Instant Games

Reviews

Updated: Mar 3, 2026
Copy for LLM
Before your Instant Game can go live on Facebook, your game must pass several reviews that confirm it meets Facebook’s quality standards, complies with platform policies, and provides a good experience for players.

Why reviews exist

Facebook’s review processes serve multiple purposes:
  • Player protection. Reviews ensure that games on the platform are safe, functional, and do not violate player privacy or trust.
  • Quality standards. Reviews maintain a high bar for the overall game catalog, which benefits all developers by ensuring that players have positive experiences and continue to engage with games on the platform.
  • Policy compliance. Reviews verify that games comply with Facebook’s Platform Policies, content guidelines, and legal requirements.
Passing all required reviews is a prerequisite for launching your game. The review process is designed to verify that your game meets Facebook’s quality standards, functions correctly across platforms, and complies with platform policies before launch.

Review types

There are four review processes you should be aware of. The first three are required for all Instant Games. The fourth is required only if your game includes in-app purchases.

1. Approved Partner Program

What it is: An application process to become a verified Instant Games developer on the Facebook platform.
Why it exists: Facebook vets developers to ensure they are legitimate, committed to building quality games, and able to comply with platform policies.
When to apply: As early as possible, ideally while your game is still in development. Approval can take one to four weeks, and you cannot launch without it.
How it works: See the Approved Partner Program guide for application steps. You submit the application in the App Dashboard and provide information about your team, experience, and planned games. Facebook reviews your application and either approves or declines it. If approved, you are authorized to publish Instant Games on the platform.
Key point: This is a one-time process. Once approved, you can publish multiple games without reapplying.

2. App Review

What it is: Facebook’s review of the permissions and features your app requests access to.
Why it exists: To verify that your app uses requested permissions appropriately and in accordance with Facebook’s data policies.
When to submit: After your game is functional and you have integrated the features that require reviewed permissions.
Details:App Review

3. Quality review (Instant Games Review)

What it is: A comprehensive review of your game’s quality, gameplay, performance, content, and compliance with Instant Games-specific guidelines.
Why it exists: To ensure that every game on the platform meets a minimum quality bar and provides a good player experience.
When to submit: After your game is complete, all assets are uploaded, and you are ready to go live.
Details:Quality Guidelines and Asset Design Guidelines

4. IAP review (if applicable)

What it is: A review of your game’s in-app purchase implementation, pricing, and user experience.
Why it exists: To ensure that in-app purchases are implemented correctly, that players clearly understand what they are buying, and that pricing is fair and transparent.
When to submit: After you have implemented in-app purchases in your game and are ready for them to go live.
Key considerations:
  • All purchasable items must have clear descriptions and pricing.
  • Players must receive what they pay for immediately and reliably.
  • Virtual currency systems must be clearly explained to the player.
  • Your game must support refund and dispute processes.
  • Purchases must not be misleading, deceptive, or predatory.

Review order and dependencies

The reviews do not have strict ordering requirements, but in practice, the most efficient path is:
1. Apply to Approved Partner Program (do this first, while developing)
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2. Create app and upload game bundle
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3. Submit for App Review (permissions review)
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4. Submit for Quality Review (Instant Games Review)
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5. Submit for IAP Review (if applicable)
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6. Launch
You can submit for App Review and Quality Review in parallel once your game is ready, but both must pass before you can launch. The Approved Partner Program must be approved before any other review can proceed.

General tips for passing reviews

These recommendations apply across all review types:
  • Submit a complete, polished game. Reviewers evaluate your game as if they are players. If the game feels unfinished, buggy, or confusing, reviewers will reject the game.
  • Provide clear test instructions. If your game has a tutorial, make sure it is intuitive. If there are features that require specific steps to access, include instructions in the review notes.
  • Ensure all assets are high quality. Blurry icons, missing images, and placeholder text are common reasons for rejection.
  • Test on all platforms. Your game must work correctly on iOS, Android, and web. Test on multiple devices before submitting.
  • Meet all technical requirements. Reviewers evaluate load times, performance, and error handling. See Quality Guidelines for specific technical criteria.
  • Comply with all policies. Read and understand Facebook Platform Policies before submitting. Violations result in immediate rejection.
  • Be responsive. If a reviewer asks for clarification or additional information, respond promptly.

What happens if your game is rejected

Rejections are common, especially on the first submission. If your game is rejected:
  1. Read the rejection feedback carefully. Facebook provides specific reasons for the rejection. Address every issue mentioned.
  2. Fix all identified issues. Do not resubmit without addressing the feedback. Resubmitting without changes wastes time and may delay future reviews.
  3. Test your fixes thoroughly. Make sure your fixes work correctly on all platforms.
  4. Resubmit with a note. When you resubmit, include a note explaining what changes you made to address the rejection feedback.
There is no limit to the number of times you can resubmit, but each resubmission goes through the full review process and timeline.

In this section

  • App Review — Detailed guide to submitting for App Review, what reviewers look for, common rejection reasons, and how to appeal.
  • Quality Guidelines — Comprehensive list of quality criteria your game must meet, including gameplay, technical performance, content, monetization, and UI requirements.
  • Asset Design Guidelines — Specifications, rules, and recommendations for game icons, cover images, gameplay videos, and other artwork assets.

Next steps

After understanding the review process:
  1. Review the Quality Guidelines in detail to make sure your game meets all requirements.
  2. Review the Asset Design Guidelines to ensure your artwork assets meet specifications.
  3. Read the App Review guide to understand what permissions to request and how to submit.
  4. Once all reviews are passed, proceed to Game Launch for the final steps.