What if your office’s next great conversation starts with one more round at the arcade? The right office game hire isn’t about filling every spare corner with machines. It’s about choosing games that suit your colleagues, your space and the way you want people to connect.
When planning, consider who is likely to play, how much room the activity can take up and whether you want quick turns or a longer match. A friendly foosball challenge, an arcade video game or a pinball rematch can each give colleagues an easy way to join in, whether they play or cheer from the sidelines!
This guide will help you match games to your team and event, plan a setup that keeps walkways clear, and organise delivery, setup and collection. Arcade Fundi brings over five decades of industry experience and handles these practical details with its team, with delivery across South Africa. Get ready to bring arcade nostalgia and a little friendly competition to the workplace!
Key Takeaways
- Make participation inviting by choosing activities colleagues can join at their own pace.
- Match arcade games, foosball, air hockey, pool or pinball to your team’s preferred style of play and available space.
- Plan office game hire around the event purpose, play area and schedule so the games fit naturally into the workday.
- Use a simple checklist to organise the hire, from defining your brief to arranging collection.
- Arcade Fundi brings over five decades of experience, with its team handling delivery, setup and collection across South Africa.
Why office game hire can bring colleagues together at work
As the organiser, you’re balancing two goals: create a shared activity and make sure nobody feels obliged to take part. A game can be an easy invitation rather than a compulsory team exercise. Colleagues can play, watch, cheer or carry on chatting nearby, so the activity leaves room for different personalities and interests.
A quick match can also give people from different teams or job roles a natural conversation starter. A friendly challenge, a nostalgic arcade favourite or a close foosball game gives colleagues something to react to together. A game won’t guarantee closer working relationships, but it can create a relaxed opportunity to interact outside the usual routine.
What does office game hire involve?
Office game hire is the temporary hire of entertainment machines for a workplace activity or office event, with the game selection and setup planned around the occasion and venue. You might add an arcade video game to a shared break area or choose a table game for a staff celebration. Consider the available floor space, how people will move through the area and the style of play you want before settling on a setup.
The purpose matters too. A workplace break can offer a casual change of pace, with colleagues joining when it suits them. A staff celebration gives games a social role alongside the occasion. A structured team-building event is different: it usually has a planned group activity or objective, so choose games that support that format rather than simply sitting in the background.
How can games support connection at work?
Games give colleagues a shared focus without asking them to make small talk from scratch. One person can challenge a teammate, another can offer a tip, and someone else can enjoy the atmosphere. Keeping participation optional helps the activity feel welcoming, especially in a mixed team where people may enjoy different games or prefer not to compete.
That balance between structure and informal interaction is useful when planning a workplace experience. Tuckman’s stages of group development describe how teams can develop over time; a game shouldn’t be presented as a shortcut through those stages. Instead, it can give colleagues a low-pressure opportunity to interact. For more ideas on shaping the wider workplace experience, read our office entertainment solutions guide.
Start with the people and purpose, then choose games that make joining in feel easy. That’s how office game hire can add arcade nostalgia while leaving colleagues free to take part in their own way!
Choose office games that fit your team, space and occasion
The best game mix isn’t necessarily the biggest one. For office game hire, start with the mood you want to create, how colleagues will take part and how much room you can set aside. A casual break, staff celebration and planned group activity can each call for a different style of play.
Which game types suit different workplace activities?
Decide whether you want quick individual turns, a head-to-head match or a slower-paced challenge. Use this guide to compare the feel of each option:
| Game type | Participation style | Space planning |
|---|---|---|
| Arcade video games | Familiar, casual turns that can suit a quick break. | Allow room for a player and for colleagues to watch without blocking movement. |
| Foosball | Fast, social head-to-head play that can draw in teammates and spectators. | Leave space around the table for players to move and others to gather. |
| Air hockey | A lively head-to-head table game centred on the match. | Keep the surrounding area open for players and passing colleagues. |
| Pool | A measured style of friendly competition, with turns shared between players. | Allow space around the table for players to move and take their shots. |
| Pinball | An individual challenge that can prompt friendly score comparisons. | Place it where players can take turns without interrupting nearby work. |
Arcade video games bring a nostalgic feel, while foosball and air hockey put a face-to-face contest at the centre. Pool offers a more considered pace; pinball gives each player a personal score to chase. The Harvard Business Review’s guidance on ways to improve employee engagement is a useful reminder to plan workplace activities around people’s experience, rather than choosing games for appearance alone.
How should you match games to your office space?
Map the intended play area before choosing games. Trace the routes colleagues use to move through the office, then identify desks, meeting rooms and quieter work areas that should stay separate from active play. Think about where spectators might stand too. The play area should feel inviting without turning a walkway into a gathering point.
Choose a manageable mix, not a machine for every spare corner. One well-placed game may suit a small break area, while an event space may allow different play styles side by side. If you’re ready to explore workplace entertainment options, discover Arcade Fundi’s arcade hire and plan a setup around your occasion!
Will office game hire suit a mixed team or disrupt the workday?
Office game hire can fit into a working day when you plan around the people and the office routine. The aim isn’t to turn the whole workplace into a competition. Instead, set aside a defined opportunity to play, with a clear start and finish, while keeping work areas and movement routes accessible.
Can office games work for a team with different interests?
Yes, if you make joining in feel like an invitation rather than an expectation. Some colleagues will want a quick arcade turn, while others may prefer a head-to-head table game or watching nearby. A varied choice can welcome different interests, but you don’t need to provide every type of game.
Participation should be easy, optional and suited to your team. Keep the format relaxed with informal rounds or a simple shared challenge. Colleagues can take a turn, cheer others on or sit it out. A game gives people a common focus, but it can’t guarantee stronger relationships or a particular team outcome. Let the fun speak for itself!
How can you keep games from interrupting work?
Set an activity window that suits the purpose of the event. For a staff celebration, include play as part of the planned gathering. For a workplace break, choose a time that won’t compete with meetings or focused tasks. Make the start and finish clear, and let colleagues know when the play area will be in use.
Placement matters as much as timing. Choose a designated game zone away from desks, meeting rooms and quieter work areas where possible. Keep walkways clear, including routes colleagues need to use. Leave room for players and anyone watching, rather than letting a crowd spill into a corridor or work zone. If the layout is tight, a smaller selection can make the activity easier to manage.
Before arranging office game hire, consider your team’s working pattern, the event format and the location of the play area. A little planning helps keep the activity enjoyable without asking colleagues to work around it. For more ideas on fitting entertainment into the wider workplace, explore the office entertainment solutions guide.
Plan office game hire with a simple event checklist
A clear brief makes it easier to match games to your workplace and organise the hire. Work through these steps before your event, then share the practical details with Arcade Fundi’s team.
- Set the purpose. Decide whether the games are for a casual workplace break, a staff celebration or a more structured event. This defines the atmosphere you want and helps you plan how play will fit into the day.
- Note the date and schedule. Share when the activity is planned and how it fits around normal work, meetings or other event plans. A clear schedule helps everyone understand when the game area will be in use.
- Choose the play area. Identify where you’d like the games set up. Consider how colleagues will reach the area, where they might gather and which nearby desks, meeting rooms or walkways need to stay clear.
- Describe your team and activity style. Think about who may take part and whether you want relaxed individual turns, friendly head-to-head play or a mix. This gives the team a useful starting point for shaping a suitable game selection.
- Share access and setup details. Include practical information about reaching the play area and any workplace arrangements that affect delivery or setup. Clear details help the team plan around your venue and schedule.
- Plan for delivery, setup and collection. Arcade Fundi’s team handles these parts of the hire. Machines are assembled and tested in the workshop before delivery, helping prepare them for setup at your workplace. Include collection in your event plan so the activity has a clear end point.
With these details ready, you can turn a general idea into a practical plan. Arcade Fundi provides nationwide delivery across South Africa, with delivery, setup and collection handled by its team. Explore the entertainment equipment hire guide for more event-planning ideas, then plan your office game hire with Arcade Fundi!
Bring office game hire to life with Arcade Fundi
You’ve considered the occasion, your team and the space. Now turn that plan into a workplace experience with Arcade Fundi, a South African arcade and amusement equipment specialist with over five decades of industry experience. From nostalgic arcade play to lively table games, the right choice can add a playful change of pace to a staff event or office activity.
What makes Arcade Fundi a strong office hire partner?
Experience matters when you’re planning entertainment for a workplace. Arcade Fundi hires arcade video games, foosball tables, air hockey tables, pool tables and pinball machines, giving you different styles of play to choose from. A casual event might suit quick turns at an arcade game, while a social gathering could call for a head-to-head table game. Let your event purpose and play area guide the selection instead of trying to fit in every game type.
Arcade Fundi’s team handles delivery, setup and collection, making the practical stages of the hire easier to organise. Machines are assembled and tested in the workshop before delivery. This preparation, together with the company’s experience, gives you a clear process to plan around.
Arcade Fundi delivers nationwide across South Africa, so workplace organisers can plan arcade entertainment across the country. Whether you’re arranging a staff celebration or adding games to a workplace gathering, share the activity’s purpose and the space you have in mind to shape a plan that suits your event.
How do you take the next step?
Bring your key details together: the event purpose, preferred game styles, intended play area and workplace schedule. These details help shape a practical setup and a game mix that suits the way you want colleagues to take part. Then explore the equipment range and decide what atmosphere you’d like, from a relaxed nostalgic break to friendly competition.
If you’re weighing up hiring against owning equipment, the arcade machines buying guide offers a useful starting point for exploring ownership. For a workplace event, take the next step and Explore office game hire with Arcade Fundi. Bring your brief, your space and your favourite style of play, then get ready to bring the arcade atmosphere to work!
Make your workplace event one to remember
The right office game hire starts with a clear purpose, a play area that suits your venue and activities that invite colleagues to join in without pressure. From nostalgic arcade turns to friendly table-game challenges, choose a mix that fits your team and keeps the workday in mind.
Arcade Fundi brings over five decades of industry experience to workplace entertainment, with nationwide delivery across South Africa. The team handles delivery, setup and collection, and machines are assembled and tested in the workshop before delivery. That leaves you free to focus on your event and the people taking part.
Ready to bring the arcade atmosphere to work? Plan office game hire with Arcade Fundi and start shaping an experience your colleagues can enjoy together!
Frequently Asked Questions
What games can you hire for an office?
You can hire arcade video games, pool tables, foosball tables, air hockey tables and pinball machines for workplace activities. Arcade games suit casual turns, while foosball and air hockey bring colleagues together for head-to-head play. Pool has a more measured pace, and pinball offers an individual challenge. Choose according to your event, preferred style of play and available space.
Can arcade games work in a small office?
Yes, arcade games can work in a smaller office if you plan the play area carefully. Map where a machine could sit, how colleagues will approach it and where people might gather to watch. Keep walkways clear and maintain access to desks and meeting rooms. A well-placed game or manageable selection can suit the space better than filling every available corner.
How do you choose games for a mixed office team?
Choose different styles of play so colleagues can find an activity that suits them. Arcade video games invite short turns, pinball offers an individual challenge, and foosball, air hockey or pool suit friendly matches. Keep participation optional: people can play, watch or simply enjoy the atmosphere. A relaxed format welcomes different preferences without expecting everyone to enjoy the same game.
Does office game hire include delivery and setup?
Yes. Arcade Fundi’s team handles delivery, setup and collection for office game hire. Machines are assembled and tested in the workshop before delivery. To help plan the setup, share your intended play area, workplace access details and event schedule as part of the hire discussion. These details help organise the activity around your venue and workday.
Can office games be hired for a staff event or team-building day?
Yes, games can be hired for staff events and team-building days. For informal play, colleagues can drop in for a turn during a break or celebration. For a planned event, organise rounds or a simple shared challenge to give the activity more structure. Choose a format that suits the occasion, and make it clear that joining in is an invitation, not a requirement.
How should you prepare your workplace for hired games?
Choose the play area and make sure colleagues can reach it without blocking walkways or work zones. Share access details and your workplace schedule as part of the hire discussion, including when the activity is planned around meetings or focused work. Consider where players and spectators will gather, and keep nearby desks and quieter areas in mind as you organise the layout.
Is office game hire available across South Africa?
Yes. Arcade Fundi provides nationwide delivery across South Africa, so workplace organisers can plan office entertainment across the country. The company’s team handles delivery, setup and collection. Share your event purpose, preferred games and setup needs to shape an experience that fits your workplace and brings arcade nostalgia to the day.