Summer is our season!

I absolutely live for summer! The sun, the heat, the grill outs, and of course, the YARD GAMES!

Truly, there are few things we love more than having a party outside and getting to play a few games with our friends on the lawn. 

Yard games have been a summer element in both our childhoods and now, much like our board game collection, they fill our garage! On any given night in the summer you can find us outside playing one of these, whether its a friendly game of Badminton or a wild game of yard darts! 

So if you’re looking for a fun way to spend these sunny days, then grab one of these amazing yard games, call up your friends, and get ready for a fun time!

Croquet 

Growing up, Croquet was a staple in the summer. My Grandfather adored the game and made sure each of his children and every one of his grandchildren knew how to play. To this day, it is still my very favorite lawn game. 

A beautiful Croquet set makes an amazing gift for a family who loves to hang out in the backyard.

There are a wide variety of sets, from inexpensive to luxurious (yes, I’m drooling over this one!) And because they’re all pretty portable, they’re easy to take with you to a friends house or on a camping trip!

(Here’s our set! Three summers and going strong!)

Cornhole (Bags)

Adam introduced me to Cornhole when we were dating. This was his game growing up! It’s the ultimate tailgating game and is sure to bring all the smack talk! 

Sold in two sizes, (tailgate/smaller & regulation/full size,) you can purchase sets that are collapsable, small and portable, or made of solid wood.

OR! 

You can make your own set! This is what we did for our family! Not only was it fun, but we were able to make it all for under $30 and it’s 10x as sturdy! I love to do easy woodworking projects and making your own Cornhole set is the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon! 

To make a tournament regulation size board, you can follow this super easy tutorial! (trust me, if I can do it, you can do it!)

Then just order your corn bags (here’s ours!) or you can fire up your sewing machine and make your own! You can even paint the your boards to give them that handmade touch!

Kan Jam

Frisbee is an absolute favorite activity around here! While we wait for our miniature army to age a bit for our family Ultimate Frisbee games, we love to play Kan Jam! 

This is truly the best yard game for anyone who wants to relive their college years while honing in on those frisbee skills!

When we play with the kids, we use these flexible discs so that even if one goes stray and hits someone in the face or body, they’ll be okay!

Bocce Ball

For those that want a bit more strategy in their yard game, check out Bocce Ball! 

We love this accessible game and play it all the time, both with our kids and our adult friends. I love that while there is definitely some skill in tossing the heavy bocce balls accurately, young kids can still play with success. It’s low impact also makes it a great choice to play with grand or great grandparents!

Once you’ve honed in on your skills in the yard, we highly recommend taking your set to an official Bocce Ball court for and even greater challenge!

Washers

I love compact and beautiful yard games and Washers is definitely in that category. 

Much like Cornhole, this is another excellent tailgating game and one young and old alike can play. 

Spikeball

You’ll definitely want to put your drink down for this game! 

Spikeball is my favorite yard game that really gets my heart racing. It’s a definite workout! You slam a tiny ball down on to a bouncy net, when it pops up, your opponents must spike it back down into the net. It’s like a weird version of volleyball that is somehow even harder but crazy fun. 

This is exceptionally hard to play with younger kids, but is one that you’ll want to play till the sun goes down with your friends. It takes a lot of practice, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be hooked!

Ladder Golf

This weird looking game is one of my favorites to set up when friends are coming over. It always draws people in to play. 

You can find many reasonably priced PVC options, like this one and beautiful wooden ones! Or you can make it yourself for another DIY project! Pick up the materials while your at the hardware store gathering your Cornhole supplies!)

Ring Swing

Part yard game, part party trick, Ring Swing (or Tiki Toss, Hook and Ring, it has lots of names) is a tiny game you can put almost anywhere you have a wall and an overhang. This is a must have for any garage! It’s like a fun Survivor challenge.

Ring Swing is addicting in its simplicity. You’re competing with yourself as much as anyone else! You’ll hook the ring one, two, three times in a row, then fail to hook it again that night, wondering what the heck is going on.  

Grab the DIY kit for a cheap and easy game to add to your home!

Stomp Rockets

Okay, so Stomp Rockets technically aren’t a “yard game,” but you have to play it in the yard and the kids (and dads!) love it! 

Stomp on the rocket launcher to launch the rocket waaaaay into the air then try to catch it before it hits the ground. 

We use these to play the game 500 that’s typically played with a football but is 500 times (see what I did there) more fun with Stomp Rockets. 

Just be smarter than me and hide the rockets when your done, otherwise your kids will definitely launch them in the house and break something.

What about your family? Do you have any favorite yard games? I’d love to hear what you play with your crew!

You can find all of these yard games on our Amazon Storefront — including even more of our favorites! Like Badminton, pickle ball, and our kids’ ring toss set!