The best outdoor games are simple to set up, easy to explain in a minute and fun for both kids and adults. For most backyards that means cornhole, a giant tumbling tower, ladder toss, roundnet, KanJam or kubb, plus a light up add on if you like to keep playing after sunset. Below is how each one works, how much space it needs and which brands make the established versions.
How to choose an outdoor game
Before you buy anything, think about where and how you will actually play. A game that needs 50 feet of open grass is a poor fit for a townhouse patio, and a heavy wooden set is a chore to carry to the beach. Four questions settle most decisions.
Measure your yard. Cornhole wants about 40 feet of length, KanJam about 50.
Most lawn games suit two to four players. Towers and kubb handle bigger groups.
Folding boards and sets with carry bags make tailgates and camping easy.
Some games are drink in one hand casual. Roundnet is a real workout.
Cornhole: the backyard default
Cornhole is popular for a reason: anyone can toss a bag, yet good players are clearly better than beginners. If you want the real thing, follow the specifications of the American Cornhole League. Its boards are 48 by 24 inches with a 6 inch hole centered 9 inches from the top, and the front edges of the two boards sit 27 feet apart. Regulation bags weigh roughly 16 ounces.
Scoring is easy to teach. A bag that lands and stays on the board is worth 1 point, a bag that drops through the hole is worth 3, and only the side with more points in a round scores the difference. The first player or team to reach 21 wins. Cheaper sets often use smaller boards and lighter bags, which is fine for kids but feels different if you ever play on a league size court.
Giant tumbling tower and ladder toss
A giant tumbling tower is the easiest game here to explain: pull a block, place it on top, and do not be the one who knocks it over. Jenga Giant is the officially branded hardwood version and is designed to stack to roughly 4 feet. Generic giant towers are widely available, but sand the blocks if they arrive rough, since splinters and outdoor play are a bad mix. A flat surface such as a patio or deck matters more than lawn space here.
Ladder toss, also sold as ladder golf, has players throw bolas (two balls joined by a cord) at a ladder with three rungs worth different points. It is quiet, kid friendly and works on uneven grass. Sets usually fold flat or break down into tubes, so they pack small for camping and cookouts.
Active games: roundnet, KanJam and kubb
Roundnet is the sport most people know by the brand name Spikeball. Two teams of two hit a ball off a small round net, with up to three touches per possession and rally scoring. Spikeball Inc. revived the game in 2008, and it now has an international federation and organized tournaments. The company sells several kits, from the Original and Pro sets to beach and pool versions, so check the official lineup to pick the one that matches your surface and skill level.
KanJam is a flying disc game for two teams of two. One partner throws, the other deflects the disc into the goal. Official rules place the goals 50 feet apart and award 1 point for a deflected hit on the can, 2 for an unassisted hit, 3 for a deflected disc that drops inside and an instant win when the thrower lands it in the slot alone. Games go to exactly 21.
Kubb is a Swedish lawn game from the island of Gotland. Teams throw wooden batons to knock over the other side’s ten small blocks, then topple the king in the middle. Championship rules use a 5 by 8 meter pitch, and the US national championship is held in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It is slow paced, social and great for groups of up to a dozen.
| Game | Players | Space needed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cornhole | 2 or 4 | About 40 by 8 feet | Parties, tailgates |
| Giant tower | 2 or more | Small flat area | Patios, all ages |
| Ladder toss | 2 or 4 | Modest lawn | Families, camping |
| Roundnet | 4 (2 vs 2) | Open circle around the net | Active groups, beach |
| KanJam | 4 (2 vs 2) | About 50 feet long | Parks, big yards |
| Kubb | 2 to 12 | 5 by 8 meters | Relaxed group play |
Games that glow after dark
Summer evenings are the best time to play, and a little tech keeps the game going after sunset. GoSports sells folding cornhole sets with built in LED edge lighting, and you can find light kits from other makers that clip onto boards you already own. Spikeball offers SpikeBrite, a rechargeable light add on that attaches to the legs of its Pro and Standard kits so you can see the rim at night. Light up flying discs, glow ladder toss sets and LED bocce balls round out the options.
FAQ
What is the best outdoor game for all ages?
Cornhole and giant tumbling towers work best across ages. The rules take seconds to explain, kids can play on a shorter court, and nobody needs to be athletic to have a good time.
How far apart should cornhole boards be?
Under American Cornhole League rules, the front edges of the boards sit 27 feet apart. For younger kids, simply move them closer.
Is Spikeball the same as roundnet?
Roundnet is the name of the sport, and Spikeball is the best known brand of equipment. Several other companies now make roundnet sets, and organized play is overseen by national groups and an international federation.
What outdoor game works in a small yard?
A giant tumbling tower needs only a flat patch of ground, and ladder toss works in a modest lawn. Save KanJam and full size cornhole for bigger spaces or the park.
The verdict
If you buy just one outdoor game, make it a regulation cornhole set, since it suits nearly every gathering. Add roundnet for energetic friends, a giant tower for the patio, and kubb or KanJam if you have room to spread out. Pick sets from established makers, store them dry and add lights if your evenings run late.
Updated October 2026: rewritten as a buying guide to the most popular backyard games, with official rules, space needs and options for playing after dark.
Featured photo: malwina nogaj on Unsplash.
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