Outdoor games are perfect for all ages and offer a chance to make memories and bond with friends and family. You can play them anytime the weather is nice, plan them for a backyard BBQ, make them part of an outdoor party for families, or use them when planning an outdoor birthday party. Outdoor games don’t have to be overly competitive, the main objective is to have fun. These games are typically simple to play, and don’t require a whole lot of equipment.
Here are some of the best outdoor games for kids, teens, and adults.
Benefits of Outdoor Games
Outdoor games are beneficial in so many ways ranging from boosting physical activity to building social skills and improving mental health. They help relieve stress and provide fun and bonding opportunities for everyone. Teens can benefit from the physical fitness, health, coordination, and endurance aspects of outdoor games. They’ll also experience stress relief, problem-solving opportunities, leadership moments, and bonding.
Outdoor games are a great way to keep kids off of screens for a couple of hours! Teen screen use is at an all-time high, and as parents, we can plan activities to reduce that. We spend the vast majority of our time indoors, and it is important to go outside and feel the natural sunlight. Gen Alpha even has a slang term called “touch grass” which is something said to someone who spends too much time inside on their devices.
Outdoor Games for Kids
Some of the best outdoor games for kids are the simplest ones for a low learning curve. The games on this list are easy to set up and fun for kids of all ages. Whether you’re in the backyard, at the park, or on the driveway, these games are very fun for kids.
Hide and Seek
Hide and seek is a classic outdoor game everyone loves. The rules are easy – one person is the “seeker” who covers their eyes and counts while everyone else hides. Then, the seeker goes and looks for the hiders. The first person to be found is the seeker in the next round.
Red Light, Green Light
With Red Light, Green Light, one person is chosen to call out the orders. This person yells out “green light,” and all the players run toward them. Then, they shout “red light” when they want players to stop running.
Anyone who continues moving after the “red light” has to go back to the starting line. However, if someone is able to tag the person who calls out the commands, they win and get to be the next person to say red light or green light.
Hopscotch
Kids of all ages enjoy a hopscotch board, where rectangles or squares are stacked on top of one another with numbers in each box. Some spots will have only one number, where kids will hop on one foot, and others will have two, where they put both feet down.
It’s one of the best outdoor games because you can switch it up for more fun, adding a square with a symbol to spin or finish the hopscotch backward. It’s also exciting to add unique symbols that indicate the child should do something different.
Obstacle Courses
Obstacle courses are a fun way for kids to stay active and burn off energy. Playing outside gives you a lot of room to make fun obstacles. You can set one up in your backyard using simple things like cones, hula hoops, chairs, and jump ropes. Kids can run, crawl, jump, and race through the course. You can make it competitive by getting a stopwatch and timing kids to see who makes it through the fastest.
Kick Ball
Kickball is a little bit like baseball, but involves kicking the ball instead of using a bat to hit it. When the ball gets kicked, the opposing team tries to get that player “out” by catching the ball or picking it up and tagging them with it. Kicking a ball is much easier than batting with a baseball, so this makes kick ball much more accessible to most players. You can use any items as bases, and you can set the rules based on your resources.
Outdoor Games for Teens
Teens may have outgrown some childhood games and they can handle team games that are a bit more complex. These games are a little more advanced, but still easy to set up and play. They’re a great way for teens to hang out with friends, move around, and enjoy time outdoors.
Ultimate Frisbee
Ultimate Frisbee is like soccer, but with a flying disc instead of a kicked ball. You’ll need two teams, and teammates work together to pass the frisbee down the field until someone can catch it in the opposing team’s end zone. You can’t run while holding the Frisbee, so everyone has to move fast in between throws.
Four Square
This might be one of the most iconic recess games of all time. To set up a game at home, just draw a large square on your driveway with chalk, divide it into four smaller squares. Then, get a rubber playground ball, and explain the rules to everybody. There are many variations of rules for playing four square, and you can change them based on your group’s preferences. If you don’t have a rubber ball, you can used a soccer ball or any other ball you have at home.
Capture the Flag is One of the Most Popular Outdoor Games
Capture the Flag is a nostalgic game that the entire family will love playing, and it involves teamwork and problem-solving skills. You’ll need something to use as flags, and then give each team a few to hide in their territory. Each team should have separate territories, and then they work to enter the other teams’ areas to steal their flags and bring them back to the home base.
When an opposing team member taps or tags you, you’re out, although some versions have it where the person who is tapped or tagged is frozen until someone from their team taps or tags them to unfreeze them, or the tagged person can join the opposing team.
Dodgeball
Dodgeball is a well-known, classic game that involves throwing balls at opponents. You’ll split your group into two teams and set up with one team facing the other and a line in between that no one can cross. Then, you’ll place balls on the line (giving each team a fair shot to snag one first), and opponents throw them across the line in an attempt to hit someone.
If a player gets hit by a ball, they are out, but if they catch a ball thrown by an opponent, the person who threw it is out. Play continues until only one team remains – often coming down to only one player on each team until one gets “out”. Not only does it involve lots of physical activity, but it also requires strategy, teamwork, and quick reflexes.
Pickleball
Pickleball is a popular game right now and mixes several other games, like tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. Opponents use Pickleball paddles to hit the ball over a net – a pretty easy concept for all age groups to learn.
Tag
You can play tag anywhere, and it doesn’t require any equipment. One person is “it” and has to tag another player. The other players run and dodge, trying to avoid being tagged, but if they get caught, they become “it.”
Outdoor Games for Adults
Outdoor games aren’t just for kids. Adults can have fun outside too! The games on this list are more laid back and don’t require a lot of running or physical ability, making them perfect for backyard gatherings, parties, or casual afternoons with friends.
Bocce Ball
Bocce ball is fun for all ages, and it’s easy to set up or take on the go. It involves throwing balls toward a target ball without actually making the balls touch. You can play with teams or one-on-one, so it’s perfect no matter your group size.
Corn Hole
Corn Hole is a popular game for all ages, and adults often gravitate towards it during outdoor get-togethers. You’ll need a corn hole set which consists of two boards with a hole on each, and eight bags in two colors. Each color set should be placed on opposing sides, with boards spread out, and then each player tosses their team’s colored bags towards one of the boards. One downside of this game is that it can take a very long time, and only 4 people play at once. If you’re expecting a large group, consider getting multiple corn hole sets. For added fun, you can put together a tournament bracket.
Relay Races
Relay Races are a timeless favorite outdoor group game and a popular option for field day that you can plan for any group size. Each team will need an item to pass (a baton) as they cross the finish line, so the next person in their relay group can take their turn. Whichever team has each player complete the race first wins.
Croquet
Croquet is a great outdoor game for adults because it’s easy to learn and relaxed enough for everyone to enjoy. It gives friends and family a reason to spend time outside, talk, laugh, and enjoy a little friendly competition without needing a lot of skill or equipment. You can buy a cheap croquet set online and play in your very own backyard.
Kan Jam
Kan Jam is a fast-paced, disc-throwing game that adults love. You need four players, split into two teams.
The teams take turns having one player throw a frisbee toward a slotted goal while the other player tries to deflect the moving disc for more points. Points are determined based on accuracy, if the second player deflected, and if it was a direct hit.
Conclusion
All ages enjoy outdoor games, and they’re the perfect way to promote physical activity while making lasting memories. You can find games or activities for all skill levels, vibes, and group sizes, so there’s something for everyone, no matter the situation.