BBQ parties are all about having fun with family and friends. But they won’t be fun enough without some BBQ party game ideas for adults!
After all, sitting around the grill and drinking beer can get boring. So, why not turn it into an entertaining BBQ game night? Your guests will have a blast playing these entertaining games, and you’ll have fun watching them compete!
Check out our list of the top 22 BBQ party game ideas for adults below!
1. Yard Dice
No barbecue is complete without some fun and games! If you’re looking for BBQ party game ideas for adults, yard dice are the perfect solution.
They’re easy to make (you can even use recycled materials!) and can be played in various ways.
Plus, yard dice are a great way to get everyone involved in the fun. Here’s how to make your yard dice: Cut an 8-inch square from cardboard.
Using a marker, draw 12 images on each side of the cardboard (6 per side).
However, images can include things like cupcakes, ice cream cones, tacos, etc.
You’ll want one image on each side that corresponds with each number from 1 to 12 so that when you roll it onto the ground, it will land on one specific number.
In addition, put a dot in the center of each image—you’ll need 12 dots in total. Cut off 1 inch from all four corners so that they are rounded.
Then, poke holes around each hole through both sides. Attach a length of string to each corner and tie it together.
Moreover, they can be hung on a tree or other sturdy object by tying the string tightly to the branch.
Fill two containers with water and ice cubes; one should be shallower than the other.
Divide players into two teams and give each team a cup full of water and ice cubes.
They take turns rolling their yard dice onto the ground until someone gets all 12 numbers correct.
The team whose player rolls first gets to guess, followed by the second team member until someone wins.
2. Lawn Darts
These classic adult BBQ party game ideas are always a hit at outdoor parties! To play, set up a dartboard or hula hoop a few feet from where guests stand.
Then, take turns throwing lawn darts at the target. At the end of the game, the person with the most points wins! Read on for more tips on this and other backyard games!
3. Hillbilly Golf
Gather up old golf clubs, a couple of hula hoops, and some tennis balls (or other small balls).
To set up, place the hula hoops in different locations around the yard, each representing a hole.
Take turns hitting the balls through the hoops with the golf clubs. Nevertheless, the person with the lowest score at the end of the game wins!
If you don’t have any of these items, you can use anything that might fit the bill, like large inflated balloons (easy to hit), aluminum foil-wrapped hot dogs instead of golf clubs, etc.
4. Yard Pong
To play yard pong, you’ll need two teams of two and four pong balls.
The game aims to score points by bouncing the ball into your opponent’s cups.
To set up, each team places two Solo cups at opposite ends of the playing area.
Then, each team member fills their cup with beer. Once the cups are filled, players try to bounce the ball into the other team’s cups.
If a player makes a shot, their opponent must drink the contents of their cup.
Furthermore, the first team to make all of its shots wins! Another fun variation is Beer Ball, in which one person throws the ball while another person within the team hits it with a bat into a cup.
However, it is similar to Beer Pong. If they succeed, that teammate gets to throw next, and the next teammate hits it into a cup.
5. Charades
This classic BBQ party game idea for adults is a great way to break the ice and get everyone laughing.
Divide your guests into teams, and have each team choose one player to be their charade’s actor.
The rest of the team will brainstorm ideas for a movie that the actor can act out without speaking.
However, the first team to guess correctly wins a point. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins!
6. Spikeball Game Set
Spikeball is an increasingly popular game that can be played both indoors and outdoors.
It’s perfect for a group of friends or family who want to play a competitive yet fun game.
However, the game aims to hit the ball off the net. And so that it bounces off the ground and into your opponent’s hands. The first team to 21 points wins.
Set up the Spikeball net in the middle of the playing area. Each team then stands on opposite sides of the net.
In addition, the service starts with one player from each team standing behind their respective baseline.
To serve, the player must hit the ball to hit the ground and then go over the net without being touched by another player.
7. Backyard Bocce Set
Bocce is a classic Italian game that people of all ages can enjoy. It’s a great BBQ party game idea for adults because it’s easy to set up and doesn’t require much space.
Plus, it’s a lot of fun! Learn how to play bocce set: How to Play Bocce Set.
Players stand parallel to the first thrower’s line, with one player behind the starting point.
However, the first thrower rolls the ball toward his or her courtside. If they do not make it past the starting point, they get another try.
Therefore, if the first thrower throws over his or her side of the court, he or she loses.
It is his or her turn, and he or she gets out from behind the starting point.
Also, if he or she throws before reaching their side, they lose their turn. The next player in line steps up and tries to roll under his/her side while still within bounds.
8. Pool Noodles
One of the best things about pool noodles is their versatility. You can use them for everything from a pool float to a makeshift weapon in a game of dodgeball.
And, regarding BBQ party game ideas for adults, they are downright essential.
Here are fun ideas for how to use pool noodles at your next cookout.
Use them as skewers to roast hot dogs and marshmallows on fire or serve drinks with ice cubes.
However, toss some noodles into a bowl or on top of paper towels. And let guests take turns shooting one noodle at another with a fork.
The goal is to knock the other noodles off the bowl without touching others on either side. If you hit more than one noodle, you lose.
Nevertheless, it’s like bowling but with frisbees instead of balls and pins instead of gutters. If you don’t have access to a Frisbee, try using wadded-up pieces of newspaper.
9. Fork Basketball
Gather several people around a table and set up two chairs with space between them opposite each other.
Place three noodles vertically between the chairs, one in front and one behind each chair, and throw the ball.
Also, each player takes turns tossing their ball at their opponent’s chair while trying not to drop any noodles.
If someone drops all three noodles before winning, they’re out.
Therefore, if someone catches an opponent’s ball, they win all three noodles plus get another turn. Play until only one person has the most noodles.
10. Ping Pong Ball Grabbers
Put a line of five noodles across the table, evenly spaced apart. Put two cups with ping pong balls under them at different ends of the line of noodles.
Also, have everyone stand behind their net and grab as many ping-pong balls as possible in 60 seconds.
If players reach over and knock over the noodles, they must forfeit those balls to their opponents when time runs out. Whichever team has more ping-pong balls left in each cup wins!
11. Noodle Jousting
Line up two players at opposite ends of a long row of pool noodles. Take turns placing three or four pillows on the noodles closest to them.
Then, taking back-to-back running starts towards the jousting area. Whoever makes it there first gets all the pillows and points for knocking their opponent’s pillows off!
12. Ring Swing
This game is a variation of the classic horseshoes game. It’s one of the great BBQ party game ideas for adults because it requires strategy and accuracy.
However, to play, you’ll need two sets of metal rings (or hula-hoops) and two wooden posts.
You can use rope or painter’s tape to create a makeshift set if you don’t have metal rings. Place one post in the ground about 8 feet away from the other.
Moreover, put one ring at each end of the post far from where your guests sit. Now get started! First, take turns throwing your ring at one end.
And try to wrap it around either side of the second post without touching it. That is to catch any rings that may be hanging off of it. The person who gets their ring around wins!
13. Water Match
Play this game during summertime when everyone’s thirst is at an all-time high! Fill up containers with water in different amounts, from 12 ounces to 3 gallons, and place them in front of each player.
Now, have them try to drink as much as possible within a minute. The winner is the person who drank the most liquid within 60 seconds.
If people drink too much before dinner, you might want to provide juice boxes or something else non-alcoholic.
Note: Remember to clear out space for these games so that no furniture gets damaged!
14. Backyard Lawn Bowling Game
One of the popular BBQ party game ideas for adults to play at a BBQ party is lawn bowling.
You can set up the game using cones or plastic bottles as pins and a ball or beanbag as the bowling ball.
The object of the game is to knock down all of the pins with as few throws as possible.
You can set up obstacles such as chairs to make the BBQ party game ideas for adults more challenging.
The person with the lowest score at the end of the game is the winner!
Therefore, some people may not want to bowl because of physical limitations.
They can be the event’s announcers by calling out how many points each player has after each turn.
15. Ring Toss
This classic carnival game is a great way to get your guests interacting and laughing.
You only need a few empty soda bottles and small balls or rings. However, the bottles were set up in a pyramid shape.
Then, take turns trying to toss the balls or rings around the necks of the bottles. The person with the most successful throws wins!
16. Finska
Looking for fun and unique BBQ party game ideas for adults? Look no further than Finska!
This Swedish game is perfect for groups of all ages and requires just a few simple supplies.
Plus, it’s a great way to get everyone moving and interacting with each other.
Here’s how to play: Draw four lines on the ground to create an area about 20×20 feet. The lines should form two rows, one on either side of an X in the middle.
However, place two boxes or crates filled with water balloons at opposite ends of the field, 10 feet apart.
One person stands at each end and fills their assigned crate while keeping track of which team they belong to.
More so, starting at one end of the field and working together as a team, players take turns tossing water balloons into their opponents’ crates until they run out of ammunition (or space). The first team to fill their opponent’s crate wins!
17. Large Dominos
This game is similar to Jenga but with dominoes. Set up the dominoes in a line perpendicular to how they would normally stand.
Then, take turns pulling out one domino at a time without toppling the whole structure.
The last person to pull out a domino without toppling the structure wins! This game will cover you if you want an easy way to add some pizzazz to your picnic.
18. Kan Jam
If you’re looking for fun and competitive BBQ party game ideas for adults, look no further than Kan Jam.
This game is perfect for two teams of two players each. And all you need is a Frisbee and two trash cans.
The game aims to score points by throwing the Frisbee into the trash can.
Then, different point values are awarded based on how you make the shot.
Kan Jam is a fast-paced and thrilling game that will get everyone at your party talking.
19. Giant Checkers & Tic Tac Toe
This supersized game of checkers is perfect for your next outdoor BBQ party game ideas for adults!
Guests will love playing this life-sized version of the classic BBQ party game ideas for adults.
Also, to make things even more fun, why not add a twist and play tic tac toe with the checkers? The first person to get three in a row wins! However, here is how to play it.
First, set up 12 giant checkers on either side of the grid in two rows of six. Have one player take one end zone while the other takes the opposite one.
Nevertheless, players alternate turns and move one piece per turn when they jump over and land on free space.
Whoever gets three pieces lined up in a row first—horizontally, vertically, or diagonally—wins! You can also use different variations to shake things up during gameplay!
For example, you can start with five pieces at once. Instead of 3 or 4, players may be required to use one hand when making their moves; who knows what other surprises await!
20. Bulzibucket
This game is perfect for BBQ party game ideas for adults of any size. All you need is a ball and a bucket (or two). Divide your guests into two teams and line them up on either poolside.
Also, take turns throwing the ball into the bucket. Each successful shot scores a point for your team. The first team to reach 10 points wins!
However, the other fun way to play this game is by setting up a long table with ten or more buckets.
And lining it with four buckets, one row at the end where you’ll put the balls.
Therefore, put the balls in one of the buckets. Then, take turns shooting them using an underhand or overhand throw, such as basketball, soccer, baseball, or football.
21. Apples to Apples
Looking for some fun and entertaining BBQ party game ideas for adults? Look no further than Apples to Apples! This game is perfect for large groups and will get everyone laughing.
However, here’s how to play. First, divide your guests into two teams, with one person from each team on each side of the table.
Give each team five cards with nouns printed on them. Place a stack of red cards in front of one team and green cards in front of the other.
Therefore, the first player flips over a printed green card with an adjective.
Then, give their teammate three red cards they think will match that adjective (two if they can’t think of three).
The teammate selects the card they think best matches that word and hands it back to their partner.
22. Pictionary
One classic BBQ party game idea for adults is Pictionary. To play, divide your guests into teams and give each team a piece of paper and a pen.
One person from each team will be chosen as an artist, and the rest will be the guessers.
However, the artist will choose a word from a pre-selected list (or come up with their own).
And attempt to draw a picture representing that word without using letters or numbers.
The guessers aim to identify the word before time runs out correctly. This BBQ party game ideas for adults are sure to get everyone laughing.
It is a great way to break the ice if you have guests who don’t know each other well.
Entertaining BBQ Games for Adults That Will Make Your Party the Talk of the Town
A barbecue party might seem like the easiest party to host. But keeping your guests entertained can be tricky. Don’t fret, though!
However, these entertaining BBQ party game ideas for adults will take your barbecue game to the next level, ensuring that you and your guests have fun in the sun!
