Whether you are hosting a large summer gathering or just want to enjoy outdoor activities a few steps from your door, yard games offer hours of entertaining gameplay on a budget.
To help you take a break from your electronic devices, our crew took a look at the best yard games of the year.
Here are our top five recommendations.
Top 5 Yard Games
- GoSports American Flag Cornhole Set: Best Classic Game
- Spikeball Spikeball Pro Kit: Best High-Energy Game
- Giggle N Go Bending Limbo Game: Best For Kids
- Franklin Sports Outdoor Game Combo Set: Best Game Collection
- Yard Games Giant Tumbling Timbers: Best Strategy Game
Compare Top Yard Games
| Product | Number of Players | Recommended Age Range | Materials | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
GoSports American Flag Cornhole SetCheck Price | 2 or 4 | All ages | Fiberboard and fabric | 31 pounds |
Spikeball Spikeball Pro KitCheck Price | 4 | All ages | Fabric, rubber, and plastic | 6 pounds |
Giggle N Go Bending Limbo GameCheck Price | Unlimited | All ages | Plastic | 3 pounds |
Franklin Sports Outdoor Game Combo SetCheck Price | 2 | 8 and up | Steel, plastic, and nylon | 2 pounds |
Yard Games Giant Tumbling TimbersCheck Price | 2 to 6 | 8 and up | Nylon and wood | 28 pounds |
Best Classic Game
GoSports American Flag Cornhole Set
Pros and Cons of GoSports American Flag Cornhole Set
- Comes with weatherproof bean bags
- Takes seconds to set up
- Has American flag boards and red and blue bags
- Can’t get the boards wet
- Not as portable as other yard games
What People Are Saying About The GoSports American Flag Cornhole Set
Many customers who left positive reviews found this cornhole set to be easy to set up and start using in minutes. However, unhappy customers wished that the cornhole boards were made from real, water-resistant wood.
Best High-Energy Game
Spikeball Spikeball Pro Kit
Pros and Cons of Spikeball Spikeball Pro Kit
- Works with the Spikeball app to find players in your area
- Includes a ball pump
- Can take apart the net to carry it in the included storage bag
- May be complicated for new players to learn
- Costs a lot for one game
What People Are Saying About The Spikeball Spikeball Pro Kit
Customers found this Spikeball set to be durable and sturdy, making it worth the extra cost over the regular Spikeball set. The slip-resistant legs were also highlighted in several reviews, which users appreciated when they played on hard surfaces. However, some customers found that the included balls didn’t bounce enough.
Best For Kids
Giggle N Go Bending Limbo Game
Complete with everything you need to play limbo with your friends and family, this set includes a limbo pole, two side poles with four feet each, and two limbo pole clips. Your purchase also comes with a carrying bag to take the game with you and limbo no matter where you are.
Pros and Cons of Giggle N Go Bending Limbo Game
- Doesn’t have a player limit
- Can play it with children and adults of all ages
- Comes with clamps to hold the sides of the pole as you lower it
- Has small pieces that could be misplaced
- May fall over with heavy wind
What People Are Saying About The Giggle N Go Bending Limbo Game
Users liked that this limbo set was suitable for people of all ages. It was also easy to set up and adjust for the majority of users. However, some unhappy customers found that the poles blew over easily in the wind.
Best Game Collection
Franklin Sports Outdoor Game Combo Set
From the beach to your backyard, you can enjoy a variety of casual outdoor games using this versatile five-in-one set. The featured games include badminton, volleyball, flip toss, flying disc, and horseshoes. The included net can be adjusted for different games.
Pros and Cons of Franklin Sports Outdoor Game Combo Set
- Comes with a glowing disc to play frisbee in the dark
- Includes stakes to keep the course secure in the wind
- Designed for those who are 6 years old and up
- Made with inexpensive plastic
- Can only play with two people for most of the games
What People Are Saying About The Franklin Sports Outdoor Game Combo Set
Many customers found that this multi-game set met their quality and durability expectations. They included that it was ideal for non-professional use, particularly for children. Alternatively, some users were dissatisfied with the build quality of some of the items, reporting that certain plastic pieces broke.
Best Strategy Game
Yard Games Giant Tumbling Timbers
These blocks are fun for those who want a suspenseful but casual game that involves building and destroying a tower. The set creates 19 levels with three blocks each and includes two extra blocks to act as feet. The giant tumbling towers are also available in a two-pack.
Pros and Cons of Yard Games Giant Tumbling Timbers
- Made from sustainably sourced pinewood
- Comes in other sets with smaller, colored blocks
- Can play with two to six people
- Weighs close to 30 pounds when all of the blocks are in the included carrying case
- Makes a lot of noise when the tower collapses
What People Are Saying About The Yard Games Giant Tumbling Timbers
Many users thought that these giant Jenga blocks stacked evenly because of their sanded surface. However, there were some complaints about the included nylon bag, which tore for a few customers.
Yard Game Buying Guide
The best lawn games for your yard are the ones that tie into the interests of you and your family. However, we’ve identified some other criteria to keep in mind as you’re shopping around. Learn more about these factors below.
Space
Yard games require a certain amount of space to play. Consider the size of your yard before you purchase your desired lawn game. Cramped space may limit the gameplay, which could be unfair for certain players.
Gameplay
Gameplay ranges from casual to intense. For example, while cornhole and tumbling towers tend to be a relaxed match for the whole family, Spikeball and volleyball offer high-energy gameplay where players must constantly focus on the moving ball.
Number of Players
Many yard games can accommodate two to four players, though 6-, 8-, 10-, and unlimited-player games also exist. If you choose a game that’s only designed for two players, you may be able to partner up and create teams of two, allowing more people to play at one time.
Durability
Inexpensive yard games may only last a handful of uses, especially if they’re left outside. Premium sets that use more durable materials, such as metal rather than plastic, tend to last longer.
Weatherproofing
While you should store your yard games inside when they’re not in use, many games are made with weather-resistant materials or finishes to survive being accidentally left outside in the rain, sun, or snow.
Surface
A non-sloping lawn often suffices as a suitable surface to play many yard games. Horseshoes are usually played using sandpits, but rubber horseshoes allow you to play on grass or dirt. If a particular yard game requires you to modify the landscaping of your outdoor living space, you may want to reconsider purchasing it.
Portability
Do you want to take your yard game to a local park or a friend’s house? Some yard games are easier to transport than others. Many come with a carrying case and are fairly lightweight, but some, such as cornhole, have bulky components that are awkward to load into your vehicle.
Visibility
Most lawn games are designed to be played when it’s light out, but some games have glow-in-the-dark components so users can play after the sun goes down.
More Backyard Entertainment Ideas
Although ready-to-play yard games are useful to have on hand for parties and other events, it’s also fun to get creative with your outdoor living space. Whether you’re playing with your kids or killing time, here are some interesting backyard game ideas to consider:
- Similar to building a playscape or treehouse, you could also build a fort outside for your kids to play in.
- Take Scrabble or another board game outside, and play it on the grass.
- If you have a big backyard or long, narrow stretches of grass, consider building soccer goals out of spare PVC piping.
- Work with your kids to create a makeshift lemonade stand during a hot summer day. If you have a folding table, a poster board, a pen, cups, lemons, sugar, water, and ice, you can set up on the edge of the street to flag down traffic.
- Build a sandbox for your kids to play in to make it feel like they’re at the beach.
- Two baseball mitts and a baseball can entertain you and your kid for hours. Add a bat for hitting practice.
Yard Game FAQs
What is the most popular yard game?
Historically, two of the most popular yard games are badminton and croquet. In recent years, cornhole, or bag toss, has risen in popularity to become one of the easiest and most accessible yard games. Ladder toss is another popular yard game.
Are there any age limitations for yard games?
Unlike board games, most yard games don’t have age limitations since they don’t use small pieces that young children could choke on. However, some games that involve hand-eye coordination may have a minimum age requirement of 6 to 8 years.
What game is best for a large group?
The games that are best for a large group tend to be ones without a player limit. In this review, we recommend the Giggle N Go Limbo game because an unlimited number of people can participate.
How do I integrate yard games into my house party?
If you’re hosting an outdoor party during the summer, make sure your guests have plenty of cold drinks, snacks, and shade. A large porch or patio lends itself nicely to a grill, which is an ideal hangout space next to your lawn games.
Our Methodology
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIYers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content. Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published over 1,600 reviews on products in the home space, including power tools, outdoor equipment, major appliances, kitchen gadgets, electronics, and more that focus on product quality and helpfulness to our readers.
To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of products with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. We looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: We then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, we compared each model’s feature set to create a final shortlist, selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.