Tired of the same old yard games??Time to level up with these AWESOME lesser-knowns!

Welcome back! 

If your summer parties, get-togethers, and backyard olympics are still featuring ladder ball and traditional cornhole,  consider these lesser know games that are just as competitive, and demand skill and strategy!   I include three categories:  1) portable and for open spaces,  2) Skill and dexterity games at the table, and 3)  "Giant" adaptations of the classics. 

It's a perfect chance to invest in some new options at your next yard party or tailgate!  Try em out!

Portable and for Open Spaces

Molkky

Game Type:  Tossing. Grass or beach. Strategy and skill
Summary of play: 

1. Take turns in knocking down numbered pins with the Mölkky (throwing pin).
2. After each throw, the pins are stood up again in the location where they landed.
3. The first player to reach exactly 50 points wins the game
   ​

More info:  Click Here 

---

Ramp Shot 

Game Type:  Tossing, with lots of action.  2v2. Grass or beach.  Cornhole on steroids!
Summary of play: Teams of 2. One team throws their color ball, trying to get it into the net for 3 points. If the ball bounces off of the ramp, the thrower's teammate can catch the ball for one point, or hit it back to the thrower to catch for two points (optional).  Race to score 15 points.
​
More info:  Click Here

---

Hockey Sauce

Game Type:  Cornhole, with hockey sticks!
Summary of play: The game pucks are "shot" back and forth, same as cornhole, and scored according to whether the puck hits the platform before entering the net (1 point) or enters the net without touching anything (3 points).  Cornhole for hockey players!
​
More info: Click Here

Kubb (Viking Chess)

 Type: Tossing. Grass or beach.   2v2. Strategy and skill
Summary of play: The goal of Kubb is to be the first side to eliminate all the opponent’s kubbs before successfully knocking down the king to win the game.
If the king is knocked down at any time during the game, the opponents immediately win. 
​
More info:  Click Here

---

Spike Ball

Game Type:  Action packed.  Think 2v2 volleyball around a net
Summary of play: is a team sport played by two teams of two players. Opposing teams line up across from each other with the Spikeball net in the center.  Once the ball is served players can move anywhere they want. The object of the game is to hit the ball into the net so that the opposing team cannot return it.
​
More info:  Click Here






​

---

Chippo

Game Type:  Cornhole, with a wedge!
Summary of play:  Work on your short game in a fun and competitive way!  1 point: Just hit the board on a fly. Boardie. 
3 points: Drain your shot in the larger center hole. 3-Hole.
5 points: Send the ball to its home in either top corner hole. 5-Hole. 
2x points: If you're a surgeon with a sixty degree wedge, bounce your shot off the chipping mat for double (2, 6 or 10) points. Bounce Shot. 

Use this scoring for 3 different game formats!  
​
More info: Click Here

Rollors (yes, spelled this way)

Type: Rolling.  Level and even surface is best
Summary of play: Each player or team of 2-3 players uses one color set of rollers, and take turns rolling toward the target (release). The rollor must touch the ground within 4 feet of the release. Points are scored by proximity to the release in relation to your opponents (similar to curling).
​
More info:  Click Here

---

Petanque

Game Type:  Tossing/bowling (or boules), much like Bocce Ball
Summary of play: Petanque is extremely simple, just like horseshoes. There's a target, and you have to get as close to it as possible.
What makes it so appealing, is that you can be way ahead for a while, yet lose a second later, or vice versa. Because nothing is decided until the last player plays the very last boule. If he or she moves the target ball or knocks an opponent ball out of the way, the layout of the boules - and thus your score - may change dramatically.
​
More info: Click Here

---

Pool Pong (Bucketball)

Game Type:  Pong, in the pool!
Summary of play: Each player on a team throws once, trying to throw the ball into the other team’s buckets. If a ball goes into a bucket, then the bucket is removed.
As soon as one team eliminates all of the other team’s buckets, they win. The losing team gets rebuttals. If the losing team makes all of the buckets, the game goes into overtime. If not, they lose and the game is over.
​
More info:  Click Here

Skill and Dexterity Games At the table

Pucket

Game Summary:
Pucket is a frantic dexterity game. Players race each other to clear the pucks from their side of the board by catapulting them through a small hole leading to the other side (the "gate"). Any pucks that arrive on your side must be sent back before you win
​
More info: Click Here

Crokinhole

Game Summary:
Another dexterity game. Players alternately try to flick their discs into the center hole of the round board or into higher value fields. In the flicking fight for points, opposing players will try to hit each others’ discs to knock them out of the playing area or into lower scoring positions.
​
More info: Click Here

Rollet

Game Summary:
Rollet is a two to four player fast rolling ricochet game. The aim of the game is to roll steel balls down your chute so as to knock the wooden ball into your opponents’ goal. Rollet demands a good eye, timing, and teamwork.
​
More info: Click Here

"Giant" Adaptations of some of the classics!

Yardzee (giant Yahtzee)

---

Giant Connect4

Giant Checkers

---

Giant Jenga

Giant Chess

---

Giant Scrabble