Why AI and simulation games are a perfect match

Simulation games have long been beloved for their blend of realism, creativity, and player autonomy. Classic titles like The Sims, SimCity, and Stardew Valley have set high standards for gameplay complexity, player engagement, and player retention. These games thrive on the intricate balance between realism, player control, emergent NPC behavior, and dynamic gameplay, making them fertile ground for experimenting with advanced AI.

AI agents offer the potential to introduce a new level of realism and unpredictability, populating game worlds with characters who might be competitors, collaborators, or bystanders that have their own goals, emotions, and adaptive behaviors. These agents can interact with the player and each other in ways that mimic the nuances of real-world social dynamics, economies, and ecosystems. 

AI agents can also support non-NPC related use cases in simulation games like helping generate procedural content, control societal dynamics, and offer endless scenarios to boost replayability. This not only promises to deepen player immersion but also makes each game session a unique experience.

By infusing simulation games with intelligent, responsive, and adaptive agents, developers can create richer, more realistic, and infinitely replayable worlds.

Ways to integrate AI into simulation games 

Simulation games, which include everything from city-building games like SimCity to life simulators like The Sims, are a genre that holds particular promise for the integration of AI agents as shown by the Stanford Village experiment. 

By leveraging the capabilities of AI, developers can create richer, more adaptive game environments that respond to player actions in real-time, enhancing both engagement and replayability. 

Add AI NPCs as characters

Villagers or characters

In role playing and city simulation games like The Sims, Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley, AI NPCs can be implemented as neighbors, friends, or co-workers with unique personalities and behaviors that evolve over time and influence the social dynamics and daily life of the player's characters. 

AI characters can have distinct personalities, hobbies, and backstories – making the game world feel alive.They can autonomously make decisions, pursue personal goals, and react to the player's actions to create a complex, living world where each NPC adds depth and realism to the simulation. 

These AI characters can also participate in community events, engage in daily routines, form social networks, run shops, and even take on roles in local governance, enhancing the immersive experience of living in a virtual community. Dynamic interactions with these AI villagers enhance the player's connection to the game world and encourage exploration.

AI companions

In simulation games like Fallout Shelter or My Time at Portia, AI NPCs can act as companions who assist players in various tasks and adventures. These companions can accompany players on quests, help with resource gathering, or defend against threats. For example, in Fallout Shelter, companions could explore the wasteland, gather supplies, and engage in combat, providing invaluable support to the player’s vault. 

AI companions can add a layer of strategy and collaboration as players must choose the right NPCs for different tasks and manage their relationships with them to maintain loyalty and trust. That can enhance the sense of partnership and teamwork within the game and make the player's journey more engaging and interactive.

Romantic interests

In simulation games that include social or life simulation elements, such as Persona or Harvest Moon, AI NPCs can serve as romantic interests and provide players with meaningful relationships. These AI characters can develop their own unique personalities, preferences, and story arcs, allowing players to engage in dialogue, give gifts, and go on dates to develop deeper bonds. 

As relationships progress, players can unlock special events, new dialogue options, and exclusive content, making the romantic journey rewarding and immersive. 

The dynamic interactions with AI romantic interests can add emotional depth to the gameplay and encourage players to explore different relationship paths and outcomes which will enhance the replayability of the game.

Non-NPC use cases

Narrative/story assistant

AI agents can be deployed in simulation games as narrative or story assistants, dynamically crafting storylines and quests that enhance the gameplay experience. For example, in a game like Stardew Valley, an AI agent could analyze the player’s actions and preferences to generate unique plotlines or personal quests tailored to their farm management style and relationships with NPCs. 

A narrative AI director could introduce new story events – such as a mysterious visitor arriving in town or a local festival needing the player's help – that are contextually relevant to the player’s progress, decisions, and interests. By dynamically adapting the narrative to the player's choices and play style, AI agents as story assistants ensure a rich, personalized gaming experience that feels fresh during each playthrough.

Narrator/commentary

AI agents can be used as narrators or to provide real-time commentary in simulation video games. This can greatly enrich the storytelling and provide players with more context. 

For example, in a city-building game like Cities: Skylines, an AI narrator could offer commentary on the player's urban development and provide historical context, humorous anecdotes, or critiques based on the city’s growth and the player’s decisions. 

The AI could dynamically adjust its commentary based on in-game events, such as congratulating the player on successfully handling a disaster or offering suggestions when the city faces economic challenges. 

Players could also choose from different styles of narration or customize the personality or style of the narrator to change their experience during each playthrough. 

Onboarding

AI agents can significantly improve the onboarding process in simulation video games by offering personalized, adaptive tutorials and guidance.

For example, in a complex simulation game like The Sims, an AI onboarding assistant could tailor its instructions and tips to the player's familiarity with the game mechanics and progress. If a new player is struggling with building a house or managing a family, the AI could jump in to offer step-by-step guidance, suggest simpler tasks, or provide hints that are specific to their current challenge. 

For more experienced players, the AI could skip basic instructions and focus on advanced strategies or new features. This adaptive approach ensures that all players, regardless of their skill level, receive the support they need to quickly understand and enjoy the game which will reduce frustration and  churn. 

AI players

In simulation games like Football Manager or RollerCoaster Tycoon, AI NPCs can function as AI players or competitors, simulating rival managers, park owners, or sports teams. These AI players can autonomously manage their own operations, make strategic decisions, and compete against the player in various aspects of the game. 

For example, in Football Manager, AI managers could scout players, set up tactics, and negotiate transfers. Players could interact with these AI counterparts through negotiations, competitions, and alliances. 

Benefits of integrating AI into simulation games

More realistic and complex simulations

Generative AI agents and NPCs can significantly enhance the realism and complexity of simulation games. AI-driven characters exhibit more nuanced and lifelike behaviors because they can adapting to dynamic environments and player interactions in real-time. 

This leads to simulations that mirror real-world scenarios with greater fidelity, creating immersive worlds where NPCs respond realistically to environmental changes, exhibit complex social behaviors, and engage in intricate economic systems.

Greater personalization

Generative AI allows for a high degree of personalization in simulation games, allowing developers to tailor experiences to individual player preferences and behaviors. AI agents can analyze player actions and decisions to generate content, challenges, and storylines that align with the player's style and interests. 

This dynamic customization ensures that each player's experience is unique and keeps the game engaging and relevant. 

Closer relationships with NPCs

Generative AI enhances the depth and emotional relevance of relationships players can form with NPCs in simulation games. AI-driven characters can remember past interactions, develop unique personalities, and evolve their relationships with players over time. 

This creates a more emotionally engaging experience since players can build meaningful connections with NPCs which leads to them feeling more connected to the game world. These relationships foster a stronger sense of investment in the game and allow players new gameplay options such as navigating social dynamics, forming alliances, and making decisions that impact their connections with the NPCs.

Enhanced storytelling

Generative AI agents and NPCs can revolutionize storytelling in simulation games by creating dynamic, adaptive narratives that respond to player actions and choices. 

Instead of static storylines, AI can generate plot twists, character arcs, and world events that evolve based on the player's interactions. This allows for richer, more engaging stories that unfold in a non-linear fashion, providing players with a sense of agency and influence over the game’s narrative. 

Innovation

Incorporating generative AI agents and NPCs into simulation games drives innovation by enabling the creation of more dynamic and interactive game worlds. AI technologies allow for the development of sophisticated game mechanics that can adapt to player behavior, generate new content on the fly, and simulate complex systems with greater accuracy. 

This paves the way for new genres and gameplay experiences that were previously impossible, such as simulations that evolve in real-time or games where NPCs can learn and grow alongside the player or where players can completely customize the characters in the simulation. 

Improved replayability and longevity

Generative AI agents and NPCs can significantly enhance the replayability and longevity of simulation games by creating a constantly evolving game world that offers new experiences with each playthrough. 

This dynamic content generation keeps the game fresh and engaging, encouraging players to explore different strategies and outcomes. The evolving nature of AI-driven characters and events provides endless opportunities for discovery and experimentation – extending the game’s lifespan and maintaining player interest.

Streamline development and reduced costs

Generative AI can streamline the development process of simulation games and reduce costs by helping to generate autonomous NPCs who can simulate behavior without complex scripting. AI-driven systems can also help by generating drafts of complex game elements such as storylines and character behaviors. This allows developers to focus on refining core gameplay mechanics and enhancing player experience while continuously adding new content. By leveraging generative AI, developers can deliver richer, more diverse game worlds more efficiently and keep the game updated and engaging with minimal resource investment.

The future of AI in simulations games

Incorporating generative AI agents and NPCs into simulation games not only enhances the realism, personalization, and narrative depth of the game but also fosters innovation, improves accessibility, and extends the game’s replayability and lifespan. 

Additionally, it streamlines development, making it possible to deliver more content and features at reduced costs, ultimately creating more engaging and sustainable gaming experiences.

However, it’s critical that the AI you incorporate is able to generate dialogue and behaviors in your game that are natural and in-character. Inworld helps ensure this by working with clients to finetune models that replicate the tone of your characters while ensuring their responses draw on the lore and context of the game.