details on the product page before you add anything to the cart.

This guide walks through how to read those ranges, when to size up or down, and how print placement changes what looks right on you. It uses real Fangamer listings as examples so you can see how the details translate into a decision.

Read the size range before the size letter

The most useful line on a product page isn't the size you click, it's the full range the garment is offered in. That range tells you which blank the shirt is printed on, and different blanks fit differently. A shirt listed as unisex S-3X is cut straight and roomy through the body, while a listing that pairs a unisex range with a separate women's range is effectively two garments in one product.

When a listing shows both, treat them as separate purchases. The women's version is typically narrower at the shoulder and tapered at the waist, so someone who wears a medium in the unisex cut may prefer a large in the women's cut, or the reverse. If you're between sizes, the range itself is your first clue: a wide unisex range usually means more room to move, not a tighter fit.

• Write down the full size range before you pick a letter size.
• If a listing shows two ranges, decide which cut you want first, then pick the size.
• Between sizes? The roomier cut is usually the safer pick for everyday wear.

Unisex vs fitted: what actually changes

Unisex doesn't mean shapeless, and fitted doesn't mean tight. Unisex cuts are drafted with a straighter side seam and a wider shoulder, which reads as relaxed on most bodies. Fitted or women's cuts pull the waist in and shorten the sleeve slightly, so the same letter size sits closer to the body. Neither is better; they just solve different problems.

The decision rule is simple. If you want a shirt you can layer over a hoodie or wear loose in summer, go unisex. If you want a silhouette that follows your shape without extra fabric bunching at the waist, go fitted. Tank tops follow the same logic: a unisex tank hangs straighter and works as a layering piece, while a fitted tank is meant to be worn on its own.

• Layering over other clothes: choose unisex.
• Wearing alone and wanting a closer line: choose fitted.
• Tank tops: unisex for layering, fitted for solo wear.

How print placement changes the fit decision

Print placement matters as much as the cut. A large back print or a wrap-around design needs a little slack so the artwork doesn't distort when you move, which pushes you toward the roomier unisex option. A small chest hit or a pocket-area print looks better on a fitted cut because the graphic stays flat against the body.

This is also why you shouldn't size down just to get a snugger look on a shirt with a big back print. Sizing down pulls the fabric tight across the shoulders and can stretch the print area. If the design is the reason you're buying, let the garment stay in its intended fit and choose the cut that matches how you plan to wear it.

• Big back print: keep the roomier fit so the art stays flat.
• Small chest print: a fitted cut keeps the graphic crisp.
• Never size down to tighten a shirt with a large print.

Check the garment details, not just the label

Product pages often name the blank garment and its fabric, and that's worth reading. A 100% cotton tee and a poly-cotton tee can fit differently after a few washes, and the fabric blend tells you how much give to expect. If a page lists the blank, like a Canvas 3001 or a District Made style, you can compare it to a shirt you already own from the same maker.

When a specification isn't listed, treat that as a limitation rather than a guess. If the page doesn't state a fabric blend or a measurement, don't assume one. Use the size range, the cut, and the print placement to decide, and reach out to customer service if you're still unsure. A quick question beats a return.

• Note the blank garment name and compare it to a shirt you own.
• Cotton and poly-cotton blends can shrink or relax differently.
• If a spec is missing, ask before you buy rather than guessing.

Decision rules for picking your size

• One unisex range only: The listing offers a single straight cut, like the unisex S-3X on I Survived Crow Country. Take your normal size unless you want extra room for layering.
• Unisex plus women's ranges: The listing shows two cuts, as Anything Agency does with unisex and women's options. Pick the cut first, then the size, and don't compare letters across the two.
• Large back print or wrap design: Artwork that spans the back needs slack so it stays flat when you move. Stay in the intended fit and choose the roomier cut instead of sizing down.
• Poly-cotton blend: Blends like the one used on Intrepid Pursuer have more give than pure cotton. If you're between sizes and want a closer fit, the blend is the better candidate.
• Matching a set or series: Shirts in the same series often share one blank garment. One size decision covers every piece in that series.

Real listings, real fit clues

• Anything Agency: This official Ace Attorney t-shirt is printed on 100% cotton from Canvas and District, with a unisex XS-4X range, a women's XS-4X range, and a unisex 5X-6X range. Because the listing separates unisex and women's cuts, you should choose the cut first and then the size. The 100% cotton fabric has little stretch, so if you're between sizes, the roomier unisex option is the safer pick.
• I Survived Crow Country: This official Crow Country t-shirt is printed on soft, 100% cotton shirts from Dyenomite in a unisex S-3X range. A single unisex range means one straight cut to evaluate. The 100% cotton construction gives you a clear reference point if you already own a Dyenomite tee, and the S-3X span covers most everyday sizing without a second cut to compare.
• Intrepid Pursuer: This official Hollow Knight: Silksong shirt was designed by Studio Ilustrata and printed on soft, poly-cotton shirts from Canvas and District, part of a series with Wandering Knight and Nimble Protector. The poly-cotton blend has more give than pure cotton, so it tends to hold its shape with a little stretch. If you want the matching set, all three shirts in the series share the same blank, which means one size decision covers the whole group.

Who this sizing approach fits

Best for

• Shoppers who want a shirt they can layer over a hoodie or wear loose in summer
• Buyers who already know their size in a named blank like Canvas or District and want to match it
• Anyone building a matching set from one series and wanting one consistent fit

Not for

• Shoppers who want a tailored, body-hugging fit and should choose a fitted or women's cut instead
• Buyers who need exact garment measurements and should contact customer service before ordering

Size comes down to three things you can read before you buy: the full range on the listing, whether the cut is unisex or fitted, and how much room the print needs. Check those, compare the blank to a shirt you already own, and you'll land on the right fit the first time.