Character.AI Launches Books Mode Offering Structured Roleplaying in Classic Literature

Character.AI launched a new Books mode on April 16, 2026, allowing users to engage in structured roleplaying experiences within familiar literary worlds, The Verge reported. Character.AI’s mobile app and its web-based prototype hub, Labs. Books mode includes a catalog of more than 20 classic public domain titles sourced from Project Gutenberg.

The collection features works such as Alice in Wonderland, Pride and Prejudice, Dracula, Frankenstein, Romeo and Juliet, and The Great Gatsby. The mode offers two main interaction styles: Book arc mode, which follows the original narrative, plot points, and stakes while integrating the user into the story, and Off-script mode, which allows freer interaction with the world and characters.

Additionally, a more guided experience called TapTale, featuring pre-written prompts alongside freeform typing, is planned for release soon. Users can also rework a book’s premise through alternative universe remixes and share these versions with others. Free users have limited access, receiving only a handful of free turns to try out Books mode.

The company shut down open-ended chat features for minors last year and introduced more structured experiences called Stories. The company is currently facing lawsuits alleging harm to teens’ mental health, according to The Verge.