Top 5 Outdoor Games That Make Incredible Gifts

 

Gift-giving can be tricky. If you’re struggling to find the perfect gift—regardless of whether they’re a friend or family member—you’ve come to the right place. This comprehensive guide will tell you all about the top outdoor games you can gift to your friends and family! 

If the person on your list enjoys the outdoors and some friendly competition, they will love any of these incredible outdoor games!

 

Compact Cornhole 

Cornhole is undoubtedly one of the greatest outdoor party games ever created. It’s the perfect lawn game for any type of gathering, and it’s easy enough that the entire family can have fun! Whether you’re looking for a fun game to play at a barbeque or even want to provide wedding guests some entertainment during cocktail hour, cornhole should be at the top of your game list.

While traditionally sized cornhole boards can make for great gifts, they have two significant drawbacks: size and weight. 

Although they’re great for backyard fun and other get-togethers, they can be a little clunky to carry, and each board typically weighs 25 pounds. That’s why a traditional cornhole set isn’t what we would consider “travel friendly.”

If you’re looking to give cornhole as a gift to a friend or loved one, we highly recommend a compact travel cornhole set. Travel-sized cornhole boards are half the size of traditional boards, and they are significantly lighter! 

Our compact cornhole set even comes with its own padded outdoor backpack to make traveling with your favorite outdoor game a breeze! You can even get cornhole bags specifically designed to be used on our compact boards.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the travelers in your life, look no further than Elakai’s Compact Travel Cornhole Boards and Compact Travel Cornhole Bags!

If you need a refresher on how to play—or want to know more about Cornhole—be sure to check out our Ultimate Guide to Cornhole!

 

Horseshoes 

Horseshoes is a game that has been around for ages. The game is believed to have originated all the way back during the Roman Occupation of Britain. In fact, horseshoes is the game that originally inspired cornhole. 

Horseshoes are the perfect outdoor game for anyone who has honed their cornhole skills and is looking for an extra challenge. However, this game is best left to the adults since it involves tossing heavy steel objects. Another consideration—if the recipient of your gift doesn’t have their own yard—cornhole is probably a more appropriate gift choice. 

But if you have a friend or loved one who would appreciate a well-crafted horseshoes set, then look no further. 

Our horseshoe sets are made out of solid steel and are crafted right here in the U.S. They come with a durable carrying case, and the horseshoes meet the regulation standards of the National Horseshoe Pitching Association!

 

Bocce Ball

Hailing all the way from Italy, bocce ball is a classic game that is experiencing a bit of a renaissance at the moment. 

It’s a tremendous skill-based game that easy to play—but hard to master! It’s the perfect game for that competitive family member who has easy access to a spacious outdoor area! As long as there’s a local park with plenty of grass, you can set up and play a game of bocce ball! 

Elakai’s Bocce Ball sets are cast in professional grade 107mm resin and come with a full lifetime warranty.

Like horseshoes, this outdoor game isn’t a game suitable for hard surfaces—which would wind up damaging your bocce balls. But it’s a simple game that the whole family can easily get into. 

If you’d like more information on bocce ball—be sure to check out our Ultimate Guide to Bocce Ball.

 

Giant Mountain Blocks

While “Jenga” is the most recognizable brand producing this style of game—we think Giant Mountain Blocks has a better ring to it. Originally released just a few decades ago in the 80s, this classic game reached massive popularity from the get-go and has maintained it ever since. 

The game was originally designed to be played at the kitchen table, it has since found its way into a variety of venues that appeal to vastly different audiences. From family-friendly nights at home—to drunken fun at the local brewery—and everything in between, Giant Mountain Blocks is an outdoor game that everyone can enjoy! 

It’s a deceptively simple game to play. Because while it’s certainly easy enough for anyone to play—there’s a skill ceiling high enough that it allows more competitive players to create strategies to take down their opponents. So whether you need a gift for the kids to want to give a new game to that highly competitive friend of yours, they’re sure to love Giant Mountain Blocks.

What makes Giant Mountain Blocks better than other Jenga-like games? Well, the answer is a mix of craftsmanship and style. Each of the 54 premium Giant Mountain Blocks is made from beautiful mahogany wood—and is coated with an exterior protectant to help protect them from the elements. 

How to Play

If you haven’t played a game of Jenga in a while, or just want a quick refresher, we’ll go over a few of the basics really quickly.

The game is set up with blocks alternating between horizontal and vertical lines. If you follow the cheat sheet included in our game, it should come out looking like a mountain. 

Once the mountain is constructed, players take turns removing a block from the mountain and placing it at the top. It’s important to remember that blocks cannot be taken from the top story. Also, be sure that when placing blocks at the top, you complete each level before creating a new one. 

The player who places the last block before the tower falls is the winner! And the loser is given the privilege of rebuilding the tower!

 

Portable Social Pong

Social Pong, also commonly referred to as beer pong, is the quintessential drinking game. But don’t let the game’s reputation as a college/frat staple fool you. This game is perfect for barbecues, tailgating parties, and any other event where you can find an ice-cold beer!

While anybody can take some red SOLO cups and set them up in a triangular shape, why settle for putting plastic cups on a fold-up table when you can play your favorite drinking game on a more elegant setup?

Elakai’s Portable Social Pong is the perfect gift for those who enjoy a cold drink and a fun outdoor game. Our set comes with two solid mahogany target frames that make setting up and playing beer pong easier than ever! You can even use the base of the game to set aside cups that have been removed from play. 

Want to play while lounging in a lawn chair? You can reduce your social pong stand to 13 inches for ideal armchair gameplay!

Each stand consists of 4 pieces to make assembly a breeze! And you even get a durable outdoor backpack for easy transportation!

How To Play

Here’s a quick refresher on the rules for social pong.

Set the stands approximately 8 feet apart from one another. 

Each team starts with 10 cups filled ⅓ of the way with your beverage of choice. 

Teams take turns tossing ping pong balls towards each other's cup. Teams score by landing the balls in each other’s cups. 

When a team gets scored on, they must consume the liquid in the cup and remove it from play.

The first team to remove all of their opponents’ cups wins the game!