NidhiDisclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you purchase through our links at no extra cost to you.
When the sun baths the outdoors in its warm radiance, indulging in backyard games becomes the perfect way to relish it. These games, suitable for all family members, enhance the outdoor experience, regardless of whether it’s a casual weekend meet-up or a notable event.
Crafting your own DIY backyard games introduces an individual, unique element to the occasion. It’s not just about rivalry; these games are catalysts for camaraderie, infusing gatherings with laughter, and making unforgettable memories that will be fondly remembered in the future.
The unique appeal of DIY backyard games lies in their adaptability. These games can be customized with a little ingenuity to accommodate the abilities and preferences of all participants, from the children to the adults, guaranteeing that everyone can partake in the fun.
Moreover, not only is playing these games enjoyable, but creating them can also be an entertaining group activity for the entire family, transforming a modest concept into a joint endeavor.
The realm of DIY backyard entertainment is infinite, with choices ranging from new takes on traditional games to entirely original inventions. Many of these games can be made from materials you’ve got right at home or from affordable items easily found at a local shop.
This is not only cost-effective but also supports environmental sustainability by reusing items that could have been discarded, thus reducing waste.
Therefore, regardless of whether you’re planning a summer festivity, trying to keep the children busy during school vacation, or just wanting a peaceful afternoon outside, these DIY backyard games will undoubtedly provide happiness and energy to your outdoor space.
Prepare yourself to get your hands dirty, let your imagination run wild, and turn your backyard into a center of amusement and activity.
Backyard Games
25. DIY Bean Bag Toss from Mod Podge Rocks
This item features a homemade bean bag toss game crafted from painted clay saucers with numbered targets. The saucers are decorated with durable, weather-resistant prints, making the game suitable for both indoor and outdoor play.
Players toss bean bags aiming for different point values on the saucers, competing to reach the highest score. The game encourages friendly competition and can be enjoyed by people of all ages, with easy assembly and customization options.
24. Backyard Bean Bag Toss Game from Thrift Diving
23. Ring Toss Game from Mom Endeavors
This DIY ring toss game offers a fun and interactive outdoor activity perfect for family gatherings and summer celebrations. It features a painted wooden base with removable dowels arranged in a pattern, allowing for easy setup and storage.
The rings are made from nylon rope wrapped in colorful duct tape, creating durable and lightweight tossing pieces. Playing the game encourages hand-eye coordination and friendly competition, making it an enjoyable pastime for kids and adults alike.
22. $5 Tarp Game from The Red Headed Hostess
A simple tarp is transformed into a fun and engaging ball toss game that challenges players to aim through various cut-out squares for different point values.
Players can choose from multiple ways to play, including taking turns from set distances or racing against the clock to score as many points as possible.
The tarp is customized with painted or taped borders around the holes to prevent tearing and is designed to be hung up securely for repeated use.
This game encourages hand-eye coordination, persistence, and friendly competition, making it a great activity for kids and adults alike.
21. Human Ring Toss from Kid Friendly Things to Do
This Human Ring Toss game is an outdoor activity designed for kids and adults to enjoy together during summer gatherings. Players take turns tossing inflatable pool rings onto teammates, aiming to land the rings around their shoulders, neck, or head for points.
The game requires minimal setup with just a few pool rings and can be easily adjusted for different skill levels by changing the throwing distance. It encourages friendly competition and active play, making it a fun addition to parties, family reunions, or youth group events.
20. Ladder Golf from Twin Dragonfly Designs
19. Pool Noodle Ring Toss from Mission to Save
This item features creative, water-free games using pool noodles, transforming a simple summer staple into engaging activities for kids. It includes instructions for making a ring toss, a soccer goal, a tic tac toe game, and a race track for toy cars, all crafted from cut and shaped pool noodles.
The games encourage outdoor play and hands-on creativity without needing a pool or water. Each project uses basic materials like pencils and duct tape to turn pool noodles into fun, interactive setups that can be customized for different ages and skill levels.
18. Tin Can Toss Game (source unknown)
17. Bean Bag Toss from Chica and Jo
16. Flamingo Toss from Sugar and Cloth
This Flamingo DIY Ring Toss Game brings a playful and colorful twist to a classic backyard activity. It uses bright pink plastic flamingos as targets and lightweight rings, creating a fun challenge for players of all ages.
Spray painting the rings and planters allows for customization and adds a vibrant touch to the game’s appearance.
The game can be set up outdoors by staking the flamingos into the grass or indoors using planters filled with sand or soil to hold the flamingos upright.
The setup encourages friendly competition and improves hand-eye coordination while providing hours of entertainment. Its design is flexible, making it ideal for spaces with or without a yard, including apartments and townhomes.
Players take turns tossing rings at the flamingos from a designated spot, scoring points based on difficulty. This activity also doubles as unique home decor, blending playful fun with decorative charm.
15. Balloon Tennis from Little Bins for Little Hands
This balloon tennis game transforms any indoor space into an active play zone using just balloons and fly swatters. It encourages kids to move, chase, and hit balloons, helping them burn off excess energy while developing gross motor skills.
The simplicity of the setup makes it easy to start playing right away, requiring only inexpensive materials found at local stores. Both children and adults can join in, making it a fun and engaging activity for the whole family on days when outdoor play isn’t possible.
14. Bottle Ring Toss from DecoArt
This item highlights a free shipping policy for U. S. orders over $50, specifying that shipping is via UPS Ground and excludes certain regions like Alaska and Hawaii.
It also clarifies that prices are in U. S. dollars and may change without retroactive adjustments.
The content includes a broad selection of art supplies, such as paints, brushes, and kits, emphasizing quality and care in manufacturing. Customers can explore various product lines and seasonal sets while enjoying perks like free shipping and easy account management.
13. Football Toss from Cherished Bliss
This item demonstrates how to build a sturdy outdoor football toss game using cedar wood, designed to withstand the elements without additional finishing. It includes detailed instructions for cutting circular target holes, assembling the frame with hinges, and sanding the final product for a smooth finish.
Users will experience creating a fun, interactive game that can be enjoyed at family gatherings or outdoor parties. The project combines woodworking skills like measuring, cutting, drilling, and sanding to produce a durable and visually appealing game board.
12. Three Hole Washer Game from My Crazy Good Life
This item demonstrates how to create a homemade version of the Three Hole Washers Game, a backyard tossing game similar to cornhole or horseshoes. It provides detailed instructions for building regulation-sized wooden boards, including cutting, assembling, and drilling holes to match official dimensions.
The project uses common materials like plywood, 2×4 lumber, screws, and metal washers, making it an affordable alternative to buying a pre-made set. Once constructed, the game offers a fun outdoor activity that can be enjoyed by friends and family during gatherings or casual play.
11. Bean Bag Ladder Toss from Landeelu
10. Marble Toss from Pretty Handy Girl
This item features a handmade marble toss game constructed from scrap wood, designed to entertain children with a fun, interactive activity. The game includes multiple holes with different point values, encouraging players to toss marbles and keep score using chalkboard paint areas.
The project highlights the use of the Dremel Fortiflex rotary tool for precise engraving and cutting, allowing for detailed lettering and smooth edges. It demonstrates how to assemble the game with basic woodworking techniques, combining creativity with practical skills.
9. Bean Bag Toss with Bowls from One More Moore
8. Pallet Upcycled Cornhole Board from HGTV
7. Easy Frisbee Golf from Chas’ Crazy Creations
This item demonstrates how to create an affordable and simple disc golf basket using everyday household items like tomato cages and laundry baskets. It encourages outdoor family fun by setting up a backyard frisbee golf course that requires minimal tools and costs around three dollars per basket.
Users will experience an easy assembly process by placing the laundry basket inside the tomato cage, which can then be positioned around the yard to form a course.
The game is adaptable for all ages and skill levels, offering a fun way to practice throwing and enjoy active playtime together.
6. Koob Lawn Game from Let’s Get Together
This item introduces Kubb, a popular outdoor lawn game where players throw sticks to knock over wooden blocks and a central king pin. It highlights the game’s appeal for a wide range of ages and group sizes, making it a versatile activity for families and friends on various outdoor surfaces.
The description also provides instructions for creating a homemade Kubb set using simple wooden pieces with specific measurements. Crafting your own set offers an affordable way to enjoy hours of fun while customizing the game for personal use or gifting.
5. Balloon Darts from She Knows
This item demonstrates how to transform simple cardboard boxes into a fun outdoor carnival experience for kids. It includes creative ideas like a clown bean bag toss, a colorful ticket booth, a balloon dart board, and a photo booth backdrop, all made with everyday craft supplies.
The projects encourage hands-on crafting and imaginative play, allowing children to engage actively in setting up and enjoying their own carnival games. Each activity uses basic materials such as cardboard, construction paper, balloons, and markers to create interactive and visually appealing carnival elements.
4. Pool Noodle Toss Game from While He Was Napping
This item demonstrates how to transform inexpensive pool noodles into a fun and portable toss game. It involves creating circular rings from the noodles and attaching them to straight noodle supports, which can be secured in the ground with dowels for stability.
The game encourages outdoor play and can be customized with different scoring rules or distances. It is easy to assemble, disassemble, and transport, making it ideal for backyard fun or trips to the park.
3. Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course from Frugal Fun 4 Boys
This backyard obstacle course offers a hands-on way to create an American Ninja Warrior-style challenge using simple materials like PVC pipes, wooden stepping stones, and balance beams.
The course includes adjustable hurdles, sloped and flat stepping stones, and tree stumps, providing a variety of physical activities that kids can rearrange and enjoy repeatedly.
Designed for easy assembly and breakdown, the components store compactly on a porch or small space when not in use. It encourages active play and helps children develop balance, coordination, and agility in a fun, outdoor environment.
2. Pool Noodle Obstacle Course from Parents.com
This collection offers a variety of creative water-based games and crafts designed to keep kids cool and entertained during warm weather. Activities range from simple setups like water balloon piñatas and water gun races to DIY projects such as making a water blob or constructing a pool noodle water wall.
Kids can enjoy both independent play and group challenges that encourage movement, exploration, and sensory fun. These ideas use everyday household items and minimal preparation, making it easy to create memorable outdoor experiences without needing a pool or special equipment.
1. Kiddie Car Wash from Mom Endeavors
This item features a DIY outdoor kiddie car wash made from PVC pipes, pool noodles, and simple household materials. It creates a fun sprinkler structure that sprays water, perfect for kids to run through or wash their toy vehicles during hot summer days.
The design encourages hands-on building and decorating, allowing customization with sponges, plastic tablecloths, and other craft supplies. Once assembled and connected to a hose, it provides an engaging way for children to enjoy outdoor play while staying cool.
