Outdoor games and lawn games are the easiest way to turn a backyard, park or beach into a party. This guide brings together classic lawn and yard games for adults and families, running and chasing games for kids, and traditional outdoor games from India such as kho kho, gilli danda and lagori. Some need a set of bags, balls or pins, while many need nothing but open space.
For each game you get the number of players, what you need and how to play, with links to full rules where we have them. Use the team generator to split players and the scoreboard to keep track at a tournament.
Lawn and yard games for adults and families
Cornhole
Players: 2 or 4. You need: Two angled boards with a hole and eight bags.
Players toss bags from 27 feet at the opposite board. A bag through the hole is 3 points and a bag on the board is 1. Only the difference between the teams scores each round, and the first team to 21 wins. See the full cornhole rules.
Bocce
Players: 2 to 8. You need: Eight bocce balls and a small target ball called the pallino.
Toss the pallino, then teams take turns rolling their balls as close to it as possible. After all balls are thrown, the team closest scores one point for each ball nearer than the other team's best. See the full bocce rules.
Croquet
Players: 2 to 6. You need: Mallets, balls, wickets and stakes.
Players hit their ball through a course of wickets in a set order and then strike the finishing stake. Hitting another ball earns extra shots. It is a gentle garden game that rewards careful aim. See the full croquet rules.
Kubb
Players: 2 to 12 in two teams. You need: Ten wooden kubbs, a king and six throwing batons.
Teams throw batons underhand to knock over the other team's kubbs on its baseline. Fallen kubbs are thrown back onto the field and must be knocked down too. Clear them all, then topple the king to win. See the full kubb rules.
Horseshoes
Players: 2 or 4. You need: Two stakes and four horseshoes.
Pitch horseshoes at a stake 40 feet away. A ringer scores 3 points and a shoe within 6 inches of the stake scores 1. Most backyard games play to 21 or 40. See the full horseshoes rules.
Ladder Toss
Players: 2 or 4. You need: Two ladder targets with three rungs and bolas (two balls joined by a cord).
Throw bolas so they wrap around the rungs. The top rung scores 3, the middle 2 and the bottom 1. Reach exactly 21 to win. See the full ladder toss rules.
Giant Block Tower
Players: 2 to 10. You need: A set of large wooden blocks.
Build a tower of blocks in layers of three. Players take turns pulling out one block with one hand and placing it on top. Whoever makes the tower fall loses.
Ring Toss
Players: 2 to 10. You need: Rope rings and a peg or bottles.
Stand behind a line and toss rings over the target pegs, each worth a different number of points. It is easy enough for small children and still fun for adults at a wedding or garden party.
Tug of War
Players: Two teams of 4 to 10. You need: A strong rope and a marked center.
Teams pull until the center marker crosses their winning line. Match teams by weight and play on grass. See the full tug of war rules.
Outdoor games for kids
Tag and Freeze Tag
Players: 4 to 30. You need: Open space.
One child is it and chases the others. In freeze tag, tagged players freeze until a free player crawls through their legs or touches them. Switch the tagger often.
Red Light, Green Light
Players: 4 to 30. You need: Open space.
The leader faces away and calls "green light" to let players move forward, then spins on "red light." Anyone caught moving goes back. The first to reach the leader wins.
Kickball
Players: Two teams of 8 or more. You need: A rubber ball and four bases.
Played like baseball, but the pitcher rolls the ball and the batter kicks it. Runners circle the bases to score, and fielders get them out by catching the ball in the air or tagging them. See the full kickball rules.
Dodgeball
Players: Two teams of 6 to 15. You need: Several soft foam balls.
Teams throw soft balls at opponents. A player hit below the shoulders is out, and a caught ball puts the thrower out instead. Last team with players standing wins. See the full dodgeball rules.
Capture the Flag
Players: Two teams of 6 or more. You need: Two flags and a divided field.
Sneak into the other team's half, grab their flag and get it home without being tagged. Tagged players go to jail until a teammate frees them. See the full capture the flag rules.
Hopscotch
Players: 2 to 6. You need: Chalk and a stone.
Draw the grid, toss the stone into square one and hop through, skipping the square with the stone. Pick it up on the way back and move on to the next square. See the full hopscotch rules.
Duck, Duck, Goose
Players: 6 to 20. You need: Nothing.
Children sit in a circle. The picker walks around tapping heads and saying "duck" until they say "goose." The goose chases the picker around the circle. If the picker reaches the empty spot, the goose picks next.
Sack Race
Players: 4 to 12 per heat. You need: A large cloth sack for each runner.
Runners stand inside their sacks and hop to the finish line. It is a sports day classic, and three-legged races are a fun follow-up.
Water Balloon Toss
Players: Pairs. You need: Filled water balloons.
Partners toss a balloon back and forth, taking one step apart after each catch. A pair is out when their balloon bursts. The last pair standing wins, usually soaking wet.
Traditional outdoor games from India
Kho Kho
Players: Two teams of 9 on the field, 12 in a squad. You need: A rectangular court with two posts.
Chasers sit in a line facing alternate directions while one active chaser hunts the defenders. The chaser can tag a seated teammate with "kho" to swap. The team that tags more defenders wins. See the full kho kho rules.
Gilli Danda
Players: 2 or more. You need: A long stick (danda) and a short tapered stick (gilli).
Flip the gilli into the air with the danda and strike it as far as possible. Fielders try to catch it or throw it back near the hitting spot. Distance is measured in danda lengths for points. See the full gilli danda rules.
Lagori
Players: Two teams of 3 to 9. You need: A pile of seven flat stones and a soft ball.
One team knocks down the stone pile with the ball and then tries to rebuild it, while the other team tries to hit them with the ball. Rebuild the stack without being hit to score. See the full lagori rules.
Kabaddi
Players: Two teams of 7. You need: A marked court.
A raider crosses into the opposing half, tags defenders and returns to their own side in a single breath while chanting "kabaddi." Defenders try to stop the raider from getting back. See the full kabaddi rules.
How to choose an outdoor game
| Situation | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Backyard barbecue or wedding | Cornhole, bocce, ladder toss, giant block tower, ring toss |
| Kids party in the garden | Freeze tag, duck duck goose, sack race, water balloon toss |
| School sports day | Kho kho, kabaddi, kickball, tug of war, sack race |
| Big group in a park | Capture the flag, dodgeball, kubb tournament |
- Check the ground. Clear stones and sticks, and use flat ground for throwing games.
- Bring shade and water. Outdoor games run longer than you expect on a hot afternoon.
- Keep the throwing zone clear. Mark a line so small children do not wander into the path of horseshoes or batons.
Questions people ask
What are the best lawn games?
Cornhole, bocce, kubb, ladder toss, horseshoes and croquet are the most popular lawn games. They are easy to learn, suit all ages and let people chat between turns. Cornhole and ladder toss are especially popular at weddings and barbecues.
What are good outdoor games for kids?
Tag, red light green light, duck duck goose, hopscotch, kickball and capture the flag are classic outdoor games for kids. They need little or no equipment and keep children running and laughing. Sack races and water balloon tosses are great for parties.
What are some outdoor game names from India?
Popular Indian outdoor games include kho kho, kabaddi, gilli danda, lagori (also called pithoo or sat lingdi), hopscotch (stapu or kith kith) and tug of war. Many are played at school sports days and need little more than a marked ground.
Is badminton an indoor or outdoor game?
Badminton can be both. Competitive badminton is played indoors so the wind does not affect the shuttle, while casual badminton is a favorite outdoor game in gardens and on streets. The same goes for table tennis, which is normally indoors.
What is the difference between indoor and outdoor games?
Indoor games are played inside a room or hall and include board games, card games, carrom and chess. Outdoor games need open ground, like kho kho, kabaddi, cricket, cornhole and tag. Some, such as badminton, can be played in either setting.