15 Fun Pool Party Games To Make A Splash

Throwing a pool party? Take full advantage of the setting and prepare some pool party games to ensure your guests stay engaged, connect with one another, and generally have a fun time throughout your party! We’ve gathered a list of 15 fun pool party games to help you plan the ideal aquatic event—just read on for the details.

Speaking of the pool setting: do you already have a space with a pool for your party? If not, check out the pool party venues available near you on Peerspace, the leading online marketplace for all kinds of short-term rentals, including but not limited to venue rentals. With tens of thousands of listings based in hundreds of cities all around the world, you’re likely to find plenty of spaces that would work well for your pool party on Peerspace—like this modern poolside backyard in LA, or this spacious event residence with a pool in Woodbridge, Virginia.

1. Marco Polo

We’re starting this list with one of our favorite pool party games ever: Marco Polo! In case you’ve never played it before, this super simple yet exciting game is kind of like hide and seek, but with a sound element (and in a pool). The person who is “it” keeps their eyes closed the whole time, and every time they yell out “Marco,” everyone else has to yell “Polo.” The seeker tries to find people to tag by following the sounds of other players’ voices. When they successfully tag someone, it’s that person’s turn to close their eyes and try to tag someone else.

2. Sharks and Minnows

This is another super fun yet simple pool party game! To play Sharks and Minnows, have one person be the shark while everyone else begins the game as minnows. Have the shark stand in the middle of the pool and shout “Fishy, fishy, come and play!” When they hear this, the minnows have to try to cross the pool, walking toward the shark. As the minnows are crossing, the shark can yell “Shark attack!” and begin chasing the minnows to try to tag them. Any minnows who get tagged become sharks for the next round, so each round of crossing the pool becomes more difficult. Eventually, one minnow is left at the end, and they’re the winner!

3. Monkey in the Middle

All you need for this game is a ball, ideally something large that floats, like a beach ball. Technically, you don’t even need a pool to play Monkey in the Middle, although being in the water does make the game more fun. If you’ve never played, one player is the “Monkey” and stands in the middle of the other two players, who throw the ball back and forth as the Monkey tries to intercept it. If the Monkey can grab the ball, the person who threw it most recently becomes the new Monkey. 

4. Swimming races

If you have two guests who are particularly competitive and want to show off their swimming speed, have them compete to be the first to swim across the pool! As simple as this game idea is, that’s part of what makes it so fun. It’s also a great workout on a hot summer day!

5. Pool noodle relay race

A different kind of race: a group relay race! First, have your guests split up into two evenly sized teams, and give a pool noodle to both teams. One team member crosses the pool on their pool noodle, then comes back and gives the noodle to the next person on their team. Have the two teams race to be the first to have all their team members get across the pool! And consider offering a prize to the winners for added motivation and competition.

Still looking for that perfect pool party venue? We have you covered with our post on how and where to rent a pool for a day!

6. Swimming pool volleyball

Set up a volleyball net across the length of your pool, which you can buy (like this one from Bass Pro Shops) or make yourself (see above)! Then, provide your guests with a volleyball and they’ll be all set for hours of competitive entertainment.

7. Human ring toss

For your rings, use inner tubes or tape the ends of pool noodles together. Then, have some of your guests stand in the pool, relatively evenly spaced. Then have the remaining guests compete to throw the rings onto the people in the pool! The further away the person they successfully land the ring on, the more points the thrower scores. 

8. Underwater ring toss

This is a kind of ring toss, too, but a different style—have someone throw a bunch of rings into the pool, while everyone in the pool (ideally wearing goggles to see underwater) competes to grab the most rings for themselves. 

9. Squirt gun water races

String two or more plastic cups horizontally on strings across the pool and have your guests compete to get their cup across first by shooting water guns into the cups! This is a unique, engaging party game that’s easy to prepare.

Looking to host a pool party that will leave a lasting impression on your friends? Then check out our guide on the most epic pool party ideas for adults!

10. Floating tic tac toe

Buy this floating tic tac toe “board” for your pool party—it’s a fun, easy game that just about anyone can play!

11. Floating ping pong

Or—even more impressively—how about this floating ping-pong table? 

12. Provide pre-filled water balloons

Since you’re already at a pool party, there’s no reason to be afraid of getting wet, so you might as well start a massive water balloon fight!

13. Pool basketball

A poolside basketball hoop (like this one from Dick’s Sporting Goods) turns your pool into an underwater basketball court!

14. Mini raft-building contest

Give your guests supplies like popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and water-resistant glue, and have them compete to build mini rafts and race them across the pool.

15. Water balloon dodgeball

In or out of the pool, have one person throw water balloons at the rest of the players, following the same rules as dodgeball (if you’re hit with a balloon, you’re out). Last person standing is the winner!

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