Trade Show Game Guide: What Works, What Wows & What Actually Wins
- Justin Gilstrap
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
A Practical Guide to Choosing the Right Arcade Game for Your Booth
Looking to turn heads at your next trade show? Arcade games are a proven way to stop foot traffic, boost engagement, and create buzz around your brand. But not all games work the same—and if you're hoping every player walks away a winner, you need to know what you're getting.
At AGR Las Vegas, we rent out a wide range of branded arcade games for trade shows, activations, and corporate events. Here’s your no-fluff guide to choosing the right game for your booth.
First Things First: Do You Want Everyone to Win?
If your goal is to ensure every participant walks away with a prize, then the type of game you choose matters a lot.
Plinko & Prize Wheels: Win Every Time
If you're looking to make every player a winner, these are your best bets:
Plinko lets you assign a prize to each slot, so everyone gets something
Prize Wheels can be customized with brand messaging, prizes, discounts, or swag options
Both games are highly visual, interactive, and let you control the giveaway structure.
Custom Branding Available: Fully wrap the boards, labels, and prize zones with your logo and artwork.
Claw Machines (Crane Games): Not Always a Winner
Crane games are one of the most popular trade show rentals, but there’s a common misconception:
"Can you set it so everyone wins?"
The short answer? Not reliably. Crane games are skill-based. While we can adjust the claw strength, it's not precise enough to guarantee a win every time. That’s part of the charm—but also part of the challenge.
Best for: Drawing a crowd, photo ops, creating suspense
Not ideal for: Guaranteed prize distribution
Custom Branding Available: We can brand the machine to match your booth!
Competitive Games That Draw Crowds (No Prizes Needed)
Some of the most effective booth games aren’t prize-based at all—they’re all about competition and fun. These are great for generating energy and attracting attention.
Fire Boxer and Dragon Punch (Punching Game)
High score challenge
Loud, fast, and addictive
Great for energizing your booth
Skeeball
Classic gameplay with fast scoring
Great for 1v1 competitions
Fully brandable cabinet and scoreboard
Whac-A-Mole
Timeless chaos and laughs
Quick line movement, high engagement
Adds nostalgia + fun factor
Strike-A-Light
2-player reaction battle
One of the most engaging games on the floor
Eye-catching LED lights and fast-paced action
Custom Branding Available: Every one of these games can be custom wrapped with your logo and graphics for a fully branded experience.
Why Branding Matters
Your game isn’t just for fun—it’s a marketing tool. With AGR, every game can be:
Wrapped in your brand colors, logo, and message
Whether you're launching a product or building brand awareness, branded games = lasting impressions.
Ready to Build Your Booth Experience?
Whether you want everyone to win a prize, generate a competitive buzz, or just stop people in their tracks—we’ve got the game for that.
📍 Warehouse visits available in Las Vegas. All games include custom branding options
[Contact Us] to start planning your next activation!
Let’s make your booth the one they all talk about.