8 fun outdoor games to play with the family this year
These highly rated outdoor games are designed for adults and kids alike.
A lifesize version of the classic indoor game, this giant Jenga set starts at 26 inches high and can be stacked to over 5 feet high. The outdoor game is on the pricier side at $130, but Yard Games makes a similar Tumbling Timbers game that starts at $50 and comes in two sizes (Large and Giant). Both lawn games come with a carrying case for easy storage and transport.
This classic cornhole set comes with two durable resin-coated boards and eight 12.5-ounce toss bags — four Red and four Blue. It has foldable wooden legs for easy setup, and if you want to bring the set to a barbecue or beach day, the boards lock together with a carrying handle for easy transportation. The cornhole set has a 4.4-star average rating from over 3,100 customers on Amazon.
This classic bocce set comes complete with eight 90-millimeter balls plus a 40-millimeter pallino to get the game coming. It also includes a measuring rope for precise scoring and a canvas bag for easy transportation to the park or beach. The balls — which you can purchase as Resin Balls, Light Up LED Balls or, if children under 12 are playing, Soft Rubber Balls — use four colors and two patterns, so up to eight players can participate. The backyard bocce set has a 4.8-star average rating from nearly 3,000 Amazon reviews.
Complete with a compact carrying case, this 2.15-pound ring toss game can be played right in your backyard or taken with you on camping trips, park excursions and other outdoor trips. The game has no age restrictions, so every family member can participate. The set, which comes with 10 plastic rings, five rope rings, five pegs and a two-part standing base, has a 4.5-star average rating from nearly 6,000 Amazon reviews.
This high-energy outdoor game takes ultimate frisbee to the next level. Players organize into two teams of two, and those teams take turns trying to throw a frisbee into (or near) a can. The competitive game is easy to assemble and disassemble for safe storage when you’re done playing. It sits at a 4.7-star average rating from more than 7,100 Amazon reviewers.
Another game for teams of two, Spikeball is a little bit like volleyball, except it uses a roundnet that you have to spike the ball off of. The whole set fits inside of a drawstring bag for effortless storage and travel. The standing net has foldable legs that are designed to be more durable and harder to break during intense games. Spikeball has a 4.7-star rating from almost 10,500 Amazon shoppers.
This outdoor game set includes the basic materials to play volleyball, badminton, flip toss, ring toss and frisbee. (Another version of the set comes with horseshoes instead of ring toss.) If you throw a lot of big barbecues over the summer, this collection can keep guests entertained and give them some activities to choose from. It has a 4.1-star average rating from nearly 3,000 Amazon reviews.
Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
