Games that liven up a BBQ. Fun recreational activities.
A barbecue where you build a fire outdoors and grill meat and vegetables to eat.
Just that alone is enough to get you excited and have fun, right? Many people—kids and adults alike—probably love barbecues, BBQs! Some families might even make sure to have a BBQ every summer.
In this article, we’ll introduce games and recreational activities to make your fun BBQ even more exciting.
We’ve gathered games and activities that anyone can enjoy, from small to large groups and regardless of age.
If you want to make the most of your BBQ time beyond just eating, be sure to check these out!
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Games to Amp Up Your BBQ: Fun Recreational Activities (31–40)
Tongue Twister Showdown
When it comes to games that get everyone excited without using any props, tongue-twister battles are a classic.
Gather a variety of fun tongue twisters and face off.
You can present one prompt at a time and decide rankings each round, or set multiple prompts with different difficulty levels and see who lasts the longest.
It’s a good idea to write the prompts on a whiteboard.
Since tongue twisters are tough at first glance, consider adding practice time and other tweaks so everyone can enjoy the game.
Lyrics Shiritori Game
A fun game where you play shiritori using song lyrics.
Sing a line from a song, then continue with lyrics from another song that start with the last character of the previous line.
It’s great for everyone from kids to adults—you’ll recall familiar tunes and discover new ones.
Not only for people who love singing, it’s also a chance to encounter songs you don’t know.
Perfect for karaoke, parties, and school activities.
Even those who aren’t confident singers will naturally smile—simple yet surprisingly deep.
Put your musical knowledge and creativity to use and have fun playing!
Lip-sync song guessing game
The lip-sync song guessing game is something even people who love listening to music but aren’t confident singing can enjoy, and it works well at workplaces or schools.
The presenter picks a song, then lip-syncs it—paying close attention to intonation and rhythm—without making any sound.
The guessers carefully watch the presenter’s mouth and facial expressions to figure out what song it is.
At first, it’s best to choose familiar songs that everyone knows.
Once everyone gets the hang of it, you can make the game more exciting by shortening the sung sections or speeding up the delivery.
Beef Tongue Game
The brain-teasing Gyutan game is perfect for group play, where focus and memory are key.
Players sit in a circle and say “Gyu” out loud, then on the “tan” part, they clap without speaking.
Pay extra attention because the final “tan” comes in succession.
After one round, move to the second, third, and so on, increasing the number of final “tan” claps by one each time.
As the rounds progress, the number of “tan” claps increases, so remember the count and try not to make mistakes.
Once you get used to it, picking up the tempo can make it even more exciting.
inflatable pool
A regular inflatable pool is plenty of fun, but if you go with a waterslide type, the kids will get even more excited.
It’s also a good idea to have balloons and super balls ready.
I can already picture the kids falling asleep on the way home, tired out from playing.
roasted sweet potato
Yakiimo—baked sweet potatoes—are delightfully sweet with a fluffy, hearty texture.
If you’re outdoors at a barbecue, why not try making them as part of the fun? For those who work up a sweat moving around or who don’t enjoy vigorous activity, this kind of enjoyment is also highly recommended!
stilts
The traditional Japanese game “takeuma” (stilts).
It’s also popular as an event at kindergarten and elementary school sports days.
It may be an old-fashioned pastime, but it’s great fun even for adults, so it’s recommended as some exercise after a meal.
If you can’t walk on stilts, ask someone who’s good at it to teach you!
Tag
After you’ve filled up at a BBQ, how about working it off with some serious exercise? At times like these, the classic and fun choice is tag.
In a wide area like a riverbank or a meadow, you can run around more and have even more fun.
It’s great because people of all ages and genders—from adults to kids—can enjoy it.
I feel like activities like this can help everyone grow closer.
Park golf
Areas that have barbecue grounds are often equipped with a variety of sports facilities as well.
Recently, park golf has become especially popular, and it’s something people of all ages can enjoy as a post-barbecue activity.
Highly recommended!
arm wrestling
You can find fun games even without any special equipment.
Arm wrestling only requires a few people and a table, so it’s a great choice for post-barbecue recreation when everyone’s full.
If you give it your all and take it seriously, it really heats up!