Best Outdoor Drinking Games for Tailgates, Backyards & Parties

Outdoor drinking games need to survive grass, wind, tailgate tables, uneven ground, and at least one person who thinks they are more athletic than they are.

These are the CollegeWares games that make the most sense outside, whether you are at a backyard party, tailgate, field day, or Beer Olympics setup.

Dizzy Bat

Dizzy Bat is built for open space: drink from a hollow bat, spin around it, then try to hit an empty can while your balance resigns.

Beer Pong

Beer Pong works outside as long as you have a stable table and a plan for wind. It is one of the easiest tailgate games to set up.

Flip Cup

Flip Cup is great outdoors when you have teams, a long table, and enough room for people to yell without becoming furniture.

Boat Race

Boat Race is a simple team relay where players drink in order and race to finish their line first.

Beer Olympics

Beer Olympics turns multiple games into a scored outdoor competition. Use it when you want a whole afternoon of events instead of one table game.

Goon of Fortune

Goon of Fortune is an outdoor Australian party game involving boxed wine on a rotating clothesline. It is extremely backyard-coded.

Which Outdoor Drinking Game Should You Play?

For tailgates, start with Beer Pong or Flip Cup. For backyards, Dizzy Bat, Boat Race, and Beer Olympics give you more space-friendly options.

For more party formats, see Beer Olympics, group drinking games, or the full drinking games library.