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Believe it or not, not all yard games are created equal — just ask anyone who's sustained an injury from lawn darts! However, the best outdoor lawn games can entertain your group for hours and will give everyone something to talk about for years to come.
In order to find the perfect outdoor game for your next event, it's important to think about your audience. Are you looking for a game that specifically appeals to adults, just kids, or all generations? If you're trying to get kids to play, you don't want a game that's going to take forever to set up or explain — simplicity is key. Alternately, if you're entertaining your buddies, you might want a game that has built-in drinking game potential.
From there, it's all about portability and packability. No matter where you live, you don't want bulky lawn toys taking up a ton of space in your garage or apartment. That's why all the games on this list come with handy carrying cases so you can store the games with ease when the party is over.
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1
The Overall Best: Spikeball
This 'as seen on Shark Tank' Spikeball game has amassed more than 3,600 Amazon reviews, with 74 percent of them being five stars — and it's easy to see why. Designed to be played with two teams of two, this active game is fast-paced and competitive, and you're likely to break a sweat! The game is easy to pack up and set up so you can play it in your yard or on the beach, and it comes with durable legs that can withstand a lot fo hard play.
Enthusiastic Amazon review "In my opinion, Spikeball is one of the greatest lawn games ever invented. It is easy to carry with you, easy to setup, and is an easy game for anyone to pick up on quickly. This would make a great gift for anyone who spends a lot of time outside with friends at the beach, camping, or just in the backyard."
2
The Best For Large Groups: GoSports Portable Cornhole Set
Corn hole is the quintessential yard game and since this PVC-framed Cornhole Toss Game Set comes with eight bean bags, it's the perfect game to play with large groups of varying ages, whether it's for a child's birthday party, a family reunion, or a BBQ with friends. With a 4.4-star rating and over 1,000 reviews, fans love this portable set that comes with two easily collapsible boards and a travel case. It can be set up in under a minute and comes with a lifetime warranty.
Enthusiastic Amazon review: "Absolutely love the lightweight, portable game. Colors are vibrant, game is sturdy and well crafted. Bonus: when not in use, it is quickly and easily stored its canvas bag. I got it for some family fun, and my 3 and 4 year old grandsons are having a ball learning to play!"
3
The Best For Kids: Elite Sportz Equipment Ring Toss Game
Ring toss might not seem like the most modern of games, but with more than 2,200 customer reviews and a 4.4-star rating, this classic ring toss game from Elite Sportz Equipment is a total hit with kids of all ages, whether they're 3 or 13. It can be set up in just a few minutes, so kids can get right to playing, and packing it up is a breeze too. The set comes with five durable rope rings, 10 bonus plastic rings, a sturdy wood ring board with point markings on the pegs, and a convenient carry bag. While great for outdoor use, this is one game that can also be used indoors for when winter boredom hits.
Enthusiastic Amazon review: "I bought this game for my 5 year old grandson because he needs practice with his fine motor skills and to learn good sportsmanship. This game was just perfect for that and so much fun for the whole family. We all played with it the first night it arrived and loved it! My grandson was so happy to be able to make so many of the ring tosses onto the pegs [...] Now he wants his own game for his house!"
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The Best For Weddings: Yard Games Giant Tumbling Timbers
If you're looking for an outdoor game that's fun for everyone, look no further than this Giant Tumbling Timbers set. With a 4.7-star rating and more than 1,200 reviews, fans love this game for it's ability to entertain anyone (and check out the fan quote below for a tip on how to integrate it in your wedding-day fun). The giant Jenga-like game comes with 56 large timbers that when stacked, create a 2.5-feet tall tower at the start of play — although the tower can grow to over 5 feet. Also included in the set is a sturdy, nylon carrying case for easy transport and compact storage. The timber pieces are hand-sanded for smoothness so you don't have to worry about splinters, and many reviewers mentioned how well made the game is.
Enthusiastic Amazon review: "We had our wedding guests pull a block and write a memory or advice for us and stack the block on top. It worked great."
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The Best Budget Game: University Games Flickin' Chicken
For just $22, you can't go wrong with this Flickin' Chicken yard game. The award-nominated game has a wacky premise designed for ages 6 and up, but adults will love it too. To play, you toss the target to get started, and then take turns flicking your chicken at the target. Think of it like frisbee and mini-golf rolled into one, with some silly-looking chickens thrown in for good measure. It's meant to be played by two to four players, and the game goes for nine rounds.
Enthusiastic Amazon review: “Easy game for both kids and adults! Perfect for a beach game. Flick the chicks in the sand. Easy clean up!”
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The Best Party Game: Wicked Big Sports Supersized Pong
Think of the classic beer pong game and make it bigger and more portable, and you've got Wicked Big Sports Supersized Pong. The set includes six giant-sized cups, one ball, one pump with a needle, and a handy storage bag. You can play it one-on-one or in teams of two (or larger). While the beer isn't provided, you can see how much fun this would be to play with some drinks on hand.
Enthusiastic Amazon review: "Awesome game! We love to bring it to the beach, play in the backyard, or on the pool deck. Easy to set up and love that everything folds up nicely into a carrying bag. Very portable!"
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