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Is there anything better than having friends and family over, firing up the grill, and enjoying the weather in your backyard?
Outdoor party games can be just the thing for a summer get-together of adults. You don’t have to wait until July 4th to have fun. You can play all of these fun outdoor games whenever you want.
Even though it’s fun for kids and adults to have fun together at a birthday party, sometimes there are no kids there and you need something to liven up the BBQ.
In our guide, you can learn about the best games to play when the kids aren’t around. But you can play most of them with kids, so you won’t feel too bad about leaving them out of these outdoor BBQ games.
Adding a few BBQ party games for adults will not only keep things interesting for your guests, but it will also give them something to do while the BBQ is cooking. The best BBQ party games will depend on what your guests like to do, so keep that in mind as you look through our list.
By the end, you’ll know about all the best games for adults to play at a BBQ. Some can be bought with a lightweight carrying case so you can take them camping or to the beach. You can also make your own summer adult BBQ games to test your DIY skills.
Tossing Games in the Backyard
Cornhole
Cornhole is one of our favorite games for adults to play at BBQ parties. It has a few different names depending on where you live or who you ask. Cornhole is a classic BBQ party game that is always a hit, no matter what you call it.
This seems to be the barbecue game that was made for the garden. Without it, you can’t have a barbecue, get together with friends, or go camping.
You just need a cornhole set, a few friends, and a place in your backyard to play. You can play one-on-one or divide everyone up into teams.
Players take turns tossing bags of corn kernels through a hole in a raised platform.
If a sandbag goes through the hole, you get 3 points. If it stays on the platform, you lose 1 point. The goal is to get to 21 points before your opponent(s), which can be harder than you might think.
Players on their own or in teams take turns throwing a cornhole bag into the hole. If they are successful, they get points. The winner is the first team to get 21 points or more.
Even though it looks like a lot of fun, making your own is not easy. If you can, have the lumber cut at the store to make your job easier. You’ll need power tools, a plan, and a certain level of skill. The result will be worth what you put in. You can also show off that you built one, and it makes a great gift for people who don’t have a set.
Horseshoes
One of the games that seems to be the easiest to play in the backyard is horseshoes.
This game of throwing is simple to learn, but it can be hard to win.
You only need four horseshoes and two stakes to play horseshoes. Usually, you would put the stakes 40 feet apart, but you can do whatever you want depending on how big your backyard is.
If you ring the horseshoe around the stake, you get three points. If it lands within 6 inches of the stake, you get one point. You play until one player or team gets a certain number of points, like 20. But if you want, you can make it 20, 30, or even 50 points.
You can make horseshoes less likely to bounce and slide by putting a pit of sand around each stake. You don’t have to do this, though.
Washer Toss
Washer toss is a game that is kind of like cornhole and horseshoes. Washer toss is another game where you throw things and try to hit a certain spot across the yard to get points.
You’ll need to buy a washer toss set from Amazon in order to play. You could also do it yourself if that’s how you’d rather do it. You’ll need two washer pits with a hole or cup in the middle (along with a few washers, of course).
Like in the other games, a washer that lands in the center cup earns 3 points, and each washer inside the box earns 1 point. Most of the time, you play until someone reaches 21 points.
Tiki Toss
Players: 2 or more people.
Time: Each game takes between 5 and 15 minutes.
The goal is to be the first player to get 21 points by tossing rings on a hook.
Tiki Toss in a nutshell:
Attach the Tiki Toss to a wall or flat surface and stand about 2 meters away before you start throwing. Each player gets 10 rings to throw at the hook and see who can get the most rings on it. Play three rounds, and the winner is the person who gets the most rings in the basket.
Ladder Toss
Some people think that the ladder toss comes from the time when cowboys lived in the Wild West. Cowboys would compete for points by throwing snakes at tree branches or fences. This is similar to how ladder toss is played.
It is also called hillbilly golf, ladder ball, ladder golf, and a few other names.
If you don’t want to play like the cowboys, you’ll need a three-tiered ladder and three bolas.
The top tier is worth three points, the second tier is worth two points, and the bottom tier is worth one point. Try to get as many points as you can to get to the top and win the game.
Everyone can enjoy this idea for a game. It’s also simple to make. In fact, the DIY Ladder Golf is stronger than most of the plastic ones you can buy at stores. You’ll need 2x4s or 4x4s, washers, bolts, plywood, dowels, and screws to build one. You’ll be ready to take on your friends in no time.
Even though your guests have different tastes, they will all enjoy playing a few rounds of this fun barbecue game for adults.
Fricket
Two to four people can play.
Time: Each game takes between 10 and 20 minutes.
The goal of the game is to knock cans off a stand with a frisbee. Players get points based on how many cans they knock off during the game.
In short, this is Fricket:
Start playing Fricket by putting each cup on a pole. Players use a frisbee to knock the cups off the poles. Players or teams take turns throwing their frisbees at the cups. Each throw is worth one point for each cup that is knocked off. The game is won by the first player or team to get to 21 points.
Lawn Darts
Lawn darts are one of the best games to play outside.
Lawn darts are a fun game that you should try at your next BBQ if you haven’t already. This game for adults at a BBQ party is similar to wall darts, but you can play it outside in your backyard.
As the name suggests, you will throw the darts at your lawn instead of a normal dartboard. If you want to play a fun game in the backyard at night, you can even buy glow-in-the-dark sets.
You’ll need target rings and lawn darts to play. Set the targets up around your yard, grab a dart, and start shooting! Don’t worry, these darts won’t hurt your yard.
When it gets dark, you can buy glow-in-the-dark sets to play a fun game in your yard.
Human Ring Toss
This is a really fun game for a barbecue party that is also good for your garden. It’s a great idea for an adult party game at a BBQ. If you like to do things yourself, you can make it yourself for a party outside or even inside. Many people think of it as a fun version of the old ring toss game, except that the rings are big and are usually thrown at the partygoers.
Just get about ten 36-inch inflatable pool tubes and figure out where to throw them from. Find out who can throw the best at your BBQ party while you relax in your garden.
Each player has three rings, and the winner is the first one to throw all three rings around the other player.
Ring toss is a simple but fun game to play at a BBQ party. It involves tossing rings around a peg, stake, or bottle. It’s a great idea for a BBQ party game for adults. Kids can also play it, and it helps them improve their hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
The Ring Toss Yard Game is harder than it looks, but you should give it a shot. You can either buy this game or make it yourself. It’s a great idea for a game at a garden party.
Kan Jam
Kan Jam is a great game for adults to play at a BBQ party that is easy to set up. It’s similar to playing frisbee, but you try to hit a target instead.
Kan Jam is also called “garbage can frisbee.” To play, you throw discs at a can and try to get exactly 21 points. The other person will stand behind the can and help you hit it.
You get one point if you hit the can. Your partner is there to help you, so if he or she hits the thrown disc and it hits the can, that’s also worth 1 point. But if your disc lands just right in the front slot, you win right away.
You wouldn’t think you could have so much fun, and yet this game is one of the most popular outdoor games in the US.
Beer Pong
Two to six people can play.
Playing time: 10–20 minutes.
Goal: Be the first team to bounce a ball into all of the other teams’ cups.
To sum up Beer Pong:
Set up six beer pong cups in a triangle shape for each team. Fill the cups with beer about a quarter of the way.
Players have to bounce a ping-pong ball into the cups of the other team. If a ball lands in a cup, that team has to drink it. The side that gets the ball into its six cups first wins.
Related: Best Beer Pong Table
Pong Golf
Pong golf is a game in which beer pong and golf are mixed together. If you like golf or just want a fun game for adults to play at a BBQ, you should try pong golf.
The goal is the same as in beer pong: get the ball into all of your opponent’s cups. You’ll use a golf club to aim the balls into your opponent’s holes instead of tossing them.
Whoever takes away all of the other team’s cups wins!
Bottle Bash
Bottle bash is a simple tossing game where you throw a frisbee and try to knock the bottle off of a pole.
You need 2 or 4 people to play. One person will start by tossing the frisbee while the defense tries to catch the frisbee and bottle before they hit the ground. If the bottle hits the ground, you get two points. If the frisbee hits the ground, you get one point.
Like many tossing games, the winner is the first person or team to get to 21 points.
Kubb
Another game that has been around for a long time is Kubb.
You won’t believe it, but this game has been around longer than both golf and croquet. In Kubb, each player takes turns throwing sticks at the blocks of the other player. Even though it looks easy, you can only throw a certain number of sticks, so you have to be smart. When the last “king” block is standing and you only have one stick left, the game gets really exciting.
The game is often used to build teams, but it can also be a lot of fun to play with friends and family for hours. If you know how to do DIY games, you can buy this classic outdoor game.
Giant Games
Giant outdoor games are some of the best to play, as you can easily see all the pieces. Here are some of the most popular games while grilling.
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Giant Yard Pong
Beer pong is probably something that everyone who has ever been 21 years old has heard of. In yard pong, however, you use big cups, which you probably don’t want to fill up.
Each team takes turns throwing a set of balls into six big buckets. When the ball goes into the bucket, it is taken away. Whoever can get rid of all of the other team’s buckets first wins.
Giant yard pong is a lot of fun because you can also play it in your pool. Since the buckets and balls float, this is a great choice if you have a pool.
Yard Game Tic Tac Toe
Playing tic-tac-toe in your garden is the best idea for a party game. You just need some ropes and letter Xs and Os that have been cut out and painted in bright colors. You can even use different shapes for the X and O than the ones that are usually used.
The players then mark the Xs and Os in turn. The game is won by the player who gets three straight or diagonal marks in a row. Try it at your next backyard BBQ party, and everyone will have a good time.
Giant Jenga
If you like playing Jenga, you should try playing Giant Jenga. This is the best game for adults to play at a party.
Why wouldn’t you like Jenga? It’s a fun game that requires some skill and a lot of endurance. With Giant Jenga, things are taken to a whole new level!
To play giant Jenga, you build a tower out of rows of blocks (alternating how they lie in each row). Each player carefully takes out one block at a time, hoping that it won’t be the one that brings the tower down.
Whoever moves a block that makes the tower fall loses.
Also, you can make this garden game yourself. Just cut the blocks into the size of Jenga pieces you want, sand them, and put on a finish coat. It might take a while to finish, but it will be worth it.
The most interesting thing about it is the wood blocks. When the blocks are falling, make sure to yell “timber” because the big pile is no joke.
Giant Bowling
What’s more fun than going bowling in a lane? Giant bowling in your own backyard! Giant bowling sets usually come with a big bowling ball and blow-up pins.
Just like in regular bowling, you take the ball and try to knock down as many pins as you can. This is great for people who say they can’t bowl well. Since everything is big, it’s hard not to hit a few pins. Even if you bowl a lot, you’ll still enjoy this game.
Like in regular bowling, all you have to do is knock down the big pins and race to get the highest score possible.
Giant Yahtzee
Giant Yahtzee is a fun twist on the original Yahtzee game for adults who want a simple strategy game to play at a BBQ party. Giant Yahtzee is fun because you get to roll the dice in a big bucket and throw them into the yard. Even though the game is still pretty calm, this gives it a bit more movement and excitement.
Yahtzee is a game that is half luck and half strategy. You roll the dice and try to get your scoresheet to match up with the different ways the dice land. If you roll three times and get five of the same die, you can yell “YAHTZEE!” and get an extra 50 points. In the end, the winner is the person with the most points.
You could play other dice games with the giant dice instead of Yahtzee.
Giant Yahtzee is played in the same way as regular Yahtzee, and there are also 13 rounds. Each round, the players are given a category in which they must roll the dice to get a perfect score. The winner is the person with the most points after 13 rounds.
Giant Checkers
Giant checkers is another fun game for adults to play at a BBQ party. It’s especially good for people who don’t want to move around a lot because it’s more about strategy. Checkers is one of the most popular board games, but it’s even more fun on a big board.
Each player or team starts with either black or red checkers on the board, much like in the original game. The goal is to move your pieces around the board without letting your opponent “jump” over them and take them off.
With giant checkers, the game pieces are life-size, and the board is a big blanket. You can start the night by playing checkers on the blanket and end it by sitting on it in the yard while you eat BBQ.
Other Games for Adults to Play at a BBQ
Kickball
If you want to play kickball in the backyard, you might want to find a nice spot that isn’t too close to the grill. Kickball is similar to baseball, but instead of hitting the ball with a bat, you kick it. Even though this is a game that kids play in school, adults can have just as much fun with it.
To play, you’ll need to divide everyone into two teams, with one team on the field and the other at bat. The pitcher will roll the ball to the kicker, who will then kick the ball and run to first base. The only difference between baseball and kickball is that in kickball, you kick the ball instead of using a bat.
Kickball is great because you don’t need a lot of gear to play it. All you need is a group of friends and a ball to play with.
Bocce Ball
Aside from water balloons, Bocce Ball is one of the best summer backyard party ideas.
Bocce ball is a fun game to play in the backyard. It is a mix of bowling and skee ball. It’s a great game for people who aren’t the best at sports but just want to have fun. Bocce ball isn’t as hard to learn as some other sports, and you don’t need a lot of skill or strength to play.
First, someone will throw the pallino, which is the smallest ball and is used to mark the spot. The first person to step up will throw their bocce ball as close as possible to the pallino. Each person or team takes turns throwing the bocce balls until all of them are gone. Whoever is closest to the palino at the end of a round wins that round and is on the “in” team.
The “in” team gets points for every ball that is closer to the pallino than any other ball. The game goes on until one person or team gets 13 points, or until you decide how many points you need to win.
Bowling that Lights Up at Night
Want a fun barbeque party game to play with friends in your garden? Glow-in-the-dark bowling sounds like a fun game to try. This is probably the only outdoor party game that can be played after a block party.
As people run through the garden, it gives them hours of fun without electronics. It’s also simple to set up. You only need eight empty water bottles, a hamster ball for kids, and a few glow sticks.
Once everything is in place, throw in some glow sticks to light up the area, and you’re ready to bowl.
Track Ball
Remember when you were a kid and used a baseball and a catcher’s mitt to play catch? Track ball is kind of like that, but instead of a tennis racket, you use a racket made for track ball.
This game is easy to learn and a lot of fun if you have a big backyard where you can throw the ball. Since these rackets can throw the ball far, this game needs a bit of space.
Related: Paddle Tennis vs Pickleball: Which Sport Suits You Better?
Croquet
Croquet is one of the most classic things you can do. Croquet is a popular game that has been around for thousands of years and may have been played as early as the 1300s.
Croquet is another game that doesn’t require a lot of athletic skill or special skills. You just need a normal croquet set with mallets and balls to play.
Spikeball
Spikeball is kind of like a mix between volleyball and foursquare. This one can be a little hard and get pretty competitive, so keep that in mind when making your list of BBQ games.
As in volleyball, the goal is to hit the ball over the net in a way that makes it hard for the other team to hit it back. At first, it’s hard to figure out how to score in spikeball, but after a few rounds, you’ll start to get the hang of it.
People get points for:
The ball coming to rest. Directly hitting the ball into the rim. Rolling the ball over the net rather than letting it bounce. When the same person hits the ball more than once in a row.
A player catches or throws the ball instead of hitting it cleanly. The ball hitting the net after bouncing back. If the server goes down twice in a row.
Set up your spikeball set and play to see which team serves first. Once you know which team is serving, you can bounce the ball to the other team on the spikeball trampoline. If someone misses the ball or the trampoline, that is a foul, and the other team gets a point. The winner is the team that gets to 21 points first.
Badminton
Badminton is another old-fashioned sport that has been around for hundreds of years. It is a very popular sport in Asia, especially China and India, which are also home to some of the best players in the world.
Instead of a ball, you play with something called a “shuttlecock.” You can play by yourself or with a doubles team. Each player uses a small, stringed racket that looks a bit like a tennis racket. You get a point every time you hit the shuttlecock over the net and onto the court before your opponent does.
Battlechip
Battlechip combines the games of cornhole and golf to make a fun new version of each. It’s a simple game that people of all skill and fitness levels can play well.
Each board looks like a golf course with three holes. If you hit your ball on the “green,” you get three points. But there is a hole in “water” and one in “sandpit,” and if you land in either one, you lose a point. If your ball hits the board but doesn’t go into any of the holes, you get one point.
Each kit has a target, a hitting mat, foam golf balls, and a scoreboard that you can write on with a dry-erase marker.
Races with Four Legs
This idea for a BBQ party game is a lot of fun and works well for big groups in your garden. Four people on each team play at the same time. You can break that rule, though. It is so much fun and a great way for people to work together. Getting to the finish line will definitely be fun.
Human Pinata Chase
For this game at a barbecue party, all you need are some old T-shirts, small bags of candy, and a glue gun. That doesn’t seem like too much, does it? Before the party starts, use the glue gun to make the shirts, and then glue snack-sized candies to them.
Get some of the people at the barbecue party to wear the shirts. Those are the ones who become the piatas. The others start to chase after the human piatas and try to grab the candy. Everyone is motivated by the candy, which makes the game way too fun.
Limbo
One or more people can play.
Playing time: 5–15 minutes.
The goal is to be the last player standing when the game is over.
In short, this is Limbo:
Get a “Limbo” set or have two people hold each end of a stick. Get a line of players to lean back and move under the limbo stick. Players are out if they hit the pole or stick. The winner of the game is the last person who can do limbo while everyone else is out.
Balloon Game: Keep It Up
The truth is that you can’t have a party inside or outside without balloons. This idea for a BBQ party game for adults is a lot of fun. Even though balloons are used to decorate for a party, the “keep it up” balloon game makes them even more fun. The winner is the person who can keep the balloon up for the longest time. You’ll have a great time watching your party guests get into the game and try to win it.
For this game, you’ll need three different balloons filled with helium and tied to some kind of balloon weight.
Put numbers like 25, 50, and 100 on the three balloons with a permanent marker. Tape a line on one side of the yard, then put the balloons about 10 to 15 feet away.
Put the balloon with the lowest score closest to you, then the balloon with the next highest score, and so on.
Players get five throws to try to hit as many balloons as they can. They get points if they hit a balloon. The winner is the person who gets the most points.
Cards Against Humanity
4 to 20 people can play.
Playing time: 30–60 minutes.
The goal of the game is to get the most black cards at the end by putting together as many offensive white cards as possible.
In short, here’s what Cards Against Humanity is:
Mix up the Cards Against Humanity deck and give each player 12 white cards. The player to the left of the dealer chooses a black card that is missing words. The other players use their white cards to fill in the blanks.
Everyone reads out their answers, and the person who reads out the black card chooses their favorite. The game goes on until the next person in the circle picks a black card. The player who has the most black cards wins.
Unstable Unicorns
Two to eight people can play.
Playing time: 30–45 minutes.
The goal of the game is to beat the other players and end up with the most unicorns.
In summary of Unstable Unicorns:
Shuffle the Unstable Unicorns cards and deal one white card and five black cards to each player. Then, players take turns getting unicorn cards until they have the right number of unicorns in their stable (which changes depending on player numbers). Then, the game is won by that player.
A Funny Game About Bigfoot
This is a funny idea for a game for both kids and adults. You can play it at a party inside or outside. One thing you can be sure of, though, is that both making and playing the game will be fun.
To play this interesting game, you need a big box that you can cut up, a pair of flip-flops, some plastic balls, and some tape. You race each other with the “Bigfoot” stuck to your flip-flops.
This barbecue game will definitely lead to some great photos and fun times for everyone.
A Race in a Potato Sack
This was my favorite thing as a child. Gunny races, also known as sack races, are still a lot of fun. Just give each person a burlap sack that goes up to their waist and leaves enough room for them to hop to the finish line.
Try putting kids and adults together and see how it goes. This is a great game for a barbecue party, and you’re sure to enjoy it.
Molkky
Players: 2 or more people.
Playing time: 15–20 minutes.
The goal is to get points by throwing skittles at other skittles to knock them over.
In short, this is Molkky:
Set up your 12 scoring skittles for Molkky in a 3-4-5 pattern. Each player gets three turns to knock over skittles and get points. After each team has had three turns, the skittles are reset and the next team goes. Whenever a player or team knocks over a skittle, the number on it is added to their score. When everyone has had three turns, the team with the most points wins.
Crossnet
Only 4 people can play.
Time to Play: Each game takes between 10 and 20 minutes.
Goal: Get rid of the other three players so you can take the fourth square and be the first to score 11 points.
In short, Crossnet is:
Before the game starts, the Crossnet rules say that you must give each quadrant of the court a value between 1 and 4. Then, players volley a ball at each other, trying to make them miss it so that they are out of the game. If all the other players are taken out and the only player left is in the fourth quadrant, they get one point.
The game starts over until one player gets 11 points and wins.
Slip ‘n’ Slide Drinking Game
Four to eight people can play.
Playing time: 5–10 minutes.
Goal: Everyone on your team needs to flip a cup and slide down a water slide before the other team does.
Slip ‘n’ Slide Drinking In short, the game is:
Set up a slip-and-slide and two tables with as many upside-down cups as there are people attending the party. The people on each team have to race to drink what’s in the cup, flip it over so it’s the right way up, and then slide down. When one player is done, the next person on the team can start. The first team to have every member finish first wins.
More Games You’ll Love
- Fun Things to Do at the Park – I don’t know about you, but my favorite times of the year are spring and summer. They are full of backyard barbecues, long days by the pool, and playing with the kids all day long. One of our favorite things to do is pack up some of our favorite sandwiches and snacks and head to the park to play some of our favorite fun games. Here are some of our favorite games to play at the park.
- Luau Party Games – Start playing the ukulele, it’s time to party! Let’s start this luau by turning on the Tiki lights and putting on a colorful lei. There are so many fun things about a luau, but no party is complete without some fun party games, am I right? We’ve got a list of the best luau party games for you. All of your luau guests will have a bright and sunny time, from pineapple bowling to the classic Limbo.
- Fun Camping Games – One of my favorite things about camping in the summer is all the fun games you can play at the campsite. Here is a list of 53 fun games for kids and adults to play while camping.
One Last Thing
Backyard games are a great way to have fun and compete with your friends while the food is cooking.
You should now have some great BBQ party games for adults to play at your next summer get-together so that none of your guests go home bored.
After reading this list, you might have found one or two games to play at your next BBQ. Try out a couple of these BBQ party games for adults with your friends and family, and of course, try to beat them.
You might have seen a game you’ve played before but had forgotten about, or you might have found something you’ve never heard of. If you can’t decide what to do, try something you’ve never done before to keep things interesting and new.