Outdoor Family Games that Everyone Will Want to Play

Our favorite kind of outdoor game is a big scale backyard game that gets the whole family exercising and this list will surely offer up a game you've never played before.

Let's Play!

Viking Chess!

Find it: Kubb sets

Did you know there was such a thing as "Viking Chess?" I didn't, but it sounds like so much fun. Viking Chess is also known as "Kubb," or "Swedish Skittles." Game play involves attempting to topple your opponent's Kubbs from a distance and then, ultimately, bringing down the king. I'm glad to see that Kubb sets are available ready-made, because I think making one is beyond my skill level.

Croquet

Find it: Colorful croquet set

I love croquet. Love. It. I especially enjoy twirling my parasol while waiting for my turn.

Not joking.

Croquet is a lawn game where players use a mallet to move their wooden ball through a series of wickets. The winner of this classic outdoor family game is the player who is the first to do so and strike a peg at the end of the course.

Bocce and Boochie

Find it: Bocce | Boochie (sadly no longer available)

Bocce's not normally played at the beach, but that's where we first played bocce. It's a classic game from Europe and you will feel very sophisticated playing it. For an hilarious family version that will make everyone laugh, you must play Boochie Ball! Boochie Ball has players tossing rings and bean bag ball using all sorts of silly techniques. You will not feel sophisticated at all. In fact, you will feel pretty ridiculous.

Giant Jenga

Find it: Giant Jenga set (official) | make your own Giant Jenga

Most families are familiar with the indoor version of Jenga. But did you know this classic risk-taking game also comes in a giant, outdoor version? It's one of the most fun outdoor family games ever. If you are handy, you can make your own Jenga set using 2 x 4s. It would be fun to paint a rainbow set.

Ladderball Toss

Find it: Ladderball Toss

In Ladderball, players toss special balls on a string at the rungs of a special ladder. The great thing about ladderball is that not only is it a fun outdoor game for families to play together, but kids will enjoy spending time in the backyard practicing. That way you get more "bang for your buck" as the saying goes. This game is also great for giving those visual perception skills a workout.

Yard Dominoes

Find it: Wood yard domino set; or learn how to make your own giant dominoes

There are many ways to have fun with a set of dominoes. You can easily make your own dominoes with all those shipping boxes you've accumulated. Just don't leave your cardboard dominoes out in the rain.