11 Fun Backyard Games for Summer Parties

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

NO SUMMER PARTY is complete without some fun yard games. Whether it's a laid-back game like cornhole or bocce ball, or a physically intensive game like Spikeball or giant kick darts, every hosted gathering needs an activity that entertains and encourages (friendly) competition. Our editors and writers put in their two-cents to help put together a compendium of the best yard games. Keep scrolling to get our list of fun lawn and backyard games to try this summer.

Best Yard Games

Read more: Best Outdoor Furniture Brands

What to Consider

Most modern yard games, including the ones above, cater to a wide range of ages and activity levels. There are, however, two factors we recommending considering before buying a yard game.

Age of Players

The best have universal appeal, meaning they can be learned, played, and enjoyed by just about anyone, including younger children to teenagers to adults (with or without a drink in hand). If you’re shopping for new yard games for your next backyard BBQ, the most important thing to consider is the ages of your guests. Young players might gravitate more to simpler games like cornhole and ladder ball. Older guests might prefer those with a bit more strategy like bocce, Spikeball, and KanJam.

Setup and Transport

If the games you’re buying will rarely leave your backyard, this won’t be an issue. In fact, many are weatherproof (or at least weather-resistant), so they can be setup and left outdoors semi-permanently. If, however, you’re planning to camp with them or take them to your friends’ and neighbors’ houses, you may want to consider games that are lightweight, compact, and easy to setup and tear down. An included carry case also makes toting them around easier as well.

How We Selected

There are thousands of yard games available, with new games and upgraded versions of old games released each year. Our top of getting feedback from our editors and writers, we researched dozens of the most popular and best-reviewed games to find the best of the best. We compared everything from ease of learning to build quality to fun factor to price. The list above represents our honest picks of the best yard games to shop for your next outdoor get-together in 2024.

GoSports Classic Cornhole Set

If you were born in the last century, chances are you’ve probably played cornhole. It’s cheap to buy (or build your own), easy to set up, and even easier to learn and play, making it a fan favorite for everyone from young kids to can’t-put-their-phone-down teenagers to tipsy grandparents. If you have eyes and can throw a bean bag, you’ve got everything you need to play.

This top-rated set comes with several designs to choose from, plus eight bags and a travel case. Our favorite design is the football field—perfect for game day tailgates.

Read more: Best Pickleball Paddles

Swooc Giant Kick Darts

Giant kick darts was definitely not around when your dad was growing up, and quite frankly he missed out. This game is like the name suggests: position the ball and kick it up onto the six-foot blowup dart board. Along with the dart board, you get four kick balls total, a kickball pump, and electric air pump for the dart board, four ground stakes, and a reusable dry erase scoreboard with market.

Spikeball Standard 3 Ball Kit

Volleyball is a blast, but it’s hardly a portable party game. Spikeball takes all the fun, strategy, and skill of volleyball and packs it into a compact, go-anywhere kit that fits into a backpack. Like volleyball, each team of two players gets three chances to play the ball, but instead of playing over a net, they play off of it. There are no boundaries, so it’s a little more athletic than most other yard games on this list. Still, it’s easy to learn and play, even with an adult beverage in hand. This set features everything you need for official, regulation play. It’s a bit pricey at nearly $100, but a simpler, pared-down Rookie Kit is available for around $20 less.

Read more: Best Backyard Hammocks

Ayeboovi Toss and Catch Ball Game

This game fell out of fashion for a period, but we're dang happy it's back. It's pretty self explanatory: throw the tennis ball and catch it with the sticky velcro mitts. We love this set because it's under $40 and comes with four balls, four mitts, and a mesh storage bag.

BasketPong Giant Yard Pong Basket Ball Game

It's true you could buy a giant beer pong set for a lot cheaper, but really the promotion of what is often associated with drinking alcohol is probably not the best idea if you play on playing with kids. This basketball version is a lot more well made and has a much cooler design. It comes with an actual carrying case for easy carry and storage. You get two mini basketballs too, which of course can be used on a portable basketball goal.

Bottle Bash Outdoor Flying Disc Game Set

This game is great because you can play it competitively or for fun (with a drink in your hand). It works by placing the two sticks a distance apart and then setting the plastic bottles on each. Points are scored by which teams can toss the frisbee to knock the bottle down onto the ground.

It comes with two packable aluminum poles, two plastic bottles, one frisbee, and one carrying bag.

Bocce Ball Game Set

Bocce might be one of the most universally loved yard games. It’s timeless, easy to learn, and all the necessary pieces pack down into a compact bag that’s easy to take beyond the backyard for camping or travel. Plus, it’s a versatile game that works well for anywhere between two to eight players. This set comes with four balls and a white pailino target ball—all with a classic design. It comes with a carrying case you can pay extra to personalize.

Reclaimed Giant Tower Game

This set takes all the fun of traditional Jenga and blows it up to a whopping five-foot-tall outdoor-friendly yard game. This set is made from upcycled New Zealand pine, so it’s a whole lot nicer looking than your traditional indoor Jenga set. Sixty blocks in total stack with a starting height of 2.5 feet, and can double before toppling over. The company’s Smooth Pull finish ensures you never have to worry about sticking pieces prematurely ending your game. Plus, it all comes in a gift-worthy storage crate that doubles as a game table, so it’s ready to go at your next backyard get-together.

Kan Jam Disc Toss Game Set

KanJam takes all the fun of cornhole and adds Frisbees to the mix. Two teams of two compete by tossing their Frisbees at their opponent’s cans. Points are earned by hitting the can or slam dunking the disc directly into the top of the can. The first team to 21 points wins. But, either team can secure an instant victory by landing their Frisbee directly into a slot cut into the opposing team’s can. Like most yard games on this list, it’s extremely easy to learn but more challenging to master than cornhole and bocce.

Toss Across

This game is essentially cornhole with more strategy involved. The fact it's a tic-tac-toe board also appeals to kids, as they can keep up with the score much easier than having to rely on counting and memorizing the score on a regular cornhole board. It comes with six bean bags and the board. There's no carrying case, but we'd counter that qualm with the fact the game is just $22.

Gigantoss Giant-Sized Ladder Toss Set

It’s every bit as universal and crowd-pleasing as cornhole, so everyone from kids to adults to grandparents can have fun. The Gigantoss set from GoSports is just like a traditional ladder ball set, but biggie-sized with a 54-inch-tall ladder and 21-inch-long bolo balls with thicker, more durable rope. The durable PVC construction makes it lightweight, durable, and weatherproof. However, the Gigantoss version is not quite as portable as other yard games on this list and it is a little pricier at nearly $90. The basic Standard Size version is smaller and $50 less, however.

Discover More of the Best Summer Gear

Best Grills and Smokers | Best Bikes | Best Folding E-Bikes | Best Tennis Rackets for Beginners | Best Golf Club Sets

You Might Also Like

• The Best Hair Growth Shampoos for Men to Buy Now

• 25 Vegetables That Are Surprising Sources of Protein