Character AI, a startup that lets users chat with a variety of AI-powered characters, is now testing its desktop games and mobile web apps to increase engagement on its platform.

The games are available to paid subscribers of Character AI and a limited set of users on the free plan. For this initial release, the company developed two games, Speakeasy and War of Words.

Users with access to games can go to any character they are chatting with in the browser and tap the new controller icon. Users can play games with characters. The app shows a pop-up to users to start a new chat for games so that their previous conversation with the character remains the same.

In Speakeasy, users need to get the chatbot to say a particular word without using five listed words. For example, if you need to tell the bot “croissant” without using the listed words like pastry, butter, bake, French, and flaky.

In War of Words, users have to fight in character, and an AI referee decides who wins a particular round out of five rounds.

Character AI said it was the company’s way of making the service more fun.

“Our goal as an AI entertainment company is to find ways to make the Character AI experience more fun and fun. We are currently testing a feature that allows you to play with your favorite Characters, while keeping the immersive experience that users love,” a spokesperson told TechCrunch.

Users have their own characters for text-based games like this Space Adventure Game. However, the company is trying to bring its own games to the platform, too.

The character AI has gone through staff changes above Co-founders Noam Shazeer and Daniel De Freitas left for Google. The company is hiring a YouTube exec as chief product officerand Dominic Perella, who was the company’s general counsel, became interim CEO.

In December, Perella told TechCrunch that Character AI positions itself as an entertainment company. The introduction of games is a step that further reinforces that image.

“While there are companies in the space focused on connecting people with AI partners, that’s not what we’re aiming for with Character AI. What we want to do is really create a better entertainment platform. And so, as we grow and as we drive toward that goal of having people create stories, share stories on our platform, we need to change our safety practices to be first class,” he said. .

Platforms like the YouTube, LinkedInand Netflix used games to increase engagement on their platforms. Character AI is probably taking the same route so users can spend more time on the platform. According to analytics firm Sensor Tower, Character AI users spend 98 minutes per day on the app.

Last year, the company adds new safety equipment for teenagersincluding more prominent labels on AI characters informing users that these are not real people after the company became part of many cases. The startup also added a timeout notification when a user has been in the app for 60 minutes at a time.

TechCrunch has a newsletter focused on AI! Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Wednesday.