25 DIY Backyard Party Games for Family Fun

Awesome summer parties need awesome outdoor games and entertainment We can’t wait to show you these amazing DIY backyard party games that will guarantee the best Summer party ever!

Best backyard party games you can make yourself

Hello friends! The weather’s heating up and we’re ready to start planning for 4th of July celebrations, summer birthday parties, and family reunions. You can create these DIY yard games for any outdoor summer party in your own backyard.

Related: 13 Fun Yard Games for Families

Table of Contents

Best DIY Yard Games for Your Outdoor Summer Party

(This post contains affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission if you click a link and make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

1. DIY Flamingo Ring Toss Yard Game

Colorful pots and bright flamingos are as eye-catching as they are fun with this easy DIY flamingo ring toss game from Sugar and Cloth. This game is perfect for tropical summer themes and simple backyard bar-b-cues.

2. DIY Backyard Party Games: Frisbee Tic Tac Toe

I can’t catch a frisbee to save my life, but this simple giant tic-tac-toe frisbee game from One Creative Mommy looks like something anybody can do. This backyard party game is quick and easy to put together and fun for all ages.

frisbee tic-tac-toe game for the backyard

3. Classic DIY Yard Game: DIY Painted Potato Sacks

Does anybody still do potato sack races? If you haven’t done this in a while, put it on your list of things to do at your next party. It’s definitely fun for kids, even more fun for adults who can barely fit into the little sacks and awkwardly hop across the yard, but the most fun is for the spectators who get to watch the spectacle in front of them. Design Improvised shows how some simple hand-painted treatments can add a little style to the potato sacks.

4. DIY Giant Backyard Game: Ker Plunk

This is a giant yard game version of the table top Ker Plunk game you might have in your game cabinet. Check out All Parenting for details on how to make this fun game for your outdoor party.

DIY giant Kerplunk game for the backyard

5. DIY Giant Lawn Dominoes

My kids just learned how to play the “real” dominoes game (as opposed to the activity that involves lining them up in intricate patterns and then knocking them down) while we were visiting Old Salem. I was actually surprised at how much they enjoyed playing the game version and I think this giant yard game version of Dominoes would go over really well at an outdoor party since it’s something that is fun for adults and kids. You can visit Dream a Little Bigger to see how this set was made.

6. DIY Kubb Game for Outdoor Parties

I have to admit, I’ve never heard of this game before. But, it says it’s the best lawn game ever. And, after reading the description on Let’s Get Together, I am seriously intrigued and feel the need to make this set right now and get a game going in our cul-de-sac just to see if it can live up to it’s claim. Check the tutorial to see what you need to make your own game, plus a video on how to play. There is a set for sale on Amazon as well if you don’t want to bother with the wood-cutting (spelled Kubb if you want to search for it).

7. Make a Hula Hoop Croquet Yard Game

Croquet is a fine yard game in and of itself, but I love this hula hoop version from The Crafting Chicks which makes the game a little more kid-friendly. Grab some hula hoops and rubber balls from the Dollar Store and you’re all set.

8. DIY Backyard Mini Golf

You have to check out all of the parts of this DIY backyard mini golf course from A Small Snippet. With a little bit of cheap indoor-outdoor carpeting a lot of creativity, you can make a totally fun mini golf course for your next backyard party.

9. Make a PVC Pipe Ring Toss Game

Ring toss is a classic carnival game and is a fun game to set up in your own backyard. This DIY ring toss game from Sowdering About is made from PVC pipe, so you’ll be able to keep it around for years of fun.

10. Water Gun Targets for DIY Backyard Party Games

Water games are a must for summer parties. I love this take on an old carnival game from All For the Boys. If you make a few of the target cups, you can have several people competing at once. The goal is to see who can fill up their cup the fastest!

11. Glow in the Dark Ring Toss Game

If you’re party is going to go late this summer, be sure to check out this awesome glow-in-the-dark ring toss game from A Pumpkin and a Princess.

12. DIY Backyard Giant Jenga Game

Jenga is another one of those games that can easily be scaled up for an outdoor party game. Just don’t stack it above your head! You can view the tutorial here.

13. Giant Paper Airplanes

Paper airplanes are easy, inexpensive, and so much fun. Scale up with some poster board and you’ve got an exciting outdoor activity for guests of all ages! Fireflies and Mudpies shares their version.

14. DIY Backyard Party Games: Lawn Twister

Bring out the old classic Twister game, backyard style, with some spray paint! See Mama Told Me Blog for the Lawn Twister tutorial.

15. Pool Noodle Racket Game

Make your own paddles with this easy how-to from Ziggity Zoom! Kids and adults can bop around a rubber ball or a balloon with these DIY pool noodle rackets, or use them in the pool with a beach ball.

16. Simple Cardboard Ring Toss Game

I love these adorable painted cardboard rings from My Fab Land. See how to make a cardboard ring toss game here.

17. Water Balloon Toss Backyard Party Game

A Girl and A Glue Gun shares a fun and simple game you can make with repurposed milk jugs! Guess what happens if the water balloon breaks?! This is a must-have game for the kids at your summer BBQs.

18. Homemade Balloon Paddles

A few simple materials are all you need to make some foam paddles for balloon boppers! Crafting in the Rain has the details.

19. DIY Water Gun Ping Pong Target Game

Here’s another water squirter target game. This can be a one person game or make it a competition by setting up a few stands and seeing who can shoot down the most ping pong balls in a certain amount of time! See how it’s made at Planet of the Apels .

20. DIY Pool Noodle Targets

I am amazed at all of the amazing things people come with to do with pool noodles! The Joys of Boys shares how to make this fabulous target stand. You can incorporate a stand like this in a variety of backyard games: use it with for throwing pool noodles or for football throwing, or get creative and see what else you can come up with!

21. DIY Backyard Slingshot and Angry Birds Game

Check out this awesome DIY slingshot made with PVC pipes from Keeping it Simple Crafts! Guests will have loads of fun knocking down cans or boxes, Angry Birds-style!

22. Backyard Pool Noodle Gladiator Competition

This is a super-fun game for the young ones, or those who are young at heart (i.e. not for anyone who might fall and break a hip). If you don’t have stumps, you can use step stools, buckets, milk crates, etc. I’m not sure what they’re using in this photo, but I think the best bet to minimize injuries is to go with foam pool noodles. You can even turn them into swords with these sword handle connecters! Whoever knocks the other person off first wins!

23. Make a Backyard Bubble Station

A DIY bubble station like this one from Kitchen fun With My 3 Sons will keep kids happy for hours! As long as they can keep filling those cups up they’ll be having a blast with their bubbles.

24. DIY Ping Pong Tic Tac Toe Game

Here’s another great way to make an outdoor tic tac toe board. Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls has the details on making your own DIY ping pong Tic Tac Toe game.

DIY giant tic-tac-toe game for backyard parties

25. Water Balloon Baseball

Water balloon baseball is definitely a thing and is so much fun to play. For your next backyard party, fill up some water balloons with different amounts of water so that some will burst easily and some will just be bouncy. Players won’t know which ones will burst on contact and which water balloons will make a great play! Your guests must be willing to get a little wet with this game so save it for the hottest of hot summer party days. See Overstuffed Life for this game plus some tips on getting the kids to clean up the balloon pieces.

The great thing about DIY backyard party games is that you can make your games to fit your party’s colors and theme or your own personal style preferences. Many of the games in this post can be made quickly and for very little money. However, sometimes you just don’t have time or energy to make your own and still need something fun for guests of your backyard party. If that’s the case, keep reading for more ideas…

Also, check out our post on DIY Backyard Play Areas for more amazing backyard ideas.

More Backyard Games

Looking for more backyard game ideas? Here are our 4 of our top picks for the best yard games for families *that you can buy*. (These are affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission if you end up purchasing something.)

Our Top 4 (Out of 13 Best Games)

Best Low Activity Yard Game: Cornhole – This bean bag toss game is our pick for the best low-key game for your backyard BBQ.

Best Active Game: Spikeball – Super-fun, easy to learn, and will definitely get your heart rate up.

Best Budget Game: Kickball – wins for the best budget-friendly yard game for families. All you need is a simple rubber ball, and you can use some toss-down bases or make your own.

Best for Large Groups: Glow-In-The-Dark Capture the Flag – Lots of fun for large groups of up to 20 people.

25 DIY Backyard Party Games for the Best Summer Party Ever