Noting feels good like having a list of BBQ Party Games Ideas For Adults during family and friends gatherings.
Outdoor party games keep the guests and family entertained and spiced while waiting for the BBQ and food to be ready.
The games are so refreshing and make your BBQ party an occasion to remember. They avoid boredom as they keep people busy during a party.
They’re easy to play and do not require any special skills to participate
The game you choose will depend on the preferences and interests of the guests.
If you are looking for BBQ party ideas, worry no more because in this article you’ll find a list to choose from.
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Barbecue Party Games Ideas For Adults
1. Cornhole
Cornhole is one of the popular BBQ party games ideas for adults.
Depending on where you come from, it has other different names.
Requirements include a few people, a cornhole, and space in your garden or backyard.
You can choose to play the game either by grouping yourselves in teams or one on one.
Every time you make a single sandbag go through the hole, you earn 3 points.
The main goal is scoring 21 points before your opponent, which is a bit of a challenge.
Purchase these GoSports flag series wood cornhole sets.
2. Ladder toss
This game has other different names such as ladder ball, ball rope, hillbilly golf, or ladder golf.
There is a belief that the ladder toss game tracks back to cowboys in the wild west
They could throw snakes on the fence or branches as they compete to earn points.
You need three bolas and a ladder with three tiers.
The top tier is worth three points, while the second is two points and the bottom one point.
To win the game, you have to aim at the top tier to have more points.
I’m guessing that you don’t want to play like the cowboys back then.
Win sports ladder toss outdoor game set comes with 2 targets with score trackers and 6 ladder bolas, a carrying case, and rules of the game.
Check my post on best cleats for ultimate Frisbee
3. Horse Shoes
Horseshoes is another exciting BBQ party game ideas for adults to play with friends and relatives.
It is an easy-to-learn game, so if one of you knows how to play, they can teach you.
Even though it’s a throwing game, it can be challenging to win.
The game requires four horseshoes and two stakes.
To play, you place the stake around about 40 feet apart, but it can be less depending on the yard’s length.
Once you ring the horseshoe around the stake, you earn 3 points, and when it lands within 6 inches around the stake, you earn 1 point.
Before you start playing, you can determine the highest score one has to get, for instance, 30, 40, or 50 points.
You can add a pit of sand around each stake to reduce the sliding and bouncing off.
4. Water balloon toss
Water balloon toss is one of the simplest BBQ party games ideas for adults.
It helps you start your barbecue by cooling the summer temperatures.
What you do is fill a number of balloons with water, then try soaking your friends.
You can save the effort of having to tie all the balloons by purchasing zuru bunch self-sealing water balloons
Each set includes 3 packs with varying colors.
A single bunch is made of 100 water balloons meaning the whole set has 300 balloons.
The set comes with a secure attachment to the hose to help in filling them with water.
The best part is that it can be played by both adults and children of above 3 years.
5. Three-legged race
The three-legged race is a very cheap game to play at a BBQ party.
The only material needed is something to tie the inner legs of the two players.
You can use a piece of cloth or a bandana, among others materials, to tie the legs.
Ensure the start and the finish lines are marked clearly so that it is visible.
Each time tries racing fast enough to the finish line once they get the signal from the referee.
For the game to work perfectly, ensure you pair players with almost the same heights.
You can purchase these durable race bands for kids and adults.
They are elastic and strong enough to last you in the game.
6. Jumbo connect four
This classic party game tracks back to the 1980s and a great BBQ Party Games Ideas For Adults
What you do is set your jumbo connect four board, then you and your opponent play in turns by placing discs in the slots on the vertical board.
The primary goal is getting four discs in a row in any direction before the opponent.
You can purchase this yard game giant 4 connect in a row board as it is weather and pest resistant.
It has a beautifully finished leg frame and a bottom bar.
It is easy to transport and can also be set indoors.
7. Washer toss
Washer toss is a tossing game where you aim at a particular area across the yard to earn points.
This game is a lot like horseshoes and cornhole.
You will require buying a washer toss set, or you can do it yourself if you like.
If one player lands a washer in the center cup, they earn3 points, then 1 point for any other washer on the box.
The winner should score at least 21 points for the game to be over.
Go sports premium birch wood washer toss game includes 2 target and 8 washers and is easy to transport and store.
8. Bottle bash
Bottle bash is an easy tossing game that is played by tossing a Frisbee then try knocking the bottle off the pole.
The game requires about 2-4 players where one person starts by tossing the Frisbee as the defense tries catching the Frisbee and the bottle before hitting the ground.
When the bottle hits the ground, your earn 2 points and 1 point if the Frisbee hits the ground.
Like most of the tossing games, any team or person that gets 21 points first becomes the winner.
Bottle bash standard outdoor game set
9. Pong Golf
Pong golf is a game where golf combines with beer pong.
If you are a lover of golf, you can try this game at your barbecue party.
Just like beer pong, the primary goal is sinking the ball in all opponent’s cups.
You use a golf club to aim the balls instead of tossing them into the opponent’s cups.
Purchase 2-FNS Golf putting game set from amazon.
10. Giant Yard Pong
Giant yard pong is similar to beer pong, only that here you are using giant cups.
You group yourself into teams where each throws a set of balls at the 6 giant cups.
When a ball lands in a bucket, the bucket is removed.
Any team that eliminates the other team’s giant cups is declared the winner.
The game can also be played in a pool since the cups and balls can float.
You can purchase yard games giant yard pong set with durable buckets and balls.
11. Giant Jenga
Giant Jenga is an exciting game that needs one to be strategic and have good stamina.
To play, you’ll have to stack rows of blocks into a tower by alternating how they lie in every row.
You play in turns where each player removes a block with the hope that it’s not the one that will make the tower collapse.
Any player that removes the block and causes the tower to fall loses the game and leaves other players to continue playing.
You can purchase Jenga giant JS7 from amazon.
It is 26 inches high and can be stack up to over 5 feet tall while playing.
12. Human Ring Toss
Human ring toss is a fun and friendly barbecue party game to play in your yard.
Both children and adults can play it, so no one is left out during the game.
You need around ten 36 inch inflatable pool tubes and agree on the best distance to toss from.
As you play the game, you’ll find out who has the best tossing skills in the group.
13. Keep It Up Balloon
Keep it up balloon game can be played by both kids and adults.
Instead of using all the balloons for house decorations, you spare some to use in barbecue party games.
What you do is inflate the balloons, then compete by finding the player who will keep the balloon up for the longest time.
The one who manages to keep the balloon up longer is declared the winner of the game.
14. Ring toss
The ring toss game is an easy BBQ party games idea for both adults and kids.
In children, it’s known for improving hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
The game involves tossing rings around a bottle, peg or stake.
You can buy this game or try making your own.
15. Potato Sack Race
When growing up, this was one of my favorite games.
It is also known as the gunny race and is also played up to today.
You’ll need burlap sacks that can reach each player’s waist while allowing enough space for hoping to the finish line.
Both kids and adults can play the game, so you can play by pairing kids and adults separately.
16. Four-Legged Team Race
A four-legged team race is a BBQ party games ideas for adults suitable for a large number of people.
4 people in each group mostly play it at a time.
It requires teamwork to emerge as winners since a single player in the team cannot walk alone.
You’ve to be walking at the same pace so that there is good coordination.
Remember that you have to walk fast enough as you aim at the finish line before other teams.
17. Badminton
Badminton is an old-school yet classic game that can be played as you wait for the barbecue to be ready.
The game is played in most countries and is easy to play.
You will need a ball or a shuttlecock and stringed rackets to play the game.
The game can be played as teams or one on one.
Every time you hit the shuttlecock above the net into your opponent’s court, and they do not hit it back; you score a point.
18. Giant Checkers And Chess
Giant checkers and chess is a relaxing BBQ party games ideas for adults who don’t want to get involved in vigorous games.
You spread the checkerboard on the ground like a blanket.
It is good for passing time as you interact with each other.
Purchase a mega chess complete set with a 25-inch tall king.
It comes in black and white and has a great mix of heights and weight for use by kids.
They are waterproof and UV-protected to resist fading and staining.
19. Battlechip
Battlechip is an outdoor game blend of fun golf and cornhole to form a golf chipping game for players. To play, gather 1-4 players to compete in the tournament. TO set up the game, you’ll only need one or two minutes.
On each board, three holes resemble the ones for golf. When you hit the ball in the green, you earn three points. You lose one point if you land on the hole situated in the water and a sandpit. If the ball lands in the area with no holes, you receive a single point.
Each game kit comes with a target, a hitting mat, a dry-erase scoreboard and foam golf balls.
20. Spikeball
The Spikeball game is a blend of foursquare and volleyball. It’s a little challenging and is more competitive. The main goal is to hit the ball over the net to the other team’s side to make it hard for the team to hit it, just like volleyball.
You earn points when:
- The ball hits the ground of the opposite team.
- The person serving fails twice consecutively.
- A player throws or catches the ball in instead of hitting.
- The ball hits the rim directly.
- The ball rolls across the net instead of bouncing.
- The same player hits the ball multiple times in a row.
- The ball bounces back and hits the net
The legs and rims are strong and can’t break from an errant fall, giving it more stability while playing. The balls have an added texture to ensure better spin and control on hits.
The game can be modified in different ways to accommodate more participants. It comes with a durable and light backpack that enables one to carry the game with them whenever they want.
21. Croquet
Croquet is a classic game that has been around since the 1300s. You don’t need any special skills to play; you need croquet set with its mallets and balls.
22. Bocce Ball
The game is skeeball and bowling that have been combined to form the one sport. It’s good for people who may feel they are not good at sports but still want to have a good time.
It’s so easy to learn and doesn’t require any unique skills or energy. To play, someone should throw the smallest ball known as the Pallino, which is mostly used as the marker. The players throw their bocce ball as close to the Pallino as possible.
The participants play back and forth until all the balls have been thrown. The team or player who throws their ball closest to the Pallino becomes the winner in that round.
23. Giant Yahtzee
This game that needs a strategy. What’s more interesting about Giant Yahtzee is you get to roll the dice in a small bucket and toss it into the yard. It requires a little more movement and excitement to play.
To play, roll the dice and try matching varying combinations in your scoresheet. In case you get 5 of one dice within in three rolls, you earn 50 points, and the person with the most points at the end of the game becomes the winner.
24. Giant Bowling
Bowling can be a fun game to play in your backyard with your friends and relatives. The game comes with a BIG bowling ball and pins to blow up.
It’s just like the standard bowling game and to play, take the ball and knock as many pins as possible. The game is good for those who think they aren’t good at bowling; since everything is oversized, it’s hard to miss hitting the pins.
Giant bowling is a must-have game whenever you hold a BBQ Party in your yard.
They’re made from a heavy-duty material and an anti-deflation valve that enable the players to enjoy for many hours.
25. Lawn Darts
Lawn Darts is played the same as wall darts, only that you’ll use your lawn. Playing involves setting target rings and lawn darts. Place the targets around the backyard, pick a dart, then aim.
If you want to play in the dark, you can buy the glow-in-the-dark sets. In Case you were wondering, the darts are yard friendly, so you’ve less to worry about.
Conclusion On Barbecue Party Game Ideas For Adults
There are so many BBQ party game ideas for adults that will keep your guests entertained.
These backyard games spice up things at the party while allowing friendly competition to pass time.
Most games are easy to learn, so do not excuse not to engage in them.
I hope you’ve found a game or two that you can try at your BBQ party.
Don’t be afraid to give the games a try; you never know, maybe it’ll be more interesting than you thought.

Hello, I’m Tanya, the voice and passion behind Smart Yard Guide. With a lifelong love for nature and a keen eye for design, I embarked on this journey to share my expertise and experiences in landscaping, gardening, and outdoor design. As a dedicated homeowner myself, I understand the joys and challenges of curating a space that seamlessly blends nature with human creativity.
My background in horticulture and landscape architecture has given me a solid foundation to explore innovative ideas while respecting the time-tested principles of outdoor design. From selecting the perfect plants for your climate to mastering the art of harmonious hardscaping, I’m here to guide you every step of the way.