25 Best Beach Games for the Whole Family

There's a reason Spikeball has more than 13,000 five-star ratings on Amazon and is one of the first games you think of when you think of beach games. It's like beach volleyball, only you bounce the ball on a mini trampoline rather than over a net — and you don't have to worry about staying on your side of the court! It's easy to set up anywhere and can be transported in a light drawstring bag.

Bocce ball is a family favorite, and this set comes with a convenient carrying case. The goal of the game is to roll your balls as close to the pallino (small white ball) as possible. We love how fun this set is and the endless hours of play it encourages. It even includes a measuring device so you don't have to fight over the exact distance between your ball and the pallino. Anything to limit arguments between siblings, right?

Flying discs are so last season — pick up a set of Activ Life's Ring Flyers which are lightweight and easy to play with for kids and adults of all ages. These are great for youngsters and those with lower skill levels as they're easy to catch and throw, and almost always fly straight. Kids as young as 3 can join in on the fun and safely participate in this game!

A personal favorite of the Good Housekeeping editors, Kan Jam is a great team game that's easy to set up, perfect for people of all athletic abilities and sure to inspire many laughs. Although it has a few more rules than some of the other games, it's easy to get a hang of and you'll be sure to be scoring points after a few short rounds. Teams of two stand opposite their partners across the beach while one player at a time throws a flying disc and their teammate does their best to smack the disc into the top of the can. Bonus points if you get it into the slot on the front!

Play a round of UNO Spash, which features all the same rules as traditional UNO in a waterproof package. Now you don't have to worry about ruining your cards with sand or water damage. Plus, it comes on a convenient clip great for keeping track of all of the cards and hooking to your beach bag, belt loop or purse. Pick four, anyone?

If you've ever played beer pong, you'll ace BucketBall. It's like a giant version of the beloved drinking game, only without the alcohol and featuring three different types of balls so you can play on all surfaces. When you're done for the day, the whole set packs up into a carry case that weighs less than ten pounds.

Jazzminton is the beach badminton, tennis and ping pong game you didn't know you needed. Ideal for kids and adults alike, this game lets you adjust your playing speed by choosing to use the paddle ball, slow birdy or fast birdy. No need to carry around a net with you (but you can if you want to) — for this game, the whole beach is your court!

For the youngsters in your life, Toss and Catch will keep them entertained for hours — and help get rid of some of that pent-up energy. It's soft and easy to carry and use. Simply throw the ball at their partner's velcro-covered paddle and watch it stick like magic. You can play as close or as far apart as you want, and the paddles mean more surface area for catching than traditional games of catch.

If you haven't heard of ladder toss before, you're missing out! Each player tosses a set of two rubber balls attached by a string (called a bolo) across 15 feet to land around one of the three rungs on the ladder. The first player (or team) to reach exactly 21 points wins. The tricky parts are not going over 21 points and expertly aiming for each rung since they each have different point values: The top is worth 3 points, the middle is worth 2 and the bottom is worth 1.

Take your basic game of Frisbee to the next level with this exciting rendition. Bottle Bash requires teams of two players to take turns to try and knock a bottle off their opponent's pole using a flying disk. You can set this game up in the sand, on the grass or even in shallow water for fun at the beach — meaning it's easy to use wherever your barbecue is taking place. It also comes with a handy over-the-shoulder bag for easy transport and storage.

For future bakers, this play set offers endless opportunities for imagination in the sand. Kids can sift, measure, stir and play as they bake their beach cake right by the surf. This set encourages exploration and cooking play without the worry about any mess in your kitchen! Plus, kids have the flexibility of creating their own rules and using their creativity to invent new games as they go.

If playing QB is your thing, Wave Runner's waterproof football is the perfect beach accessory to have fun in the sun — and sand. Not only does it feature a special grip pattern that makes it especially good for throwing and catching, but it's double-laced so you can throw that spiral you've been working on acing your whole life. Don't worry about losing it if your catching skills aren't up to par — it floats!

If you prefer something a little less active, these water-resistant playing cards are the perfect companion to any beach day. From kid-friendly Go Fish and Crazy Eights to more grown-up games like Poker and Blackjack, the possibilities are practically endless. Best of all, this deck of cards is compact enough to fit in most purses and won't weigh down your beach bag.

Let's take it back to the carnival with a classic game of horseshoes. This set has rubber horseshoes so you don't have to worry about them landing painfully on someone's foot if you miss your throw. The rules are simple, the set is easy to pack up and store and its durable material means you'll be able to play for years to come.

Beach volleyball, meet four square. In this unique combination of two popular outdoor games, players try to hit the volleyball over the net into an opponent's square. The first to reach 11 points is the winner, and up to four people can play at a time. While this set is definitely a bit bigger to transport than others on this list, it's still relatively easy to set up, carry and store, so you can take it on the road with you as long as you have a little extra space in your trunk.

You can't beat a classic beach game, which is why we love this portable volleyball set. In just a few simple steps, you can transform your backyard or beach area into a legit volleyball court. It comes complete with an easy-to-assemble net, volleyball and convenient travel bag that makes it easy to carry everything wherever you go.

There's nothing quite like flying a kite on the salty surf air, and these colorful octopus ones will be the envy of the beach. The package comes with three kites so you don't need to worry about kids fighting over who gets a turn. Each kite is around 13 feet long but can be rolled down to a fraction of that size — perfect for packing in a suitcase or storing in your beach bag while en route.

You don't need a field to play lacrosse thanks to this water-resistant set from Amazon. Recommended for ages five and up, the set of two lacrosse sticks has soft foam handles that are easier for small hands to grip. Reviewers love how the included ball floats in the water, making it a great option for the pool or beach.