A picnic, a barbecue, a birthday party, even a bonfire — people have come up with numerous reasons to be outside, but what to do? Sure, there's the classic game of tag or catch, but not everyone wants to move around and sweat. Sometimes, people want to do something a little more relaxing, something like playing a board game.
Now, while board games are traditionally played indoors, this is not a set rule. There's nothing stopping you from both enjoying the fresh air and a nice relaxing game. All that's needed is a simple table and some chairs. Of course, good friends and family are also a requirement, but those are pretty easy to obtain. Here are a few board games that are perfect for any outdoor get-together.
10 Zombie Dice
For those looking for a simple game without complicated rules, look no further than Zombie Dice. As the name suggests, you are a zombie and you want what all zombies want: brains. To get said brains, you roll three out of the unique 13 dice and try to land on the brain symbol. The first to get 13 brains wins. Just be sure to watch out for shotguns.
With virtually no limit to how many people can play this game, it's perfect for friend groups of any size. On top of that, since the key items for this game are the dice, there is little chance that they'll be knocked over by an errant gust of wind — one of the main concerns when playing outside.
9 Hedbanz
As a fresh take on the classic "what am I?" games, Hedbanz is fast-paced yet easy-to-learn guessing game. Instead of simply reading from a card, this game has you stick the card to your forehead and ask "yes" or "no" questions to guess the card's contents. The first player to guess three cards correctly wins.
While most card games are often considered taboo when it comes to playing outside, Hedbanz is unique because it sticks the card to your head. With the cards safely secured, this game can be played almost anywhere, and it's fun for all ages. Even grandma can get in on the game.
8 Azul
Azul is a strategy game that tasks players with filling up their scoreboard with "factory tiles" that match the board. Points are earned by adding tiles to your "wall," and lost when the excess tiles are in your "floor" zone. Up to four players can participate and it can get pretty competitive, as blocking your opponents from completing their patterns is a must.
This all may seem rather complicated, but the rulebook does possess very useful diagrams and pictures to help you along the way. The tiles, while small and lightweight, are heavy enough to not be blown away by a surprise gust of wind, and are colored brightly enough so that it's difficult to lose the pieces, should they fall in the dark.
7 Skull
Skull is a game of deceit and trickery. Each player is given four cards, three with roses drawn on them and one with a skull. Your goal is to add cards to your pile and, when you feel that the time is right, take a gamble and guess the number of roses that are currently in play. If you can successfully do this twice, you win, but if you uncover a skull, you lose a card.
While most card games are a no-go when it comes to outside play, Skull's cards are different. With thick disks of cardboard serving as cards, it takes a lot more than a breeze to send these cards flying. Coupled with the bright colors on each card, it's easy to keep track of them.
6 Quatro
Connect 4 has evolved in this deceptively tricky board game. While it may look like a miniaturized game of chess, the goal of this game is quite simple. Complete a row of pieces that have something in common — but you aren't just matching colors. There are several different pieces, each with different characteristics to match. This makes it imperative to keep an eye out for any win conditions, both for you and your opponent.
The game is typically a two-person game, but there are a few variants that allow four people to play. The game pieces and board are typically made from wood, making them durable and sturdy. The game is also small and easy to transport, making Quatro perfect for playing on the go.
5 Klask
Like a portable foosball table, this game can be played wherever there's a flat surface. In it, you put your hands under the table and control your "striker" through a magnetic handle. Like foosball, the goal is to send the small ball across the table and score on your opponent while protecting your own goal.
While Klask is a little bulky, it comes fully assembled and can be played almost anywhere. Plus, the key pieces are magnetic, so it's difficult to lose them. Up to four players can join and it has all of the marvelous chaos of its much larger and stationary counterpart, meaning there's never a wrong time to play.
4 Dragon Castle
Based on Mahjong Solitaire, the goal of the game is to remove tiles from the center "castle," or the dragon castle, and build up your own. By taking tiles of matching sets, you can "consolidate" them and earn points or build shrines to maximize the points earned while limiting building options. There are also spirit cards that can be used to manipulate how the tiles are played. At the very end, should your castle configuration align with the current dragon card, you are granted even more points.
The dragon castle's configurations change depending on the number of players, and there are even more layouts for each configuration used. This means that there numerous challenges for players and even more strategies to combat these changes. With the main pieces being made of plastic, it's unlikely that they'll be lost to the forces of nature. Just be careful to keep the cards secure.
3 Egged On
As Hasbro's take on the classic egg roulette challenge, this game is good-natured fun for the whole family. Carefully pick through the plastic eggs in the carton and "crack" them over your head. If you're lucky, the egg will be empty and you move on, but some hold a surprise.
Instead of the repulsive act of cracking raw eggs on your head, this game substitutes egg yolk with harmless water. Not only is this far more appealing than having raw egg dripping down your neck, but this game of luck is genuinely fun and no one gets hurt in the process. It's especially fun during hot summer days.
2 Ticket To Ride
Ticket to Ride is an interesting strategy game that has players building their tracks across a 20th-century map of the United States — though several other editions have different regions, too. Players are tasked with collecting and playing train cards to lay claim to the various railways the connect the cities on the board. Connect these cities and railways to earn points and fulfill your Destination Tickets to win.
Ticket to Ride is relatively easy to learn, and it's portable. There are several small pieces and cards in this game, so you run the risk of losing pieces and cards to strong gusts of wind, but hearing the ambient calls of nature mixed with the sounds of traffic sets up the perfect backdrop to an industrial game like Ticket to Ride.
1 Telestrations
Telestrations combines the hilarity of Pictionary with the chaos of Telephone for a unique experience that is fun for everyone involved. Each player draws something based on the roll of a die before passing their drawing to the next person. That person must then guess the word that was drawn and give their guess to the next person to draw. This continues until each player receives their original sketch and the laughter ensues.
This game comes complete with erasable sketchbooks and markers — items that are very difficult to lose, even in the dark and in the harshest of weather, making this the perfect outdoor game. Plus, playing this in an open space allows for the unfiltered laughter that is sure to follow.