mlsanityData to 7 Oct 2026

Game Theory Meets Large Language Models: A Systematic Survey with Taxonomy and New Frontiers

arXiv 2502.09053 ↗First posted 13 Feb 2025cs.AI cs.GT cs.LGcited by 14

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Abstract (arXiv)

Game theory is a foundational framework for analyzing strategic interactions, and its intersection with large language models (LLMs) is a rapidly growing field. However, existing surveys mainly focus narrowly on using game theory to evaluate LLM behavior. This paper provides the first comprehensive survey of the bidirectional relationship between Game Theory and LLMs. We propose a novel taxonomy that categorizes the research in this intersection into four distinct perspectives: (1) evaluating LLMs in game-based scenarios; (2) improving LLMs using game-theoretic concepts for better interpretability and alignment; (3) modeling the competitive landscape of LLM development and its societal impact; and (4) leveraging LLMs to advance game models and to solve corresponding game theory problems. Furthermore, we identify key challenges and outline future research directions. By systematically investigating this interdisciplinary landscape, our survey highlights the mutual influence of game theory and LLMs, fostering progress at the intersection of these fields.

Key facts. Cited by 14 papers in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Builds on 138 of its 219 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 13 Feb 2025.

Builds on

138 of 219 references.

References · 138

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  1. 2023Reward Design with Language Modelscited by 257
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  3. 2024Self-Play Preference Optimization for Language Model Alignmentcited by 228
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  16. 2023Can Large Language Models Serve as Rational Players in Game Theory? A Systematic Analysiscited by 91
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Cited by year (2026 to 7 Oct)

Citing papers per year: 2025: 6; 2026: 8.

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  1. 2025Code World Models for General Game Playingcited by 25
  2. 2026MINDGAMES: A Live Arena for Evaluating Social and Strategic Reasoning in Multi-Agent LLMscited by 5
  3. 2025Communication Enables Cooperation in LLM Agents: A Comparison with Curriculum-Based Approachescited by 4
  4. 2025The Price of Thought: A Multilingual Analysis of Reasoning, Performance, and Cost of Negotiation in Large Language Modelscited by 4
  5. 2026Byzantine Cheap Talk: Adversarial Resilience and Topology Effects in LLM Coordination Gamescited by 3
  6. 2025GTAlign: Game-Theoretic Alignment of LLM Assistants for Social Welfarecited by 2
  7. 2026Discovering Differences in Strategic Behavior Between Humans and LLMscited by 2
  8. 2025Shall We Play a Game? Language Models for Open-ended Wargamescited by 1
  9. 2026Communication Enhances LLMs' Stability in Strategic Thinkingcited by 1
  10. 2026Reasonably reasoning AI agents can avoid game-theoretic failures in zero-shot, provablycited by 1
  11. 2025Reasoning with Preference Constraints: A Benchmark for Language Models in Many-to-One Matching Marketscited by 0
  12. 2026When Identity Overrides Incentives: Representational Choices as Governance Decisions in Multi-Agent LLM Systemscited by 0
2 more
  1. 2026How memory can affect collective and cooperative behaviors in an LLM-Based Social Particle Swarmcited by 0
  2. 2026Is Lying an Emergent Behaviour in LLMs? Evidence from Gaslighting AI agents in a Sustainability Gamecited by 0