As your children get older, it can become a little harder to get quality time with them (especially when the allure of screens is so strong!). Backyard barbecues or beach picnics can be a great way to gather friends and family on a warm day. Delicious food, a chilled drink, and laughter and long conversations makes these events great for all ages.
But the age old question: how to keep all ages entertained? The answer! Games — and for extra fun, giant outdoor games!
Whether you’re hosting a spring barbecue or a summer birthday party, outdoor games are a great way to get everyone together for some outdoor fun.
The team at The Best Backyard love seeing how families use our giant outdoor games, and we’ve rounded up our favourites to give you some ideas on how to turn your next gathering into some great all-day fun.
Giant Jenga: Suspenseful Fun for All Ages
Jenga is one of those games you’ve either played several times or still get nervous waiting for it all to fall in a heap. Imagine that same nerve-wracking suspense, but bigger.
Giant Jenga is a favourite because it gets the balance right between fun and focus. All the skill of carefully removing one block from the tower and placing it on top is still there – it’s just in giant form. With each block placed on top, the tower wavers a little more, and the tension builds, but there will also be a lot of laughter as someone narrowly avoids collapsing the whole lot.
Giant Jenga is perfect for all ages, encouraging patience, concentration and a steady hand. There’s no athletic skills or deep game knowledge required, and it is a great option for birthday parties, adult weekend BBQs or simply pulling out for the family to play on a weekend.
Giant Connect 4: Classic, Competitive, and Family Friendly
We all remember playing Connect 4 as children – it was one of those classic rainy day games that got pulled out of the games cupboard. Now, imagine that on a larger scale – the perfect backyard centrepiece for a fun engagement party celebration or birthday party.
This two-player game is easy to learn, quick to play and highly competitive, but it can turn into so much more with multiple people taking turns to drop a disc into the grid trying to connect four in a row.
Kids and adults are instantly involved, whether they are playing or watching from the sides. The large format of this game makes it engaging particularly for younger players and is a great game for teaching your children strategic thinking and spatial awareness all while having fun.
Giant Chess: Strategy and Flair
Chess is one of those games where not everyone knows how to play but they are often willing to learn. Giant Chess is one of the games that stands out the most on our list and is just as perfect for shady garden areas as it is for large manicured lawns. It certainly attracts a large range of people wanting to give the game a go.
The oversized pieces stand between 40cm and 62cm and our mats come in a 3x3m or 1.5x1.5m option. It’s a great option for weddings or daytime parties, and while it is traditionally a game for thinkers, it is also a great conversation starter, often drawing in people interested in learning how to play. The large pieces are a great tactile way to introduce kids to the world of chess.
Giant Guess Who: A Twist on a Classic
Along with Connect 4, Guess Who is one of the classic nostalgic rainy day games – and we’ve got a giant version.
Giant Guess Who is a great way to bring this game to life outdoors, and is a great way to get everyone interacting – kids vs kids, adults vs kids and so on. Because this game doesn’t take much skill, the oversized character cards are appealing to even the youngest of players right through to the oldest.
It’s a game that’s guaranteed some laughs, easy to play in rounds so everyone gets a turn, and lets the younger family members develop reasoning and conversational skills.
Special Mention: Cornhole
Whilst not a giant version of a popular indoor game, Cornhole is a backyard favourite that’s simple enough for kids but still competitive enough for adults. The goal is easy, which means it's perfect for all ages. Simply toss the bean bags into the hole. But whilst the goal is easy it gets challenging the further away you stand & once you start to compete for bragging rights!
Cornhole is perfect for all ages, can be played one-on-one or in teams, and doesn’t require a lot of space. Whether you’re setting it up on the lawn at a birthday party or bringing it along for a beach day, cornhole is a relaxed and engaging way to get everyone involved in the fun.
Giant Games Make Gatherings Unforgettable
Game nights have long been the domain of gatherings, rainy days and lazy afternoons but with our giant versions, they become so much more. These games are perfect for bringing people together, for having some fun and for making great memories.
Whether you’re pulling out the giant dominos, giant scrabble, monster sized playing cards or giant snakes and ladders, you’re sure to have a great weekend or get together.
Explore the full range of giant outdoor games at The Best Backyard and make your backyard the fun place to be.
Leave a comment