• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to home navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Top 10 Party Games
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Play.Party.Plan

Adding fun and creativity to everyday life

  • Fun Ideas by Occasion
    • Baby Shower
    • Bridal Shower
    • Birthday
    • Game Night
    • Movie Night
    • Super Bowl
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Graduation
    • Summer
    • 4th of July
    • Back to School
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year’s Eve
  • Games
    • Adult Games
    • Baby Shower
    • Bridal Shower
    • Birthday Party
    • Bingo Games
    • Board Games
    • Card Games
    • Christmas Games
    • Dice Games
    • Disney Games
    • Group Games
    • Holiday Games
    • Kid Games
    • Minute to Win It
    • Outdoor Games
    • Party Games
    • Scavenger Hunts
    • Teen Games
    • Trivia Games
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Baked Goods
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Kid-Friendly
    • Main Dishes
    • Party Food
    • Sides
  • Free Printables
    • Crafts
    • Gift Tags
    • Kids Activities
    • Party Printables
    • Printable Games
  • Travel
    • Caribbean
    • Cruises
    • Disney
    • International
    • Travel Tips
    • United States
  • Life
    • Entertainment
    • Gift Ideas
    • Health
    • Church
    • Family
  • Shop
    • $1 Deals
    • Best Sellers
  • About
    • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility
  • Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter
  • Join the Free Party E-Club!
Home Fun & Games Outdoor Games 36 of the Most Fun Outdoor Games for All Ages

36 of the Most Fun Outdoor Games for All Ages

By: Britni Vigil
10/15/2019Updated: 8/12/2020
This post may contain affiliate links. Privacy policy.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
People playing outdoor games with text for Pinterest
People playing outdoor games with text for Pinterest
People playing outdoor games with text for Pinterest

Looking for outdoor games for adults or outdoor games for kids? These are some of the most fun outdoor games you’ll ever find! Everything from classic outdoor games like capture the flag to giant outdoor games like Jenga, yard Twister, and more!

People playing outdoor games with text for Pinterest

This post contains affiliate links to products that I recommend. I also received some products for free for this post. All opinions are 100% honest and my own. If you purchase via one of my links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Is there anything better than playing outdoor games with your friends and family on a nice day? Getting all hot and sweaty from some good clean fun followed by refreshing popsicles like these blue lemonade popsicles? For me, there’s not. Some of my best memories are playing games outside with my family while we were at home or on vacation. Somehow we always got outside playing sports, games, or really pretty much anything we could come up with.

I’ve put together a collection of my absolute favorite outdoor games for kids, for adults, and for anyone in between. They are a combination of outdoor yard games, outdoor games you’ve probably been playing all your life, and a few of my family’s favorites that you may not have heard of before!

And don’t forget to cool down after playing these games with a dip in the pool and these pool party games!

If you have games to add to this list, leave me a comment with how to play and I’ll make sure to try it out!

Fun Outdoor Games for All Ages

I’ve broken this list of outdoor games into a couple of different categories.

  1. Outdoor Party Games (games with points, prizes, winners)
  2. Giant Outdoor Games (you can either DIY or buy)
  3. Other Outdoor games (games that don’t fit either of the first two categories)

A collage showing the best outdoor party games

12 Outdoor Party Games

These games are ones that make the most sense as party games rather than outdoor games you play on a random day. They either are ones that keep score, win prizes, or are just more fit for a party atmosphere. You could really play any of these minute to win it games as well, just play them outside!

Balloon Down

For this game, you’ll need three different balloons (all the same color or not, doesn’t matter) blown up with helium and tied to some sort of balloon weight. Use red white and blue balloons if you’re playing one of these patriotic party games!

Use a permanent marker to write point values on the three balloons. I did 25, 50, and 100 to use round numbers but you could easily do something like 1, 5, and 10 as well. Tape a line one one side of the yard then place the balloons about 10-15 feet away (more if you’re playing with only adults). Put the lowest scoring balloon closest, the next highest scoring balloon next, and so on.

Next to the tape, place a bucket of small footballs like these ones. You want to make sure they’re heavy enough that they can be tossed across the yard.

To play, players have five football tosses to try and hit as many balloons as possible. If they hit a balloon, they score the points. Person who scores the most points wins (or just give anyone who gets a certain number of points a prize).

Playing fun outdoor games games like Balloon Down

Balloon down, one of the most fun outdoor party games

Ring Toss

Whether you make your own DIY ring toss like I did for 4th of July last year or buy one of these already made sets, ring toss is a party game that works for all ages! Simply move your guests a bit further away from the objects they’re trying to ring – further away the older they get!

Midway Mania Carnival Games

While you may not want to host a full carnival, carnival games make great outdoor party games! We did some Toy Story inspired Midway Mania carnival games at my son’s birthday party last year, and they were a total hit! Try any of those games with your own theme or any of these Halloween carnival games (just switch out the colors + prizes for a different theme).

Make your own Toy Story Midway Mania games at home with this fun outdoor games tutorial! With everything from a homemade balloon darts to a punch box, so many fun ideas!

Other Outdoor Party Games

  • DIY Plinko (like on the Price is Right)
  • Bean Bag Ladder Toss
  • DIY Ladder Golf
  • Pool Prize Search
  • Humana Piñata Chase
  • Outdoor Pictionary (with this massive DIY chalkboard)
  • Hit the Can DIY Game
  • Outdoor Bean Bag Toss
  • Bucket Ball Toss (using ping pong balls could be really fun!)

12 Giant Outdoor Games

These are the games that seem to be everywhere right now – giant versions of the games we all played inside as kids. And last weekend. My sister had giant Jenga at her bohemian wedding reception but I’ve seen all sorts of large scale games to play in your backyard! Here are some of the best tutorials to DIY these games and buy them!

  1. Life-sized Angry Birds Game
  2. Backyard Kerplunk or buy it here
  3. DIY Backyard Dominoes or buy them here
  4. DIY LCR Dice Game (it’s like a giant version of this gift exchange game except without the gifts)
  5. DIY Lawn Twister or buy the big mat version here
  6. DIY Yard Yahtzee or buy it here
  7. DIY Jenga Game or buy it here
  8. Giant Bananagrams
  9. Giant Lawn Matching Game
  10. Giant Scrabble Game
  11. Giant Pick Up Sticks or buy it here
  12. Backyard Giant Board Game


A collection of the most fun outdoor games

12 Outdoor Yard Games & Other Outdoor Games

These games are ones that you can play outside but aren’t necessarily party games or giant size games of games you play inside. They’re just fun outdoor games you can play with your family for family night or invite a bunch of kids or teens to come over and play to burn off some of that crazy energy. These are some of my favorite games and ones I grew up playing as a kid! These and of course the water games I already wrote about!

Capture the Flag

Capture the Flag is a one of the most classic games there is. They even played a game in Divergent (and a couple of these other books like Divergent). Most people have probably played it, but it’s often forgotten. Hence being on this list!

To play capture the flag, split your group into two (or more) teams. Give each team a flag or a cloth napkin like we did. Send each team to a different part of a park, forest, or large space. Each team should hide their flag the best they can so that the other team cannot find it. The only caveat is that at least part of the flag has to be visible so no hiding it under a rock completely or something like that.

When you say go, teams must race to try to find the other teams flag and bring it back to their side without getting caught by the other team.

Caught can be hit with a water balloon, tagged with two hands, or spotted with a flashlight (if you’re playing at night). If someone gets caught, they can either be out (not as fun) or put into a prison where they can be rescued by a team member who has to take them safely back to their side of the area without getting tagged to be “uncaught.”

You can find more detailed rules, instructions, and variations on how to play here.

A flag in a tree - one of the best outdoor games

Playing outdoor games like capture the flag

500

This also makes one of the best swimming pool games as well, but it’s great in a backyard too. All you need is a football and some people to play.

Pick one person to be the thrower and everyone else will be playing. Have the thrower stand on one side of the yard holding the football and facing away from everything else. Have the rest of the group stand all together on the opposite side of the yard, facing the thrower.

To start, the thrower should say a number of points and “dead or alive.” For instance, 200 alive. Or 300 dead or alive. If they say alive, the ball must be caught in the air for the points to be scored. If they say dead or alive, the ball can either be caught on the ground or picked up off the ground.

Once they’ve named the score of the toss, they throw the ball behind their head toward the group of people. The group of people have to try to be the one to get the ball – either in the air (alive only) or off the ground (if the points are scored for dead). Whoever catches or ends up with the ball scores those points.

Continue tossing the football and scoring points until someone has 500 points. Whoever scores 500 points first gets to be the next tosser.

Make sure to set some ground rules before you play so that no one gets hurt. Unless you’re playing with teenage boys then by all means, go ahead and let them roughhouse.

Tossing the football for 500 - one of the best outdoor games for kids

Jumping for a football in 500, one of the best outdoor games for adults

Color by Corner

For this game, you’ll need to either place a flag, a colored balloon, or even just a colored piece of paper in all four corners of the yard – four different colors. Then pick one person to be the caller; everyone else will be runners.

To start the game, have the caller stand in the middle of the yard and close their eyes. Everyone else should stand around the perimeter of the yard. When the caller says “go,” all of the players must move around the yard among the four corners. When the caller yells stop (whenever they want), everyone needs to scramble to get to one of the corners with a particular color.

After the caller says stop, they should give runners about 10 seconds before next calling out one of the four corners represented in the colors. Whoever is standing in the corner that gets called is out of the game. Everyone else is in and should begin moving around again when the caller says go again.

Continue playing with portions of the group getting out every time the caller calls out a color. If you get down to less than four people still moving around the corners, the players have to all go to different colored corners.

The game ends when only one person is left standing in a corner. That person becomes the next caller, and you can play again.

Playing fun outdoor games like color by corner

Bocce Ball

If you’ve never played bocce ball, you’re missing out. This is a huge family favorite, and I can’t take credit for the game in any way shape or form. It’s a sport played all throughout Europe and the world, but it’s one of our favorite outdoor games, so it’s making this list.

Start by buying a set of bocce balls, which includes two colored balls per team and a small white ball. You can get a reasonably priced on one Amazon here or they typically sell them at places like Costco and Target as well during the summer.

Playing bocce ball is easy. Each person (or team) takes two colored balls. The person who goes first tosses a small white ball anywhere they want in the yard. Then the teams takes turns trying to get their colored ball the closest to the white ball, kind of like horseshoes. Whoever gets their ball closest to the white ball wins a point.

You can read the full rules in the set you buy or create your own house rules, but we normally play that whoever scored a point last tosses the ball. Then the person that goes next is the person who has the most points. Each player tosses one colored ball at a time (not both) so everyone has a fair shot at ending up closest to the white ball.

First player to a set number of points wins.

Tossing bocce balls while playing outdoor party games

Bocce ball is one of the best outdoor games ever

Night & Day Bean Bag Toss

If you’ve never done a bean bag toss, the idea is to try to toss more bean bags either into the hole or on the board than your opponent. There are different rules for playing, but we play three points for one in the target and one point if it’s on the board. No points if it bounces onto the board.

Play individually or play in teams! First team to a set number of points wins! 

You may have played a bean bag toss or corn hole as some people call it – but have you ever played at night? 

This night and day bean bag toss set comes with LED lights in both the bags and the target so you can play during the day and then again at night. 

Not a fan of corn hole? You can find tons of other light up game options from Tenalach here as well! 

Corn hole is one of the best outdoor games

Corn hole board and other outdoor games

Glow in the dark corn hole and other outdoor games

Other Outdoor Games

  • Obstacle Courses
  • Minute to Win It Games
  • Frisbee Tic-Tac-Toe
  • DIY Cornhole Game
  • Slip N’ Slide Kickball
  • Cannonball (or any of these other camping games)
  • Giant Table Tennis
  • Hose Head
  • Ins and Outs (this one sounds so fast paced and fun!)
 

More Outdoor Games You Can Buy

Don’t want to make your own outdoor games? Buy them instead. I’ve rounded up the best places to buy any number of fun outdoor games to play all summer – outdoor party games, giant outdoor games, and yard games too!

  • Giant Tic-Tac-Toe
  • Giant Lawn Checkers
  • Giant Connect 4
  • Bucket Ball
  • Giant Inflatable Bowling


Don’t forget to pin these outdoor games for later! 

People playing outdoor games with text for Pinterest

Want More Games?

Want more fun games just like this one? Enter your first name and email address in the form below to join the Play Party Plan community! You'll receive weekly games, activities, and more directly to your inbox!

you may also like…

  • Great dinosaur party games! This dinosaur dig idea is perfect for all dinosaur lovers!
    Kid Games
    Dinosaur Party Games and Prizes
  • Easter games for kids like these free printable Easter candy bingo cards are the perfect way to celebrate Easter with your family and friends! Perfect for any spring or Easter party!
    Bingo Games
    Free Printable Easter Candy Bingo Cards
  • Neighborhood scavenger hunt on pink background with car and house toys
    Scavenger Hunts
    Free Printable Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt
  • Printable adult Halloween games for adults
    Halloween Games
    Monster Match Halloween Games for Adults

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Use the form below to submit your question or comment. I love hearing from you and seeing what you made!
rate this recipe:




text here

  1. Free robux generator says

    Posted on 11/5 at 5:14 am

    that was a great time actually. playing outdoor games all the time was fun

    Reply
    • BritniV says

      Posted on 11/5 at 11:36 am

      I agree. We loved playing outdoors any chance we get.

      Reply
  2. Eliza Ballot says

    Posted on 12/11 at 10:44 pm

    There are some new game that I have not played till now and surely I will try these game in the future. I love to play cornhole game, washers game and Disc golf game with my family and friends in my free time. You can add these games to your blog as well.

    Reply
    • BritniV says

      Posted on 12/12 at 10:45 am

      Thank you are for ideas, we love those games too.

      Reply
  3. Mahiya says

    Posted on 2/2 at 12:59 pm

    Wow this is really helpful tips for kids. Thank you very much for sharing this awesome article. Pogo stick is one of the best outdoor games for kids.

    Reply
    • BritniV says

      Posted on 2/5 at 10:22 pm

      Thank you & Enjoy

      Reply
  4. Mohd Azam says

    Posted on 2/17 at 10:36 am

    Amazing, thanks for sharing

    Reply
    • BritniV says

      Posted on 2/18 at 2:21 pm

      You are so welcome

      Reply
  5. Poppy P. says

    Posted on 3/26 at 3:44 pm

    Uhm these games seem mean, its like you have all these people and like I have no friends or any family near me so it is hard for me to find something to do alone or with some random person that I befriend off the street. I want games that only need 1-2 peoples

    Reply
    • BritniV says

      Posted on 4/1 at 7:13 pm

      I’m so sorry – you could play some of these games with 1-2 people but unfortunately these were designed before we were all staying at home.

      Reply
  6. Cat F says

    Posted on 5/14 at 12:44 pm

    How about games I played like 123 Red Light or Simon Says. They don’t require Any Props

    Reply
    • BritniV says

      Posted on 5/14 at 2:15 pm

      Those are great too, I just figured everyone knows about those!

      Reply
  7. Laura Wiess says

    Posted on 9/14 at 6:09 am

    hey Britni ! Looks like a happy family should play these games to just chill from the hectic life.

    Reply
    • Britni Vigil says

      Posted on 9/15 at 4:43 pm

      Yes! We all need a little chilling right now!

      Reply
  8. Jenjo Games says

    Posted on 11/30 at 5:25 am

    All the games sound so much fun and you have explained them so well! Outdoor games are the best and my kids love them!

    Reply
Older Comments
Previous Post
How to Personalize Baby Items with Cricut EasyPress Mini
Next Post
20 Adorable Disney Baby Costumes

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I’m
Britni

I love sweet treats, my family, games, and anything fun!

Read More

Ideas By Theme

Baby Shower Birthday Bridal Shower Disney Game Night Holiday Just For Kids Movie Night Outdoors

Healthy Favorites

Almond chicken on a plate

Almond Chicken

Homemade taco meat is perfect for a Whole 30 meal plan

Homemade Taco Meat

A white bowl filled with roasted root vegetables

Roasted Root Vegetables

Instant Pot Chicken Tacos

Popular Games

three adults looking at a card while playing games

Party Games for Adults

These hilarious St. Patrick’s Day games are fun for kids or adults! Play them as minute to win it games or play them just as regular old party games for some of the most hilarious St. Patrick’s Day activities ever!

Minute to Win It Games

Olympic Games

Birthday Ideas at Home

Free Party Ideas E-Club!

As Featured On

Join The Party

You're invited to the most fun party around! Join to get new posts, freebies, and more!

connect
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter
  • Play
    • Board Games
    • Kids Activities
    • Minute to Win It
    • Scavenger Hunts
  • Party
    • Food
    • Games
    • Printables
    • Themes
  • Plan
    • Disney Trips
    • Easy Meals
    • Family Travel
    • Gift Ideas

Disclaimer

Britni Vigil is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to www.amazon.com.
Back to Top
  • Contact
  • Work With Me
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
© 2021 · PLAY PARTY PLAN · Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled
Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window