Planning for a large group event can be overwhelming. The key to making it awesome is finding the right activity: engaging, active and memorable. This top fifty list combines new and classic games. It should give you some great options!
50 BEST OUTDOOR GROUP GAMES
1. FLASHLIGHT TAG – run, hide and “tag” players with by shining a flashlight on them – outdoor, ages 4+
2. HEDBANZ – guess the mystery character or word displayed on a card on your head – indoor, ages 4+
3. SCAVENGER HUNTS – find the treasure items on a pre-made list – indoor/outdoor, ages 4+
4. OBSTACLE COURSE – create obstacles to balance, jump over, and climb – indoor/outdoor, ages 4+
5. LIMBO – shimmy under a bamboo stick as it goes lower and lower – indoor/outdoor, ages 4+
6. CHARADES – act out and guess scenes or words without speaking – indoor/outdoor, ages 5+
7. CAPTURE THE FLAG REDUX – run, chase, strategize with glowing “flags” – outdoor, ages 8+
8. FLAG FOOTBALL – pull flags off the ball carrier instead of tackling – outdoor, ages 5+
9. THE FLOOR IS LAVA – navigate an area without toughing the floor – indoor/outdoor, ages 5+
10. MUSICAL CHAIRS – circulate around chairs, grabbing one when the music stops – indoor/outdoor, ages 5+
11. RED ROVER – run and break through opposing team’s chain – outdoor, ages 5+
12. CORN HOLE – toss bean bags toward a board to score points – outdoors, ages 5+
13. STUCK IN THE MUD – chase and tag players until they are stuck – outdoors, ages 5+
14. SARDINES – reverse hide and seek – indoor/outdoor, ages 5+
15. GAGA BALL – dodgeball played in an octagonal “pit” – outdoor, ages 6+
16. TWISTER – see where the spinner lands and place your hands and feet accordingly – indoor/outdoor, ages 6+
17. JENGA/GIANT JENGA – take turns removed wooden blocks without making the tower fall – indoor/outdoor, ages 6+
18. PICTIONARY – draw and guess scenes or words without speaking – indoor, ages 6+
19. KICK THE CAN – kick, count, hide, seek and chase – outdoors, ages 6+
20. LEFT, RIGHT, CENTER – roll dice and gather playing chips to win – indoors, ages 6+
21. FLICKIN’ CHICKEN – throw rubber chickens at a target to win – indoors/outdoors, ages 6+
22. VOLLEYBALL – serve, bump, spike over a net to your opponents – outdoor, ages 7+
23. EXPLODING KITTENS – strategic card game of Russian roulette – indoor, ages 7+
24. UNO – card game where you race to empty your hand of cards – indoor, ages 7+
25. BADMINTON – serve and volley a “birdie” over a net to opposing team – outdoors, ages 7+
26. SPUD – throw a ball and eliminate other players by catching it, – outdoor, ages 7+
27. SPOONS – pass playing cards and don’t be the last to grab a spoon – indoor, ages 5+
28. BEAT THAT – bet on your ability to complete the challenge rounds of this board game – indoor, ages 8+
29. VIKINGS OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS – part freeze tag, part scavenger hunt with glowing gems – outdoor, ages 8+
30. BOP-IT – mimic actions of this handheld electronic game – indoor/outdoor ages 8+
31. ASSASSIN – card game where you eliminate players with a wink of an eye – indoor, ages 8+
32. WEREWOLVES & WIZARDS – hunt, hide, howl and search for glowing crystals – outdoor, ages 8+
33. BUNCO – roll dice, match numbers and score – indoors, ages 8+
34. KUBB – toss wooden batons to knock over opposing pieces – outdoors, ages 8+
35. BUMP RUMBLE – roll the cube and bump, balance and race in a ring – indoor/outdoor, ages 8+
36. DARTS – aim at a bullseye, and throw rounds of darts – indoor/outdoor, ages 8+
37. BAMBOOZLED – roll the dice and bluff your way to win – indoor, ages 8+
38. WATCH YA’ MOUTH – speak and guess phrases with cheek retractors – indoor, ages 8+
39. BOCCE BALL – take turns throwing balls to hit the target ball – outdoors, ages 8+
40. KANJAM – toss a flying disc toward a can to score points – outdoors, ages 9+
41. DODGEBALL – teams throw, dodge, catch any number of balls – outdoor, ages 10+
42. FOWLING – lawn game that is a combination of football and bowling – outdoor, ages 10+
43. GIANT YARD PONG – strategize, aim and throw balls into giant cups – outdoor, ages 10+
44. CATCH PHRASE – guess the clue, pass the game before the buzzer goes off – indoor, ages 12+
45. WOULD YOU RATHER – trivia game where you choose option one or option two – indoor, ages 12+
46. GLOW BATTLE – battle with harmless glowing swords – indoor/outdoor, ages 8+
47. APPLES TO APPLES – card game of funny comparisons – indoors, ages 12+
48. EYEBALLS OF MADNESS – toss a rubber carrot to knock over opposing eyeball stakes – outdoors, ages 12+
49. DARKRIDGE REUNION – murder mystery game where players act out parts – indoor, ages 12+
50. SILVER BULLET – card game where you eliminate werewolves – indoor, ages 14+
With so many great options, you’re well on your way to throwing a memorable group event! Yes, it might be intimidating to organize, but know that you’re providing an opportunity to get people off their phones, bring them together and forge new memories. Enjoy!