Outdoor games for large groups. Fun, exciting games for kids.
Here are some outdoor play ideas for large groups that are sure to bring out kids’ smiles!
There are many games where children work together with friends to achieve a goal, so try adapting them based on age.
With games that include a bit of competition, kids can have fun while moving their bodies—and boost their athletic skills, too!
By enjoying activities together, they also learn the joy of cooperation and develop leadership.
Outdoor play is full of new discoveries and adventures.
Get moving, stay active, and make wonderful memories!
We also recommend using these ideas as a base to come up with your own original games.
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Outdoor games for large groups: Exciting kids’ games (11–20)
Treasure-Collecting Tag
This is a game called “Treasure-Collect Tag,” where the first team to collect three of the seven balls wins.
First, set up a square court and assign a team territory at each corner.
There are four teams, and it’s best played with about 3 to 6 people per team.
Place seven balls in the center, and at the start signal, each team’s leadoff player brings one ball back to their territory.
The next player tags in when the leadoff returns, then runs to either the center or an opponent’s territory to take a ball and bring it back to their own territory.
The team that gathers three balls in their territory and is first to shout “Got it!” wins.
Pyramid Rock-Paper-Scissors
Guaranteed to be a blast—let’s play Pyramid Rock-Paper-Scissors! First, split into a defense team and an offense team.
Draw pyramid-shaped lines on the ground and place the defenders on the lines.
For example, if there are 15 defenders, put 5 people on the longest bottom line, then 4 on the next, and so on, ending with a single person at the top—that person is the King! The offense team starts by challenging anyone among the 5 at the bottom to rock-paper-scissors; if they win, they move up.
At the end, they play rock-paper-scissors with the King, and if they win, they clear the game.
If they lose at any point, they go back to the starting point.
Losing to the King also sends you back to start.
It’s a fun game where luck is put to the test!
Tag game where the number of chasers increases (Infection tag)
Here’s an introduction to “Fuyashi Oni,” a heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat tag game where the number of taggers (oni) keeps increasing.
The rules are very simple: if you’re tagged, you become an oni, so the number of oni steadily grows—making it a game you can play with any number of people.
If you play with 30 people, before you know it there might be 29 oni and you’re the only one still running, surrounded and on pins and needles.
It can even turn into a psychological battle: an oni who’s been tagged might pretend not to notice and act like they’re still a runner, sidling up to someone and tagging them.
You don’t need any special equipment, so give it a try!
S-ken
Territory battles while hopping on one foot! Introducing S-Ken, a game you play with one-legged hopping.
Divide the children into two teams.
Draw a large S on the ground, place treasure in each team’s territory, and surround each treasure with a half-circle.
Set up several islands around the S as safe zones, and make an out area—then it’s time to play! When attacking the other team, you must challenge them while hopping on one foot.
Battles are like hand-push sumo, and always one-on-one.
If both feet touch the ground, you’re out and must watch the outcome from the out area.
Who will snatch the other team’s treasure first? It’s sure to get exciting!
Fish, Birds, Trees
Do you know the game called “Gyocho-moku”? It’s read “gyo-cho-moku.” First, everyone stands in a circle and choose one person as the leader; the leader stands in the center of the circle.
The leader says, “Gyocho-moku, mousu ka, mousanu ka,” and everyone else replies, “Mousu, mousu.” The leader then points at someone while saying one of “gyo” (fish), “cho” (bird), or “moku” (tree).
The person who is pointed at must answer accordingly—for example, if the leader says “gyo,” you should quickly name a fish; if they say “cho,” you might answer “duck”; if they say “moku,” you could say “cherry tree.” There are endless ways to tweak the rules and enjoy variations, so give it a try!
Reverse hide-and-seek
The idea of adding a little twist to the usual game of hide-and-seek—reverse hide-and-seek—is really fun and highly recommended.
The rules are flipped: the seeker is the one who hides! Everyone else tries to find the hiding seeker.
If you’re lucky enough to find them, you then go hide somewhere yourself! The person who can’t find the last remaining hider loses.
You might feel like shouting “Found you!” when you spot them, but if you do, everyone else will rush over.
So in reverse hide-and-seek, even if you find the seeker, quietly go hide yourself.
It’s a thrilling game where you keep the joy of discovery to yourself.
Outdoor play for large groups: Exciting kids’ games (21–30)
Abuku-tatta
Many people may remember playing the traditional children’s game “Abukutatta” when they were little.
One person becomes ‘it,’ squats down, and covers their eyes with both hands, while the others join hands in a circle around them.
It’s a game where you sing along to unique lyrics and enjoy the actions! Because the lyrics tell a story, it can help spark children’s imagination.
In the end it turns into a game of tag, and if the ‘it’ player catches you, you’re out! Being ‘it’ is fun too, so kids might even argue over who gets to be it (lol).
