15 fun lawn games to stay entertained in your own backyard
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Now that the weather’s getting nicer, we’re all hoping to safely enjoy some time outdoors. And what better way to do it than playing a lawn game with those you’ve been quarantined with? It’s certainly a nice change from your Netflix marathon or starting yet another puzzle.
Backyard games are a great way to add some more competition between family and friends and finally get your body moving. To help you improve your collection, we’re rounding up some of the most popular (and most fun) lawn games on the market. From classics like cornhole to the more unique like Flickin' Chicken and life-sized board games, these 15 lawn games will surely keep you entertained this summer.
1. A "Shark Tank" favorite game
As seen on “Shark Tank,” Spikeball is a game that has quickly garnered praise and popularity in recent years. The premise is simple enough: just slam balls down onto the bouncy net and try to keep your opponents from hitting it. But it’s wildly challenging and fun, and will seriously get your heart rate up.
2. A classic round of cornhole
Cornhole is a classic game that you can easily play with a beer in hand, which is probably why it’s a must at every single tailgate. If you’ve somehow never played, it’s essentially a bean-bag toss with your goal to toss the bean-bag into the hole. We like this set from ESPN, which is regulation size (2’ by 4’) and one reviewer claims is one of the nicest cornhole sets they’ve ever played.
Get the ESPN Premium Cornhole Bean Bag Toss Game at Walmart for $129.97
3. A tossing game that's fun and frustrating
A tossing game—like pretty much every lawn game—Bocce requires some strength and skill. It works like this: Teams take turns throwing their balls near the small ball (or pallino), but can also attempt to knock their opponent’s ball out of the way. It’s both fun and frustrating and can be played everywhere from backyards to beaches. This basic set has everything you need for a rousing game of Bocce and comes highly rated on Walmart.
Get the Hey! Play! Bocce Ball Set at Walmart for $44.97
4. The frisbee version of horseshoes
Kan Jam is basically a combination of horseshoes and frisbee and it's ridiculously fun. With teams of two (one player on each side of the can), the goal is to score 21 points—or you can nab an instant win by tossing it into the front slot. It’s filled with action, excitement, and teamwork and usually gets everyone watching involved. Who knows? It could become an annual family tournament.
Get the Kan Jam Original Disc Game at Target for $39.99
5. A life-sized version of Jenga
What’s better than Jenga? Giant Jenga. Because toppling wooden blocks over is only more fun when it’s your height, and it becomes even more challenging when you need to stand on your tip-toes to stack the top blocks as the tower gets harder. The game of Jenga is entertaining (and challenging!) on its own, but if you want to mix things up, we recommend writing some Truth or Dare messages on the blocks.
Get the Hey! Play! Classic Giant Wooden Blocks Tower Stacking Game at Walmart for $109.96
6. A game that dates back to the Vikings
This is a game I always see being played on the beach and it has always both fascinated and confused me. Kubb is a Scandinavian game that dates back to the time of Vikings. Basically, the object of the game is to knock over standing wooden blocks—which seems simple enough but it’s harder than you think. Kubb also appeals to anyone with a destructive impulse, so kids will love this.
Get the GoSports Backyard Size Kubb Viking Clash Toss Game Set at Wayfair for $44.99
7. A badminton and volleyball set
Badminton was the only activity I really enjoyed doing in high school gym class, and it’s a great choice for any backyard barbecue. It’s played similar to tennis, but it’s easier—which means the whole family can join in. This set from Dicks Sporting Goods comes highly rated and also includes a volleyball, giving you options for your next backyard game.
Get the Baden Champions Volleyball Badminton Combo Set at Dicks Sporting Goods for $149.99
8. A twist on the game of tennis
I’m new to the pickleball game, but I am loving it. It has the elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis and it’s high-energy enough to keep you on your toes. This set is perfect for two players (but you can always order two for a four player game) and it’s approved by the USA Pickleball Association, so you know it's good.
Get the Franklin Sports Wood Paddle and Pickleball Set at Target for $19.99
9. An inexpensive, yet quality croquet set
An ode to “Heathers,” croquet could be a classic to incorporate into your lawn game rotation. Reviewers like this set from Hey! Play! because although it’s inexpensive, they say it’s a good set for the price point.
Get the Hey! Play! Croquet Set Fun Vintage Lawn Recreation Game at Walmart for $62
10. A game that'll have you swinging
Ladder ball (also known as Ladder Golf) requires some serious skill and precision. Simply stand back and toss the bolas to try to be the first player to get 21 points. The top bar is worth three points, the middle is worth two points, and the bottom is worth one point, so it can be a bit tricky. This set is quite popular because it’s heavy-duty—a.k.a. it won’t fall over as you're tossing things at it.
Get the Maranda Ladderball Pro Steel Game at Dicks Sporting Goods for $49.99
11. Larger than life Connect 4
Bring Connect 4 up a notch with a set that everyone within a 100-foot radius can see. This 4-foot-tall game is a great choice because it comes with a holder for all the rings (so you won’t lose them) and it’s easy to assemble. Plus, it’s plastic, meaning your set won’t be ruined by a random downpour.
Get the ECR4Kids Jumbo Four-To-Score Giant Game at Target for $159.99
12. A twist on your favorite drinking game
Never heard of BucketBall before? Well, your life is about to change. This game takes classic beer pong to a whole new level by supersizing it. The rules are similar—just try to throw the ball into the cup—but you get three balls to choose from (small, large, and hacky sack) that will change up your strategy. It’s a fun game that the entire family can get behind.
Get the BucketBall - Beach Edition Combo Pack at Etsy for $59.99
13. A safer set of horseshoes
This rubber horseshoes set is much safer than the traditional metal set seen in a Western film, so it’s safe for kids and is an easier set up. Plus, reviewers say that the rubber mats on the stakes are heavy enough to not get carried away by the wind. It’s a lighter alternative for those of us worried about causing accidents in a heated game.
Get the Champion Sports Rubber Horseshoe Set at Dicks Sporting Goods for $19.99
14. A game that will have everyone laughing
So, this game is hilarious. I can almost guarantee that you won’t make it through a round without cracking up. The goal of Flickin' Chicken is to flick rubber chickens onto a target. But these foul bounce and roll around, so hitting the bullseye isn’t as easy as it looks. It’ll have the whole family rolling with laughter.
Get Flickin' Chicken at Walmart for $23.99
15. A tossing game with two ways to play
Lawn darts are a more refined version of Flickin’ Chicken, and it’s super easy to set up. People like this set because it comes with two ways to play: Classic and Bocce. The goal of the classic version is to toss the darts into circles whereas in the Bocce version, you’re going to want to get the darts as close to the pallino as possible or knock out your opponents. Either game is challenging and fun for everyone.
Get the EastPoint Sports 2 in 1 Lawn Darts and Bocce Combo at Walmart for $14.67
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This article originally appeared on Reviewed.com: The 15 best lawn games to play in your own backyard
