The 10 best outdoor games to beat summer boredom

Whether you’re the parent of cooped-up kids on summer vacation, a restless workaholic on vacation or something in between, the best outdoor games are the perfect antidote to summer boredom. And unlike scrolling on TikTok or binging TV shows, outdoor activities also have the added bonus of being active and healthy.

But leaving your screens behind isn’t easy, which is why we’ve come up with a list of 10 accessible outdoor games that’ll be fun no matter how old, sporty or outdoorsy you are. On top of introducing the basics of these games, we also drew on expert knowledge, our prior testing and research to get you started with beginner-friendly products for each of these games.

Pickleball

What is pickleball?

Pickleball is an easier, more accessible version of tennis that’s skyrocketing in popularity. One player serves by hitting a hard plastic ball diagonally over the net to the opponent’s side of the court, leading to a rally that continues until someone faults. Unlike tennis, however, only the serving team can score. If the serving team faults, the ball simply moves to the opponent (in singles). This continues until a team reaches 11 points, winning by two.

While those are the basics, we encourage you to check out our beginner’s guide to pickleball. You can also reach out to a USA Pickleball ambassador for a free introductory lesson.

Pickleball fast facts

Cornhole

What is cornhole?

Perfect for family parties or just lazy days hanging outside, cornhole is a classic game of bag tossing that’s surprisingly difficult. The rules are similar to horseshoes. From 27 feet away, players try to score points by throwing bean bags onto the cornhole board (one point) or through the hole (three points). The first team to reach or exceed 21 points wins.

Of course, you don’t have to follow the American Cornhole Association’s official rules. Small backyard? Place the boards closer together. Playing with small children? Use a single board and simplify the rules.

Cornhole fast facts

Tug-of-war

What is tug-of-war

“Tug-of-war?is a pure sport that, in essence, is very simple: two teams pulling a rope against each other to determine who is the strongest,” says Alan Knott, the press officer at the Tug of War Association in England.

At an official level, it’s much more complicated. Knott explains that players compete by weight, wear specific shoes for extra traction and use ropes made from special materials, including sisal, manilla hemp or polypropylene. If that’s something you’re interested in, you should join a local team or club, some of which allow players of all ages and genders. “It is something that you can definitely do as a family group, as it is a noncontact sport that can be very inclusive,” Knott says.

Casual backyard tug-of-war is also an option. Like official tug-of-war, two teams grab on to opposing sides of the rope and pull as hard as they can. You win by being the first team to pull the center of the rope — usually marked by a flag — past some predetermined point, usually several feet from the midpoint on both sides. While core strength and pulling power play huge roles, strategy and teamwork are also key.

“Using your body position to generate force is very important,” Knott says. Hold the rope level with your waist and lean back at a 40-degree angle for the most power. Teams should also work in unison, Knott adds, explaining that teammates should move their feet in concert.

However you set up your match, be sure to play on grass or another soft surface that’s free of obstacles because players will fall. Close-toed shoes are also a must.

Tug-of-war fast facts

Spikeball

What is Spikeball?

Spikeball describes its game best, calling it “if volleyball and foursquare had a baby.” Yep, we’re in! The best part of the two-on-two game? It’s portable and can be played anywhere — the beach, your backyard, at a park, you name it.

The basic idea is that two teams of two set up in a cross formation around a circular net. The first team then serves to the other team by spiking the ball into the net to start a point. The other team can touch the ball up to three times before hitting the net when returning the serve. When someone hits the ball on the ground, into the rim or bounces the ball more than once on the net, the other team scores. Typically, you play until one team reaches 11, 15 or 21 points.

Spikeball fast facts

Giant Jenga

What is Giant Jenga?

Take your competitive prowess outside this summer with this jumbo-sized take on Jenga. Available in 3-, 4- and 5-foot sizes, the game’s stacking — and falling — wooden blocks are crafted from sturdy outdoor Jenga pieces, and each set comes with a carrying case, making it easy to transport to your neighbor’s backyard or to bring along on your next camping trip. Giant Jenga rules are the same as the original: Each player removes a block from somewhere in the middle of the stack and then places it at the top of the stack … until the whole tower comes toppling down.

Giant Jenga fast facts

Giant Connect 4

What is Giant Connect 4?

Connect 4’s appeal lies in its simplicity. Be the first to line up four or more of your checker pieces in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal row, and you’ve won. Think of it like a more complicated version of tic-tac-toe that uses a 7-inch-by-6-inch grid.

The giant version is, as you might expect, much bigger, measuring 31.5 inches wide and 24.75 inches high. The extra-large game board is perfect for outdoor gatherings, whether in your backyard or on a day trip to the beach.

Giant Connect 4 fast facts

Kan Jam

What is Kan Jam?

Show off your Frisbee throwing skills in Kan Jam, a disc-based game where two teams try to score points by hitting or landing in an opposing goal, aka the Kan. While one player stands 50 feet away and throws the disc toward the Kan, their teammate (the Deflector) stands at the goal and can guide the disc. The points you score will depend on how you hit the goal. Landing the frisbee into the Kan’s front slot unassisted by your teammate is an instant win, while hitting the goal or getting the Frisbee through the top of the Kan will yield one to three points. You win by scoring exactly 21 points. Score over 21 and your points will be deducted from your score.

Kan Jam fast facts

Capture the flag

What is capture the flag?

A favorite at summer camps, capture the flag pits two teams against each other, each with their own base on different sides of the field or playing area. The objective: Each team has to capture the opposing team’s flag. But the flag you need will be on the opposite end of the field, so you’ll have to cross a dividing line into the enemy’s base, where the opposing team can tag you (or pull off your flag).

Captured players will either go to jail or back to their own side. We say “or” because rules vary widely. The same goes for the setup. At the end of the day, really all you need is two flags — a stick, piece of fabric or any small object will do — and some way to divide the two bases.

Capture the flag fast facts

Ladder golf

What is ladder golf?

Like many of the games featured, ladder golf (aka ladderball or ladder toss) is a test of coordination and accuracy. Two teams of two face off, each with their own set of colored bolos (essentially two golf balls attached by a thin rope). Players score points by tossing bolos onto one of the rungs on a three-tiered ladder.

The top rung is worth three points, the second rung is two points and the bottom rung yields one point, though players can earn bonus points by throwing all their bolos onto a single rung or in ascending order. A team wins after they reach exactly 21 points. Score over 21 and those points will be deducted from your total.

Ladderball fast facts

Croquet

What is croquet?

Despite its long history that dates back to 19th-century England, croquet continues to be a popular backyard sport. There are many variations, but Americans are most familiar with nine-wicket backyard croquet.

Players score by using wooden mallets to whack heavy balls through wickets (metal hoops) and into the finishing stake. Each player gets one stroke per turn, though you can earn up to two bonus shots after striking a wicket point, tapping the turning stake or hitting another player’s ball (a roquet). While those are the basic rules, we recommend consulting the United States Croquet Association’s (USCA) complete nine-wicket rulebook, which includes the layout of a typical court.

Even if you’re unfamiliar with croquet’s somewhat unusual rules, the president of the USCA, Damon Bidencope, says that croquet “is an inclusive game” that’s great for families and players of all ages. “[Croquet] requires decision-making and ever-evolving strategy, physical exercise in the outdoors and does not rely on strength to provide an advantage,” says Bidencope, who’s been playing for 47 years.

Croquet fast facts