The Absolute Best Tailgate Games
We all know (whether we like to admit it or not) that the best part of football games is the tailgate, and the best part of the tailgate is the games… or maybe it’s the food… or perhaps it’s the beer. Well, whatever. No matter which part of the tailgate is the best, these are the absolute best tailgate games!
1. Cornhole (What Did You Expect?)
The greatest tailgate game that ever was and ever will be, you can play cornhole either one-versus-one or two-versus-two. If you need to reeducate yourself on the official cornhole rules, check out this guide we wrote; it’s a simple game, so it shouldn’t take you long to understand the ins and outs like the back of your hand.
Cornhole is fun for all ages and easy to transport to the tailgate party and back. Plus, Cornhole Worldwide has literally hundreds of themed cornhole boards for you to choose from if you don’t already own a set. Each set includes two regulation-sized cornhole boards and bean bags. If we don’t have a set that tickles your fancy, you can also submit a design to us, and we’ll create a custom cornhole board just for you!
2. Catch & Toss
Catch & Toss is a fun parking lot and backyard game for adults and kids alike. In Catch & Toss, players toss fuzzy balls to each other and try to catch them on Velcro-covered paddles. Less competitive and more collaborative, this game is ideal for smaller kids who need to burn off some energy but don’t necessarily have the coordination to catch with their hands (or for adults who’ve already played some beer pong and could use a velcro assist!).
3. Beer Pong
Remember how much fun you had in your college days with this classic drinking game! Beer pong is another game that you can play one-versus-one or two-versus-two. All you need is a table, two ping pong balls, and twenty cups filled with beer (or water… beer gets sticky and gross). Position the cups in a triangle formation (in a 4-3-2-1 pattern) at each end of the table.
The two teams take turns trying to throw the ping pong balls into the other team’s cups. If a ball lands in a cup, the opposing team has to remove that cup from play and drink the contents. The game ends when one team eliminates all of the other team’s cups.
There are a TON of rules and intricacies in beer pong, as well as countless variations and house rules. Keeping all the rules straight can be tricky, so check out this guide that explains the beer pong rules!
4. Kan Jam
You play kan jam with two teams of two, a frisbee, and two buckets. Place the buckets fifty feet apart and take turns trying to throw the frisbee into the opposing team’s bucket. One player throws, and another player from the opposing team tries to deflect the frisbee.
The game ends when one team reaches 21 points or someone throws the frisbee through the instant win slot. We recommend that you only play kan jam if you have enough space to accommodate. Kan jam is also perfect for tournament play.
5. Jenga
Jenga is not a traditional tailgate game, but you should still hear us out because it can be a ton of fun! Jenga is very portable, and you can play it on any flat surface. The Jenga tower consists of 54 blocks in 18 layers of three. Each layer is perpendicular to the layers above and below it.
Any number of players can take turns pulling a block from the tower and placing it on the top. Whoever pulls out the block that topples the tower loses. If you want a game that has higher stakes, consider our supersized Tumbling Tower game. 54 ginormous blocks promise dizzying heights and catastrophic lows (you can even personalize it for special events or with your family name).
In addition to cornhole and Tumbling Tower, we also have several other outdoor games, including Giant 4-in-a-Row and Ring Toss!
There you have it! Those are, in our very humble opinion, the five best tailgate games. What are your favorite tailgate or backyard games? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to pick up your themed cornhole board!
