40 outdoor games for adults, from yard games to field day
Yard games with real rules, field day games, big-group games and games that need nothing at all. Plus a three-hour company field day plan you can copy.
Good outdoor games for adults are quick to explain, easy to play badly and fun to watch. These 40 work for a company picnic, a field day, a retreat afternoon or a park lunch: ten yard games with the real distances and scoring, ten field day games that aren’t relay races, ten for large groups and ten that need no equipment. Every game lists group size, time and gear.
Planning the whole day? The company field day plan below has a schedule, stations, scoring, an equipment list and a rain plan. For outings, picnics and volunteer days rather than games, see our outdoor team building activities.
Outdoor games for adults by situation
Short on time or planning for a crowd? Start here.
For a hot day
Little or no running
For 50 or more people
Ten minutes or less
Yard games for adults: 10 lawn games with real rules
The backyard games for adults everyone knows, with the distances and scoring people argue about. Set two or three up at any company picnic and let people drift between them.
1. Cornhole
Two boards face each other and players take turns tossing four bags each at the far board. A bag through the hole scores 3 and a bag left on the board scores 1, but only the difference between the two sides counts each round. First to 21 wins. Regulation boards sit 27 feet apart, front edge to front edge; 15 to 20 feet suits casual players.
2 or 4 players a game · 15 to 20 min a game · Two boards and 8 bags
2. Ladder toss
Throw bolas (two balls joined by a short cord) underhand at a ladder with three rungs, from about 15 feet. A bola wrapped on the top rung scores 3, the middle 2 and the bottom 1. Each player throws three a turn, and the first to exactly 21 wins; a turn that would take you past 21 doesn't count.
2 or 4 players a game · 15 min a game · Two ladders and 6 bolas
3. Bocce
One player throws the small target ball (the pallino), then teams roll larger balls to land closest to it. Whichever team is farther away keeps rolling until it gets closer or runs out of balls. When all eight are down, the closest team scores a point for each ball nearer than the other team's best. Play to 12 or to a time limit.
2 to 8 players, in two teams · 20 to 30 min a game · A bocce set and a flat lawn
4. Kubb
On a pitch about 5 by 8 meters, each team stands five wooden blocks (kubbs) on its baseline, with a taller king in the middle. Teams take turns throwing six batons underhand, end over end, to knock down the other side's kubbs. Clear them all, then topple the king to win; knock the king over early and you lose on the spot.
2 to 12 players, in two teams · 20 to 40 min a game · A kubb set (10 kubbs, a king, 6 batons)
5. Mölkky
Twelve numbered wooden pins stand in a tight cluster about 3 to 4 meters away. Knock down one pin and you score its number; knock down several and you score how many fell. Pins are stood back up where they land, the first to exactly 50 wins, going over drops you to 25, and three misses in a row puts you out.
2 to 8 players or teams · 20 min a game · A mölkky set
6. Horseshoes
Players pitch two horseshoes each at a stake in a sand or dirt pit. A ringer, a shoe that circles the stake, scores 3, and a shoe within 6 inches that is closer than the other side's scores 1. Ringers from both sides cancel, and the first to 21 wins a backyard game. Regulation stakes stand 40 feet apart, so shorten the distance for beginners and keep everyone behind the thrower.
2 or 4 players a game · 20 min a game · Two stakes and 4 horseshoes (rubber sets for crowds)
7. Washer toss
Toss heavy metal washers at a shallow box with a cup or hole in the middle, from about 20 feet. Scoring is house rules, and a common version gives 3 for the cup and 1 for the box, first to 21. It packs into a bag, so it's the easiest yard game to bring to a park.
2 or 4 players a game · 15 min a game · Two washer boxes and 6 to 8 washers
8. Croquet
Players take turns hitting their ball with a mallet through nine wire hoops (wickets) in a set order, out to the far stake and back, and the first to hit the home stake wins. Going through a wicket earns an extra stroke, and hitting another player's ball earns two. A full backyard court is about 100 by 50 feet, so shrink it to fit your lawn and mow it short.
2 to 6 players · 30 to 45 min · A croquet set and a mowed lawn
9. Giant block tower
The oversized version of the stacking game: build a tower of about 54 wooden blocks in layers of three, each layer crossing the one below. Players take turns pulling one block from below the top layer with one hand and placing it on top. Whoever topples the tower loses, so play in teams and let the group share the groan.
2 to 6 players or teams · 10 to 15 min a round · A giant block set on flat ground
10. Roundnet
Two teams of two stand around a small round trampoline net. Serve the ball down onto the net; each team gets up to three touches to send it back onto the net, and there are no sides after the serve, so everyone moves all the way around. A rally ends when a team misses or hits the rim. Play rally scoring to 11, 15 or 21.
4 players a game · 10 to 15 min a game · A roundnet set
Field day games for adults
Company field day activities that are not relay races. Each one fits a 12-minute station, and most have a role for people who would rather not run.
11. Frozen T-shirt race
The night before, soak one T-shirt per team, fold it tight, and freeze it flat in a zip bag. On the day, teams race to thaw and unfold it using hands, sun and stubbornness, and the first person wearing it over their clothes wins.
Teams of 3 to 6 · 10 min · One frozen T-shirt per team, a size up
12. Water balloon volleyball
Pairs hold a beach towel by the corners and use it to launch a water balloon over a net or rope. The pair on the other side catches it in their towel and fires it back. A burst or a drop gives the other side a point.
2 to 4 pairs a side · 15 min · Beach towels, water balloons, a net or rope
13. Spray bottle string race
Tie one string per player between two posts at chest height and thread a plastic cup on each, mouth facing the start. On go, players spray water into their cup with a spray bottle set to stream, pushing it along the string. First cup to the far post wins.
4 to 6 players a heat · 10 min · String, plastic cups, spray bottles
14. Shoe kick
Players loosen one sneaker until it hangs off their toes, then kick it as far as they can from a line, aiming away from the crowd. Measure to where the shoe first lands, and give a second prize for the highest kick.
Any number, one at a time · 10 min · Cones and a tape measure
15. Long rope team jump
Two people turn a long rope while the rest of the team jumps it together. Count how many jumps in a row the whole team makes without a miss, and take the best of three tries. Anyone who would rather not jump turns the rope or counts.
Teams of 6 to 10 · 12 min · A 25 to 30 foot jump rope
16. Tarp flip
Each team stands on a tarp or picnic blanket. Without anyone touching the grass, the team has to turn the tarp over and end up standing on the other side. Fold the tarp in half for round two if they make it look easy.
Teams of 6 to 10 · 10 min · One tarp or blanket per team
17. Penalty shootout
Mark a goal with two cones and give every player five kicks from about 10 yards. Use a volunteer keeper, or leave the goal empty and tape targets to the corners for bonus points. Most goals wins, with one kick each at a time to break ties.
Any number, in turns · 12 min · A soccer ball and cones
18. Plastic bat home run derby
Pitch soft plastic balls to each hitter for ten swings. Mark distance zones with cones and score 1 to 4 points by where the ball lands. Give the pitching job to someone who enjoys being heckled.
Any number, in turns · 15 min · A plastic bat, plastic balls, cones
19. Disc target throw
Hang a hoop from a tree branch or a goal frame and give each player five throws with a flying disc from three distances. Through the hoop scores 3 and a touch scores 1. Add the team's best three scores.
Any number, in turns · 12 min · A flying disc, a hoop, rope
20. Bottle bowling
Set ten refilled water bottles up as pins on a flat patch of lawn or patio and bowl a playground ball from about 20 feet. Two rolls a frame, five frames a game. It works just as well from a chair, so everyone can play.
Teams of 2 to 6 · 12 min · 10 water bottles and a playground ball
Want races too? Our relay race ideas cover the sack race, three-legged race and 33 more, and minute to win it games make good quick stations on a picnic table.
Outdoor games for large groups
For 20 to 100 people on one field. These need a little gear and a lot of space, and they keep everyone playing at once instead of waiting in line.
21. Orienteering course
Hide 10 to 15 numbered markers around a park and give each team a simple map with the spots circled. Teams find as many as they can in 45 minutes and write down the code on each marker. Points per marker, minus points for every minute late back.
Teams of 3 to 5, any number of teams · 60 min · Printed maps, markers with codes
22. Walking soccer
Soccer with one rule change: nobody runs. Anyone caught jogging gives away a free kick. It keeps the game safe for every fitness level and turns out to be surprisingly competitive.
5 to 8 a side · 2 halves of 15 min · A soccer ball and cones for goals
23. Beach ball volleyball
Volleyball over a rope or net with a big beach ball instead of a volleyball. It floats, so rallies last and nobody's wrists hurt. Allow unlimited touches a side for a mixed group.
6 to 20 a side · 20 min · A large beach ball and a net or rope
24. Clothespin tag
Everyone clips three clothespins to their sleeves or shirt hem. Players steal pins from each other and clip them on themselves, with no grabbing of clothes or people. Whoever has the most pins after five minutes wins.
10 to 60 · 10 min · 3 clothespins per person
25. Steal the bacon
Two teams line up facing each other and count off, so every number has a match across. Drop a bandana (the bacon) in the middle and call a number: those two players race to grab it and get back to their line without being tagged. Call two numbers at once to speed it up.
10 to 30, in two teams · 15 min · A bandana
26. Kick the can
One guard watches a can in the middle while everyone hides. The guard spots people, calls their name and races them back to the can; caught players wait beside it. Anyone who kicks the can before the guard gets there frees everyone who was caught.
8 to 30 · 20 min · An empty can and places to hide
27. Chalk draw and guess
Each team gets a patch of pavement and a box of chalk. One drawer per round sees a word, draws it big with no letters, and the team guesses against a one-minute timer. Rotate the drawer every round. Need words? Pull them from our Pictionary word generator.
Teams of 4 to 6, any number of teams · 20 min · Sidewalk chalk and a word list
28. Four square tournament
Chalk a big square split into four boxes, one player in each. Players bounce a playground ball into each other's boxes; a miss sends you to the back of the line while everyone else moves up toward the top box. With a waiting line, 20 people can rotate through one court.
4 at a time, up to 20 in line · 20 min · A playground ball and chalk
29. Giant ball push
Two teams face off around an inflatable ball, 4 to 6 feet across, in the middle of a field. On go, each team pushes the ball toward the other team's goal line, hands on the ball only, no kicking and no pushing people. First across the line wins the round.
20 to 60, in two teams · 15 min · A giant inflatable ball and cones
30. Rounders
The British bat-and-ball game: a bowler throws underarm, the batter hits it anywhere and runs around four posts. Reach the fourth post in one go to score a rounder. Fielders get a batter out by catching the ball or touching the post ahead of them with it, and teams swap when the whole batting side is out.
8 to 15 a side · 40 min · A short bat, a tennis ball, 4 posts or cones
Outside games for adults with no equipment
Nothing to buy or carry. Good for a park lunch, a retreat afternoon or the 20 minutes before the food arrives.
31. Ships and sailors
A caller shouts commands and everyone acts them out: bow (run to the front), stern (the back), port (left), starboard (right), captain's coming (freeze and salute), lifeboats (sit in rows of three and row). The last to obey is out until the final round.
10 to 100 · 10 min · Nothing
32. Sharks and minnows
Two sharks stand in the middle of a field and everyone else lines up at one end. On “swim”, the minnows cross to the other end without being tagged. Tagged minnows become seaweed: they stand still and tag with their arms, so the crossing gets harder each round.
12 to 50 · 15 min · Nothing
33. Blob tag
One person is it. Anyone tagged links arms with them and the blob grows; when it reaches four people, it splits into two blobs of two. The last free player wins.
12 to 50 · 10 min · Nothing
34. Red light, green light
The caller stands at the far end facing away. On “green light” players walk forward; on “red light” the caller turns around, and anyone still moving goes back to the start. First to tag the caller takes over. Walking only, which suits adults in work shoes.
6 to 40 · 10 min · Nothing
35. Sardines
Reverse hide and seek: one person hides and everyone else searches. Each player who finds the hider quietly joins them in the hiding spot, until the last searcher finds the whole group. Set boundaries first.
6 to 20 · 20 min · Nothing
36. Shadow tag
On a sunny day, it tags players by stepping on their shadow, and a tagged player becomes the new it. Players can hide their shadow in shade, but only for five seconds at a time.
6 to 30 · 10 min · Nothing but sun
37. Ninja
Players stand in a circle and strike a pose. In turn, each makes one quick move to tap another player's hand, and the target can make one move to dodge; then everyone freezes. A tapped hand is out, and a player with both hands out leaves the circle.
5 to 15 a circle · 10 min · Nothing
38. Evolution
Everyone starts as an egg, waddling in a crouch. Find another egg and play rock, paper, scissors: the winner evolves to a chicken (flap), then a dinosaur (stomp), then a human (walk tall), while the loser drops back a stage. Players can only challenge their own stage.
10 to 100 · 10 min · Nothing
39. Animal call huddle
Whisper an animal to each player, using four or five animals for the group. Everyone closes their eyes and finds the rest of their group using only that animal's sound. Keep two players with eyes open as spotters so nobody walks into a tree.
12 to 40 · 5 min · Nothing
How to plan a company field day
A 3-hour field day for 30 to 80 people: six stations, six teams, lunch and a finale. Copy the whole plan into a doc and change what doesn't fit.
A three-hour schedule
- 10:00 a.m.Check-in and team colors (15 min). Hand out bandanas or shirts, point people to water and sunscreen, and post the team list.
- 10:15 a.m.Kickoff and warmup (10 min). Two minutes of rules, the heat and rain plan, a walking warmup and one big team cheer.
- 10:25 a.m.Station rotation (90 min). Six stations, one team at each: 12 minutes of play and 3 to move on, until every team has played every station.
- 11:55 a.m.Lunch with yard games open (40 min). Food in the shade, cornhole and bocce free to play, scores tallied quietly.
- 12:35 p.m.Big-group finale (15 min). One game for everyone at once, like giant ball push or ships and sailors.
- 12:50 p.m.Awards and team photo (10 min). Read the final scores from last place up, hand out the trophy and the spirit award, take the photo.
- 1:00 p.m.Done. The cleanup crew packs up while everyone else heads back.
Six stations that balance the day
Calm and active games alternate, so no team plays two active games back to back. Each links to its rules above.
Teams and scoring
- Teams of 6 to 10. Mix departments and fitness levels on purpose, and give each team a color and a name.
- One team per station. With as many stations as teams, nobody waits in line.
- Placing points. At each station, 10 points for first, 7 for second, 5 for third and 3 for every other team that finishes.
- Spirit points. Station captains award up to 5 more per team for cheering, costumes and good sportsmanship. They keep the less sporty teams in the race.
- One scorekeeper. Captains text scores to one person, who keeps the only official board.
Who does what
- Field day lead: owns the schedule, the horn and the weather call.
- Station captains: one per station; they explain the game, time it and score it.
- Scorekeeper: keeps the official board and announces standings at lunch.
- Safety lead: carries the first aid kit, watches for heat trouble and knows the address for an ambulance.
- Setup and cleanup crew: four people, an hour before and half an hour after.
Finish with the photo while everyone is still in team colors; our group photo ideas have poses that work for 50 people on a lawn. Inviting families? Most of these games work for kids too, and our take your child to work day guide has family day ideas.
Field day equipment list, heat safety and a rain plan
The three things that decide whether people remember the games or the sunburn.
Equipment checklist
- Cones or flags to mark each station
- A one-page rules sign for each station
- The gear for each game you picked (listed under every game above)
- Team colors: bandanas, wristbands or shirts
- A whistle and a phone timer for each captain
- A whiteboard or poster-size scoreboard and markers
- Water jugs, cups and a refill plan
- Pop-up canopies and folding chairs for shade
- Sunscreen and bug spray
- A first aid kit and ice packs
- A speaker for music and announcements
- Trash and recycling bags
- A trophy and a spirit award
Accessibility and heat basics
- Give every station a role that needs no running: thrower, timer, scorer or strategist.
- Alternate active and calm stations so nobody sits out a whole block.
- Pick flat ground with a paved path to parking and restrooms.
- Put chairs in the shade at every station.
- Keep water at every station and call a shade break every 30 to 45 minutes.
- Check the forecast and heat index the day before. If it will be hot, start earlier, shorten rotations, drop the most active games and follow any heat advisory from local officials or your venue.
- Brief captains on heat illness signs like dizziness, headache, nausea and cramps: move the person to shade, give water, cool them down, and call 911 for confusion or fainting.
- Say what to wear in the invite: sneakers, a hat and clothes that can get wet. Keep getting wet optional.
Rain plan
- Book an indoor backup space (a large meeting room, the cafeteria or a gym) when you book the date.
- Set a decision time, like 7 a.m. on the day, and tell everyone where the call will be posted.
- Light rain: keep the yard games under canopies and drop anything on wet grass that could cause a slip.
- Thunder or lightning: move everyone indoors right away and wait 30 minutes after the last rumble before going back out.
- Indoors, bottle bowling with a soft ball, the giant block tower and chalk draw and guess on whiteboards all still work.
Want someone to run part of the day?
Our hosts bring Team Trivia, Feud Night and Music Bingo to your office or a venue you pick in 17 US cities, run it for about an hour and pack up. That makes an easy indoor finale or a ready-made rain plan; see in-person team building for every city. Book about 2 weeks ahead.
Three hosted in person, one for remote teams, with today’s prices.
Remote teammates can still compete: the virtual office olympics is a hosted team competition on Zoom by default (Teams, Google Meet or Webex on request). Planning a bigger day away? See our company outing ideas and company retreat activities, or get a free quote with your date and headcount.
