Mandate

What it is

Mandate is a browser strategy game by itch.io creator heartingNinja in which several AI models negotiate and fight on the same map. You watch a black node map alongside a text chat where each side bargains, betrays, and attacks nodes. The demo that opens by default runs on scripted bots and needs no key. To watch real models play, enter your own API key. The author says Claude wrote the rules first and ChatGPT and Gemini suggested changes ("The rules were written by AIs first."), without naming model versions. Real large language models take the seats as players, which sets it apart from most AI-themed games.

Who it's for: Players curious how different AI models bargain, who don't mind adding their own API key. If you just want a quick look, the default demo gives you the idea.

Before you start: The web version runs on HTML5 and is English only. The page doesn't say whether it works on phones. Real-model matches use your own API key, and the model provider may charge you. The author says OpenRouter offers free models, which we haven't tested. The author says your key goes only to the provider you pick, never to the author, and is forgotten when you close the tab. The author also warns against ticking "remember," because other itch.io games on the same domain may be able to read what your browser stores. Chat and board state during a match are sent to the provider you chose. At the end of a match you can choose to upload the score, models, and full transcript (without keys) to the author for balancing, and the source code shows these go to the author's email and a spreadsheet. The default demo is free. The source repo has no license.

Based on the itch.io game page and the project's public source code. Not tested by AI Inspiration World.