No surprise, many of our editors named corn hole as a favorite yard game. (Getty)(Getty)
Your backyard is the spot for family cookouts, evening drinks with friends and impromptu Sunday afternoon hangouts. Inevitably, there will be guests who ask what kind of activities might get the crew off their phones and up for some interactive fun. This is where the best lawn games shine. They vary in complexity and appeal, though, so I polled our staff of shopping experts (who live across the country and have families of varying sizes and ages) on the best yard games of 2025.
It turns out our editors have tested an impressively wide variety of outdoor games — some are perfect for two people, and others can accommodate four or more; some are very active, and others are more strategy-oriented. After gathering recommendations, I evaluated each on its ease of use, durability, fun factor and value. We guarantee you'll find something to engage every member of your crew, from little ones to grandparents.
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Number of players: 2-8 | Difficulty level: Medium
"This classic ring toss game is not made entirely of plastic — yay! True to its name, it has a rustic look thanks to wood tones that blend in nicely with our yard," says Executive Editor Nicole Sforza. "It couldn't be easier to set up and learn, and it came with more than 15 variations on the game (like playing to lose points rather than win them), which seem really fun."
If you're into aesthetics, you'll appreciate that the base is made from New Zealand pine and the rings from rope and wood. The game is weather-resistant and comes with a carrying case, but Sforza said she wouldn't be comfortable leaving it out in the elements because of the wood components.
Number of players: 2-12 | Difficulty level: Medium to difficult
If you haven't yet heard of this Nordic throwing game, prepare to be won over. It's like a cross between lawn bowling and horseshoes, and Yahoo Senior Tech Editor (and our resident pickleball expert) Rick Broida counts himself as a big fan. "It's definitely one of my favorite lawn games, and without question the most accessible; anyone can play!" (That said, he does admit there's a bit of a learning curve, "mostly with regard to order of operations.")
You can play Kubb on grass, at the beach and even in the snow. It's a simple concept: Each team takes turns trying to knock down the kubbs (rectangular blocks) and the "king" by tossing wooden batons at them. It's great for groups, and the sturdy wooden pieces come with a carrying case.
Number of players: 2 | Difficulty level: Easy
This lawn game is inspired by Connect 4, but instead of primary-colored plastic pieces, it features a chic, design-forward board and pucks. The classic strategy game was a family favorite for many of us growing up, and it's a no-brainer addition to your backyard entertainment setup.
"For a 'giant' set (and it's actually not too huge — it's two feet by three feet), it's very easy to disassemble and get back into the storage bag," says Sforza. "The bag is big and thin and slides right into the garage. I like that each color puck has a different pouch, so you don't have to waste time sorting through 42 pucks," she adds.
She loves that the frame is made of (real!) wood, "because the plastic sets looked way too much like they're just for kids. That being said, I wouldn't want to keep this out in the rain because it might warp or chip over time."
Number of players: 4 (two teams of 2) | Difficulty level: Easy
"I stayed with my sister, brother-in-law and nieces during the pandemic, and my parents bought us Spikeball to play in the backyard. It's held up well and I have friends who have also owned their sets for a few years," says Senior Commerce Editor Rory Halperin of this volleyball-esque lawn game. The difference is that instead of hitting a ball over a net, you hit the ball into the circular net that's on the ground. "It was easy and fun for people of all athletic levels and ages to play," raves Halperin.
Without a doubt, this is a game for people who like action. Adds Halperin, "You can easily bring it to a friend's house, the park, the beach and more. I know it's especially popular with families who have teens."
Number of players: 2-4 | Difficulty level: Easy
While regulation corn hole boards have rules about distance, this isn't a standard set. "It's smaller, so it's portable, and you can make up the distance between the boards depending on the ability and age of the people playing," says Yahoo Editor Janelle Randazza, who has been playing this game for about a decade. There's a little scoring slide at the top, making it easy to keep track of who's winning, even if you want to go epically long with points.
But this lawn game's best feature, says Randazza, is that the bean bags slide into a storage compartment in the back of each board, so you never lose them. When the party's over, the boards click together, kind of like a briefcase, with a slide lock. "They store flat, are lightweight and the handles make them easily transportable," she says.
Number of players: 2-4 | Difficulty level: Easy
Consider this a family-friendly version of beer pong. You fill the buckets with either water or sand (there are handy fill lines for both) to keep them from falling over, then try to throw your balls into the other team's buckets.
"I scooped up this game for playing in the backyard and also at the shore. It's super easy (and fun!) to play, very portable, and has a lifetime warranty," says Home and Garden Writer Kristin Granero.
Each set comes with 12 large buckets (they're 9 inches tall and 9 inches in diameter), plus balls and a bag that you can easily carry with you to gatherings or store in a closet.
Number of players: 4 | Level of difficulty: Medium
If you have any nostalgia for playing frisbee, Kan Jam is the game for you. It starts with four players on two teams. One player throws the frisbee towards their opponents' can, and the other teammate helps direct it towards the can, too. You score points for hitting the can and for getting the frisbee into the can. If a team gets the frisbee directly into the open slot in the front of the can, it's an automatic win. Broida warns, "It's best suited to players old enough to accurately fling a frisbee."
"There's very little to clean up, but storage can be challenging and the game isn't very portable," explains Broida of the minimal setup and breakdown for Kan Jam.
Number of players: 2-8 | Difficulty level: Medium
Bocce is a classic Italian pastime and for good reason — people of all ages and athletic ability can participate in lawn bowling, and it's easy to set up and understand.
This high-quality set from L.L.Bean is a winner. "The balls have an excellent weight to them, and I'm a sucker for the monogrammed bag. I prefer four colors of bocce balls. They allow for four teams if you have a larger group, or two teams if you're playing against your BFF or boo," says Randazza.
Number of players: 1-4 | Difficulty level: Medium
BucketGolf is a ton of fun, says Broida. The game is similar to golf, but with an oversized club and ball, and a bucket in place of a hole.
Don't fret if you're not exactly ready for the PGA Championship. "It's very easy whether you're familiar with golf or not," explains Broida. "You're aiming for the bucket; you count your strokes as you go. Record your score once the ball hits it; subtract a stroke if you get it in the bucket." He loves that you can create an endless number of course configurations, so it's a different game every time.
While only two clubs come with this set, you can also use your own clubs, or, if you're entertaining a group, you can get BucketGolf sets with different setups and more holes.
You'll want to take into account several factors when buying lawn games, including:
Who will play: Many lawn games are meant for ages 6+. If you want games suitable for little ones, look for softer, larger parts and make sure the difficulty level hovers around easy or medium.
Where you'll play: Some games like BucketBall can be played on nearly any terrain, while others are best suited to grass. Others, including Giant Four in a Row, require a level surface like a patio or deck. Portability also comes into, er, play here — you wouldn't want to bring a massive board to the beach or park, but BucketBall is compact and easy to carry.
Athletic ability: Break out active games like Spikeball for players who like to get competitive and physical. More subdued strategy-oriented games are best for chilling out and older folks who don't want to move around a lot. Games like bocce, which involve some movement but not a ton of jumping around, are a happy medium.
I surveyed Yahoo's staff of shopping editors and writers, who live all over the country and have families of different sizes and ages, for their top picks. They had to have played the game at least a couple of times, and they had to fill out a rubric with their thoughts. I asked them to weigh in on how easy the game was to play, how involved the rules were, how durable the parts seemed, how involved cleanup was and whether they'd buy the game again. If the lawn game never makes it out of the garage during parties, it didn't make the list. Then I reviewed each pick, checking customer reviews and prices.
This is, of course, debatable. People love corn hole, ring toss, badminton, giant Jenga and more, but we named the Swooc Games Rustic Ring Toss the best lawn game overall. Why? Because it can accommodate all ages, all athletic abilities and with the components included in this set, you can play not just ring toss, but more than 15 games.
While we love a good game of bocce ball, we also appreciate the similar game of lawn bowling which involves rolling a ball on the ground towards a target (wood pins in this setup), but with a bit more strategy.
