Hongjia Meng¹ and Moddwyn Andaya², ¹Kantonale Mittelschule Uri, Switzerland, ²California State Polytechnic University, USA

Language barriers continue to challenge immigrants as they adapt to new environments, often limiting their confidence and social integration. Many existing language-learning applications fail to provide immersive, adaptive, and emotionally supportive experiences-particularly for beginners. This game is about learning language by talking and interacting with NPCs in real life scenes [1]. The aim is to remove the language barrier of a newcomer who doesn't have enough motivation and bravery to talk in real life by simulating real life in a game, where the player only talks to NPCs. This paper introduces an AI-powered language learning game designed to simulate real-world conversations in a safe and engaging virtual environment. Players navigate through a city, interact with dynamic NPCs, and receive language support through a personalized guide who speaks their native language. This guide gradually shifts to the target language, helping users build confidence and fluency over time. The system leverages OpenAI's GPT-4o model to deliver context-aware, level-appropriate dialogue, ensuring that players are neither overwhelmed nor under-challenged. A user study showed that the game effectively fosters engagement and supports language acquisition, though it also highlighted areas for improvement in navigation and user interface design. Compared to traditional apps, this game offers a richer, more supportive learning experience by combining adaptive AI, immersive storytelling, and real-time conversational practice. Ongoing development will enhance usability and explore features such as multiplayer interaction to further support language learners.

Language Learning Gamification, NPC Interaction, Immersive Language Acquisition, Real-Life Simulation