Ready to start planning your 2024 beach day? Kick off your beach adventures with our ultimate guide to the best beach games.
From family-friendly activities to competitive sports for friends, we have the essential games to make you laugh and create memories by the shore.
We’ve compiled a list of our favorite games for all ages and preferences, so your day at the beach will be full of fun and excitement.
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Best Beach Games for Adults
Heading to the beach for a special occasion? These games will keep you and the kids entertained for as long as you need, whether that’s the whole day or just a few hours.
1. Coastal paddle rally 🌊🏓👨👩👧👦
Gather your family and friends for a fun game of coastal paddle rally, a fantastic addition to any beach day! The Bufeeaye Toss and Catch Ball Set is designed for kids aged 4-8, but it`s pure joy for all ages, whether you’re competing or just having fun.
Toss and Catch Ball Set – 4.7/5 Rating on Amazon
- To get started, you’ll need to set up the following: Split the group into two or more teams. Each team gets a set of paddles and a ball from the toss and catch set, with six paddles and three balls to ensure everyone can join in.
- The goal is for everyone to have fun while learning a new skill. Use the paddles to get the ball back and forth between team members. See how many consecutive catches your team can make without the ball touching the ground.
- Next, try increasing the distance between players after every ten successful catches. This makes the game more challenging and encourages players to move and coordinate.
- Whoever makes the most consecutive catches before the ball touches the ground wins. The team with the most successive catches before the ball hits the ground wins the rally!
Introduce fun challenges or handicaps for the adults and older kids, like catching with one hand or spinning around before each catch. It will make the game more challenging and engage younger children.
2. Beach spikeball blast 🏐👥🏖
Enjoy beach days more with the Spikeball Original Kit 1-Ball game, a mix of volleyball and foursquare suitable for all ages. Quick to set up with one ball, one net, and folding legs for stability, it’s perfect for sand, grass, or indoors.
Play 2-on-2, aiming to bounce the ball off the net in a way that the opposing team can’t return. Win by scoring 21 points first, with rules adaptable for competitive or casual play.
Volleyball Kit – 4.7/5 Rating on Amazon
Known for its quality, easy setup, and portability, Spikeball is one of those active, fun beach games for kids, family, or friends. It combines exercise with excitement and provides memorable outdoor entertainment.
Adjust standing distances from the net for a fair challenge among mixed-age players.
3. Ultimate jazzminton 🏸🕺🎾
Players serve and rally the birdie back and forth, trying to keep it in play. The Jazzminton includes different types of birdies and balls for different speeds and challenges, and it’s suitable for all skill levels.
Racquet Game Set – 4.5/5 Rating on Amazon
The idea is to keep the rallies going and have fun with a mix of badminton, pickleball, and ping-pong dynamics. This game set has:
- 4 paddles
- 4 balls
- 11 birdies
- carry bag
It’s designed to be suitable for all skill levels and ages, so it’s a great choice for family and friends.
Need to know: thanks to its soft construction, you can play it virtually anywhere, indoors or out, without worrying about boundaries or the birdies causing damage.
4. Cornhole challenge 🕳️🎯
This game works well for kids aged six and up and is best played by 2 to 4 people. Play the Himal Collapsible Portable Corn Hole game with two boards and eight bean bags.
Players take turns tossing bean bags towards the hole on the opposite board. The aim is to get the bags in the hole or on the board, which earns points. The first team that reaches a set score is the winner.
Corn Hole Boards – 4.4/5 Rating on Amazon
We advise using the bounce to your advantage. A softer throw can use the board’s give for a strategic landing.
5. Beach paddle ball 🏓🏖🤾♂️
The W4W Kadima Beach Paddle Ball Racket Set lets players hit a small rubber ball back and forth with paddles.
The game involves 2 players hitting the ball back and forth, trying to keep the rally going as long as possible without letting the ball touch the ground.
Racquetball Set – 4.6/5 Rating on Amazon
The key is to focus on control over power to keep the rally going longer. If you use a lighter touch, you can hit more precisely and keep the game going for longer, especially in windy beach conditions.
The game is suitable for any age group, offering fun for kids, teens, adults, and families.
It is great for 2 players, but you can easily adapt it for more participants in a casual, round-robin style play.
6. Washer toss game 🎉
The Washer Toss Game is a classic outdoor game where players or teams toss steel-core washers into one of two 12″x 12″ folding targets. The objective is to get the washers into the target hole for the most points or as close as possible.
Washer Toss Set – 4.4/5 Rating on Amazon
The game set includes 6 washers (3 red and 3 blue) that double as bottle openers, adding a fun twist to the gaming experience. Overall, it is designed for 1-4 players and can be played individually or in teams.
Customer feedback: “It’s a great way to have fun with your family. The game is portable and comes in a smaller box, which makes it easier to transport. The assembly is straightforward, and the washers are well-made and of good quality. We don’t recommend testing it out on a harder surface, as this did cause thinning in the fabric on the bottom. We bought the game for the beach and camping. It’s a great game! I would highly recommend this product for this price.” – Kari
7. Bocce ball 🟢🟡🎳
Bocce Ball is a classic outdoor game where the players toss or roll colored balls to get them closest to a smaller target ball called the pallino.
Each set includes 8 bocce balls in 4 colors (2 red, 2 blue, 2 green, 2 yellow) and a white pallino. Players take turns throwing their balls to either get close to the pallino or knock their opponents’ balls away.
Bocce Ball Set – 4.8/5 Rating on Amazon
You get points based on how close your bocce balls are to the pallino after everyone throws them. This game is great for players of all ages. You can play with 2 to 8 people as it`s flexible and easy to start playing as a beginner.
Make sure you focus on the angle and strength of your throw. A gentler touch might get your ball closer to the pallino, but a stronger throw could knock your opponents’ balls away from the target.
8. Octopus kite flying 🪁🐙💨
Flying an Octopus Kite is super easy! Just attach the kite string to the kite, find a spot with good wind, and let it soar. The octopus design with a long, flowing tail makes it easy to catch the wind, which is great for beginners and experienced kite flyers as well.
Flying Octopus Kite – 4.5/5 Rating on Amazon
Each kite in the 3-pack set (available in a range of vibrant color combos) is ready to fly right out of the bag; no assembly is required.
These kites are a great option for all ages. Flying kites is something you can do on your own or with others. No matter if you’re flying solo, with a partner, or in a group, everyone can have their kite to fly, making it an engaging activity.
Picnic Makers’ advice: Try launching the kite against the wind and then see how it performs at higher altitudes with more consistent wind.
9. Portable cornhole 🌽🎯
Set up the boards opposite each other, form teams, and take turns tossing the 8 included bean bags (4 red and 4 blue) toward the holes.
You get points by landing the bean bags in the holes or on the board. The Portable Cornhole Game set includes two 3′ x 2′ boards with a unique 5-hole design and netting to catch scoring shots.
Cornhole Game Set – 4.4/5 Rating on Amazon
The game is designed for 2 to 4 players, but it can accommodate more by taking turns or forming teams. It’s a great way to get people talking and competing in a friendly way.
Try out different tossing techniques to see which one gets you the highest score. Some players may prefer a high arc, while others may do better with a lower, more direct throw.
10. Ladder Toss game 🏈🎯
Ladder Toss, or ladder golf, is one of those fun beach games for adults where players or teams throw bolo balls—made of two balls connected by a string—at a ladder structure to hook them on one of the three rungs.
Each rung is worth a different number of points, usually:
- 3 for the top one
- 2 for the middle one
- 1 for the bottom one
The game continues until a player or team reaches a set score of 21 points.
Ladder Toss Game Set – 4.6/5 Rating on Amazon
Play the Ladder Toss one-on-one or in teams as it’s great for 2 to 4 players. Wanna get everyone involved in a fun, competitive outdoor activity? Then this game is the right choice.
To win, you’ll need to adjust your strategy based on how far away you are from the ladder and the wind conditions to ensure you’re maximizing your scoring potential.
11. Premium game – Bean bag toss 🌾🎒🎯
Wood Cornhole, also called bean bag toss, is one of the classic beach games for kids and adults as well.
Players take turns throwing bags filled with corn or beans at a raised platform with a hole at the far end. A bag in the hole is worth 3 points, while a bag on the platform is worth 1.
Wood Cornhole Set – 4.3/5 Rating on Amazon
The game goes on until someone gets to 21 points or more. Cornhole is usually played in teams of 2, but you can play with 3 or 4 people too.
Some players like to aim for a high arc to drop the bag right into the hole, while others might prefer a lower, sliding throw for better control.
Here’s what customers say: “The design is really beautiful. Everything was included in the package. I liked that the boards were attached so they could be carried together with the handles. A little slippery, but standard game size.” – Stacey
Games with minimum equipment
Check out our selection of fun beach games that don’t require much equipment. These activities are designed to make your beach day better with less gear.
Beach relay races 🏃♂️🏁👟
Teams race to complete a course by taking turns running a distance, carrying an object, or navigating through obstacles. Each player runs a part of the race before passing on a baton (or any object that serves the same purpose) to the next team member. The first team that crosses the finish line wins.
There should be at least 4 people (2 per team), but more participants allow for larger teams and a longer relay.
Equipment Needed:
- A baton or something similar to pass between team members.
- Cones or markers to mark the start, end, and relay points for the race.
Sandcastle-building competitions 🏰🏖
Participants team up or go solo to build sandcastles or sand sculptures within a set time frame. The winner is chosen based on creativity, size, and detail of the built sculpture from 0 to 10 points.
The decision can be made by the panel, or all participants can vote for the best sand castle.
You can play it alone or with a team—no minimum number. You can form multiple teams for a competitive event if you have a larger group.
Equipment: buckets, spades for shaping the sand, and decorations (like shells or flags) to make sandcastles look unique.
Beach scavenger hunts 🔍📜🐚
Participants get a list of items to find or tasks to complete in a specific beach area. The first person or team to collect all the items or complete all the tasks wins.
The tasks can be anything from finding natural objects to taking creative photos. It’s best to have at least two people, but the more participants, the better.
Equipment Needed:
- A list of tasks & items for participants.
- Bags for collecting items.
- Camera (like instant camera) or smartphone.
Water balloon tosses 💦🎈👐
Two people take turns tossing a water balloon back and forth, stepping back after each successful catch. With each toss, the distance between them increases.
The game continues until the balloon bursts. The last pair with their balloon still intact wins.
- Players: At least 4 people to form pairs are needed, but more participants allow for a larger competition.
- Equipment: Water balloons filled with water.
Races with a cup of water 🏃♀️🥤🌊
The challenge is to race from the shoreline to the finish line while carrying a cup filled with ocean water. The goal is to make it to the finish line as quickly as possible without spilling the water. The person or team with the most water left in their cup wins.
Play races with a cup with 2 or more people. You can compete as a team or individuals in multiple rounds if you’ve got a larger group.
Don`t forget to grab the plastic cups or any container for carrying water.
Tips for maximizing fun
Choose the right game for your group. When choosing beach games, consider:
- your group’s size
- age range
- physical abilities
For more relaxed settings, opt for our best picnic games, perfect for combining beach fun with a classic picnic atmosphere.
Be aware that some games to play at the beach may be appropriate for smaller groups or less active games. That`s why you should choose games that allow everyone to participate and feel included.
Safety first: While adult beach games are great fun, it’s important to remember safety. Stay hydrated, use aluminum water bottles, apply non-toxic sunscreen regularly, and be kind to your surroundings, including the ocean and wildlife.
As the day winds down and the sun sets on the horizon, there’s no better way to end a day of beach play than with a final round of your favorite game.
The laughter, competition, and shared joy of these activities make for a perfect day at the beach and lasting memories with friends and family.
If you are looking for the ideal location to host your beach day adventures, explore the best LA & Orange County beaches to host your event.
Why trust Picnic Makers
At Picnic Makers, it’s our job to make your event planning as easy as possible. We have years of experience and a passion for creating great beach experiences.
We know beach games, beach luxury picnics in Los Angeles, OC, and Malibu, and activities inside out, so we can ensure that every recommendation is tried, tested, and tailored to ensure everyone has a great time.
With our attention to detail and commitment to excellence, we can provide you with the best beach games list that guarantees a perfect day by the shore.
FAQs
Are there any games that serve as team-building activities?
Beach relay races, sandcastle-building contests, and beach scavenger hunts can foster teamwork and communication. These activities encourage collaboration and strategy, making them a perfect way to bond with friends, family, or coworkers.
How can we incorporate water into our best beach games?
Water balloon tosses or races to carry a cup of seawater a certain distance without spilling are fun ways to incorporate water elements into beach games.
Always supervise activities near the water and ensure participants know their swimming abilities and safety precautions.
What are creative ways to keep score for competitive games?
Use natural materials such as shells or rocks as scoring markers, or draw a scoreboard in the sand. This approach is not only practical but also adds an element of creativity and interaction with the beach environment.
So pack some of the best beach games next time you head to the shore. They could be the highlight of your beach adventure.
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