Being unable to head to the park, gym, or beach because of time or other restrictions needn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a fun-filled day with all the family. With the aid of a well-designed and well-made backyard game, you can turn your yard into a miniature amusement park that lets you get some fresh air, indulge in a little friendly competition, and enjoy a a touch of light exercise from the safety and comfort of your own property.
We reviewed dozens of backyard games to identify the best of the best. We examined a range of factors, including age appropriateness, number of participants possible, setup time, convenience, cost, and average customer reviews. All of these top-rated backyard games can be purchased online at Amazon.com.
Having considered a large number of backyard games, we chose the Elite Outdoor Ring Toss Yard Game as our top pick. This incredibly fun throwing game is suitable for all members of the family over 3 years of age, is very easy to play, requires relatively little space, and is one of those games that you’re highly unlikely to tire of in a hurry.
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The 5 Top-Rated Backyard Games
| Editor’s Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Backyard Game Overall | Elite Outdoor Ring Toss Yard Game | 4.5 |
| Best Backyard Game | BBucket Ball Beach Edition | 4.6 |
| Best Budget Backyard Game | Win SPORTS Wooden Pickleball Paddle Set | 4.5 |
| Best Backyard Game for Small Yards | Pro Spin All-in-One Ping Pong Set | 4.8 |
| Best Backyard Game for Big Yards | GoSports BattleChip Backyard Golf | 4.6 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
Best Backyard Game Overall: Elite Outdoor Ring Toss Yard Game
The Elite Outdoor Ring Toss Yard Game is one of those age-old, timeless backyard games that will never go out fashion. While simple in design, it can provide hours upon hours of fun for all the family and can be tweaked in various ways to help keep things interesting in the long term.
The game is played by attempting to toss plastic and rope loops over the pegs on a wooden scoreboard to score points. It can be played in teams, shortened for younger kids and lengthened for older kids, and is a great way to get in some light exercise outside while providing healthy competition and promoting your kids’ eye-hand coordination, fine motor skills, and basic numeracy and counting skills.
This game is also one of the most convenient backyard games out there, taking just a few minutes to set up and pack away and taking up very little storage space in your garage or shed. The game set includes five durable rope rings, ten plastic rings, a sturdy wood ring board with point markings, and a handy carry bag for easy transportation.
Elite Outdoor Ring Toss Yard Game Key Features:
- Suitable for kids over the age of three
- Can be played alone, in pairs, or in a group
- Improves eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills
- Adaptable for small and large yards
- Easy-to-understand rules
- Easy setup
- One year warranty
Best Backyard Game for All the Family: Bucket Ball Beach Edition
The Bucket Ball Beach Edition is one of the simplest backyard games you’re ever likely to come across, but also one of the most fun and adaptable to the needs of all members of the family.
The game is played by setting up two sets of ultra-durable scoring buckets opposite each other at a distance of your choosing. Then, teams or individuals take turns to throw two racquetball-like rubber balls towards their opponents’ buckets to score points. Simple, right? But players can also choose to up the stakes a little by changing the configuration or positioning of their buckets and increasing the distance between the two teams. While only one player is throwing at any given time, this game can be played in pairs or groups, and also as a knockout-tournament or winner-stays-on matchplay competition, meaning it’s more than capable of keeping you and your kids entertained for hours on end.
As with most throwing games, this one is great for kids’ eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills and is suitable for any child capable of throwing the very lightweight balls a distance of as little as a yard.
Bucket Ball Beach Edition Key Features:
- Suitable for kids of all ages
- Can be played in pairs or groups
- Two lightweight rubber balls
- 12 heavy duty scoring buckets
- Complete set weighs 7 lbs.
- Tote carry bag included
- Lifetime warranty
Best Budget Backyard Game: Win SPORTS Wooden Pickleball Paddle Set
The Win SPORTS Wooden Pickleball Paddle Set is the ideal pick for lovers of ball sports and those who like their games to be a little more active.
The game of pickleball is a kind of tennis-ping pong hybrid and is suitable for players of all ages and abilities. It is also one of the fastest-growing sports in North America. It can be played on hard surfaces on which you can allow the ball to bounce or paddleball style, where the objective of the game is to keep the ball airborne as long as possible in rallies between two partners.
This simple set contains two seven-inch wooden pickleball paddles with 5.5-inch grips, 4 yellow pickleballs, and a handy carrying bag. The paddles are both light enough for younger users to swing easily and strong enough to withstand the odd drop, bump, or bang. They also use a plush, cushioned grip that remains comfortable even after hours of playing.
Win SPORTS Wooden Pickleball Paddle Set key Features:
- Set includes 2 paddles, 4 balls, and a carrying bag
- Cushioned handles on paddles
- Made with lightweight but durable 7-ply wood
- Can be played 1-on-1 or 2-on-2
- Paddles weigh 10 oz.
- Minimal storage space required
Best Backyard Game for Small Yards: Pro Spin All-in-One Ping Pong Set
The Pro Spin All-in-One Ping Pong Set is a great choice of backyard game for those who enjoy a little friendly competition and prefer more active as opposed to stationary games.
The set includes a retractable net that fits across any table up to 72 inches wide and 2 inches thick, two high-quality ping pong paddles made with natural rubber and 1.8mm sponge that provides outstanding control and spin, and three professional 40mm training balls.
What we love most about this backyard game is its simplicity and convenience. From the box, the game can be set up in a matter of seconds, with the non-scratch net holders attaching to your table with just the click of a button and the net retracting and expanding automatically to the required width. It also takes up very little storage space and can be used just about anywhere—on the lawn, patio, balcony, or even in the shed or garage.
The Pro Spin Ping Pong set is also suitable for users of just about any age—as long as your kids are tall enough to reach over the table and swing a paddle, they’re good to go!
Pro Spin All-in-One Ping Pong Set Key Features:
- Set includes two paddles, expandable/retractable net, and balls
- One-click table attachment
- Can be played both indoors and out
- Net attaches to tables up to 2″ thick and 72″ wide
- Great for eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills
- Burns calories
- 1-year warranty
Best Backyard Game for Big Yards: GoSports BattleChip Backyard Golf Game
For owners of larger yards, there are few more fun ways to while away a few hours (or days!) than the GoSports BattleChip Backyard Golf Game.
This game combines the best of cornhole and minigolf, using a three by two-foot target with three scoring holes that can be shifted around your yard endlessly to create new challenges for the players. While it’s also possible to play this game in smaller yards, the bigger your yard, the more potential you’ll have for creativity when creating your ‘course’.
Although this set doesn’t come with a golf club, it does include the aforementioned cornhole-style target, 16 colored golf balls that let you play in teams of up to four golfers, and a handy hitting mat that protects your lawn from scrapes and divots.
What we love about most about BattleChip Golf is the potential tweak your setup to ensure each hole is suitable for all players and to create an almost endless number of different challenges by shifting your tees (starting point) and greens (ending point) around the yard. With a little bit of creativity and planning, moreover, you could easily establish your own backyard Masters or US Open, creating a 72 or 36-hole tournament that could keep you and all the family entertained for days on end!
GoSports BattleChip Backyard Golf Key Features:
- Set includes a 3′ x 2′ target with three holes, 16 colored golf balls, and a hitting mat
- Golf club not included
- Scoring panel made with durable, tear-proof fabric
- Can be played alone or in groups of up to four
- Challenge can be decreased or increased as suitable
- Assembles in under a minute
- Scorecard and carry bag included
If you’re in search of ways to have fun with family in your yard, these top-rated backyard games are a great choice. For more ways to have fun and get in some exercise at home or in the yard, check out our reviews of the Best Mini Trampolines and The Best Pull Up Bars.
