Bring on the Friendly Competition with Amazon’s 8 Best Backyard Games
Updated: Jul. 10, 2023
It's time to take family game night outdoors! The best backyard games are sure to be a hit with all ages.
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It’s that time of year again, and backyard parties are in full swing. While it’s nice to sit around a fire pit and enjoy a few cooling beverages—preferably out of a cup from the new Stanley Outside In Collection—it’s even better to have a few backyard games on hand to entertain friends and family when they come over.
From a portable ping pong set that converts an outdoor table into a game of table tennis to BattleChip (a hybrid between cornhole and golf), we’ve found the best backyard games on Amazon for hours of fun. So if you’re a Prime member, you don’t have to wait on standard shipping speeds to join in on the outdoor enjoyment.
Portable Ping Pong
Setup a game of ping pong anywhere in the backyard with this all-in-one ping pong set from Pro-Spin. The retractable net fits any table—folding table, patio table, coffee table, you name it!—up to 72 inches wide. The set includes a retractable net, four paddles, six ping pong balls and a carrying case so you can take it wherever there’s a party in need of entertainment.
Five-star reviewer, Heather Gould, says this ping pong set is perfect for family game night. “We don’t have a lot of space for a full ping pong table, but I have a long dining table that is perfect. Easy to assemble, and changes up family game night,” she writes.
BucketBall
BucketBall is a suitable game for the backyard, beach or campground. It’s played by setting up two sets of six buckets in a triangular formation. (If you’ve ever went to a college party, you know how this goes.) Each player on the team tries to throw the ball into the opposing team’s buckets, and if a ball goes in, that bucket is removed from the game. The team that gets rid of all of the other team’s buckets first is the winner.
“My family is really big into games of any kind, but we especially love outdoor games,” writes verified purchaser, Hannah Sims. “I bought this as a Christmas present for my brother years ago and we still play to this day! You can use at the beach with sand or play in your backyard with water. Super easy setup and lots of fun. All ages can play too. Great way to get the family together!”
Kubb
Haven’t heard of the game Kubb? This Swedish yard game is unique, entertaining and kid-friendly. It requires you to toss batons underhand to knock your opponent’s blocks down. It can be played on grass, pavement, sand, dirt and even snow.
“What a fun game!” says Andrew Todd, a five-star reviewer. “Bought this for a family get-together hoping for something new, different and fun. What a hit. I was so excited it arrived on time and perfectly packaged. Great quality and nice carrying case to keep it in…I will be taking this with me to picnics, potlucks, parks and reunions all summer!”
BattleChip
A cool backyard game for all ages, BattleChip is a hybrid between golf and cornhole. It’s easy for all skill levels, and the game can be assembled in less than a minute. Once you’re done, store the pieces in the compact carrying case so you can bring it with you. Just keep in mind that you’ll need your own club.
Amazon reviewer, Jennifer O’Donnell, says BattleChip is fun for golf lovers and writes, “This was a gift for my dad and he loves it! He is retired and loves playing golf. This is fun for him to play in the backyard with family and friends.”
Spikeball
Spikeball gets the whole family active at your next backyard gathering. You just need four people to play and some open space, and you can make it as competitive (or not) as you want. It’s easy to learn—all you need is some hand-eye coordination—and you’ll be playing like a pro in no time.
“This has been a good game for my family, so just purchased as a present for another family,” writes five-star reviewer, Marcella Smith. “It is compact so can be played in a small garden and is relatively easy to carry around. We had it at a beach house rental for a week and the kids would walk to the beach with it and set it up easily enough. Much easier than setting up a volleyball net, more compact than cornhole.”
Ring Toss
A safe alternative to darts, this ring toss game will have you trying to rack up points by tossing a rubber ring to various hooks with corresponding point totals. It’s easy to set up on the side of the home, shed or nearby door.
“Product is well made,” says verified purchaser, Jennifer Makuch. “Rings are rubber, which is also nice because they don’t make any noise when hitting the board.”
Giant Toppling Tower
Put your knowledge of engineering and physics to the test with this giant toppling tower game. The game starts at 2.5 feet and grows to over 5 feet during play. It includes a dry erase board to make your own rules and a carrying case for portability.
Amazon reviewer, Danielle Kristine, shares that this game has been a hit at barbecue gatherings. “Great for all ages. The blocks are sturdy, and the wood stain makes it look chic and coordinates with our outdoor furniture,” she writes.
Jumbo 4-to-Score
A giant version of the family favorite, this jumbo 4-to-score game will be the centerpiece at your next outdoor party. Just try to get four of your color in a row and you win this best backyard game!
“Highly recommend this product for families or small businesses that need something fun to do and provide simple options,” says Brian Clark, a five-star reviewer. “I have six Airbnb units and this is one of the fun and easy things I have done to provide a spark for guests to enjoy.”
Originally Published: March 22, 2019
