What games let you talk to AI?
Character.AI, AI Dungeon, and LifeSim all let you type to AI characters and get real answers back. inZOI also lets you use text to change what its characters do and think.
They are not the same kind of game. In one you chat with a single character. In another the AI tells a story. In LifeSim you talk to the people of a whole city. Below is what each one is good at.
One note: this is the LifeSim blog, so LifeSim is on the list. We say where the others are the better pick.
What does it mean to talk to an AI character?
In most games, you talk to characters by picking a line from a menu. The character then says a line someone wrote years ago.
With an AI character, you type whatever you want. An AI model reads it and writes an answer just for you. Ask a strange question, and you get an answer to that exact question.
Can you talk to AI characters in Character AI?
Yes. That is what it is for. Its store page says you can chat, call, text, and create with AI characters. You can type or use live voice calls, and you can design your own characters.
It is free, with a paid plan. Its App Store listing is rated 18+. There is no world or map around the chat. For more, read AI roleplay.
Can you talk to characters in AI Dungeon?
Yes. AI Dungeon calls itself a free AI text adventure game. You type what your character says or does, and the AI writes the rest, including what other characters say back.
The story is all text. There is no map, and the AI plays every character at once.
Are there games where you can talk to AI NPCs?
Yes. An NPC is a non-player character, one of the people in a game world. A few games now use AI for them.
inZOI
A paid life sim on PC, in Early Access. Its Steam page says character actions and thoughts can be changed with text, using a small language model that runs on your computer. It is a way to guide characters, not a full chat game.
LifeSim
In LifeSim, every person in the city is an AI character. Each one has a name, a job, a home, friends, goals, and a routine they follow by the minute. You walk up and type what you want to say. They answer in their own words. Read AI NPCs for how they work.
Do AI characters remember what you said?
In LifeSim, yes. People keep a journal of past events and use their recent memories when they talk to you. If you told someone about your new job yesterday, they can bring it up today. Read NPC memory.
They also text you first. You get messages in an inbox, and there are group text threads. Read NPCs that text you.
Which game should you pick to talk to AI?
| Game | Who you talk to | World | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character.AI | One character at a time | None | Free, with a paid plan |
| AI Dungeon | Characters in a story | Text only | Free |
| inZOI | You guide characters with text | 3D fictional cities | Paid |
| LifeSim | Every person in your city | Real cities on a 3D map of Earth | Free. No paid items. |
Pick Character.AI for one long chat. Pick AI Dungeon for a story. Pick LifeSim if you want people with their own lives around you. LifeSim is in English only, and you play alone.
Questions
Is there a game where you can talk to NPCs in your own words?
Yes. In LifeSim, you type what you want to say to anyone in the city. There are no dialogue menus.
Is there a free game where you can talk to AI?
Yes. AI Dungeon calls itself free. Character.AI is free with a paid plan. LifeSim is free with no paid items.
Can AI characters text you?
In LifeSim, yes. People text you on their own, and you can reply in your inbox.
Do you need to download a game to talk to AI?
Not for LifeSim. It runs in your browser on a computer or phone, and you can play as a guest.