A truly memorable backyard BBQ cookout is about more than just offering your guests tasty smoked or grilled food. It’s also about the connection old and new that people make, over a shared experience. One of the best ways to take your BBQ cookout to the next level is to give your guests some great games to play, while the food smokes away.
While smaller games like bocce ball, horseshoes and corn hole are traditional, they don’t necessarily lend themselves to big laughs. If you want big laughs and perhaps a touch of the absurd to punch up the conversation at your next BBQ cookout, you might want to consider one or more of the following giant yard games.
The Best Giant Yard Games For A Memorable BBQ Cookout
The size and sometimes absurdity of a giant or “Jumbo” outdoor yard games are just the thing to get people talking and laughing. It’s also a great foundation for making memories that go beyond simple competition.
Giant Connect Four
Connect four is one of those classic games that kids love to play for hours on end. To the point that it can even fuel a friendly rivalry or two. When you upscale it into a jumbo yard game, it becomes something that raises an adult eyebrow. Even if you lose a little interest after a while, the pieces can be repurposed for a feisty game of outdoor checkers.
GoSports Giant Wooden 4 in a Row Game – 3 Foot Width – with Coins, Portable Case and Rules
Amazon.com 
Amazonbasics Giant 4-In-A-Row Premium Plastic Game Set - 47 x 43 x 22 Inches
Amazon.com Giant Dice Games
Giant dice are always a good time. The world is also rife with dice games like Farkle and Yahtzee as well as traditional games like 6-5-4. If the kids are away, you might even be able to play an exaggerated version of craps! Best of all these giant, versatile dice sets are typically inexpensive and made from woods that will last a long time.
Jungle Gym Kingdom Yardzee & Yard Farkle Giant Wooden 6 Dice Set for Outdoor Fun Lawn Games Picnic Barbeque Party...
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GoSports Giant 3.5" Wooden Playing Dice Set with Bonus Rollzee Scoreboard (Includes 6 Dice, Dry-Erase Scoreboard and Canvas Carrying Bag)
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ROPODA Giant Wooden Yard Dice Set for Outdoor Fun, Barbeque, Party Events, Backyard Games, Lawn Games Includes 6 Dice, Collapsible...
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Splinter Woodworking Co Yardzee, Farkle & 20+ Games - Giant Yard Dice Set (All Weather) with Collapsible Bucket, Lid, 5...
Amazon.com Giant Outdoor Checkers
Checkers is another one of those games that even a novice can pick up and still be competitive. When you jumbo size it, and take it outdoors, it opens the door for a backyard checkers tournament. You could even go so far as to put money on it and build brackets. In this way, you can engage multiple people into what is technically a two-person game.
EasyGoProducts Giant Checkers Game – Indoor Outdoor – Family Game – Lawn Game - 5' X 5'
1 new from $25.77Free shipping
Amazon.com - Fun, eye-catching conversation piece – our checkers large folding board game is a classic! ! everyone loves a good game of checkers and multiple the fun by the size of the game set! Fun to play, fun to watch! ! !
- Checkers on the go – Take this folding oversized checkers game with you to BBQ’s, parties, Church activities, classrooms, picnics, or use it at home as a fun family game!
- Easy to set up, transport & store – our deluxe checkers board game is Lightweight and easy to take with you and to set up as a floor game or outside as a lawn game. Just fold it up for easy transport and storage.
4Fun Jumbo Chess and Checkers Set | Giant Chess/Checkers Game
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2-in-1 Reversible Giant Checkers & Tic Tac Toe Game ( 4ft x 4ft )
Amazon.com 
Giant Outdoor Chess
On the small board, chess can be a little bit of an intimidating game for the uninitiated. Even on a casual walk through the park, you might stumble across old men and tech guru college students pairing off in deep games of contemplation.
When you take chess outside and you pump it up to a large scale, it seems to take the pressure out of the equation. There’s even a little bit of an opportunity for melodrama when your bishop topples your opponent’s rook.
Here again, there’s room for a tournament with brackets, which will help keep multiple people engaged. Though you could just as easily turn it into a team game where one person is calling the moves and one or two others help move the pieces. There’s also something about jumbo chess that invites a crowd, and maybe even a little trash talking.
MegaChess Giant Oversized Premium Chess Pieces Complete Set
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MegaChess Large Premium Chess Set with 16 Inch Tall King Black and White with Quick Fold Nylon Mat
Amazon.com Giant Jenga Tumbling Blocks
Technically Jenga is a trademarked name for a game of stackable wooden blocks made by Hasbro. Though there are certainly other manufacturers who make the same game, just under a different name. Like the smaller indoor version, you carefully slide a wooden block out of the lower part of the stack and place it gingerly on top. As the game goes on the tower of stacked wooden blocks starts to become more and more unstable. The person who knocks it over loses.
Some version of this stackable tower game come with color-coded blocks. You roll a dice and it tells you what color you have to pull out. This adds to the tension when you happen to roll a red, and there simply are no easy reds to pull out.
Of course, there are some structural considerations when it comes to playing an outdoor version of Jenga. If you set it up on a soft surface like grass, the tower is more likely to fall early, or simply be too unstable to stand for long on its own. Ideally, you want a flat patio or a truly level section of your driveway. If you are going to set it up on a deck, make sure the bottom layer of wooden blocks is laid down perpendicular to the boards. This will improve the overall stability of the foundation.
Ultimately, choosing a smooth surface for the foundation of the tower increases the chances of your guests having a memorable time game after game. Rather than feeling like they are killing time picking up and restacking blocks every few minutes. If you do need to set it up on a soft surface, try to put down a firm surface like a plywood handy panel or a large flat concrete paver stone.
GoSports Large Toppling Tower with Bonus Rules – Starts at 1.5 Ft Tall and Grows to Over 3 Ft
Amazon.com Giant Sidewalk Chalk
One of the lesser-known challenges in hosting a memorable BBQ cookout, is making sure that the kids are also entertained. After all, when your kids are bored, they will inevitably seek out adults to keep them entertained. One great way to keep young kids engaged, and outdoors, rather than on their electronic devices is to give them art opportunities.
Sidewalk chalk is often available in jumbo sticks that even a young child with clumsy hands can easily grasp. Even if they mark up the entire driveway, patio, and sidewalk, a quick spray with the garden hose will clean it up. They can also use the sidewalk chalk to draw pictures, make mazes, or just layout a good old fashioned game of hopscotch.
Ready 2 Learn Jumbo Sidewalk Chalk - Set of 126 in 9 Colors - Washable, Non-Toxic, Colored Chalk - Chalk...
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Sidewalk Chalk Party Pack – 30 x Pack of 4 Multi-Color Jumbo Street Chalks – 4 Bright & Cheerful Colors...
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Crayola Washable Sidewalk Chalk, 128 ct, Includes Glitter, Neon
3 new from $59.97Free shipping
Amazon.com - Sold as 64/Pack.
- Crayon-shaped chalk.
- Anti-roll shape keeps chalk from rolling away.
- Washes away with water.
- AP certified non-toxic.
Giant Beer Pong
Adults need fun too, and when a party with drinks is afoot, nothing is more fun than the popular beer pong drinking game. So imagine the fun you’ll have with it super-sized. These giant beer pong sets have everything you need to get the party started, and going all night.
Goplus Yard Pong, Giant Pong Game Set with 12 Buckets, 2 Balls and a Carry Bag
Amazon.com Giant Bowling Game Set
Everyone loves bowling. It’s an easy game thats fun for everyone of all ages. Your guests will be cheering and roaring with laughter, except for the person who has to set up the pins after every set. These giant bowling sets are great for any outdoor surface such as lawns, gravel or concrete, and will keep your guests engaged for hours and hours.
Lawn Bowling Game/Skittle Bal
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Outdoor Games Honorable Mentions
Twister Ultimate: Bigger Mat,
Amazon.com 
Wicked Big Sports Kickball-Supersized Kickball
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Giant Inflatable Ball, 12 Foot Pole-to-Pole
1 new from $109.99Free shipping
Amazon.com 
Popsport 10X10ft Inflatable Soccer Darts Board
Amazon.com 
Wicked Big Sports Football-Supersized Football Outdoor Sport Tailgate Backyard Beach Game Fun for All, One Size
Amazon.com 
MegaChess Garden Checkers Set and Garden Checkers Mat - Checkers are 4 inches Wide
Amazon.com 
GoSports Shuffleboard and Curling 2 in 1 Table Top Board Game with 8 Rollers - Great for Family Fun
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GoSports 8' x 8' Football Trainer Throwing Net | Improve QB Throwing Accuracy - Includes Foldable Bow Frame and Portable...
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