Festival field, campsite, lakeshore or a hike with a destination: outside there's room for games that would never work indoors. Outdoor drinking games make the most of exactly that — long throws, big movements, teams sprinting across the whole field. This collection is built for adventure and plenty of space, all with full rules so you can start playing straight away.
💡 By the way: that's exactly why we built the SwigSki3000® — four people, one ski, one shot in sync. More on that below ↓
What are outdoor drinking games? An outdoor drinking game is a game for the open air that makes use of the space and movement around you — throwing, aiming, running. It works for festivals, camping, the beach or the park, where indoors the walls (and the neighbours) would get in the way. Most need a bit of kit, but the mood turns sporty straight away.
Outdoor Drinking Games: Throwing and Target Games
Plenty of space means you get to throw things. These classics just need a lawn and a good mood.
Flunkyball
The outdoor king. Two teams stand facing each other a few metres apart, with a bottle in the middle. One team throws a ball at the bottle; if it falls, everyone on the throwing team drinks until the other team has fetched the ball, stood the bottle back up and returned to their spot. Loud, fast and made for the festival field.
Kubb (Viking Chess) with Drinking Rules
The Swedish lawn game as a drinking variant: two teams try to use throwing sticks to knock down the opponent's blocks and, finally, the king. For every one of your own blocks knocked over you take a sip, and whoever hits the king too early buys a round. Combines tactics with drinking fun and runs at an easy pace for a whole hour.
Frisbee Towers (Beersbee)
Two poles, each topped with an empty bottle, set a few metres apart. Teams take turns throwing a frisbee and trying to knock the opposing bottle off its pole — the other side has to catch it before the bottle or the disc hits the ground, or it's points and a sip. A skill game that works perfectly on the beach or in the park.
Emotional party explainer reel on what the SwigSki does … – @apresallstars
Handy side effect: because the SwigSki3000® is made of four separately removable modules, it goes straight in the dishwasher after the round instead of into a corner.
Outdoor Drinking Games for Big Groups
When a big group is out with you, these games turn the whole field into a competition.
Beer Crate Race (Crate Relay)
An endurance classic for open ground: teams of two have to empty a crate of beer together — but every bottle gets drunk at a different station some distance away, which you have to run to. Whichever team empties the crate first and has cleared every station wins. Movement, team spirit and drinking in one — ideal for the field behind the campsite.
Flip Cup Outdoors
The classic team relay works just as well outside: two rows at a picnic bench, everyone drinks their cup empty and flicks it upside down onto the edge before the next person starts. Ready to go straight away on a camping table or festival bench.
Boßeln (Road Bowling) with Drink Stops
The North German tradition as a walking drinking game: you set off with a ball and take turns throwing it along a stretch of ground. Whoever falls shortest drinks at the next stop. That turns a stroll into an entertaining tour with drink stops — perfect for day trips and long walks with friends.
Ladder Toss (Ladder Golf)
A target game for the lawn: everyone throws two balls joined by a cord (bolas) from a few metres away at a ladder frame with three rungs. Points depend on which rung you hit — whoever loses a round drinks. Quick to set up, relaxed to play, and ideal for the campsite when you need something to do between two other activities.
The Trail Checkpoint Challenge (Hiking)
For the hike with a destination: agree on landmark points along the route beforehand — the third bench, the viewpoint, the fork in the path. At every checkpoint there's a small task or a sip, and whoever reaches the group last picks up an extra one. That turns an ordinary hike into a sociable game with a rhythm — with plenty of water between checkpoints, of course.
SwigSki3000 Shotski by Apres Allstars
For the shared round at the campfire or on the festival field: the sturdy wooden Shotski. Four to six glasses, one shot for everyone — and the group photo of the trip. From €29.50.
View the Shotski →Can Toppling for Drinks
The fairground classic as a drinking game: a few empty cans are stacked into a pyramid, and from a few metres away you take turns throwing a ball at it. Whoever doesn't knock down all the cans in two throws drinks; whoever clears the whole pyramid in one go gets to hand out a sip. All you need is empty cans and a ball — both quick to scrounge up on any campsite — and you can stack it as tricky as you like, the better the group gets at aiming.
Outdoor Drinking Games for Festivals
Between stages and tents there isn't always room for big throws — these games still fit in anywhere.
Festival Bingo
Before the trip, everyone gets a card with typical festival moments on it: "someone loses their tent", "rain right in the middle of the headliner", "canned beer at 9am". When a square happens, it gets ticked off and everyone involved drinks. Whoever gets a full row first shouts "bingo". Runs quietly in the background all day.
Never Have I Ever (Camping Edition)
The campfire classic: going round the circle, everyone says something they've never done — anyone who has done it drinks. With a camping and festival twist ("I've never put my tent up wrong") it gets even better. All you need is the group around the fire.
Playing Outdoor Drinking Games: What to Watch For
- Shatterproof cups: glass has no business on a lawn — sturdy cups or glasses are a must.
- Take your rubbish with you: whatever you bring out, you bring back. A bin bag belongs in your basic kit.
- Sun and water: it's easy to underestimate alcohol outdoors — plan for plenty of water and shade.
For a more relaxed evening in your own garden or on the terrace, take a look at drinking games outside; for games you can play anywhere with zero kit, see drinking games without equipment. For the full overview, check the big drinking games guide.
Adventure Yes, Recklessness No
Alcohol is easy to underestimate outdoors — sun, movement and long days all add up. Drink plenty of water in between, keep alcohol-free alternatives on hand (every game here works just as well with them), and look out for each other, especially near water and on hikes.
FAQ
What are the best outdoor drinking games?
Classics with plenty of room like Flunkyball, Kubb, Beersbee and the beer crate race are ideal outdoors. For festivals, festival bingo and "Never Have I Ever" round the campfire are perfect.
Which outdoor drinking game works best at a festival?
Festival bingo and talking games like "Never Have I Ever" need no space at all and run in the background all day. Flunkyball and flip cup fit on any picnic bench.
What's the difference to garden drinking games?
Outdoor drinking games are built around adventure, lots of space and movement — festivals, camping, the beach. Garden drinking games are more the relaxed evening on a terrace or balcony.
What do you need for outdoor drinking games?
Depending on the game, a bit of kit: a ball and a bottle for Flunkyball, a Kubb set for Kubb, a frisbee and poles for Beersbee. Shatterproof cups are always worth having outdoors.
How many people do you need?
Team games like Flunkyball and the beer crate race come into their own with four to six people or more. Festival bingo and campfire games work fine in a smaller group too.
Can you play outdoor drinking games without alcohol?
Yes, every game works with soft drinks or as a pure points game. Outdoors, with sun and movement, an alcohol-free version is often the smarter choice.
Related articles:
Drinking games outside (garden) ·
Drinking games without equipment ·
Active drinking games ·
All drinking games at a glance