Active and social games that make good use of yards, parks and open spaces.
Picked with your group in mind
Selections are genuinely suitable outdoors and include both running games and lower-intensity options. Each game should have clear boundaries and an obvious safe play area.
Find your next “let’s play”.
High energy
Capture the Flag
Two teams protect their own flag while trying to retrieve the opponent’s flag and return it to their territory.
- Players
- 8–40players
- Ages
- 8+ages
- Minutes
- 20–40minutes
High energy
Sharks and Minnows
Minnows cross a field while sharks try to lightly tag them; tagged players join the shark side or complete a quick reset and rejoin.
- Players
- 8–40players
- Ages
- 8+ages
- Minutes
- 15–25minutes
Medium energy
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Players search an outdoor area for natural colors, textures and features without needing to collect or disturb them.
- Players
- 3–30players
- Ages
- 6+ages
- Minutes
- 20–40minutes
High energy
Relay Switch
A classic team relay changes movement style every round so the challenge stays fresh without special equipment.
- Players
- 8–32players
- Ages
- 7+ages
- Minutes
- 15–30minutes
High energy
Blob Tag
Tagged players join the tagger to form a growing linked blob that works together to tag the remaining runners.
- Players
- 8–30players
- Ages
- 8+ages
- Minutes
- 10–20minutes
High energy
Shadow Tag
The tagger tries to step on another player’s shadow instead of touching the person.
- Players
- 4–20players
- Ages
- 6+ages
- Minutes
- 10–20minutes
High energy
Everybody’s It Tag
Everyone is simultaneously a tagger and a runner, so there is no waiting for one person to chase the whole group.
- Players
- 6–30players
- Ages
- 8+ages
- Minutes
- 10–20minutes
High energy
Giants, Wizards & Elves
Two teams secretly choose Giants, Wizards or Elves and reveal together in a whole-group rock-paper-scissors showdown.
- Players
- 8–40players
- Ages
- 8+ages
- Minutes
- 15–25minutes
High energy
Rock Paper Scissors Rockstar
After each rock-paper-scissors match, the non-winning player becomes part of the winner’s cheering section until the whole room rallies behind two finalists.
- Players
- 8–50players
- Ages
- 8+ages
- Minutes
- 10–20minutes
Medium energy
Ninja
Players freeze in dramatic poses and take turns making one quick hand-tag attempt while their target gets one defensive movement.
- Players
- 4–20players
- Ages
- 10+ages
- Minutes
- 10–20minutes
Medium energy
Sardines
One person hides and everyone searches; when a player finds the hider, they quietly join the same hiding place until almost everyone is packed together.
- Players
- 5–20players
- Ages
- 10+ages
- Minutes
- 15–30minutes
High energy
Follow-the-Leader Relay
Teams complete short relay legs using a movement chosen by the host, then copy new movement styles in later rounds.
- Players
- 8–32players
- Ages
- 8+ages
- Minutes
- 15–25minutes
Active and social games that make good use of yards, parks and open spaces.
How we chose these games
Selections are genuinely suitable outdoors and include both running games and lower-intensity options. Each game should have clear boundaries and an obvious safe play area.
How to choose the right game
Define the playing area before the first round and check the surface for hazards. Outdoor games are easier to manage when every player knows the boundaries.
Use the game cards below to compare player counts, age guidance, time, materials and location. Open any game for complete setup, rules, variations and safety notes.
Make the first round easier
Explain the objective first, demonstrate one turn when useful, and keep the first round short. If the group enjoys it, use the variations on the individual game page to increase difficulty, add teams or change the pace.