These Lawn Games Are a Must-Have for Backyard Summer Fun

Sitting around outside when the weather is nice is a pleasure that should be savored. But after several weeks of blissed-out contemplation, all of that fresh air can get a bit stale.

Get things moving again and inject some fun and whimsy into your time outside with lawn games. Many outdoor games are kid-friendly, but most are also designed to keep adults engaged too. We’ve found that family game night gets an instant upgrade when you’re outside. Adult parties and barbecues are also more of a hit when there’s a little innocent competition added to the mix.

There are a number of fantastic lawn game options out there, so we decided to make things easier by narrowing things down for you. Game on!

Best Lawn Games

What to Consider

Picking the perfect lawn game for you and your crew depends on players' ages and activity levels, as well as the number of players and where the game will be played. Some of our selections (like checkers and ring toss) will appeal to the younger members of the family first, while others may initially draw in older crowds (bocce ball).

Where relevant, we mention appropriate age ranges for players. Games such as badminton, capture the flag, and spikeball require more physical exertion and hand-eye coordination than others. For classic lawn games like bocce and croquet you'll need more space than, say, a game of cornhole. But many of the games we cover come with carrying cases so you can take them to the park, beach, or big backyard barbecue.

How We Selected

Our selection includes a wide range of the most popular lawn games for adults and kids alike, all with average customer ratings of 4 stars or more. We sought out professional and consumer assessments for every game we write about, and the games span multiple price points, from under $20 for a supersized checkerboard to $150 for a spikeball set.