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Working with AI 🤖

Poki encourages creative experimentation — and that includes thoughtful use of AI tools. However, AI-generated content must add value rather than replace craft, quality, or originality. The golden rule: AI should empower, not shortcut. We want developers who use AI well, not rely on it blindly.

Poki Tips for AI Content

Before submitting your AI-enhanced game:

  • Check that visuals are clean, sharp, and consistent.
  • Ensure no AI watermarks or prompt text is visible.
  • Review all dialogue for grammar, pacing, and tone.
  • Test gameplay — do not add AI-generated, untested content.

Games (solely) created with the use of AI could create IP ownership issues for Poki. You should therefore be able to demonstrate how and which tools were used, and be able to provide Poki with an overview of the game creation process and prompts and iterations upon request.

We understand that in the early stages of development, it’s common to experiment with templates, take inspiration from existing games, or use AI tools, especially when prototyping core mechanics. However, before submitting your game to our Player Fit or Web Fit tests, we expect your game to reflect your unique perspective or meaningful improvements. Games should go beyond the base inspiration or tooling to showcase original creativity and design.

At Poki, we curate a diverse and quality-driven portfolio. Games that rely too heavily on AI-generated content or templates without adding distinct personality, polish, or innovation may not meet our standards. The more non-original material your game uses, the higher the risk it won’t be accepted for release on Poki after the Web Fit Test.

We reserve the right to decline any game that doesn’t feel like a strong content/quality fit for Poki (even if it functions well) if it lacks originality or doesn’t contribute to the diversity of our platform.

Acceptable AI Use

Thumbnails:

âś… DO:

  • Ensure the art style of thumbnails matches your in-game visuals.
  • Use thumbnails that accurately represent your game’s tone, setting, and content.
  • Maintain visual cohesion even if AI is part of the process — blend styles intentionally if combining multiple tools.


❌ DON’T:

  • Mix multiple AI-generated styles without intentional blending, resulting in a mismatched look.
  • Create misleading thumbnails that do not reflect actual gameplay.
  • Use inconsistent styles that feel like a patchwork of unrelated assets.
In-game Visuals:

âś… DO:

  • Heavily edit and polish AI-generated assets so they look cohesive with your hand-made or existing assets.
  • Maintain a unified art direction across all scenes, characters, and UI.
  • Use AI for initial concepts, then refine in your own style.


❌ DON’T:

  • Drop raw AI-generated art into the game without adjustments.
  • Use mismatched art styles within the same game.
  • Include assets with visible watermarks or signatures.
  • Include copyrighted characters or styles in prompts to skirt originality (e.g., “Mario-style character”).
  • Assume AI art makes a clone original — if the concept is copied, it’s still a clone.
UI Assets:

âś… DO:

  • Use AI-generated menus, buttons, and icons if they match your overall game style.
  • Edit and refine all UI assets to ensure they’re polished and consistent.


❌ DON’T:

  • Copy and paste raw AI-generated UI components without editing.
  • Introduce a UI style that clashes with the game’s art direction.
  • Use generic or low-quality buttons/icons that feel out of place.
Level Design:

âś… DO:

  • Use AI or procedural generation to speed up level creation if you test, tweak, and balance each level manually.
  • Ensure generated levels meet player expectations and align with your game’s pacing and difficulty curve.


❌ DON’T:

  • Publish levels exactly as generated without design oversight.
  • Rely solely on AI output for gameplay structure.
  • Skip Quality Assurance because “the AI generated it.”
Narrative / Dialogue:

âś… DO:

  • Use AI for brainstorming, rough drafts, or comedic ideas.
  • Human-review and rewrite dialogue so it matches the game’s tone and audience.
  • Ensure narrative text flows naturally and feels intentional.


❌ DON’T:

  • Copy-paste unedited AI scripts or dialogue into the final game.
  • Allow AI-generated text to dictate tone inconsistently.
  • Neglect human QA for story accuracy and emotional impact.
Code:

âś… DO:

  • Use AI tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT) for boilerplate or repetitive coding tasks.
  • Rely on AI for initial structures, then manually test and optimize.
  • Keep full developer ownership of game logic.


❌ DON’T:

  • Ship AI-generated code without testing.
  • Assume AI-written logic is production-ready.
  • Let AI decisions replace gameplay balancing and QA.

Should Developers Give Credit?

Be sure to check the terms and conditions of the AI tools(s) you’re using. Some tools may not allow commercial use, or may require you to credit them (for example: “Some UI art generated with Midjourney and refined in Photoshop.”)

When in doubt, transparency is appreciated — especially if the game contains:

  • Visibly AI-style art
  • AI-written text
  • Code built with LLM suggestions