Category: Amazon Finds
Skip the cornhole boards and bring a tailgate lineup with actual personality. We break down Spikeball, ladder toss, KanJam, bocce, Rollors, ring toss, giant Jenga, and stadium toss by space, skill, setup, and crowd appeal. Plus, get a practical packing plan and one DayDrinkingHQ tumbler worthy of cup-holder duty too.
Reading Time: 7 minutes: shorter than the wait for a patio table.
Cornhole has had a good run. It has filled parking lots, backyards, breweries, and probably several family group chats with arguments about bag slides. But there are only so many times you can watch someone miss the board by six inches and call it “strategy.”
The best tailgating games create movement, spectators, trash talk, and a steady rotation of people who claim they are “just warming up” before immediately demanding a rematch. These lawn games bring more variety to your setup, whether you have a generous grassy lot or approximately twelve feet of asphalt and one folding chair.
Some links below may be affiliate links, which means DayDrinkingHQ could earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We still expect you to bring snacks.
What makes a great tailgate game?
Before buying every outdoor game known to civilization, consider four things:
- Footprint: How much space does the game actually need?
- Skill ceiling: Can beginners play immediately, or does everyone need a private training montage?
- Rotation speed: Will people get turns, or will one person become the undefeated parking-lot dictator?
- Portability: Does it pack into a bag, or require a second vehicle and a forklift?
Here are the best options beyond cornhole.
1. Spikeball: Best for Maximum Energy
What it is
Spikeball, also known as roundnet, is a fast-moving game played by two teams of two. Players hit a ball onto a small circular net, and the opposing team gets up to three touches to return it. After the serve, everyone can move around the net in a full circle.
It is part volleyball, part reaction test, and part public demonstration of how quickly your confidence can leave your body.
Space needed
Plan for roughly a 15- to 20-foot circle around the net. You need room for players to move, dive, pivot, and occasionally chase a ball toward somebody’s cooler.
Skill ceiling
High. Beginners can understand the basic idea quickly, but controlling angles, spin, and placement takes practice. The game gets dramatically more entertaining once players stop swatting wildly and start pretending they have a plan.
Why it beats cornhole
Spikeball creates motion and lets more than one person participate at once. There is no standing ten feet away waiting for your opponent to miss a board. It also works well as an “activity zone” at a tailgate because people can watch a rally without needing a full rules seminar.
The Spikeball Pro Kit on Amazon includes the net, balls, pump, gauge, and carrying bag. For a casual gathering, a standard set may be plenty. For a competitive group, the Pro Kit gives you sturdier equipment and fewer excuses.
2. Ladder Toss: Best for Easy Competition
What it is
Ladder toss uses two upright targets and bolas: two balls connected by a cord. Toss the bolas onto the rungs, with common scoring values of three points for the top rung, two for the middle, and one for the bottom.
It is simple enough for first-timers and precise enough to expose the person who has been loudly explaining everyone else’s technique.
Space needed
Allow about a 15- to 20-foot throwing lane. It fits nicely into a typical tailgate setup without requiring a full field or a traffic cone negotiator.
Skill ceiling
Medium. The first few throws are easy. Consistently wrapping a bolo around the top rung while managing distance and trajectory is another matter entirely. The soft bolas also make ladder toss a practical choice when children, dogs, or distracted snack thieves are nearby.
Why it beats cornhole
Ladder toss is more compact, easier to store, and offers multiple scoring targets instead of one large board that everyone insists they can “feel” from across the lot. The vertical design is also easier for spectators to see over coolers and camp chairs.
The GoSports Indoor/Outdoor Ladder Toss Game Set includes two targets, six rubber bolas, built-in score trackers, rules, and a carrying case. The targets are designed for quick setup, which matters when your friends are already asking why the game has not started.
3. KanJam: Best for Disc-Throwing Chaos
What it is
KanJam is a two-on-two disc game played with two goals and one flying disc. One player throws toward the opposite goal while a teammate tries to deflect the disc into, onto, or through it.
The scoring rewards different levels of accuracy, including direct hits, teammate deflections, and the glorious instant-win shot through the front slot. It is basically a Frisbee game with a scoreboard and a legally sanctioned excuse to yell “That was going in!”
Space needed
Standard play typically uses about 40 feet between goals, although casual groups can shorten the distance. Check your surroundings first. A flying disc should not be introduced to a windshield, grill, or uncle who is already holding three beverages.
Skill ceiling
High. Throwing accuracy matters, but so do timing, disc angle, defensive positioning, and communication with your teammate. Beginners can score quickly, while experienced players can turn the game into a tactical air-show.
Why it beats cornhole
KanJam gets the entire team involved. The thrower and deflector both matter, and the disc adds movement, unpredictability, and plenty of opportunities for dramatic athletic attempts that absolutely did not need to happen.
The KanJam Original Disc Toss Game on Amazon includes two goals and a flying disc. The goals are lightweight and designed to pack flat, making it a strong option for outdoor entertaining ideas when trunk space is already being held hostage by folding chairs.
4. Bocce or Rollors: Best for Strategy Without Sprinting
Bocce: What it is
Bocce is a precision rolling game. Players toss a small target ball, called a pallino, and then roll larger balls to get as close to it as possible. Players can also knock opposing balls away, which is where the polite backyard game begins developing courtroom-level arguments.
Rollors: What it is
Rollors combines elements of bocce, horseshoes, and bowling. Players roll wooden discs toward goals, with points awarded based on which discs finish closest. The first player or team to 21 points wins.
Space needed
Bocce works best in a 40- to 80-foot lane, but casual play can be shortened. Rollors uses a more compact setup, with the official product instructions recommending goals approximately 25 feet apart.
Skill ceiling
Medium to high. Both games reward touch and strategy more than raw athleticism. You can play casually, but experienced players will start calculating angles, blocking lanes, and pretending the parking lot surface was part of the plan.
Why they beat cornhole
Rolling games are calmer, more portable, and less repetitive. They also work well for mixed groups because people can play from a standing position without needing to sprint, dive, or explain why their shoulder now sounds like a drawer full of silverware.
A basic Amazon Basics Bocce Ball Set is an easy starting point. If you want a more distinctive option, the Rollors Outdoor Game includes wooden goals, discs, a measuring cord, storage bag, and instructions.
5. The Crowd-Pleasing Rotation: Ring Toss, Giant Jenga, and Stadium Toss
We are counting this as one pick because the best tailgate setup is not always one game. Sometimes it is a compact rotation that keeps people moving without turning your parking spot into a municipal recreation complex.
Ring toss
What it is: Toss rings over pegs or posts to score points.
Space needed: About 6 to 10 feet of throwing distance, depending on the set and the skill level of the group.
Skill ceiling: Low to medium. It is easy to learn, but the final ring always seems to develop a personal grudge against you.
Why it beats cornhole: Ring toss takes up very little space and allows quick turns. It is ideal for a crowded tailgate, a stadium-adjacent gathering, or anyone whose available lawn is mostly decorative.
For a compact wooden option, check this ring toss game on Amazon.
Giant Jenga
What it is: Players remove one oversized wooden block from the tower and place it on top. The person who knocks it down loses, while everyone else suddenly becomes an expert structural engineer.
Space needed: Minimal floor space, but allow for a tower that can reach more than five feet tall. Keep it away from vehicles, glassware, and anyone who has already announced they are “steady under pressure.”
Skill ceiling: Medium. The rules are simple, but block selection, balance, and nerve matter. The audience often becomes more invested than the players.
Why it beats cornhole: Giant Jenga creates a natural crowd. People can watch, comment, heckle, and jump into the next round without waiting through a full game.
The Jenga GIANT Hardwood Game on Amazon includes oversized hardwood blocks and a heavy-duty carrying bag.
Stadium toss
What it is: Build a simple football-based target game using a hanging tire, portable passing target, bucket, or marked opening. Players throw from set distances and increase the challenge after each successful pass.
Space needed: Roughly 15 to 30 feet, depending on the target and throwing rules.
Skill ceiling: Adjustable from “anyone can play” to “former quarterback suddenly has a scouting report.” You can award points for distance, accuracy, one-handed catches, or hitting specific target zones.
Why it beats cornhole: It requires almost no equipment and works when you have limited time or limited room. Bring a football, choose a safe target, and create house rules that do not require a laminated booklet.
The DayDrinkingHQ tailgate MVP
Every game lineup needs a beverage-control department. The Lei’d Back & Buzzed Party Tumbler comes in 25- and 40-ounce sizes, includes a handle, fits standard vehicle and lawn-chair cup holders, and uses a stainless-steel body with a spill-resistant lid.
It is not a substitute for water, shade, sunscreen, or basic judgment. It is simply more attractive than carrying a warm drink in a plastic cup that has been stepped on twice.
What to bring to a tailgate: the practical game plan
Do not bring all eight games unless you have a trailer and a strong relationship with the person who owns it. Instead, build your setup around the available space:
- Small lot: Ring toss, giant Jenga, ladder toss
- Medium space: Spikeball, ladder toss, stadium toss
- Large grassy area: KanJam, bocce, Rollors
- Mixed crowd: Ladder toss, ring toss, giant Jenga
- Competitive crowd: Spikeball, KanJam, Rollors
Pack extra balls, discs, bolas, measuring tape, a score marker, hand wipes, water, sunscreen, and a bag for loose pieces. Keep throwing lanes away from cars and food tables. Nobody wants a perfectly executed KanJam shot followed by a mayonnaise-related emergency.
The ideal tailgate game is portable, easy to explain, fun to watch, and just competitive enough to create memorable trash talk without requiring a family meeting. Cornhole can stay. It just does not need to be the entire entertainment department anymore.
