Interactive Event Entertainment Ideas: 12 That Work

Interactive event entertainment means guests take part, not just watch. The right choice depends on three things: how many people you have, how much floor space you can spare, and how structured you want the evening to be. If you have been asked to organise a party, social or client event, this guide gives you 12 formats with the group sizes and space each one needs. Our corporate events team runs all of them.

How to choose interactive event entertainment

Start with headcount, then space, then format. Those three answers rule out most options before you compare anything else.

• Group size: some formats scale to hundreds (robot battles, VR escape rooms), others suit a few dozen (simulators with one station per person).
• Space: a boardroom, a hotel function room and a conference hall need different things. Check the footprint per team or per station.
• Drop-in or structured: drop-in games let people wander over between conversations. Structured formats put teams in competition and need a start time.
• Mixed abilities and ages: pick activities that need no prior skill, and offer a quieter option alongside a loud one.
• Time slot: a 30-minute post-dinner slot suits a hosted game. A two-hour networking drinks suits drop-in stations.

Quick-pick table

Tech-led interactive event ideas

Tech-led activities give guests something they cannot do at home, and they need no experience. They work best when you want a talking point and a clear “wow” moment.

VR escape room

Teams of 4 to 10 work together: one person wears the headset while teammates guide them from a manual on the table. It takes about 2 x 2 m per team and runs for up to 500 participants, with no VR experience needed. It suits away days and office socials, as part of a wider VR team building programme.

Driving simulators

You can have 1 to 16 simulators, each with a 55-inch screen and a force-feedback wheel, with VR headsets as an option and custom branding available. They are popular as a drop-in. Diane Collins at Howdens told us: “The driving simulator was amazing and enjoyed by all our customers and staff.”

VR flight simulator

Guests fly real 360-degree fighter-jet footage. Plan on 1 to 30 headsets, each needing about 1 x 1 m, and the activity is fully staffed. It suits conferences and open days where lots of people cycle through.

AI robot battles

Teams of 6 to 12 steer robots from tablets around an arena, and it works for up to 500 participants. We tailor it to the space, from a giant race track to a small arena. You need no AI, robotics, coding or VR experience. See AI Robot Wars.

AI and metaverse arcade

This is a bundle of activities, including Robot Wars, Metaverse Sports and Reaction Machines, with 1 to 50 VR headsets for groups of 10 to 1,000. It is beginner friendly, which makes it the easiest way to cover a big, mixed crowd.

Augmented reality spaces and games

We build custom, branded AR spaces and AR games. They fit activations, conferences and trade shows, where you want guests to engage with your brand rather than a generic game.

Show-style and group formats

These formats work as the main event: a host, a clear start and finish, and a room that cheers together. They fit the end of a conference day or the middle of a party.

Game shows and quizzes

Taskmaster-style challenges, Cube challenges, quizzes and bingo (see our game shows and quizzes) can all be themed around your company. Setup is included, and they suit post-conference or end-of-day socials. See our office game show ideas guide for formats in more detail.

The Betrayers

Inspired by the TV show The Traitors, this adapts to the space and group size, from boardroom to conference hall. A professional presenter and all AV are included. It suits groups who like to talk, bluff and vote. For more evening formats, see our conference evening entertainment ideas guide.

Tablet treasure hunt

Teams complete geotagged challenges outdoors on tablets, and the winning team gets prizes. It gets people out of the building and mixing with colleagues they rarely meet, and it fits a wider team building day.

Free-flow and drop-in options

Free-flow activities suit networking, drinks receptions and any time slot where people arrive and leave at different moments. Nobody has to commit to a full game.

Arcade games

Retro arcade (Street Fighter, Pong, Pac-Man), air hockey, table football, darts, shuffleboard and beer pong run as a drop-in. For a work event, offer non-alcoholic alternatives to beer pong, such as water or soft drinks.

Reaction wall and axe throwing

Alyssia, Events Lead at DPA Microphones, said: “We hired branded Reaction Wall and Axe Throwing activities from Gold Tier Events for an annual corporate party and they went down a treat – super reliable, easy to use and fun for all.” Both work as free-flow stations, and a branded wall suits a company event.

Making it work on the night

One headline activity plus a couple of drop-in options works better than five competing attractions. The headline gives the evening a moment; the drop-in games fill the gaps.

• Mix structured and free-flow. A hosted game show at 8pm, with arcade games and simulators running before and after.
• Brief the host. Our events come with a professional host, setup and breakdown, so your team is not running kit on the night.
• Brand it. Custom branding and theming are available, so activities feel like part of your event.
• Include everyone. Pick activities needing no skill, add seated options, and offer soft drinks and non-alcoholic choices. For accessibility needs, confirm the details with the supplier before booking.
• Get help finding a space. Our free venue finding service can match a venue to the activities you want.

For conference programmes, see our guide on how to make a conference more interactive, or our networking event ideas guide if mixing is the goal.

FAQs

What are engaging activities for corporate events?

The most engaging activities let everyone take part rather than watch. Good options include VR escape rooms, driving simulators, AI robot battles, game shows, treasure hunts and drop-in arcade games. Pick by headcount, room size and whether you want a structured team format or something guests can dip into.

What are some fun and unique ideas for a party?

For a work party, try a Traitors-style game, a Taskmaster-style game show, a VR flight simulator or a free-flow arcade corner. Pair one headline activity with a few drop-in options so nobody is stuck waiting. For festive events, see our corporate Christmas party ideas guide.

What are some examples of virtual events?

Virtual and hybrid events include online quizzes, remote escape games, live-streamed game shows and team challenges played from home. Formats that work for a mixed room-and-remote audience need planning from the start. Our hybrid event ideas guide covers what suits each setup.

What are 50 different types of entertainment?

Rather than 50 separate acts, think in four groups: tech-led experiences (VR, simulators, robots), show-style formats (game shows, quizzes, Traitors-style games), free-flow games (arcade, darts, table football) and live performance. This guide covers the first three in detail.

Tell us about your event and we’ll put together a tailored proposal. Enquire here or call 020 3355 5453, and we reply within one business day.