If you’re looking for fun outdoor games to play with your family, this list is filled with great ideas (including games like cornhole, ladder ball, giant Jenga, and more). These games are perfect for all ages and great for budget-friendly fun at home.
For more ways to play together as a family, check out all our posts about games.
We live at the keystone of a quiet cul de sac, which is amazing because the cul de sac ends up being an extension of our property. So when we have parties (which, of course we invite the neighbors to), we end up using that space for fireworks on 4th of July and setting up outdoor games.
Because yes, we have a lot of games. And you can too.
If you buy a new game every summer, you’re not spending a ton of money all at once, plus you have the game for years so it’s a great investment.
Then, with so many games to rotate through, you’ll end up spending more time at home, which means less time going out and less money spent on entertainment.
It’s a big win.
To help you build your own library of games, we put together a list of our favorite outdoor family games. We made sure to include games that are fun for all ages so your whole family can play together.
If it’s too cold for you to play outside, but you want to host game night, check out our list of 20 Board Games For Families To Play Together.
Fun Outdoor Games For Families
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To make your life easier, we broke this into a couple sections: giant yard games (filled with anything oversized), tossing games (which require a little throwing while you stand in place), active games (which get you moving around), and classic games (which are ones we all know and love).
Giant Yard Games
Gigantic Jenga
Jenga is such a classic game, which you usually play on a table indoors, trying to balance blocks so the tower doesn’t topple.
The giant version has much larger blocks, which create a much larger tower, so it’s good for the outdoors where you have more space. With it being so large, it adds to the fun — and the drama (and collective group yelling!) of when it collapses.
Best for: All ages
Players: 2+. It’s great for large groups as well.
Setup: Needs a large table
Why it works: It takes strategy, precision, and attentiveness to detail
Jumbo Connect 4
Connect 4 is a well-known tabletop game with the object of getting four of your colored pieces in a row.
The outdoor version is a larger-than-life jumbo game that’s really simple for young children to play, but turns into a friendly competition when the adults take over.
Best for: Kids
Players: 2
Setup: Quick
Why it works: It’s easy to learn, has vibrant colors, and is fun for everyone.
Oversized Checkers
I would love for Pete and I to collaborate and make a homemade oversized checkers game for our backyard parties because it’s so much fun to play.
Instead of making one, you can buy an oversized checkers set with a fabric board. That way, you can just fold it up and bring it outside. Set it up on a table (or on the grass because the game board is huge) and play for hours.
Best for: All ages
Players: 2
Setup: You need space on the grass for a large fabric game board.
Why it works: It’s so easy for young kids to learn
Tetris Tumble XL
Tetris is such a fun video game to play, so it’s so cool to see it come to life outdoors with the Tetris Tumble XL game.
You roll a die, which has a Tetris piece indicated on it. Add that to the game board and try to keep it balanced, avoiding the inevitable collapse. If you topple the board, your opponent wins.
Best for: All ages (although it’s better if you’re older and understand weight distribution)
Players: 2 or more
Setup: It’s simple to set up, right out of the box.
Why it works: It’s so fun to play a physical version of a popular video game. Plus, the foam pieces are a great, soft alternative to the hard, wooden Jenga pieces (if you need a more kid-friendly game).
Tossing Games
All the games where your feet stay still and your hands and arms do all the work are in this section.
Cornhole
Cornhole can get competitive when adults play, but it’s still fun with kids. Although, when younger kids play, they usually end up just running up to the board and dropping the bean bags straight into the hole.
Those aren’t the rules, obviously, but that is a fun way for kids to play while the adults are taking a break.
Best for: Older kids and adults (arm strength to throw the bags between boards helps)
Players: 2-4 (two teams of 2 or single players)
Setup: Needs space (boards are placed between 12 and 27 feet apart)
Why it works: It’s easy to play and super competitive and it’s great for teams.
Bucketball
Bucketball is something fun that you can play with the whole family. To play, teams take turns throwing a tennis or rubber ball towards the buckets. The first team to sink a ball in each one of the buckets wins.
Just like cornhole, if you’re playing with kids, there’s a good chance they’ll run up to the buckets and just drop the ball in. As long as everyone’s having fun, that’s all that matters.
Best for: Older kids and adults (arm strength and accuracy helps)
Players: 2-4 (two teams of 2 or single players)
Setup: Quick, but needs space (you want 15 feet minimum between buckets)
Why it works: It’s a great way to be active, but minimally.
Ladder Ball
No matter how athletic you are, ladder ball is hard to master. So everyone is on a level playing field, which means everyone will have a good time playing together.
You take a bolas (two balls connected by a rope) and throw it towards a ladder. If it twirls around, you get points. The higher it lands, the more points. The first to 21 wins.
Best for: All ages
Players: 2-4 (two teams of 2 or single players)
Setup: Needs space (you need 15 feet between boards)
Why it works: It’s really fun and it’s hard to master, so there’s a good chance kids can actually beat the adults (without you letting them win).
Kan Jam
One of Pete’s friends had Kan Jam and we played it at a BBQ forever ago. Kan Jam is similar to frisbee golf because it involves throwing a disc towards a target, but it’s more of a team sport.
The first player tosses the frisbee towards the can while a teammate deflects it, trying to slam it into the can. The opposing team tries to defend that. Then, the teams switch between offense and defense. It’s a great way to get in a little exercise without even realizing it.
Best for: All ages (but, it’s fast-paced so younger kids might have trouble keeping up with the frisbee and the adults)
Players: 4 (two teams of 2)
Setup: Needs space (Kan Jam involves a lot of space to run)
Why it works: It’s so competitive, fun to play, and active
Mini Frisbee Golf Set
Disc golf is so popular, but, if you don’t want to head to a course, get this mini frisbee golf set.
The cage sits on a table and you throw mini frisbee golf discs at it. It’s usually an indoor game, but since it’s made of plastic (which can handle the elements) and takes up little space, we bring it outside when we have company as an alternative to the other games we have.
Best for: Kids (because the discs are made for smaller hands)
Players: 2 or more
Setup: Quick and portable
Why it works: It’s easy to play and young kids can be competitive.
Active Games
If you really want to get some exercise, these are the best games for you.
Spikeball
I’ve seen so many people play Spikeball at the beach and get super into it. But, you don’t need to be at the beach to play. It’s great for the backyard too.
There’s a rebound net (it looks like a mini trampoline) and a ball, and teams of two play a game of volleyball meets four square. You and your partner have up to three rally-style hits to hit the trampoline. Sounds easy, but it depends on who you play with.
Best for: All ages (everyone can play but hand-eye coordination is helpful)
Players: 4 (two teams of 2)
Setup: Needs space (this can involve a lot of running around to chase the ball)
Why it works: It’s really competitive and keeps you active
Classic Backyard Games
Yard Dice
We made our own set of yard dice from leftover wood so we could play Yardzee. But, they work with any dice game, like Farkle or Bunco. Any dice game is great when you’re playing with these extra large dice.
These are really loud if you roll them inside, which is why we use them outside only.
Best for: All ages
Players: It depends on the game.
Setup: Easy (just bring the dice outside)
Why it works: Giant dice make games feel more fun.
Outdoor Ring Toss
One of my favorite parts about going to Japan is going to the street fairs, which have a ton of food and games. There’s a popular ring toss game, which is really fun game, really good for hand-eye coordination, and really slept on. People totally forget about it even though it’s simple, low-effort fun.
So, pick up outdoor ring toss for your home. It doesn’t take up that much outdoor space when you’re playing (as opposed to something like cornhole, which takes up a lot of open space), so it’s great if you have less space.
Best for: All ages
Players: 2 or more
Setup: Quick and portable
Why it works: There’s basically no setup for this, so you can just bring it outside and start playing.
Hookey
I’m not very good at darts. I like the concept, but getting the dart exactly where it needs to go isn’t my forte. So hookey is more up my alley.
Hookey is basically ring toss that is propped upward, usually on an outdoor wall. You toss rings at the board, aiming to get them on hooks, and add up the score. The player with the most points wins. There are a few different ways you can keep score, just like with darts. Just make house rules.
Best for: All ages (anyone who can toss a ring can play)
Players: 2 or more
Setup: It hangs permanently, so there’s no setup.
Why it works: It’s easy to play and doesn’t require any setup.
Outdoor Dominoes
My family loves playing dominoes. We play double dominoes (aka Mexican train dominoes), and it’s really fun. You need a lot of dominoes to play, though, and the game gets really large and takes up our entire kitchen table. So bringing the game outside would be a great idea.
You can make your own set of outdoor dominoes if you have wood, time, and patience. Or you can just purchase it online — which seems a lot easier, honestly.
Best for: All ages
Players: 2 or more
Setup: There’s no setup.
Why it works: It’s perfect for outdoors because the large pieces are too big to use inside.
Lawn Bowling
We have a mini outdoor lawn bowling game that we set up when we have parties, and it’s always a big hit with the kids.
If you set it up on grass, the pins wobble a little bit, making them easier to knock over. If you want more of a challenge, set it up on the driveway where the concrete will hold them in place better.
Best for: Kids (adults are usually too strong for these sets)
Players: 2 or more
Setup: Setting it up is quick, but you do have to reset it between every roll.
Why it works: It’s a game everyone knows the rules for and one that’s easy to play.
Purchase The Best Outdoor Family Games Online:
These are our favorite outdoor games, but they’re not the only ones. There are more, like the Birdie Golf game above.
Check out the online stores below for more fun games to play outside:
Be sure to look at a store’s minimum cart total to qualify for free shipping. Also, consider curbside or in-store pickup to avoid shipping costs.
Which of these 10+ Fun Outdoor Games For Families do you think your family would like best?
Joanne
Tuesday 28th of April 2020
Lots of fun suggestions! I just got that Hookey game for my nephew for Christmas and our boys were all playing it within minutes of putting it together. I loved that it could played inside or out.