Large Language Model-Based Role-Play Simulation

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Overview

This field studies how language models can simulate people and characters in interactive settings, from fictional worlds and customer conversations to clinical, educational, and social scenarios. Common approaches combine persona prompts with dialogue memory, psychological or knowledge-state models, multi-agent designs, and fine-tuning or reinforcement learning to shape behavior over multiple turns. Researchers evaluate realism, persona consistency, task outcomes, and safety using human judgments, dialogue benchmarks, and comparisons with real-world behavior. A central challenge is that fluent role-play can still fail to reflect a person's knowledge, motivations, or boundaries, while longer interactions can expose drift, bias, and unsafe responses.

Latest papers

CardsList

111 papers21 papers in the last four weeks, up 62% on the four weeks before. 0.1% of all new papers.

  1. Personality, Role, and Expressive Style in Large Language Models: An Interactionist Analysis

    May 27, 2026Moe Nagao, Koichiro Terao, Mikio Nakano +1Large Language Model-Based Role-Play SimulationLLM Prompting

    Okayama Prefectural University · AI & Humans Lab · C4A Research Institute

  2. From Facts to Insights: A Persona-Driven Dual Memory Framework and Dataset for Role-Playing Agents

    May 25, 2026Rongsheng Zhang, Ruofan Hu, Weijie Chen +7Large Language Model-Based Role-Play SimulationPersonality Modeling in Language Models

    Zhejiang University · Fuxi AI Lab, Netease Inc.

  3. PersonaArena: Dynamic Simulation for Evaluating and Enhancing Persona-Level Role-Playing in Large Language Models

    May 16, 2026Wenlong Shi, Jianxun Lian, Mingqi Wu +5Large Language Model-Based Role-Play SimulationPersonality Modeling in Language Models

    College of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Shenzhen University, China · Microsoft Research Asia · Microsoft Gaming +2

  4. How Well Do Large Language Models Capture Human Personality?

    May 12, 2026Aanisha Bhattacharyya, Yaman Kumar Singla, Rajiv Ratn Shah +2Persona-Conditioned GenerationRepresentation Collapse

    Adobe Media and Data Science Research (MDSR) · IIIT-Delhi · SUNY at Buffalo

  5. SalesSim: Benchmarking and Aligning Multimodal Language Models as Retail User Simulators

    May 8, 2026Yada Pruksachatkun, Elaine Wan, Lyanna Chen +2RL for Language ModelsLarge Language Model-Based Role-Play Simulation

    Salesforce Research · University of California Los Angeles

  6. Reward-Decomposed Reinforcement Learning for Immersive Video Role-Playing

    May 6, 2026Miao Wang, Yuling Shi, Yijiang Li +8Grounded Text GenerationLarge Language Model-Based Role-Play Simulation

    1Nanjing University · 2Shanghai Jiao Tong University · University of California, San Diego +3

  7. MUSE: Multi-Domain Chinese User Simulation via Self-Evolving Profiles and Rubric-Guided Alignment

    Apr 15, 2026Zihao Liu, Hantao Zhou, Jiguo Li +5User SimulationLarge Language Model-Based Role-Play Simulation

    College of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, Fudan University · Meituan

  8. Character Beyond Speech: Leveraging Role-Playing Evaluation in Audio Large Language Models via Reinforcement Learning

    Apr 15, 2026Dongjie Fu, Fangming Feng, Xize Cheng +3Audio-Language Model EvaluationLarge Language Model-Based Role-Play Simulation

    Meituan, Shanghai, China

  9. EvoSpark: Endogenous Interactive Agent Societies for Unified Long-Horizon Narrative Evolution

    Apr 14, 2026Shiyu He, Minchi Kuang, Mengxian Wang +2Large Language Model-Based Role-Play SimulationInteractive Storytelling

    School of Computer Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China · Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

  10. Beyond Prompt: Fine-grained Simulation of Cognitively Impaired Standardized Patients via Stochastic Steering

    Apr 14, 2026Weikang Zhang, Zimo Zhu, Zhichuan Yang +3Large Language Model-Based Role-Play SimulationLanguage Model Steering

    School of Software, Xi’an Jiaotong University · Institute of Data Science, National University of Singapore · College of Computer Science, Sichuan University +1

  11. Collaborative Multi-Agent Scripts Generation for Enhancing Imperfect-Information Reasoning in Murder Mystery Games

    Apr 13, 2026Keyang Zhong, Junlin Xie, Hefeng Wu +2VLM ReasoningMultimodal Reasoning

    Sun Yat-sen University · Shenzhen Loop Area Institute · The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen

  12. RPA-Check: A Multi-Stage Automated Framework for Evaluating Dynamic LLM-based Role-Playing Agents

    Apr 13, 2026Riccardo Rosati, Edoardo Colucci, Massimiliano Bolognini +2Role-Playing Agent EvaluationLLM Agent Evaluation

    Department of Political Sciences, Communication and International Relations, University of Macerata, Via Don Minzoni 22/A, Macerata, 62100, Italy · Deparment of Information Engineering, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Brecce Bianche 12, Ancona, 60131, Italy · Department of Law, University of Macerata, Piaggia dell’Università 2, Macerata, 62100, Italy

  13. ActorMind: Emulating Human Actor Reasoning for Speech Role-Playing

    Apr 13, 2026Xi Chen, Wei Xue, Yike GuoLarge Language Model-Based Role-Play Simulation

    The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  14. Too Nice to Tell the Truth: Quantifying Agreeableness-Driven Sycophancy in Role-Playing Language Models

    Apr 12, 2026Arya Shah, Deepali Mishra, Chaklam SilpasuwanchaiLLM SycophancyLarge Language Model-Based Role-Play Simulation

    IIT Gandhinagar Gandhinagar, India · IIT Kanpur Kanpur, India · Asian Institute of Technology Bangkok, Thailand

  15. Beyond Compliance: A Resistance-Informed Motivation Reasoning Framework for Challenging Psychological Client Simulation

    Apr 12, 2026Danni Liu, Bo Liu, Yuxin Hu +5Large Language Model-Based Role-Play Simulation

    Southeast University, Nanjing, China · Purple Mountain Laboratories, Nanjing, China · The Nanjing Derong Wisdom Information Technology Co., Ltd., Nanjing, China

  16. SPASM: Stable Persona-driven Agent Simulation for Multi-turn Dialogue Generation

    Apr 10, 2026Han Luo, Guy LabanMulti-Turn Dialogue ManagementLarge Language Model-Based Role-Play Simulation

    University of Leeds · Southwest Jiaotong University · Ben-Gurion University of the Negev +1

  17. Evaluating Large Language Models in a Complex Hidden Role Game

    Apr 9, 2026Niklas BauerDeception in Language ModelsStrategic Reasoning Risks in Language Models

    University of Göttingen

  18. From Synthesis to Clinical Assistance: A Strategy-Aware Agent Framework for Autism Intervention based on Real Clinical Dataset

    Apr 9, 2026Junhong Lai, Shuzhong Lai, Yanhao Yu +5Autism Spectrum DisorderClinical Decision Support

    MOE Frontiers Science Center for Brain and Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University · Nanhu Brain-Computer Interface Institute · College of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang University +4

  19. Sell More, Play Less: Benchmarking LLM Realistic Selling Skill

    Apr 8, 2026Xuanbo Su, Wenhao Hu, Le Zhan +8LLM Agent EvaluationPersuasion in Language Models

    Bairong Inc. · Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences · Zhongguancun Academy +4

  20. CCD-CBT: Multi-Agent Therapeutic Interaction for CBT Guided by Cognitive Conceptualization Diagram

    Apr 8, 2026Chang Liu, Changsheng Ma, Yongfeng Tao +2Conversational AgentsLarge Language Model-Based Role-Play Simulation

    School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University

  21. Do No Harm: Exposing Hidden Vulnerabilities of LLMs via Persona-based Client Simulation Attack in Psychological Counseling

    Apr 6, 2026Qingyang Xu, Yaling Shen, Stephanie Fong +7LLM SafetyAdversarial Attacks on LLMs

    Monash University · University of Liverpool

  22. What Makes a Sale? Simulating End-to-End Seller--Buyer Retail Dynamics with LLM Agents

    Apr 6, 2026Jeonghwan Choi, Jibin Hwang, Gyeonghun Sun +4User SimulationHuman Behavior Simulation

    Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) · GS Retail · Cluvion

  23. Train Yourself as an LLM: Exploring Effects of AI Literacy on Persuasion via Role-playing LLM Training

    Apr 3, 2026Qihui Fan, Min Ge, Chenyan Jia +1AI LiteracyPersuasion in Language Models

    Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University · College of Arts, Media and Design, Northeastern University

  24. Shiny Stories, Hidden Struggles: Investigating the Representation of Disability Through the Lens of LLMs

    Apr 2, 2026Marco Bombieri, Simone Paolo Ponzetto, Marco RospocherSocial Bias in Language ModelsLanguage Model Bias Evaluation

    Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science, University of Trento, Italy · Data and Web Science Group, University of Mannheim, Germany

  25. A Safety-Aware Role-Orchestrated Multi-Agent LLM Framework for Behavioral Health Communication Simulation

    Mar 31, 2026Ha Na ChoMulti-Agent LLM SystemsLarge Language Model-Based Role-Play Simulation

    Department of Informatics, University of California, Irvine, USA

  26. LLM Agents Predict Social Media Reactions but Do Not Outperform Text Classifiers: Benchmarking Simulation Accuracy Using 120K+ Personas of 1511 Humans

    Mar 31, 2026Ljubisa Bojic, Alexander Felfernig, Bojana Dinic +4LLM Agent EvaluationHuman Behavior Simulation

    Institute for Artificial Intelligence Research and Development of Serbia · University of Belgrade, Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, Digital Society Lab · Complexity Science Hub, Vienna, Austria +4

  27. SocialWise: LLM-Agentic Conversation Therapy for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder to Enhance Communication Skills

    Mar 28, 2026Albert TangAutism Spectrum DisorderLarge Language Model-Based Role-Play Simulation

  28. PoliticsBench: Benchmarking Political Values in Large Language Models with Multi-Turn Roleplay

    Mar 25, 2026Rohan Khetan, Ashna KhetanPolitical Bias in Language ModelsLanguage Model Bias Evaluation

    Northville High School, Northville, USA · Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, USA

  29. Synthetic or Authentic? Building Mental Patient Simulators from Longitudinal Evidence

    Mar 24, 2026Baihan Li, Bingrui Jin, Kunyao Lan +2Large Language Model-Based Role-Play SimulationMemory-Augmented Language Model Agents

    SJTU Paris Elite Institute of Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China · X-LANCE Lab, School of Computer Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China · School of Computer Science and Engineering, Northeastern University, China +1

  30. DeEscalWild: A Real-World Benchmark for Automated De-Escalation Training with SLMs

    Mar 20, 2026Md Hasebul Hasan, Krity Haque Charu, Eshwara Prasad Sridhar +2Small Language ModelsAgent Skill Learning

    Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington, USA · Department of Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington, USA