Roleplay is a great way to build and develop your skills, and there’s no better place to do so than on a roleplay platform.
In our comprehensive overview, we’ll share the best roleplay platforms out there, along with some tips on how to choose the right platform and what features you should be on the lookout for.
What Is a Roleplay Platform?
A roleplay platform is a digital environment that allows users to engage in roleplay. It’s a system that folks can use to run apps, processes, and software. Roleplay platforms often offer different types of roleplay for folks to experiment with, from educational simulations to creative roleplay.
Essential roleplay platform features
Because roleplay is such a versatile subject, there are tons of roleplay platform features that users look for, depending on their needs and use cases. Most people who want to use a roleplay platform are looking for a virtual space where they can interact in real-time during simulated scenarios. However, the exact features will vary based on the kind of roleplay.
For example, folks who do creative, social roleplaying might prioritize features for storyboarding and character development.
Other people who want to focus on the more educational type of roleplay are more likely to look for realistic settings with real-time interaction that allows them to further develop their skills, be it communication skill, conflict resolution skills, or social skills.
Some of the most common roleplay platform features folks look for include:
- Screen sharing and recording capabilities, especially for social and collaborative roleplay
- AI-generated tips and feedback on how the roleplay went
- A strong support team and community
- Customizable scenarios and personas
Why are roleplay platforms useful?
Roleplay platforms can be very useful, especially when it comes to improving your personal or professional skill sets. Folks can practice valuable skills like feedback reception, creative thinking, sales frameworks, and more in a completely risk-free environment.
Let’s say you want to work on improving your ability to engage in small talk. While you can practice in real life at the grocery store or at your place of work, there’s a certain level of risk that comes with that. It’s not risky per se, but there’s always a chance you’ll misspeak or make a faux pas. With a roleplay platform, you don’t have to worry about socially awkward situations because they’re all simulated. It’s a safe place to practice skills before implementing them in real life.
How to Choose the Right Roleplay Platform
Choosing the right roleplay platform will totally depend on your individual needs and goals. Someone looking to practice live action roleplaying (LARPing) will likely have different needs and goals than someone who wants to practice for an upcoming job interview.
The first thing you should do when considering various platforms is narrow down your objectives. It can help to draft a few SMART goals (since they’re actionable, specific, and measurable) to best understand your needs.
You’ll also want to think about what format you prefer. For example, some roleplay platforms are strictly voice-based whereas others are mainly text-based, like in a roleplay forum. There’s also AI roleplay and virtual reality platforms.
Other roleplay platform factors to consider
When shopping around for a solid roleplay platform, one of the first things you can look for is an easy-to-use interface. Platforms that are difficult to use, hard to navigate, and not intuitive will make it less useful. If you like to use your phone for roleplay, make sure your platform is compatible on mobile devices.
Depending on the type of roleplay you’re focusing on, think about whether or not community is important for you. With social roleplaying, for example, community is huge. You’d likely seek out platforms that offer collaborative scenarios.
It’s also important to think about privacy and safety. Make sure the platform you use has some sort of built in protection. For example, Yoodli’s AI roleplay platform uses enterprise-grade privacy, including SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, and more.
Personalization options — like features that allow users to customize roleplay scenarios or personas — can also be a worthwhile factor to consider.
5 Best Roleplay Platforms to Check Out
If you’re looking for spaces to practice roleplaying or work on skills that would benefit from a roleplay, you’re in the right place. There are so many worthwhile options. Here are five of the best roleplay platforms worth checking out.
1. VirtualSpeech
VirtualSpeech is a digital platform meant to help folks practice their presentation and public speaking skills through roleplay scenarios. There are over 35 different scenarios to choose from and it leverages AI to provide actionable feedback and tips for improvement. Whether you’d like to practice delivering engaging sales pitches or a difficult conversation, VirtualSpeech provides video playback and recording so you can evaluate your performance.
There are two main subscription choices for individuals: monthly and annual. With a monthly subscription, you’ll pay $45 per month. With an annual subscription, it comes out to $399 per year. There’s also an enterprise-level subscription option, but your company would need to reach out directly to VirtualSpeech for pricing info.
2. Yoodli
One of the best roleplay platforms worth exploring is Yoodli. Yoodli is an AI-based roleplay platform that provides realistic scenarios that folks can use to achieve their goals, whether that’s making more effective sales calls or simply feeling comfortable with small talk at work. Well-known companies like Dale Carnegie, Korn Ferry, and Google have used Yoodli’s roleplay capabilities for their own purposes.
It works like this. You can choose one of Yoodli’s existing scenarios, like customer discovery calls or skills training, or customize your own roleplay scenario. There are tons of simulations you can experiment with depending on your own goals and needs. During the roleplay, you’ll engage in some back-and-forth conversation with an AI-generated partner to practice whatever specific skills you’re interested in.
But Yoodli goes beyond offering just roleplay services. It also acts as a communication coach and provides personalized, actionable feedback folks can use to improve. For example, users gain valuable insights on their delivery, listening, and word choice. This helps folks skip the guesswork and go straight to what they need to work on.
You can get started with Yoodli for free at https://yoodli.ai/.
3. Google Meet
Although it’s an underrated option, many people use Google Meet as a roleplay platform. Its video conferencing feature paired with the recording and screen sharing capabilities make it a worthwhile option to explore, especially for creative, social roleplays.
Plus, it’s relatively easy to use and intuitive for users who’ve never tried it before. It’s also pretty widely accessible compared to other options.
The main downside to Google Meet as a roleplay platform is that it doesn’t have features like Yoodli that provide advanced roleplay analysis. However, you can always save your Google Meet recording and run it through Yoodli for an in-depth analysis.
4. InWorld AI
InWorld AI is a roleplay platform that specializes in upskilling and training. Similarly to Yoodli, it lets teams build their own roleplay scenarios to integrate into their own training client along with specific enablement scenarios. It offers five main use cases, all backed by AI:
- Sales roleplay training
- Customer service roleplay training
- Manager roleplay training
- Employee roleplay training
- Roleplay training for difficult conversations
For information about pricing, individuals and companies alike will have to directly reach out to InWorld AI for a quote.
5. Zoom
Zoom is another video conferencing option that some people like as a roleplay platform. It’s similar to Google Meet in that it also provides screen sharing and recording capabilities. Zoom is also user-friendly and widely accessible.
Like Google Meet, the main drawback is that it doesn’t offer roleplay analysis, likely because it wasn’t designed specifically for roleplay. However, it’s still a worthwhile option worth trying, especially if you prefer group or social roleplay.
The Bottom Line
A solid roleplay platform can help you take your communication and social skills to the next level. With the rise of generative AI, the amount of roleplay platforms will likely increase with time, too. When you have platform options like Yoodli — where folks can pick from a plethora of scenarios or design their own — learning how to successfully engage in roleplay is easier than ever.
Sources
- VirtualSpeech: “Practice With Generative AI.”
- InWorld AI: “Upskill your team with AI role play training.”