The best part of tailgating was never the parking lot. It was the three hours before kickoff when somebody set up a game and everyone had something to do besides stand around waiting. The right backyard tailgating games recreate that at home, minus the asphalt.
You don’t need eight of them. Pick two or three that pull people in, work across ages, and can be abandoned mid-round when the game comes on.
Be sure to check out our Poolside Fun & Backyard Entertainment board on Pinterest for even more ideas to turn your space into the ultimate destination for entertaining!
The 12 Best Backyard Tailgating Games
These are the backyard tailgating games that consistently earn their space in the garage, with scoring and the footprint each one needs.
1. Cornhole
If you buy one game, buy this one. Ten seconds to explain, works with a drink in your other hand.
- Scoring: Bag in the hole is 3, on the board is 1. Cancellation scoring, first to 21.
- Space: Boards 27 feet apart (regulation), so plan on 40 feet of length and 10 of width. Move them closer for kids. Nobody is checking.
- Buy-it-once tip: Boards are 2 by 4 feet with a 6 inch hole. Pay extra for a smooth, sealed surface. It changes how the bags slide and holds up outdoors.
2. Ladder Toss
The perfect second game, because it plays nothing like cornhole.
- Scoring: Toss bolas at a three-rung ladder. Top rung 3, middle 2, bottom 1. Most house rules require hitting exactly 21.
- Space: Ladders about 15 feet apart. Fits in a side yard.
- Bonus: Breaks down flat for actual tailgates.
3. Washer Toss
Cornhole’s quieter cousin, and the most underrated pick here.
- Scoring: Washers into a box with a recessed cup. Cup is 3, box is 1, play to 21.
- Space: Roughly 20 feet. Works on patios, driveways, and uneven ground where cornhole struggles.
- Heads up: Rules vary by set and region. Establish yours out loud before the first throw.
4. KanJam
The one that surprises people, and the best game here for mixed athletic ability.
- Scoring: Deflected hit off the goal is 1, direct hit is 2, partner deflects it into the slot for 3. Throw it straight into the slot and you win instantly.
- Space: Goals 50 feet apart, so this one wants a real lawn.
- Why it works: The deflecting partner does half the work. A ten year old and a former college athlete can genuinely team up.
5. Spikeball
For the competitive corner of your guest list.
- Scoring: Two teams of two, three touches per side, rally scoring to 21.
- Space: A clear circle about 20 feet across, with nothing you’d mind landing on.
- Fair warning: Players dive. This is not a hold-your-drink game. Set it up away from the food table.
6. Giant Board Games
Oversized Jenga, Connect Four, dominoes, and checkers.
- Zero athleticism required, and they attract the guests who don’t want to throw anything.
- Giant Jenga is a crowd magnet. A four foot tower about to fall gathers an audience without anyone organizing it.
- The only games here that work equally well for a five year old and someone’s grandmother.
- They photograph beautifully, which matters if you end up with the party photos.
7. Bocce and Horseshoes
The low-effort classics. No assembly, no batteries, no learning curve.
- Bocce is the forgiving one. Roll a target ball, then take turns rolling larger balls to get closest. You can walk and talk while you play, which makes it the most conversational game on this list.
- Horseshoes needs more commitment, since real pits require setup and the stakes stay in the ground. Worth it if you play often. Skip it if you don’t.
8. The Quarterback Challenge
The cheapest game here and usually the one people remember, because it’s actually about football.
- Hang a tire, hula hoop, or target ring from a branch. Throw from three marked distances, more points for longer throws.
- Five attempts each, running leaderboard on posterboard.
- Variations: let the hoop swing; five buckets at increasing distances; most completions in two minutes.
9. Punt, Pass, and Kick
The single best way to occupy a yard full of kids who won’t sit still.
- One punt, one pass for distance, one kick. Measure each, add the totals, crown a champion.
- Run it in age brackets if your crowd spans generations.
- Needs real space. If your yard is tight, the Quarterback Challenge covers similar ground in a fraction of the footprint.
10. Games That Don’t Require Standing Up
Once kickoff hits, nobody’s leaving their seat. Keep a few stationary options running:
- A squares pool on posterboard, buy-in a few dollars for a random square
- Prediction cards at the door: final score, first team to score, total turnovers
- Tailgate trivia, five or six questions read aloud during a commercial
- These cost almost nothing and keep non-players from drifting toward the door
11. Run an Actual Tournament
The upgrade that turns a yard with games in it into an event people ask about next year.
- Draw random teams as people arrive. Random pairing is the whole point.
- Post the bracket somewhere visible. Posterboard and a marker beat an app, because people walk over to look.
- Keep matches short. Play to 11 instead of 21 in early rounds.
- Have a trophy. A thrift store bowling trophy or a spray-painted football. The sillier the better.
- Finish before kickoff, or schedule the final for halftime.
The traveling trophy is what makes it stick. Once you have a defending champion, you don’t have to sell anyone on coming back.
12. Pool Games
If you have a pool, you have game space most hosts don’t, especially for early season football.
- Pool basketball. A poolside hoop turns into H-O-R-S-E that runs itself and occupies kids for an hour.
- Volleyball across the water. More fun than the land version because nobody dives onto grass.
- Two rules: keep tossing games away from the water (a bag in the pool is annoying, a metal washer is a filter problem), and assign one adult as water watcher, handing the job off out loud when you swap.
How to Pick Your Two or Three
- Small yard? The best backyard tailgating games for tight spaces are ladder toss (about 15 feet), washer toss (about 20 feet), and giant board games, which need barely any room. Save cornhole, KanJam, and Spikeball for larger lawns.
- Mixed ages? KanJam is the standout, because the deflecting partner evens out the skill gap. Cornhole at shortened distances, giant Jenga, and bocce also cross generations easily.
- A balanced lineup: one active throwing game, one low-effort game, and one that needs no standing up. That covers every guest at the party.
Setting Up So the Games Actually Get Played
Owning the games is easy. Most backyard tailgating games go unused for one reason: placement.
- Build zones. Loud, active games go furthest from the seating and the screen.
- Leave clear walking lanes. If the path to the food crosses a throwing lane, one of them stops happening.
- Set up before guests arrive. An assembled game gets played. A game still in the box does not.
- Light the game area. String lights over the cornhole lane extend your party by an hour.
- Have one game that works in six feet. Giant Jenga or a small washer set.
- Start early and cook in waves. A tailgate’s long runway before kickoff is the whole appeal. Put the radio call on an outdoor speaker and ask everyone to bring a dish.
For the full setup, from screen placement to keeping guests warm after sundown, see our guide to hosting the ultimate backyard football watch party.
The Real Point
Nobody remembers a party for the food alone. They remember losing a cornhole final in the last round, or a nine year old beating three adults at KanJam.
Pick a couple of backyard tailgating games, set them up before anyone shows up, give the winner something absurd to take home, and then go watch the game.
Building a backyard you’ll actually use all year? Request a free quote to chat about what’s possible in your space.
