Game-based engagement is here—and it’s already changing the rules.
Guests don’t want loyalty programs that feel like homework. They want to feel something—excitement, surprise, anticipation. That’s where PAR Games™ comes in.
In addition to the expected points and tiers, PAR Games turns everyday guest behavior—like checking in or making a purchase—into behavior-triggered brand moments that surprise, delight, and drive measurable ROI.
Launched this September, PAR Games is already transforming the way restaurants think about engagement. With over 200 customizable templates, real-time campaign triggers, and built-in margin protection, it’s the most powerful loyalty upgrade since… loyalty.
Here are 3 key strategies from the PAR Games playbook that can help you start winning more visits, data, and emotional loyalty—without discounting away your margins.
- Drive Urgency with LTO-Themed Games
- Objective: Boost traffic around limited-time offers (LTOs)
Whether you’re launching a new item or bringing back a fan favorite, PAR Games gives your LTOs a second wind. Instead of relying solely on push notifications or discounts, you can embed a game into the offer lifecycle—like a “Spin to Win” that rewards players with surprise perks for visiting during the promo period.
This approach drives FOMO, lifts repeat visits, and creates a moment worth sharing. With Punchh’s native campaign tools, you can even trigger the game after a qualifying purchase or visit—no manual lift needed.
- Example: A brand launched a birthday-themed slot machine game offering different levels of mystery rewards. It created a sense of anticipation and saw a 25% repeat play rate during the campaign window.
Bonus: Every spin or swipe is an opportunity to collect zero-party data (like flavor preferences or time-of-day behavior) to optimize future campaigns.
- Celebrate Guests with VIP-Only Rewards
- Objective: Surprise and retain your best guests
Celebrating loyalty milestones—like anniversaries, tier upgrades, or lifetime spend—should feel special. With PAR Games, you can automatically serve exclusive games tied to these moments, giving high-value guests the VIP treatment they’ve earned.
Think: an “Unlock Your Reward” game experience that’s fully branded, seamlessly delivered via SMS or email, and designed to create an emotional moment—not just a transactional one.
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Example: One campaign used a skill-based challenge game with three reward levels based on how the guest performed. Prizes were only redeemable through the loyalty app, helping drive more in-app behavior and boosting retention.
These micro-celebrations don’t just build goodwill; they build stickiness.
- Engage, Learn, and Grow With Zero-Party Data
- Objective: Build smarter guest profiles without giveaways
Traditional loyalty programs often rely on discounts to incentivize engagement. But with PAR Games, you can swap margin-draining promos for something far more sustainable—fun.
Gamified campaigns like “Pick Your Prize” or “Burger Catch” allow guests to engage just for the chance to win. Whether they walk away with a reward or not, you’re capturing real-time behavioral signals that feed directly into Punchh—powering segmentation, personalization, and smarter offers down the line.
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Example: A quick-service restaurant used an in-app game to promote loyalty downloads. The campaign drove a 66% join rate among participants and allowed the brand to better understand what drove engagement—even among non-winners.
And the best part? You control the rewards, the win probabilities, and the logic—without custom dev work or outside agency support.
PAR Games in Action: TGIF Turns Fridays Into Game Day
When TGI Fridays wanted to boost app traffic and celebrate their brand DNA, they turned to PAR Games. The result? A fully themed game day campaign that included:
- An interactive “Word Scramble” game released every Friday
- Surprise-and-delight rewards like free appetizers or bonus points
- Timed exclusivity to keep guests coming back week after week
It’s Loyalty, Leveled Up
Loyalty doesn’t have to be boring. With PAR Games, you can drive visits, protect margin, and spark emotional engagement—all with a few clicks. It’s fully integrated with Punchh, endlessly customizable, and built to scale.
Ready to turn brand moments into lasting loyalty?
