15 game ideas for ZoorfExpo

15 game ideas for ZoorfExpo

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 ZoorfExpo. 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:

Idea #1: Rhino Rampage Obstacle Course

Imagine a sturdy, eye-catching inflatable or metal-framed course with rhino-themed décor, where attendees dash through tunnels, dodge swinging obstacles, and climb ramps. The look and feel should be robust and intimidating—ensuring that fair-goers see it as a professional attraction, not a DIY project. The sheer excitement of racing through a safari-style layout generates a crowd as participants compete to finish in under two minutes.

Rhino Rampage Obstacle Course

Idea #2: Flamingo Flip Bucket Challenge

In this game, players stand on a small springboard or mini-trampoline—painted with bright flamingo pink—and toss rubber fish into high-mounted buckets. The buckets, flamboyantly designed like flamingo beaks, are positioned at varying heights and angles. Quick reflexes and a good sense of timing are key. The attractive pink structure, plus the comedic spectacle of participants bouncing around, ensures nobody thinks it’s just an ordinary backyard game.

Flamingo Flip Bucket Challenge

Idea #3: Gorilla Grip Climbing Race

Create a tall vertical frame or climbing wall decked out with molded “gorilla handholds.” Competitors strap in with professional harnesses and attempt to climb as high as possible within two minutes. The imposing design—complete with giant gorilla silhouettes—makes it clear this is a specialized setup. The physical challenge of scaling the wall draws crowds and gives an adrenaline-pumping experience.

Gorilla Grip Climbing Race

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:

Idea #4: Endangered Guardians

This interactive station uses the template of falling items—some correct, some incorrect—related to caring for endangered species.

  • The Story: Two zookeepers chat about the urgent need to protect endangered animals. They emphasize the correct steps to preserve habitats and diets.
  • The Falling Text Items: Each “item” is a short statement or symbol about animal care, habitat requirements, or conservation tips (e.g., “Build a larger habitat for breeding pairs,” “Use only certain certified feed,” “Release invasive species,” etc.).
  • The End Line: A protective “sanctuary gate” at the bottom of the screen (representing a safe enclosure). Correct items must pass through to help the animals, while harmful ideas or practices must be eliminated.
  • The Act of Shooting: Players click to “tranquilize” the wrong statements. Each click visually zaps the incorrect item with a zookeeper’s net or dart, symbolizing that destructive practices are being stopped before they harm wildlife.
  • The Placeholder: Each falling statement is depicted as a small crate or folder labeled with a snippet of text or icon. By letting correct crates through, players symbolically deliver the right resources for endangered animals’ survival.

A successful run means no harmful crate crosses the sanctuary gate and no correct crate gets destroyed. The entire session runs under two minutes, making it a high-energy learning tool.

Endangered Guardians

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 Successful Market Examples

Idea #5: Fruit Ninja

  • Statistics: Over a billion downloads across platforms; top-charting casual game for years.
  • Gameplay: Players swipe rapidly across the screen to “slice” fruits while avoiding bombs. Quick reflexes are key, and each round usually lasts under a minute.
  • Why It Matches ZoordExpo: A booth could re-skin or thematically overlay “fruit slicing” with images of animals’ favorite foods—think gorillas slicing open coconuts or parrots pecking at fruit. It’s fast, approachable, and has a proven track record of engagement.

Idea #6: Angry Birds

  • Statistics: Multiple installments, billions of downloads, and even a movie adaptation.
  • Gameplay: Players fling birds via a slingshot to knock down structures. Strategy and timing are everything, and each level is easily playable in under two minutes.
  • Why It Matches ZoordExpo: A zookeeper twist could turn these “birds” into different zoo animals used to topple fences or barriers representing environmental threats (like poachers or pollution). The concept is well-known, ensuring brand recognition at your booth.

Idea #7: Flappy Bird

  • Statistics: Went viral worldwide with tens of millions of downloads in its peak run.
  • Gameplay: Tap to keep a bird afloat, navigating it through narrow vertical passages. Each attempt is very short—often under 30 seconds—making it addictive.
  • Why It Matches ZoordExpo: Think of a custom version with a parrot or exotic bird from the zoo’s collection. Attendees will queue up to test their reflexes, and you can brand the environment with sponsor messages or conservation facts.

Five Original Skill-Game Concepts

All five can be tweaked for a maximum two-minute session.

Idea #8: Lion’s Leap

Players control a little lion cub dashing across the savannah, leaping over rocks and logs, collecting “pride points.” Each obstacle requires a single tap or click at just the right time. Mistime a jump and the cub stumbles—game over. Quick, intuitive, and fosters a fun lion-themed brand presence.

Lion’s Leap

Idea #9: Chameleon Capture

Place a digital chameleon at the bottom of the screen. Bugs of various colors zip by overhead. Players must rapidly tap the correct color button so the chameleon’s tongue snags only the matching-colored insect. If the chameleon eats a mismatched bug, you lose. Fun, bright visuals highlight the chameleon’s color-changing skill and the importance of balanced feeding.

Chameleon Capture

Idea #10: Panda Slide

Picture a playful panda on a bamboo slide. Players swipe left or right to dodge obstacles like rolling bamboo logs. Each run is less than a minute. The concept is easy to learn and yields plenty of laughter, especially if the panda occasionally tumbles in a comedic animation for a “game over.”

Panda Slide

Idea #11: Zookeeper’s Sprint

The character is a busy zookeeper running through the zoo grounds, collecting feed bags while leaping over or sliding under small gates. An energy meter depletes if you collide with obstacles or miss too many feed bags. Sessions last around a minute, capturing the energy of a real zoo on the move.

Zookeeper’s Sprint

Idea #12: Eagle Eye

The screen is a vertical corridor in the sky. Players control an eagle gliding through cloud rings. Tap to move up or let go to move down, trying to pass through each ring perfectly. It’s reminiscent of a classic “flap or fall” style game but re-skinned with regal eagles—excellent for highlighting majestic bird conservation themes.

Eagle Eye

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:

Idea #13: Safari Wheel of Fortune

  • Overall Design: Shape the wheel like a large safari compass, with the pointer as a stylized lion’s paw. The rim can feature artwork of savannah scenery, tall grass, or silhouettes of iconic African animals.
  • Gameplay: Attendees spin the wheel to land on prizes or small freebies relevant to your zoo industry partners.
  • Why It Suits ZoordExpo: Quick, visually striking, and universally understood. The lion’s paw pointer and safari-themed compass feel perfectly in tune with wildlife.
Safari Wheel of Fortune

Idea #14: Jungle Jackpot

  • Design Approach: Transform a classic slot-machine-style interface into a jungle clearing, where reels depict exotic animals, lush foliage, or zookeeper tools.
  • Gameplay: With a single button press (or digital tap), the reels spin. If certain animals align, the player wins. Each spin takes seconds, ideal for short visitor attention spans.
  • Integration: For a more immersive fair booth, style the cabinet with faux vines, leaves, and roaring sound effects upon a jackpot. This bold decoration signals that this is a professional setup, not a homemade contraption.
Jungle Jackpot

Idea #15: Rainforest Plinko

  • Concept: A vertical board where tokens drop from the top, bouncing off pegs until they land in prize slots at the bottom.
  • Customization: The board could depict a dense rainforest canopy. The pegs might be shaped like tree branches or toucan beaks, each producing a “rainforest chatter” sound when struck.
  • Theme Tie-In: Rename the slots for different conservation programs or exotic species. Participants feel like each token is “journeying” through the rainforest. The randomness sparks excitement, and quick results keep traffic flowing.
Rainforest 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 ZoorfExpo. You’ll receive a free one-hour consultation and get to see some of our latest creations. Let’s design something unforgettable together.will remember long after the fair is over!

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