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 for SKYDD. 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) Fire Hose Target Challenge
Concept: Participants use a specially designed hose apparatus to aim water at targets representing “flames.”
Why It Works: Spraying water at a dynamic set of targets is thrilling, visually engaging, and ties directly into fire and rescue. Attendees experience the adrenaline of firefighting without any real danger.
How It’s Unique: The setup includes durable construction, realistic hoses, and pressure settings—giving it a true firefighting feel. Spectators love to watch the water splashing, ensuring the booth stays busy.
Fire Hose Target Challenge
2) Security Shield Reaction Test
Concept: A life-sized shield apparatus is installed with multiple LED-lit “threat indicators.” Players must move the shield swiftly to “block” or “cover” each flashing light in time.
Why It Works: It’s a high-energy, whack-a-mole style challenge but with a defensive spin—perfect for a security fair.
Special Touch: Sturdy, custom-built hardware ensures participants can’t replicate it at home. The striking visuals and rapid responses needed are sure to captivate onlookers.
Security Shield Reaction Test
3) Rescue Ladder Relay
Concept: Inspired by rescue operations, participants race up and down a short, safe climbing structure to grab “rescue tools” hanging at various levels.
Why It Works: This is a timed physical challenge that celebrates rescue missions—teams or single players compete to collect items as fast as possible.
Added Appeal: The robust and professional-grade climbing and safety gear show off the serious theme of rescue operations while keeping participants safe.
Rescue Ladder Relay
4) Trespasser Tag
Concept: A barrier course simulates a perimeter security scenario. Participants navigate through “laser” beams (harmless LED or light strands) to catch a moving “target” (e.g., a prop intruder on a rail).
Why It Works: There’s a strong security narrative—detect and tag the trespasser as quickly as possible without setting off alarms.
Engagement Factor: The dramatic lighting effects and action-packed movement build excitement and crowd appeal.
Trespasser Tag
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:
5) Secure the Station
Story: You’re a Security Operations Officer at a fire-and-rescue station. A critical supply chain of items is entering your facility rapidly—some are legitimate rescue supplies while others are faulty or potentially harmful. You must allow only the correct supplies to pass.
End Line: The “end line” is the facility’s secure intake station. Picture a robust, high-tech entrance with a large digital gate that scans each item. If a dangerous or incorrect item slips through, it jeopardizes the station’s operations.
Act of Shooting: As the officer, you have a virtual “security scanner blaster.” Clicking the wrong item is visualized as blasting it with a scanning beam that disintegrates it before it can cause harm.
Placeholder for Items: The items might appear as floating supply crates. Some crates are marked with correct rescue symbols (e.g., medical cross, official gear label) while others are marked incorrectly—subtle differences that require a keen eye.
Meaningful Theme: Every time you let a genuine crate pass, the station’s safety rating goes up. Shooting a correct crate or letting a wrong crate pass reduces your safety rating. This underscores how vital quick, accurate decisions are in security and rescue work.
Secure the station
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:
Three Existing Casual Skill Games (Market Success & Relevance)
Below are three popular casual games known for their simple yet addictive mechanics. Each can be re-skinned or thematically adapted to fit a security/fire/rescue context while providing a short play cycle (1–2 minutes).
6) Fruit Ninja
Statistics: Over 1 billion downloads worldwide.
Gameplay: Players swipe across the screen to slice falling fruits; missing too many or slicing bombs ends the game.
Relevance to SKYDD: Quick reflexes are akin to a security officer’s vigilance—adapt the “fruits” to be suspicious packages or hazardous items, making it a perfect metaphor for scanning and neutralizing threats quickly.
7) Angry Birds 2
Statistics: Surpassed 100 million downloads across platforms.
Gameplay: Players catapult cartoonish birds to topple structures. A quick, precision-based puzzle approach.
Relevance to SKYDD: Re-skin it so that you launch firefighting gear or rescue drones at obstacles, symbolizing the creative methods rescue teams use to breach barriers or douse flames.
8) Temple Run
Statistics: Over 1 billion downloads for the series.
Gameplay: An endless runner that tasks players with swiping to avoid obstacles and collect items.
Relevance to SKYDD: Think of it as a “responder dash”—a rescue character runs through a burning facility or a security perimeter, dodging hazards and grabbing essential equipment on the way.
Five New Skill Games (Designed for This Project)
Below are five fresh concepts specifically tailored to the security industry’s main themes—quick, skill-based, and playable under two minutes.
9) Firewall Flick
Description: Imagine a vertical scrolling screen where small “data packets” float upward toward a firewall. Players flick or drag a digital “firewall patch” around to intercept malicious packets and let valid packets flow through. Each session is a frantic test of reflexes and accurate swiping.
Firewall Flick
10) Heli-Rescue Drop
Description: A top-down view of a rescue helicopter flying over a hazardous zone. The player taps to drop safety supplies at precisely the right moment as the helicopter hovers above targets. Accuracy is key—mistime the drop, and supplies are wasted. Quick thinking is rewarded as the chopper speeds up over time.
Heli-Rescue Drop
11) Quick Evac Slide
Description: Similar to classic sliding puzzle games but with a “rescue route” twist. Players see a grid representing an emergency scene. They must rapidly slide obstacles to clear a path for an ambulance or rescue vehicle. The puzzle must be solved in under two minutes, adding intense pressure.
Quick Evac Slide
12) Lockdown Maze
Description: A mini top-down labyrinth game where you guide a security guard’s icon around corners, picking up keys and avoiding “intruders” or security hazards. Each level is timed, challenging players to quickly memorize the layout and exit the maze before time’s up.
Lockdown Maze
13) Data Drive
Description: The player controls a miniature car (metaphor for a data transport vehicle) on a short racetrack. The twist: There are “malware traps” on the road. You must steer away from hazards and collect “security upgrades” scattered on the track. The entire race ends in under two minutes, creating a tense, high-adrenaline scenario.
Data Drive
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:
14) Wheel of Fortune
Design Adaptation: Turn the wheel into a large security dial or a rescue shield. The face can be segmented with metallic textures, images of locks, or emergency symbols. Each segment might represent a specialized service or product, tying directly into your offerings.
Why It Fits: Large, spinning wheels are inherently eye-catching. A stylized “security lock” design or a futuristic “rotational shield” stands out, capturing attention and highlighting your brand identity.
Wheel of Fortune
15) Plinko
Design Adaptation: The board could mirror a “fire station rappel tower” or a “secure firewall grid.” Instead of pegs, you have miniature figurines or pins shaped like safety cones, rescue anchors, or shield icons. As the puck descends, it bounces across these safety-themed obstacles.
Thematic Tie-In: Each final slot can represent a different “response outcome” or security solution. The unpredictability echoes real-life scenarios where you control as much as possible, but chance still plays a role.
Plinko
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 for SKYDD. You’ll receive a free one-hour consultation and get to see some of our latest creations. Let’s design something unforgettable together.
