How do I pick a model?

Every journey in Imagina is powered by an AI model that writes your story. You can pick the model from a selection: Each model has its own writing style, speed, and more importantly cost.

While Imagina is in beta, we're offering access to a wide range of models so we can gather community feedback. What works well for one player might not for another, and the same goes for different stories and worlds. We also provide a range of intelligence-to-price ratios to match all budgets. We want you to experiment! In the future, world creators will be able to suggest a model for their world so players get the best experience out of the box.

The model picker

When you start a new journey or during play, tap the model button () to open the picker. Models are split into two sections:

• Recommended: models we think offer the best experience for most players.
• Other models: expand this section to see experimental or niche options tagged as beta.

Each card shows the model's name, a short description of its personality, any tags, and an estimated credit cost per turn.

Understanding the names

Model names in Imagina are lore-flavored rather than technical. Each name has two parts:

• Family: the first word tells you the model's general style. For example, Astral models tend toward polished prose, while Nebula models lean into creative, imaginative writing.
• Tier: the second word hints at weight and cost. Spark models are lightweight and fast. Lumen models are heavier and more detailed. Blight is the cheapest tier.

In the future, we'll probably add a label to indicate when a model's underlying technology has been upgraded.

Tags explained

• recommended: a good pick for most players and worlds.
• beta: still being tuned. Quality may vary, but they can surprise you.
• expensive: noticeably higher credit cost per turn. Best for players who want the deepest possible storytelling.

Quick guide: which model should I pick?

Just want to play? Start with the default model (marked "default" in the picker). It is pre-selected when you create a journey and offers the best balance of quality, speed, and cost. If you find a model you prefer, you can make it your own default from your profile settings, and new journeys will pre-select it instead.

Want richer, deeper stories? Try a Lumen-tier model. They spend more time on each turn and produce more detailed prose, but cost more credits.

On a budget? Look at Spark or Blight-tier models. They are fast and cheap, great for casual play or longer sessions where you want to stretch your credits.

Want the model to reason before writing? Some models have extended thinking enabled (noted in their description). These models plan the scene internally before writing, which can improve consistency and plot tracking in complex worlds.

Feeling adventurous? The beta models under "Other models" offer different writing personalities. Some are verbose, some are punchy, some are community fine-tunes with strong genre instincts, and some are just very broken. Try a few turns and see what fits your taste.

Cost estimates

Each model card shows an estimated credit range per turn (e.g. "~7-18 credits per turn"). These are approximations. Actual cost depends on how long the story has been going and how complex the world is. Earlier turns tend to be cheaper; later turns with more context cost more.

Switching models mid-journey

You can change models between turns without starting over. Your story, characters, and world state carry over. This is useful if you want to try a different writing style partway through, or switch to a cheaper model when credits are running low.