Summer isn’t just for beach days and barbecues. It’s a great time for brands to boost engagement with playful, interactive campaigns. Longer days and slower routines give people more time to scroll, explore and play, which is why gamification marketing does so well in the summer months.
Here’s what’s trending, and how brands are turning summer vibes into business results.
Drop and Catch Games: Perfect for Summer Scroll Time
One format stands out in summer: the Drop Game, also known as drop and catch.
These quick, addictive games hold attention far longer than a simple swipe.
How it works:
- Players catch falling branded items before time runs out.
- Some items add points, others take points away.
- Add a timer and a leaderboard for urgency and repeat plays.
Why it’s perfect for summer:
- Fully brandable backgrounds, like barbecue scenes, music festivals or sunny beaches
- Themed items, such as ice creams, sunglasses or spices
- Custom “catcher” objects, like shopping bags, grills or baskets
- Sound effects, difficulty levels and a pace you control
It’s playful and competitive, and it works for giveaways, product launches or simply keeping people on your site longer.
How Brands Use Drop Games in Summer
Toms: Summer Drop Game
Mechanics:
- Catch bags of sweets in a branded Drop Game.
- Play once a day from June to August via the campaign site or an in-store QR code.
- Winners drawn daily (48 prizes in total), plus a bonus quiz entry for a grand prize.
Why it works: it’s fun, easy and replayable. Great for driving daily traffic and rewarding loyal customers.
DAVA: Grill Adventure Catch and Win
Mechanics:
- Catch DAVA products, like oil sprays and spice packs, to earn points.
- Avoid storm clouds that cost you points.
- Score 1,500+ to enter a weekly draw for a premium grill package.
Why it works: it’s on-brand and competitive, and it keeps customers coming back every week.
Orkla: Concert Ticket Drop Game
Mechanics:
- Catch items for a chance to win two concert tickets to see Rasmus Seebach in Herning or Copenhagen.
Why it works: a high-value prize paired with an easy, interactive game. Great for list growth and excitement.
Quizzes: Summer’s Quiet Conversion Booster
Avène: Find Your Perfect Skincare Match
Mechanics:
- Quick questions on skin type, sun exposure and needs.
- Dynamic logic that matches each player with the right products.
- Instant results with images, descriptions and direct links to buy.
Why it works: it turns a confusing product choice into a personal, engaging experience, and collects valuable zero-party data along the way.
A product-matching quiz works for almost any brand with a range to choose from. Read more in the anatomy of a product match format.
How to Set Up Your Summer Game
A summer campaign doesn’t need to be complicated. Here’s a simple checklist for building one in Scratcher:
- Pick your goal. New sign-ups, daily traffic or product discovery? A drop game suits engagement and repeat visits. A quiz suits product discovery.
- Theme it. Swap in a summer background and falling items that match your products.
- Choose the right prizes. Daily small prizes keep people coming back. One big prize drives sign-ups.
- Decide on the rules. Set how often people can play, add a points threshold or a leaderboard, and include a clear opt-in for marketing.
- Go where your audience is. Use it as a landing page, a pop-up or an embed on your own site, and add a QR code for in-store traffic.
- Follow up. Send new sign-ups a welcome offer while summer is still in full swing.
Ready for Summer?
Drop games and product quizzes are easy to launch, fun to play and great for growing your list in the summer months. Browse our templates to find a summer game you can make your own in minutes.
