15 Fun Adult Outdoor Party Games For Your Next BBQ Gathering

If you’re currently planning an outdoor BBQ party, you may have chosen a party theme, finalized your guest list, and put together the perfect menu of delicious food and drink—but what about activities for your party? If you haven’t considered that yet, don’t worry, as keeping your guests entertained will be a snap with our list of fun adult outdoor party games.

Just keep reading for our top suggestions, many of which you can even make yourself with supplies and tools you might already have lying around the house!

First, a quick word on outdoor party game venues

Before we get to the games, though, here’s another question: where are you having your BBQ gathering? If you don’t have access to a backyard or other outdoor space of your own, consider renting an outdoor venue with a grill.

1. Gather everyone over for some DIY Tic-tac-toe

First on our list of adult outdoor party games: a homemade outdoor Tic-tac-toe board! It’s easy to do and incredibly cheap, and we’re willing to bet that just about everyone at your party already knows how to play, so it’s about the least intimidating possible game option to offer.

2. Get creative with Lawn Twister

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You may have heard of Twister, but how about lawn Twister? All you need for this adult outdoor party game is a Twister-style spinner and some cans of red, green, yellow, and blue spray paint. Paint the design of the Twister board on your lawn and you’re ready for a massive game of outdoor Twister!

3. Stack yourself up for a win with Giant Jenga

Jenga—that game where you stack a bunch of rectangular blocks into a tower, and then players take turns trying to remove individual blocks without knocking over the whole tower—is even more fun when it’s giant! You can even make your own giant Jenga set yourself, as the guide above details.

4. Ramp up the competition with Giant Scrabble

Speaking of giant adult outdoor party games, how about giant Scrabble? This is a great game for adults because it’s genuinely challenging, and is sure to spark plenty of friendly competition between your guests.

Looking for the perfect private space to host your BBQ gathering? Then check out our guide on how and where to rent a backyard for a day!

5. DIY your own Giant Connect Four outdoor game

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We love these giant games!!! Connect Four is another one you can easily make a jumbo version of using everyday items you probably have around the house—simply follow the tutorial from HGTV above.

6. Go for a Field Day classic with tug of war

Split your guests into two equal groups, draw a line on the ground, and then have them play tug of war! It’s a kids’ field day classic for a reason, but it’s just as fun for adults, too. If needed, you can buy a rope specifically made for tug of war.

7. Make room for a fun cornhole drinking game

Cornhole is another classic outdoor game, but if you’re serving alcohol at your party, consider turning cornhole into a drinking game by painting your cornhole board like the ones above! It’s a less obvious and more suitable outdoor alternative to games like beer pong.

8. Band together for pool noodle ring toss

Here’s another game based on throwing and aiming! You can even make your own ring toss set with a few pool noodles and some tape.

9. Practice your aim by shooting at Nerf gun targets

First, make your own Nerf gun targets (tutorial above). Then, hand out Nerf guns to your guests and let them give their best shot at hitting the targets!

10. Challenge your guests to a new take on Frisbee

Here’s another great DIY option that doesn’t require much more than a board with some slots cut out of it, paint, and a frisbee. Have your guests compete to get the frisbee through the slots, with the more difficult ones earning significantly more points!

11. Another school yard favorite: play Capture the Flag

This is another idea that involves splitting your guests into two teams: Capture the Flag. As you and your guests run across “enemy lines” and attempt to grab your team’s flag, the adrenaline rush will make you feel like kids again!

Don’t let your budget get in the way of a phenomenal party; utilize these fun inexpensive cookout ideas for your outdoor party!

12. Go country retro with a horseshoe toss

For a truly retro vibe, build a horseshoe pit in your backyard (it’s a lot easier than you might have guessed!) and watch as your guests compete to toss the horseshoes as accurately as possible.

13. Challenge yourself to creating a Shishkaball ball drop game

Building your own Shishkaball ball drop game takes some more time, effort, and real building supplies than some of the other options on this list. However, it’s worth the added work, as the result is a fun and unique game that everyone at your party will enjoy—kids and adults alike!

14. Gather your supplies for Yardzee

If you’ve played Yahtzee, you might enjoy “Yardzee,” the outdoor version of the game. You can even make the large wooden dice for this game set yourself using basic tools and supplies like wooden posts (scrap wood is fine), paint and paintbrushes, and Mod Podge. 

15. Get super playful with a few rounds of hide-and-seek

Do you have an outdoor space for your party that contains plenty of good hiding spots? Then consider incorporating a game of hide and seek into your BBQ gathering! If your party guests are good at hiding, this can be a seriously challenging game for the seeker—especially if you incorporate an appealing prize into the game for whoever gets found last!

Keep the good times rolling

Games are the heartbeat of any backyard bash, turning a simple BBQ into an unforgettable celebration. From lighthearted competitions to laugh-out-loud group activities, the right mix of games keeps the energy high and your guests engaged from start to finish.

So whether you’re hosting an awesome adult birthday party in the backyard, celebrating an engagement, or just a sunny-day get-together with friends, these outdoor games are the perfect recipe for fun. Add good food, good music, and good company, and you’ve got everything you need for a gathering your guests will be talking about long after the grill cools down.