15 Game Ideas for ExpoLift

Categories: Exhibition Game Ideas

In Sweden, where balance and harmony—lagom—are deeply valued, exhibitions are not just about information; they’re about experience. Adding interactive games to your booth is a modern way to increase footfall, spark curiosity, and leave a lasting impression.

In this article, we’ll introduce 15 exhibition game ideas across four engaging categories for ExpoLift. Whether your goal is brand awareness or meaningful interaction, these ideas are designed to resonate with Swedish audiences who appreciate thoughtful, playful encounters. Our team is here to support your implementation.

1. Physical Games

When people visit an exhibition, they often appreciate light physical activity—something fun, energizing, and not too complicated. In a society that values simplicity and movement, physical games can be a perfect way to break the ice and attract attention. These games don’t require deep thinking, but they do get people involved—ideal for creating a vibrant booth. For example, take a look at this activation we ran:

1.1 Crane Hook & Win

Concept: Set up a miniature crane-like structure with a swinging hook. Players must maneuver the hook, using a mechanical joystick attached to the booth, to snag a small prize container or token within a time limit.
Why It Works: Ties directly into the fair’s theme of cranes and lifts. Excitement comes from the physical challenge and quick reactions needed to align the hook just right.
Booth Appeal: The large crane arm, branded with your company’s logo, makes this game impossible to overlook.

1.2 Ladder Balance Relay

Concept: A short obstacle course using real ladders set at various angles and heights (all safe and well-secured). Participants race to move from one end to the other without tipping a lightweight object (like a foam ball) balanced at the top step.
Why It Works: Highlights the concept of ladders and balance—a crucial skill in real-world usage. The tension of balancing under time pressure draws an audience.
Booth Appeal: The custom-made ladder setup, with your company’s branding, emphasizes how your products are reliable and safe even in a game scenario.

1.3 Scaffolding Maze

Concept: Construct a mini-scaffolding maze that players have to navigate as quickly as possible. Each path features different safe platforms and a simple puzzle or two (e.g., slide a panel to unlock the next path).
Why It Works: Showcases scaffolding in a hands-on way. Watching participants climb and duck through levels is exciting and draws onlookers.
Booth Appeal: The towering scaffold structure is a unique, visually compelling centerpiece that underscores your expertise in access equipment.

2. Knowledge-Based Digital Games

These games work well when placed on a digital stand in your booth and can also be extended to your website, social media, or internal communications. In Sweden, digital interaction is expected to be seamless, accessible, and informative. Knowledge-based games are great for educating visitors in a fun way—and they’re easy to adapt for two-player competition. Here’s a sample from one of our past projects:

2.1 Secure the Construction Site

Story/Theme: You’re a site supervisor protecting your construction site from faulty construction plans that could compromise safety. Good plans help build stronger structures, while bad plans lead to hazards.
Falling Items & Their Placeholders: The items appear as digital “blueprint sheets.” Correct sheets feature well-drawn designs for scaffolds, hoists, or ladders. Incorrect sheets might be obviously flawed or mislabeled.
End Line & Metaphor: The end line is a virtual “Building Foundation” at the bottom of the screen. Letting a faulty plan through means the foundation is compromised.
Act of Shooting: Players use a “safety stamp” that, when clicked on a bad blueprint, effectively “rejects” it by stamping it red and disintegrating it. If they stamp a correct plan by mistake, they lose.
Meaningful Connection: This game metaphorically highlights the importance of reviewing construction or lift plans thoroughly—one overlooked error can cause an accident. It’s fun, fast, and only takes up to two minutes per round.

3. Skill-Based Digital Games

If your goal is to boost engagement while maintaining a challenge, this format is ideal. Visitors try to beat a high score, track their own progress, and climb the leaderboard. This game style aligns well with the Swedish love of fair competition and personal improvement. A transparent leaderboard motivates people to participate again and again. Check out this example:

Part A: Three Successful Casual Skill Games from the Market

Below are three popular casual games that demonstrate quick-skill gameplay. While not originally designed for ExpoLift, each can be adapted thematically to complement your industry focus. These examples can help inspire or be licensed for adaptation.

Tower Bloxx
- Statistics/Popularity: Once a top-charting mobile game with millions of downloads; known for short, addictive sessions.
- Gameplay: Players drop building blocks from a crane to stack a tower as tall as possible. Timing is key to place blocks straight.
- Why It Fits: The crane mechanic directly relates to ExpoLift’s theme. It’s a proven success with quick, thrilling rounds that emphasize construction.
Bridge Constructor
- Statistics/Popularity: Over 50 million downloads across various platforms; well-rated for its puzzle-engineering blend.
- Gameplay: Players build bridges to support vehicles, testing knowledge of stability and physics under time and resource constraints.
- Why It Fits: Bridge building resonates with scaffolding and hoisting tasks. The puzzle element can be branded around safe lifting solutions.
Tiny Tower
- Statistics/Popularity: This game soared in app charts, boasting tens of millions of players at its peak.
- Gameplay: Players construct and manage a high-rise, adding floors for residents or businesses while balancing resources.
- Why It Fits: Emphasizes vertical construction—an ideal metaphor for lifts, hoists, and scaffolding. Short interactions are perfect for fair attendees.

Part B: Five New Digital Skill Game Ideas

Now let’s propose five brand-new digital skill games specifically designed for ExpoLift. Each takes under two minutes to play and ties into lifts, cranes, and general construction themes.

3.1 Crane Hoop Challenge

Imagine a side-view screen where a crane moves back and forth. Attached is a swinging cable with a basketball hoop at the end. Players tap to drop a ball at just the right moment to score through the hoop. The challenge lies in timing the swing and movement of the crane. This game speaks to crane precision and quick reflexes—perfect for highlighting your brand’s control systems.

3.2 Ladder Leap

This vertical scrolling game has the player controlling a small character climbing various ladder segments. Each ladder piece appears randomly at different angles, and the user must quickly tap or swipe to align the character’s climb. Miss a correct step or linger too long, and you fall. The goal is to reach the top rung safely. Quick, intense, and thematically relevant to safe ladder usage.

3.3 Telescopic Loader Tetris

Players control a telescopic loader that can extend or retract to catch falling blocks. The twist is that blocks must be caught in a particular arrangement—similar to Tetris. As the blocks drop faster, players must skillfully adjust the loader’s arm length to position them correctly. This visually highlights the unique extending capabilities of telescopic loaders while providing a fast-paced puzzle challenge.

3.4 Hoist the Flag

A digital crane hoist moves a flag up a flagpole, but obstacles (like loose cargo or swinging beams) appear on each level. Players must tap to move the hoist at precise intervals, avoiding collisions. Each collision lowers the hoist’s progress. The aim is to raise the flag to the top in under two minutes. This design communicates the importance of safe, careful operation under time pressure.

3.5 Scaffold Stacker

In this reflex-based game, scaffold sections slide horizontally across the screen. Players tap to drop each section on top of the last. If a section is even slightly off, it reduces the next platform’s area, making it harder to stack the next piece. Stacking 10 levels in two minutes requires careful timing—showcasing the significance of precise scaffold alignment for real construction.

4. Chance-Based Digital Games

This format works best when your brand is already well-known, and you want to create excitement. If your product or service is unfamiliar, we don’t recommend starting with this type. Swedes often value fairness and transparency, so be sure your chance-based games feel lighthearted and fun—never gimmicky. Here’s how we’ve used it in the past:

4.1 Customized Wheel of Fortune

Concept: A large, digital or physical spinning wheel that uses themed sections reflecting different types of access equipment: lifts, cranes, scaffolds, etc.
Design Adaptation: The outer rim of the wheel could be styled as a giant gear or pulley, symbolizing mechanical lifting mechanisms. It could even have small hydraulic pistons at the base to simulate the motion of an actual lift as it spins.
Why It Works: Instantly recognizable, the wheel draws attention. The industrial design elements drive home your connection to heavy machinery and access equipment.

4.2 Jackpot “Lift & Win”

Concept: A slot-machine-inspired digital interface. Instead of classic slot icons, you have lift, crane, scaffolding, and ladder symbols.
Design Adaptation: Each spin’s reel background looks like vertical building floors rising up. When the reels align, it’s as if you’ve perfectly stacked floors or connected the right equipment symbols.
Why It Works: Slot machines create an air of anticipation. The re-skinned theme resonates with the ExpoLift branding and can be over in seconds—ideal for fair traffic.

4.3 Plinko “Sky Drop”

Concept: A Plinko board customized to mimic telescopic loader arms or scaffold bars. Discs drop from the top, bouncing off beams on the way down.
Design Adaptation: The pegs could look like rungs or cross-braces in scaffolding. Or the path could represent a tall elevator shaft.
Why It Works: Everyone loves the suspense of a falling disc. The straightforward gameplay ensures quick rounds, while the scaffold-inspired design seamlessly ties in your product themes.

Conclusion

Exhibition games are more than just fun—they’re strategic tools to engage visitors, communicate your message, and differentiate your booth. In a culture that values subtlety and meaningful interaction, gamification offers a respectful and impactful way to connect.
We invite you to explore your options by filling out our Exhibition Game Design Form for ExpoLift. You’ll receive a free one-hour consultation and get to see some of our latest creations. Let’s design something unforgettable together.