Whether you’re hosting an outdoor Super Bowl party, dinner party, or just enjoying a few drinks, there are a few games that can make the night go with a bang. These adult party games are easy-to-follow, fun, and competitive. Everyone can get involved and you just need a little outdoor space and some basic equipment.
Giant Yard Pong
Beer pong is a favorite among college kids, but it’s a game that all adults remember fondly. If you whip out the pong set when the drinks are flowing, you’ll almost certainly draw a crowd, along with countless nostalgic recollections of “back in the day, I was unbeatable”.
Giant Yard Pong swaps the red cups for red buckets and increases the size of the balls, but everything else remains the same. You could even turn it into a drinking game, although we wouldn’t advise filling the buckets all the way.
You might be older and wiser, but you probably can’t handle your booze as well as you once did, and nothing ruins a party faster than a projectile-vomiting host being blue-lighted to the hospital.
Most Giant Yard Pong sets come with a carrying cart that neatly stores all the buckets and balls.
Giant Bowling
Bowling sets are widely available and if you opt for the plastic or inflatable ones, they’re also cheap. In fact, they’re the better option all around. It’s much easier to store inflatable pins than it is to store wooden ones—simply deflate them and stuff them in a drawer. You can also invite the kids to play when the party is over, as even the most enthusiastic of throwers can’t do much damage with inflatable pins and plastic balls.
Giant Chess
Chess can be somewhat of an acquired taste among heavy-drinking adults at a party. It’s not the sort of game that elicits cheers and shouts, nor will it create a great deal of excitement. It’s also one-vs-one, which doesn’t help matters either.
However, if you’re having a more relaxed and intimate dining party or hosting people who love chess and strategy games in general, it’s ideal.
Just lay down the giant chess board, line up the pieces, and create a little competition—winner stays on!
Giant Checkers
If chess isn’t quite to your taste but you like the idea of large-scale strategy games, trying checkers instead. It’s played on the same board and some of the best giant chess sets come with both chess and checkers so you can switch between the two.
When you have finished, simply throw the pieces into a bag, fold the mat, and store it for the next dinner party or gathering.
Giant Twister
Who doesn’t love a game of Twister? It’s the ultimate party game that also doubles as a family game. Adults can enjoy it just as much as children, especially after a few drinks. Watch as your friends twist and contort themselves into uncomfortable shapes and try to remain standing.
Standard Twister games are already big and capable of being converted into yard games, but there are even bigger and more suitable mats available.
Not only are games of Giant Twister suitable for large spaces, but they can also be played by up to 6 people at a time. More importantly, they are surprisingly cheap, and you can pick up a box for less than $30 on Amazon.
Spikeball
For a game that will get hearts pumping and doesn’t have too many complicated rules, pick up a Spikeball set. It’s a straightforward game that involves a single trampoline and a set of balls.
It’s a lot like volleyball or squash in that the goal is to play the ball in a way that makes it difficult for your opponent to return it. The difference is that you’re hitting the ball against a trampoline and not over a net or against a wall. The harder you hit it, the higher it will bounce, and if you get the angle right, you can make it very difficult for the other team to return.
Spikeball can be played by families and groups of adults. It’s a great workout and it’s just as fun to watch as it is to play, making it the perfect party game for large groups. If you’re throwing a party with more than a dozen guests, and you have a lot of space, you can even buy a couple of Spikeball sets and have two games running concurrently.
Spikeball is a hugely popular game that requires speed, awareness, hand-eye coordination, and teamwork. It can be played in multiple ways and Spikeball sets are available from most major toy stores. Pro kits are available for around $100 but there are cheaper options out there, including single ball sets for less than $60.
Giant Cards
Playing cards make for the perfect accompaniment to dinner parties, long-distance travel, and pretty much any other time when you’re relaxing with friends and looking for something to do. There are hundreds of different games to play (from Poker and Blackjack to Rummy and Bridge), and you can even add an “adult” twist by playing strip variations.
A standard deck of playing cards is just as versatile during a patio party, but when you have more space, why not use it to your advantage?
Giant Cards are basically supersized versions of the playing cards you know and love. The actual size varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, but many are roughly the size of a sheet of A4 paper, and some are twice as big.
You’ll still have a deck of 52 cards, and you can still play all of your favorite games. The only difference is that these cards can’t be tucked into your back pocket at the end of the night.
They also can’t be slipped up your sleeve or carefully deposited on your lap, so if you have any cheaters in your friendship group, it’s the perfect way to deter them!
Look for “Giant Playing Cards” and “Jumbo Playing Cards” on Amazon to find a suitable deck. And if you’re a card game novice, do a quick search for rules on the following games, all of which can be played with a deck of cards:
- Texas Hold’em Poker
- Five Card Draw Poker
- Rummy
- Palace
- Fan Tan
- Cheat
- Knockout Whist
- Crazy Eights
- Hearts
Giant Dominoes
Dominos, like cards, are a staple in pubs, clubs, and homes across the United States. Also, like cards, they can be used to play a variety of different games and tend to be favored by adults (which means your kids probably won’t be begging to join in).
Giant versions are often made from wood with simple colored dots. The sizes can vary, but in all instances, your patio or lawn becomes the board. Look for a set that has dominoes of at least 6 or 7 inches long and make sure it includes a storage bag so you can keep them out of the way. Otherwise, you’ll end up losing some pieces and spoiling all future games.
Giant Scrabble
Unfortunately, giant Scrabble games are not easy to come by. There are some versions currently listed on Walmart and Amazon, but their idea of “giant” is being 2 to 3 times larger than the standard Scrabble board, and that’s just not enough for a yard game. If you run a search for “giant Scrabble”, you’ll also find numerous Etsy listings where crafty sellers have created wooden Scrabble-style blocks for use as wall art.
You could buy lots of these blocks and make your own giant Scrabble game, but it’s an impractical and expensive solution. You’ll end up with a bill more than $200 before you even get to the board, and what are you going to do with all of those pieces when you’re done?
The best solution is to make your own using simple pieces of card and paper.
Just print out a large Scrabble board on some sheets of paper (or draw it on card) and then create letters by writing them on small squares of paper.
How you make it is entirely up to you. If you have a lot of spare pieces of wood or card, and you’re good with your hands, use them. If not, paper will do. If you know how to play Scrabble, you don’t even need a board—just place the letters and connect.
It’ll take a lot of time and effort, but in the end, you’ll have an epic outdoor board game that will impress your guests and can be enjoyed throughout the night. It’s also a much cheaper option than buying any of the giant board games mentioned above and providing you keep the main board; it can be used time and time again.
Summary: Giant Party Games for Adults
Many yard games are just giant versions of classics that adults have been playing at dinner parties for decades. You can buy most of them from Amazon and party stores—there is a huge variety to choose from and they are surprisingly affordable.
So, the next time you host a dinner party or invite your friends for drinks, get some of these adult yard games in preparation!