When you think of AI, you probably think of ChatGPT. But it's also going to have a big impact on gaming, and in fact, AI has already started being used in games for a more natural and interactive form of storytelling.
That's right, there are tons of AI games that you can play right now, essentially allowing you to immerse yourself in worlds without the same confinements that traditional video games have. Here's to trying one for yourself. Here are five AI games that you can play right now.
AI Dungeon
As you can imagine, text-based games are a perfect use case for AI as it exists right now, considering the proliferation of services like ChatGPT. AI Dungeon is a perfect example of a text-based game that leverages AI tech. AI Dungeon is a text-based fantasy simulation game that allows you to direct AI to create worlds and scenarios within the game. There are few limits in this game and infinite possibilities for how the game will pan out. The game has a great community behind it too. You'll start by picking out a character or a world, or you can choose from one of the thousands of community-built scenarios that will get you started.
Because it's text-based, it's available pretty much everywhere too. You can play it online or download it straight to your smartphone and play it anywhere you go. The game is free to play on all platforms. However, some advanced features will require an AI Dungeon Subscription.
Kingpin Adventure
Kingpin Adventure is another text-based game with a slightly different vibe. The game is actually Breaking Bad-themed, and in it, you'll play a character in the world of Breaking Bad. It's relatively simple and easy to get started with, and doesn't even require you to sign in. You'll be given decisions to make and plot points along the way, helping build a narrative around your rise as a drug kingpin in Albuquerque. It's a great game for any Breaking Bad fan who wants something interactive, and after playing for only a few minutes, you’ll find that there are infinite possibilities.
AI Town
AI Town is a little more visual. While the game is still technically text-based, it has visual elements to it and a mind of its own. The game uses language models to simulate a virtual world in which characters can interact with you and each other, making decisions based on your prompts. Each character has their own occupation, personality, and pre-specified relationships with other characters. It's very interesting to watch the characters evolve with the prompts that you give them and interact with each other based on that too. The game is open source and available to play on GitHub, but you don't need an account, so you can head to the website and play now if you want.
Hexagon World
Hexagon World is pretty much what it sounds like: a game where you'll create worlds of hexagons. Essentially, it's a simulation game in which you'll create tiny worlds from open hexagons and be rewarded based on your creativity.
You'll build these hexagonal worlds through AI prompts, and you'll be able to see the worlds that others have created too. Each time you add a hexagon to the map, you'll be charged 100 points, but you'll earn points based on how creative your hexagons are. You can harvest these points daily. As long as you have 100 points, you can create a new hexagon on the map. It's a pretty unique game, and the fact that it allows you to see worlds created by others is an interesting touch.
Retail Mage
Retail Mage is an AI game on a much larger scale. The game leverages generative AI to change how NPCs act within the world. In Retail Mage, you'll play the role of a wizard working as a salesperson at a magical furniture store. The goal is to help customers with their requests as they come in. But you'll be able to do essentially whatever you want to fulfill those requests or not. NPCs using generative AI will respond as you go, and outcomes can vary widely.
This guide is about AI games that you can play right now, and technically, Retail Mage is a game that you can play on your own right now. The game is open source and still in beta, and you can sign up to playtest the game. Keep in mind, however, that things might be buggy or incomplete. You'll also need a moderately capable Windows computer to play it.
