The 10 Best Outdoor Games of 2021

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Cornhole Ladderball Combo at Home Depot

"The combo comes with everything you need, including eight bean bags, six ball toss sets, two table plugs, and two accessory bags."

Best Active: Spikeball at Target

"An innovative cross between four-square and volleyball this active game requires four players, but can also be played with six."

Best Budget: Crayola Sidewalk Chalk at staples.com

"The washable chalk set comes in 48 bright colors, so there is plenty for everyone, and it's perfect for kids ages 4 and up."

Best for Young Kids: Camo Bean Bag Toss at melissaanddoug.com

"Without knowing it, your kid will be working on hand-eye coordination, counting, and number recognition, all while having fun."

Best Portable: Hey! Play! Jumbo Pickup Sticks at Wayfair

"Super-size the classic game of pickup sticks with this jumbo set that's lightweight and easy to tote anywhere."

Best for Siblings: Buddy Bumper Balls at Target

"Kids will bounce, bump, and roll against each other, all while wearing these inflatable, wearable balls."

Best for Large Families: Croquet at dickssportinggoods.com

"Gather all members of your family and get ready for an afternoon of fun and refinement with a game of croquet."

Best for all Ages: Flickin Chicken at barnesandnoble.com

"A silly yard game that combines bocce, mini golf, and flying chickens for loads of family fun for all ages."

Best for Adults: Bottle Bash at dickssportinggoods.com

"The goal of this game is to knock your opponent's bottle off the pole by throwing your disc, and it's perfect for two to four players."

Best for Sports: Sportime Ball Pack at schoolspecialty.com

"These high-quality assorted balls are literally all kids need for hours of active fun outdoors."

Spending quality time outside as a family is always beneficial. The addition of an outdoor game can make that time more engaging for everyone and can help keep your kids entertained for longer. The best outdoor games are easy to play, don’t require much gear, and increase the fun factor for the whole family.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Cornhole Ladderball Combo

This well-made and surprisingly sturdy set garners its status as the best overall outdoor game because it’ll provide both adults and kids endless hours of fun. Not only do you get two games in one, but the tables can set up to be standard tables, perfect for crafts or other activities when the games are done.

The combo comes with everything you need, including eight bean bags, six ball toss sets, two table plugs, and two accessory bags to store everything.

Best Active: Spikeball

An innovative cross between four-square and volleyball, this active game requires four players. You’ll play two versus two, so you'll want to make sure you have a crowd that can accommodate that setup, although it is possible to play with six players.

Like volleyball, the ball gets served and then returned and must bounce off the net one time. The kit comes with everything you need to play and the easy set up is perfect for grass or a sandy beach.

Best Budget: Crayola Sidewalk Chalk

Never discount the fun that a giant set of sidewalk chalk will bring to the whole family. From sidewalk or driveway decoration, hopscotch, tic-tac-toe, coloring, and more, sidewalk chalk is an inexpensive and easy way for kids (and adults) to have fun outside. The washable chalk set comes in 48 bright colors, so there is plenty for everyone. The chalk can be safely used by kids ages 4 and up.

Best for Young Kids: Camo Chameleon Bean Bag Toss

Kids ages 4 to 10 will love this double-sided bean bag game that can be played horizontally or vertically by one or two players. Kids aim the numbered bean bags into the corresponding pouches (or just toss them into any pouch).

Without knowing it, they’ll be working on hand-eye coordination, counting, and number recognition, all while having fun. The polyester fabric has a sturdy metal base, so it’s made for indoor or outdoor fun.

Best Portable: Hey! Play! Jumbo Pickup Sticks

Super-size the classic game of pickup sticks with this jumbo set. Lightweight and easy to tote anywhere, this game can be played by people of any age and ability with no limit to the number of players—but it's best for kids ages 5 and up.

Kids will enhance their strategy and hand-eye coordination skills, all while having fun. The 25 jumbo sticks are made of solid wood and pack up neatly in their own carrying tote bag. Leave this set in the car trunk and you’ll be ready for fun at any stop.

Best for Siblings: Buddy Bumper Balls

It’ll be hard to tell who is having the most fun with these ridiculous, inflatable, wearable balls: the kids wearing them or the adults watching. Kids will bounce, bump, and roll against each other, all while wearing the inflatable suits.

In the ball, kids will build strength, balance, and have a blast. Each ball is recommended for up to 200 pounds, and adult supervision is suggested. The toy is best suited for kids ages 6 and up.

Best for Large Families: Croquet

Franklin Sports Croquet — Courtesy of Amazon

Gather all members of your family and get ready for an afternoon of fun and refinement with a game of croquet. This intermediate set includes all your group needs to play: six wooden mallets, six matching colored balls, two colorful wooden stages, nine steel wickets, and a carrying bag to pack it all up. Set up your game and get ready for fun!

Best for all Ages: Flickin Chicken

A silly yard game that combines bocce, mini golf, and flying chickens for loads of family fun. Great for families and played with two to four players, start by tossing the target. Then players take turns flickin’ their chicken at the target, aiming to get as close as possible.

These chickens bounce and roll, so it’s harder than it sounds. The player with the highest score after nine rounds of throwing chickens wins the game.

Best for Adults: Bottle Bash

Add frisbee golf plus horseshoes, throw in a few twists, and you’ve got Bottle Bash. The goal of this game is to knock your opponent's bottle off the pole by throwing your disc. It’s fun to play in a bigger backyard, the beach, or at the park.

The game comes with everything you need—including two aluminum poles, two bottles, two ground stakes, and one disc—and everything fits into the mesh storage bag. Two or four players are needed, and while kids can play, penalties are given for dropping and misthrows, so they may not make the best teammates.

Best for Sports: Sportime Ball Pack

Arm your crew with everything you need for a day of team sports outdoors. This amazing set includes one intermediate basketball, one size four soccer ball, one size five soccer ball, one volleyball, and one junior football that all pack up into the included mesh storage bag. These high-quality balls are literally all kids need for hours of fun outdoors.

Why Trust VeryWell Family

Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She's also the mom of a 10-year-old son, 6-year-old son, and 2-year old daughter. Her kids love playing outdoors and do the best with few rules and lots of balls and chalk. She prefers a quiet game of bocce ball.