Last Updated on December 20, 2022
In the hustle and bustle of this ever-evolving technological haven we call home, it is becoming increasingly difficult to connect with our loved ones and the wonders of nature.
Frankly, it is quite ironic. You would think that due to the recent developments in technology, ranging from insane network speeds to the rapid development of broadband infrastructure, it would be much easier to connect with our loved ones. These developments remove the problem of distance, as your loved ones are simply a call away.
However, that is only half of it. What about our family members that are with us? Shouldn’t these developments enable us to spend more time with them? On the contrary, these advancements take our attention away from what is right in front of us.
For this reason, many philosophers advise that the best way to reconnect with our loved ones is by spending time with them while you bask in the glory of mother nature. A field trip, camping, bird watching, and sightseeing are all viable options. In the words of John Muir, “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.”
Muir opined that in your walk with nature, you might set out to reconnect with your family. However, mother nature will give you so much more. From bonding with loved ones to the breathtaking experience of the great outdoors, the entirety of it is immensely therapeutic.
The only thing that can make bonding outdoors even more interesting is exciting family games you can try out. Luckily, this article is dedicated to bringing the most exciting outdoor family games right to your home. These are some of the best outdoor games for kids and adults alike. They are a combination of the games you probably play and some of the ones you may not have heard about before. Without further ado, let us dive right in!
1. Balloon Down
You’ll need three or more different colored balloons to play this game. Red, white, and blue balloons are perfect examples. You would need these balloons to be tied by a string or rope and attached to a weight. A rock or sturdy branch should suffice.
It would be best if you used a permanent marker to write down point values on the balloons. Try and use round figures or multiples of 5 to make the collation of scores easy. After this, space out the balloons at increasing distances, with the furthest balloon having the highest point value and vice versa.
Use a tape to mark the distance players mustn’t pass while attempting to hit the balloons with small footballs. Each player gets a maximum of 5 tosses to score as many points as possible. At the end of the game, the player with the most points wins.
2. Ring Toss
This game is a timeless classic. Ring toss is a great party game to play with kids or adults. It works great for any occasion. You could decide to build a DIY ring toss system, which could be a great family bonding exercise.
Alternatively, if you can’t wait to start the games, you might want to buy an already made set. Depending on the ages of participants, you will want to adjust the distance to make the game more challenging and competitive. As is often said, “competition breeds innovation.”
3. Capture The Flag
This game presents us with another timeless classic in all its glory. Most of us have played it, while some have forgotten all about it. For that reason, it makes its way onto this list.
For this game, split the group into two teams. Each team has a flag and a cloth napkin. They should hide it to prevent the other team from finding it. However, you must hide it in such a way that it is still partly visible to the enemy team. This is done to keep things fair. You can’t hide your flag under a rock or in a bag. This rule doesn’t mean you should parade your flag around the playing area, though.
When the game begins, team members must steal the enemy team’s flag without getting tagged. At the same time, teams are meant to protect their flags as well.
If a player gets tagged, the individual goes to “jail” (a pre-determined location in the play area). The only way a player can get out of jail is if the player’s teammate tags him without getting tagged.
The first team to successfully capture the enemy’s flag and bring it to their base wins the game.
4. Five Hundred
This activity is also a perfect swimming pool game. It works in a backyard or an open space as well. All you need is a football and some energetic teammates.
Select a person at random to be your thrower while everyone else would be doing the catching. The thrower stands at one end of the open space while the rest of the group stands at the other end.
At the start of the game, the thrower says a random number of points followed by the phrases “alive,” or “dead or alive.” For example, “100 alive,” or “200 dead or alive.” If the thrower uses “alive,” then the ball must be caught in the air for a player to score a point. However, if the thrower says “dead or alive,” the ball can be caught in mid-air or picked off the ground.
Once the thrower has said the number of points and the phrase, he stands facing backward and throws the ball to the people behind him. Whoever catches the ball scores the points, and the game continues until someone reaches 500 points or surpasses it. Whoever wins the game becomes the thrower for the next round.
5. Color By Corner
This activity is one of the lesser-known games on this list. You will need to place flags or colored balloons at four corners of your yard or playing area for this game. Make sure you select four distinct colors. Randomly select one player to be the caller while everyone else is a runner.
To begin, the caller stands in the center of the yard with their eyes closed. Everyone else stands around the yard, not too close to the caller. After this, the caller says, “go!” Upon hearing this, players must run within the four corners of the yard. When the caller yells “stop,” all players have about 5 – 10 seconds to stand in the corner of their choice.
When the players stop, the caller randomly calls one of the four colors to mark the corners. Whoever is in the corner that is mentioned is out of the game. The caller then says “go” again, and the game resumes. If the players are reduced to 4 or fewer, each player has to go to a different corner when the caller says “stop.”
The last player standing wins and becomes the caller for the next round.
6. Bocce Ball
This activity is one of the most common outdoor games played throughout Europe. If you’ve never tried it, you’re missing a truckload of fun. For this game, all you need is a set of bocce balls and enthusiastic players.
A set of bocce balls includes multiple colored balls and a little white ball. Each team gets two colored balls. The white ball is tossed by the first team to anywhere in the yard. After this, each team takes alternating turns, getting their colored balls close to the white ball. At the end of each round, the team that gets their ball closest to the white ball scores points.
You can read further rules in the set you buy or make up some house rules to spice things up. The first team to reach a pre-determined number of points wins the match.
7. Bean Bag Toss
If you’re no stranger to outdoor games, then you should know all about bean bag toss. This game tests hand-eye coordination, precision, and accuracy. If you’re a stranger to this time classic, there’s no need to worry. You’re in for an exciting time.
The idea is simple: try to toss more bean bags into the hole or onto the board than your opponent. You can assign 3 points for a bag in the hole and one for a bag on the board.
Select a reasonable throwing distance to make the game more challenging. You can play in teams or individually. Contrary to popular opinion, this game can also be played at night. As expected, Nighttime makes it more challenging. There are special sets that come with LEDs to make the game easier to play at night.
8. Crossnet
This is one of the more modern outdoor games on this list. As such, it is hands down one of my personal favorites. It is a hybrid of volleyball and four square.
It takes minutes to set up and is fun for the whole family. You can play individually or in teams to spice things up. You can find the perfect crossnet starter kit on Amazon.
9. Zber
This game is another modern delight. The company started with a Kickstarter campaign, and they took flight. In simple terms, zber is golf but with frisbees.
The idea is simple: try and use your frisbees to hit various objects in an open area. You just have to set up about six posts anywhere in an open area. You have to hit the pole with your frisbee and knock the ball off the top, starting from the first pole. Continue until you get to pole five and start over again. The first person to get through the poles wins.
You can adjust pole distances to vary difficulty depending on the people playing.
10. Giant Tic-Tac-Toe
This is a creative spin on a classic game that has stood the test of time. Giant tic-tac-toe presents you with all the excitement of tic-tac-toe in a more immersive and exhilarating format. It would be an understatement to call this game an exciting experience.
11. Giant Lawn Checkers
This game takes the simple concept of checkers and turns it into a massive display of fun for the entire family. To spice things up, you could play in teams, with each team member taking alternating turns. It’s a lovely game that’s sure to bring about some family bonding.
12. Giant Connect
This game is one of the most common outdoor family games on this list. It takes the simple concept of the popular “connect” game, where you have to match four colors in a row while the enemy team does whatever they can to interrupt your flow.
Think of it as a special case of tic-tac-toe. Giant connect is easy to set up and promises a truckload of fun for the entire family.
13. Frisbee Tic-Tac-Toe
This game brings a breathtaking spin to the classic game of tic-tac-toe. The aim of the game remains the same. However, you must play your turns by throwing frisbees on a giant canvas to the spot you choose.
This game doesn’t only test your mental awareness. Frisbee tic-tac-toe also tests your accuracy and precision.
14. Slip and Slide Kickball
What happens when you add the craziness of slip and slide to the wonderful game of kickball? Chaos? Mayhem? The event of a lifetime? You tell me.
This unique game combines our classic kickball game with the hilarious antics of slip and slide to give you a game that gets the kids going. Here is an easy guide to set up your very own slip and slide kickball game.
15. Volleyball Beer Pong
This game provides the whimsy of beer pong and makes it ten times bigger and better. For this game, you will need giant cups or garbage cans and a volleyball. It follows the same principles as beer pong, but you can leave out the beer part if you’re playing with children. Better yet, you could swap the beer with some orange juice or soda.
16. Frozen T-shirt Race
This game is exactly as ridiculous as it sounds. However, it is a very interesting game which is perfect for a sunny day.
You have to soak some T-shirts in water, put them in a plastic bag, and freeze them overnight. The next day, bring out the shirts and give one to each participant. The aim of the game is simple: the first player to defrost and put on their T-shirt wins.
17. Giant Jenga
This game is the perfect embodiment of the phrase, “the bigger, the better.” Assemble giant 2*4 pieces to make a fun-sized version of the popular game. Giant Jenga is an exciting bonding exercise. It is competitive and nerve-racking because no one wants to topple the huge tower in front of them.
18. Slip, Slide, and Toss!
Slip and slides are hilarious and exciting enough on their own. Throw in a frisbee, some spins, a target, and you have one of the funniest games on this list.
After each participant comes off the slide, they spin and hit a target with a frisbee. At the end of the game, the player with the most points wins.
19. Bean Bag Ladder Toss
This is a whimsical variation of the classic bean bag toss. All you need is a stepladder, some beanbags, and excited family members. Assign points to various gaps in the ladder and get everyone to take turns tossing the bags into the gaps in the ladder.
You can play individually or in teams. At the end of the game, the team or player with the most points wins. Here are some instructions to get you started.
20. Water Balloon Dodge Ball
This game is quite self-explanatory. It combines the classic game of dodgeball with the whimsical nature of water balloons. The game is simple: hit as many people with water balloons as possible while staying as dry as you can. You can assign points for direct hits and so on.
At the end of the game, the player with the most points wins. Here are a few tips to get you started.
21. Fishing for Marbles
This is another exciting game on our list. It allows your family members to display their foot dexterity. All you need is a large bucket or kiddie pool, cold water, and a bunch of marbles.
Fill the kiddie pool with cold water and drop your marbles in it. The aim of the game is straightforward: get as many marbles out of the freezing water as possible. There is a catch, though. You can only use your feet to remove the marbles.
For each marble removed, the player scores a point. Each player takes alternating turns, trying to get as many marbles out as possible. The player with the most points when there are no more marbles wins.
22. Giant Dominoes
This is one of the best family bonding exercises on the list. What makes it so great is the limitless possibilities. You can try various domino arrangements or make some up yourselves. The only limit is your creativity.
As a bonus bonding exercise, if you do not want to purchase a domino set, you can easily build one using this guide.
23. Pool Noodles
This is another exciting addition to our wonderful list. Pool noodles are fun in and out of the swimming pool. To get some ideas for some pool noodle games in your backyard, check out the following instructions.
24. Picnic Basket Relay
This game is a battle of speed, accuracy, and balance. You will need to prepare various picnic baskets beforehand, one for each team. Split up into teams of two or three.
The game is simple; the first team member starts the competition to set up a picnic first. This entails laying down the blanket, setting out silverware and utensils, as well as the food. When one player finishes, he packs everything back into the basket and passes the baton over to the next team member, who does the same.
The first team to have all their members set up picnics and pack them up successfully wins. Here are a few instructions to get you started.
25. Outdoor Pictionary
This game is one of the classics that has stood the test of time. It’s an old formula that never runs dry. Pictionary is charades but with the act of drawing instead of acting and demonstrating. All you need is a large chalkboard, some markers, a creative family, and you’re good to go. If you don’t remember the instructions for the game, you can check them out here.
As a bonus, if you’d like to make your own Pictionary board, here is an easy guide to get you started.
26. Glow In The Dark Capture the Flag
This game is even more exciting than it sounds. It brings the joy of a classic game of capture the flag and spices it up with glow sticks instead of flags.
This game poses a greater challenge as it is played at night. Here is a straightforward guide to getting you started.
27. Giant Bananagrams
What’s more fun than regular Bananagrams? Jumbo-sized Bananagrams, of course! All you need is to use cardboard and paint to create jumbo-sized Bananagrams tiles.
This provides you to enjoy your favorite word game while getting a bit of exercise as well.
28. Bowl-In-The-Dark
This is your classic game of bowling, but with a humorous twist. All you need is a bowling ball, an open area, some glow sticks, and some bottles. With that, you’re good to go.
You start by arranging your empty bottles and putting glow sticks in them. Afterward, you can each take turns bowling under the starry night.
29. Blanket Race
This game is another hilarious family-bonding exercise. All you need is an open area like a yard, some sturdy blankets, and some enthusiastic kids.
Your partner has to sit on the blanket and hold tight while you race to drag them across the yard before the enemy team does. Whoever crosses the finish line first wins. You can add a rule that says that you have to go back to the start line if a team member falls off the blanket to spice things up.
30. The Battle of the Balloons
This game is very simple yet incredibly interesting. All you need is some string or rope, and a couple of balloons.
Each player gets a balloon attached to their legs by a string. The aim of the game is simple: try to pop your opponent’s balloon with your legs while protecting yours. The last balloon standing, or floating, wins!
Conclusion
Ultimately, this list shows us that there are various ways to reconnect with our loved ones if we can put in the effort. In the fullness of time, the benefits of the great outdoors cannot be overstated. From re-igniting family bonds to stress relief, and the various therapeutic benefits, these games give us a chance to experience mother nature in all its glory. That, in its entirety, is worthy of praise.