15 Game Ideas for Fastfood, Café and Restaurant Expo

15 Game Ideas for Fastfood, Café and Restaurant Expo

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 Fastfood, Café and Restaurant Expo. 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. Burger Stacking Relay

Picture a sleek, branded tower at your booth where players race against the clock to stack oversized, weighted burger components—buns, patties, lettuce, and tomatoes. The catch? The pieces wobble, requiring steady hands and quick reflexes. It’s a nod to fast-food precision, perfect for Sweden’s love of practical fun, and the crowd will cheer as players battle gravity!

Burger Stacking Relay

2. Coffee Pour Challenge

A stylish espresso machine mockup sits at the booth, with players pouring “coffee” (colored water) from a jug into tiny cups on a moving conveyor belt. Spill too much, and you’re out! This fast-paced game mirrors café efficiency and keeps the energy high—ideal for drawing a buzzing crowd.

Coffee Pour Challenge

3. Pizza Toss Showdown

Players fling soft, pre-made pizza dough discs (think foam props) onto a spinning target shaped like an oven. Points rack up based on accuracy, and the booth fills with laughter and shouts. It’s a playful take on restaurant flair that Swedes, with their knack for casual competition, will adore.

Pizza Toss Showdown

4. Tray Dash Obstacle

A mini obstacle course winds through the booth—players balance a tray of fake food items (secured with magnets) while dodging “customer” cutouts. Drop too much, and you lose! This game screams restaurant hustle and keeps the crowd engaged with its physicality.

Tray Dash Obstacle

5. Soda Can Slam

A sturdy, branded wall holds rows of lightweight soda cans. Players use a soft mallet to knock them down in under 30 seconds. It’s loud, it’s fun, and it ties into beverage branding—perfect for a booth that wants to stand out at Kistamässan.

Soda Can Slam

These games are built to sell: their polished structures and branded designs scream professional quality, not backyard projects. Swedes will love the action-packed simplicity!

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:

6. Recipe Rescue

  • Story: Two chefs, Elsa and Lukas, banter on-screen: “The orders are piling up, but someone’s sabotaging the recipes!” Players step in to save the day.
  • Gameplay: Text snippets fall from the top—some are correct recipe steps (e.g., “Add 200ml milk”), others are wrong (e.g., “Pour in ketchup”). Players tap to “chop” (destroy) the wrong steps, letting correct ones pass.
  • End Line: A steaming pot awaits at the bottom. Correct steps fill it with a delicious dish; wrong ones ruin it with a comical splat!
  • Shooting Action: Tapping feels like wielding a chef’s knife—swift, precise chops to save the recipe.
  • Placeholder: Ingredients appear as recipe cards, fluttering down like pages from a cookbook.
  • Theme: It’s all about culinary accuracy, tying into the expo’s focus on food expertise.
Recipe Rescue

This game takes under two minutes, fits the Swedish taste for clever simplicity, and educates players about your brand’s precision—perfect for a knowledge-hungry crowd!

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 in Plastteknink Nordic fair:

7. Candy Crush Saga

  • Stats: Over 2.7 billion downloads, with $1.1 billion in revenue in 2023 alone.
  • Gameplay: Match three candies to clear levels in under two minutes.
  • Why It Fits: Its food theme (sweets) aligns with the expo, and its simplicity suits Swedish casual play preferences.

8. Cooking Fever

  • Stats: 100 million+ downloads, consistently top-ranked in simulation games.
  • Gameplay: Players cook dishes under time pressure, serving customers fast.
  • Why It Fits: It mirrors the fast-paced restaurant world, resonating with expo attendees.

9. Tetris

  • Stats: 500 million+ downloads across versions, a timeless skill classic.
  • Gameplay: Stack falling blocks to clear lines in quick bursts.
  • Why It Fits: Reimagined with food blocks (e.g., sandwich layers), it’s a versatile fit for the fair.

10. Smoothie Blend Blitz

Players swipe to catch falling fruits in a blender, avoiding spoiled items. Fill the glass in 90 seconds for a win! It’s fast, colorful, and ties into café beverage trends—Swedes will love the healthy twist.

Smoothie Blend Blitz

11. Order Up Rush

A conveyor belt rolls food icons across the screen; players tap to sort them into burger, pizza, or coffee orders before time runs out. This 2-minute game reflects restaurant multitasking and keeps players hooked.

Order Up Rush

12. Pastry Stack

Stack falling pastry layers (croissants, cakes) into a perfect tower. Tilt the screen to balance them—topple, and you lose! It’s a 90-second skill test with a Swedish fika vibe.

Pastry Stack

3. 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:

13. Wheel of Flavors

A digital wheel spins, landing on prizes like “Free Coffee Voucher” or “Taste Test Pass.” Design it with a sleek, metallic look and food icons (coffee cups, burgers) circling the edge—modern yet tied to the expo’s vibe. Swedes love a fair shot at a prize!

Wheel of Flavors

14. Jackpot Kitchen

Players tap a “Cook Now” button as a jackpot meter rises with food-themed symbols (spoons, plates). Hit the right combo in 60 seconds for a big win! The chef’s kitchen aesthetic keeps it relevant and exciting.

Jackpot Kitchen

15. Plinko Pantry

Drop a digital “ingredient” (e.g., a tomato) down a Plinko board stocked with pantry shelves. It bounces to slots with prizes like discounts or samples. Style the board with wooden textures and ingredient labels for a cozy, Swedish pantry feel.

Plinko Pantry

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 Fastfood, Café and Restaurant Expo. You’ll receive a free one-hour consultation and get to see some of our latest creations. Let’s design something unforgettable together.

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