Order a game
Custom mini-games as gifts

Put in the game.

We build a little video game about someone special, using your stories, photos and inside jokes. Guests play it on their phones with a QR code, or on an arcade totem at the party.

Order now, pay after you've played it

Starring Sofia
▶ See the games

Perfect for every
big moment

  • Birthdays
  • Anniversaries
  • Weddings
  • Partner surprises
  • Company events
  • Summer parties
  • Christmas parties
  • Pregnancy announcements
  • Graduations
  • Retirements
  • Valentine's Day
  • Onboarding new employees
  • Trade fairs
  • Team-building days
  • Mother's and Father's Day
  • Save the date
Pick a cartridge

Ten game styles to start from

Every game is built on a tested template, then filled with your person. Their friends become characters, their stories become levels and their inside jokes become the bosses.

Examples

MADE FOR LEONIE

A 30th birthday in three chapters

Growing up in Stuttgart, a year in Cádiz, then Freiburg, Munich and home again. Her school friends were the characters you meet, English class was the boss, and the last level ends with her partner waiting.

Play the example
WEDDING · EXAMPLE IDEA

Mia & Jonas: The Ring Rescue

On the morning of the wedding, their dog Pixel runs off with the rings. Guests chase him through the couple's love story: the café where they met, their first trip to Lisbon and the mountain where Jonas proposed. The last level is the dance floor.

Guests scan the QR code on their table card. The leaderboard runs on the big screen during dinner, and the top scorer gets the first slice of cake.

How it works

Four levels from idea to game

You tell us about the person. We do the building.

  1. LEVEL 1

    Choose a game

    Pick one of ten game styles, or bring your own idea. Choose what fits the person and the party.

  2. LEVEL 2

    Tell their story

    Names, photos, places, nicknames and the jokes only your group gets. A short form does the job.

  3. LEVEL 3

    We build it

    They become the hero. You get a preview link to check every detail before the big day.

  4. LEVEL 4

    Press start

    Share the QR code, set up the totem and watch the leaderboard fill up.

Made for parties

Everyone plays, one name tops the board

Every score goes on a live leaderboard, so guests compete all night. After the party, the game stays online as a keepsake.

QR code

Scan and play on any phone. Print it on the invitation, a card or the cake topper.

Event totem

An arcade-style kiosk at the venue, with joystick and big screen. We bring it and set it up. Book it at least 15 days before the event.

Live rankings

A leaderboard on the totem or any screen in the room, updated after every round.

Keepsake

The game stays online after the event, so the hero can play it again whenever they like.

Illustrative footage
HIGH SCORESSample · a 30th birthday
    Names and scores are examples
    Leo, founder of SurpriseCade, smiling in front of a brick wall
    Leo, founder
    Why I started this

    It started with a surprise

    Hi, I'm Leo. For my friend Leonie's 30th birthday, I made her a little game. Her friends became the characters, her stories became the levels, and her life became the adventure.

    Seeing a group of friends crowd around one screen, laughing and cheering for each other, showed me what a gift can be. More than a thing. A moment people share, and a way to tell someone how much they mean to you.

    That's what SurpriseCade is for: surprising the people you love and bringing everyone together.

    Prices

    Pick your package

    Order now, pay later: you only pay once you've seen and played your game.

    Gift

    €89 one game
    • One custom game in any style
    • QR code to share
    • Online for one year
    • Ready in about 3 days

    Your own game idea: +€100

    Choose Gift

    Party

    Most picked
    €189 per event
    • Everything in Gift
    • Live leaderboard for up to 150 players
    • Printable QR cards for every table
    • Stays online forever as a keepsake

    Your own game idea: +€100

    Choose Party

    Company event

    €690 from
    • Everything in Party
    • Arcade totem delivered and set up
    • Your team, office and in-jokes in the game

    Book at least 15 days before the event

    Your own game idea: +€100

    Choose Event
    BONUS LEVEL

    Got your own game idea? I'll make it happen.

    Any idea you have. A cooking battle, a dog chasing the wedding rings, a race through your office, something nobody has ever played before. Tell me about it and I'll build it from scratch, just for you.

    +€100on any package
    A totally new game is ready in about 7 daysI have an idea!

    Draft prices for testing the idea

    Order

    Insert coin: tell us about your hero

    Takes about five minutes. We'll reply within a day. Your game is ready in about 3 days, or about 7 if it's a totally new idea.

    1. 1Your game
    2. 2Your details
    3. 3Payment
    Choose your package
    Questions

    FAQ

    Can you put a famous game character in it?

    No. Famous game characters and names are protected, so every game uses original characters drawn for your hero. You get the same feeling of the classics, with your person as the star.

    How long does it take?

    A game from our catalogue is ready in about 3 days. A totally new game, built from your own idea, takes about 7 days. If you want the arcade totem at your event, book at least 15 days before the event.

    Can you build a game I came up with myself?

    Absolutely. Any idea you have, I'll make it happen. It's €100 extra on any package and ready in about 7 days.

    What happens to the photos I send?

    We use them to draw the characters: the game is built in pixel art based on the original photos, so small pixelated versions can appear in it. The photos you upload are deleted once the game is finished.

    Does it work on every phone?

    Yes. Games run in the browser, so there's nothing to install. Guests scan the QR code and play.

    Can the game stay private?

    Yes. The link can be kept secret or protected with a code that only your guests know.

    When do I pay?

    When you order, securely by card, PayPal, Klarna, Apple Pay, Google Pay or SEPA. For company events you pay a €200 deposit when you book; the rest goes on an invoice.