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 Teaching Materials Fair. 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.
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:
Picture the classic carnival strongman game, but with a modern, education-themed twist. Players swing a mallet down onto a target, attempting to ring the bell at the top. This booth-sized contraption is big, flashy, and feels like a real attraction—something no one can easily replicate in their backyard. In an educational setting, the scoreboard could display fun facts or motivational messages each time the bell rings.
Transform the beloved arcade skee-ball into a larger-than-life inflatable version. Participants roll or toss balls up ramps, aiming for different scoring hoops. You can decorate the lanes with numbers, letters, or icons related to teaching materials (e.g., iconic storybook characters for younger kids). The bright, bouncy structure and quick scoring system keep crowds moving and entertained.
Build a robust “mole-popping” platform with holes big enough for human “moles” (or sturdy mechanical targets that pop up). Players use a soft foam mallet to bop the targets as they appear. The apparatus can be produced in a glossy, professional style to convey that this is a specialized product—perfect for a short but frenzied physical challenge.
Set up a brief but exhilarating inflatable or metal-framed obstacle course. Within two minutes, participants can climb walls, crawl through tunnels, and slide down ramps while racing against the clock or each other. Brand each segment with educational motifs—like letter blocks or puzzle pieces—to subtly link physical fun with the theme of teaching materials.
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:
This structure elegantly ties the game mechanics to the message, making it memorable and meaningful for educators.
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:
Below are three well-known, quick-to-play mobile skill-based games. Although we can’t literally rebuild these exact titles, their success and mechanics can inspire a fair-friendly adaptation that resonates with educators:
Here are five fresh ideas tailored for a teaching materials fair. Each can be played in two minutes or less and easily adapted to educational themes:
Players guide a small avatar at the bottom of the screen, catching falling letters in the correct alphabetical order. Each correct catch scores points, while missing a letter or catching out of order ends the game. Bright visuals and playful sound effects add excitement, while the short bursts of letter recognition appeal to early childhood educators.
A scrambled image (perhaps a famous painting or educational diagram) quickly splits into tiles that shuffle around the screen. Players must tap each tile in the correct sequence to reassemble the original image before time runs out. If used at the fair, it could feature materials from textbooks or popular classroom visuals. It’s a simple test of spatial awareness and quick thinking.
Colored bubbles containing math equations (e.g., “3+4=7”) float upward. Players have to tap only the correct equations before they float off-screen. A single mistake—tapping an incorrect equation or letting a correct one slip by—ends the session. With snappy music, it’s an instant mental and reflex test in under two minutes.
Using arrow keys or quick swipes, players navigate a running character through a course of looming shapes. Each gate in the course is a different shape; players must toggle the character’s “state” (circle, square, triangle) to match the approaching gate. One mismatch, and the run ends. Educationally, it’s a fun way to reinforce shape recognition and motor skills.
Words scroll horizontally across the screen. At the center is a “target word.” Players must tap (or snap) synonyms and avoid any antonyms. For a teaching fair, the words can be themed around vocabulary lists. The pace quickens every few seconds, ensuring a short, frantic, and educational experience.
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:
Imagine a digital or physical wheel that’s segmented with educational motifs (e.g., colorful icons representing subjects like math, language, science, or inclusive education symbols). Instead of a traditional carnival look, the wheel’s design might evoke a sleek classroom environment—chalkboard textures, playful shapes, or bright crayons. Attendees spin the wheel, and wherever it lands could unlock instant mini-prizes or fun facts about new teaching materials. The key is the unique visual style: large, bold segments that highlight the fair’s theme rather than generic numbers or dollar signs.
Both these ideas evoke excitement and can be played in under two minutes. Because the outcome is largely random, they are wonderful for crowd engagement, encouraging visitors to step up and try their luck while learning more about your products or educational themes.
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 Teaching Materials Fair. You’ll receive a free one-hour consultation and get to see some of our latest creations. Let’s design something unforgettable together.
