20+ Games for Family Reunion for All Ages

You can do so many fun activities at a family reunion – and games usually top the list for all ages! Here are some of our FAVORITE tried-and-true family reunion games to consider for your next gathering.

I absolutely love family reunions! I grew up going to one just about every summer, and I’m grateful this tradition has been carried on through generations. As my siblings and I have grown up and started families of our own, we’ve started trying to gather more regularly as well.

As much fun as it is to sit around and visit with one another, it’s always good to have some activities planned. Our family loves to play games, so there are sure to be at least a couple during a reunion.

Having planned several reunions at this point, I know it can be hard to come up with game ideas that will appeal to most everyone. But the good news is – I’ve put together this list of some of our favorite games and activities for family reunions that seem to get just about everyone involved!

1. Bingo

Our reunions wouldn’t be complete without a couple of rousing games of Bingo. It’s something children and adults alike always enjoy playing.

What You Need:

• Clear, mini cups for markers
• M&Ms or Skittles for markers
• Bingo cage and boards
• Prizes from Dollar Tree, Target’s dollar section, or Oriental Trading Company
• Contributions from family members for prizes

How to Play:

Use mini cups for markers and M&Ms or Skittles as the markers. Use a bingo cage and boards for ease. Allow unlimited wins if there are many prizes. Encourage everyone to bring prizes, which can be new or from home.

2. Shaving Cream and Cheese Puffs

A fun and simple game that’s always a hit at reunions and requires simple materials.

What You Need:

• Disposable shower caps
• Cans of shaving cream
• Cheese balls
• Paper cups

How to Play:

Form teams of two. One person wears the shower cap while the partner sprays shaving cream on it. Partners stand five feet apart, and the one with the cheese puffs tries to throw them onto the shaving cream-covered cap. The team with the most cheese puffs stuck wins.

3. Cornhole

A glorified version of bean bag toss that’s low-effort but highly competitive.

What You Need:

• Cornhole board
• 8 cornhole bags

How to Play:

Throw the bags into the hole in the board. Set up teams, a point system, or play free-for-all. Check out our tutorial for making your own cornhole board.

4. Golf Driving Competition

A beloved tradition where everyone competes to hit golf balls the farthest. We do this at every reunion, and it’s something that was started by my Grandpa.

What You Need:

• A large, open area (field, lake, etc.)
• Golf clubs and balls
• Prizes for winners

How to Play:

Divide participants into age and gender categories. Take turns hitting balls, and announce the top four in each category. Winners receive prizes. In some variations, aim for accuracy instead of distance. Afterward, kids collect the balls and earn a reward for each one gathered.

Here are some details that might be helpful:

• We typically have a five and under category, a five to eighteen category, 18-30 (or so), and 30 and up, all split into male and female.
• Everyone takes their turn in the category, and then the top four people from each category are announced. The top four from each category get some kind of monetary prize (though feel free to do whatever you want for prizes!
• Sometimes we have a variation on the game. For instance, this year, we weren’t allowed to do a long drive competition where we were at, so it was more a game of accuracy. There was an object placed in a field somewhere (different locations depending on the category that was hitting,) and everyone tries to get closest to the target.
• At the end (after the winners have been decided), all the kids get to run out and collect all the balls they can. They each get $1 for each ball they collect. You could change this up and give them one piece of candy for each ball.

5. Relay Get-to-Know The Family Game

A fun series of games based on a questionnaire sent to the family before the reunion.

What You Need:

• Pre-filled questionnaires
• Skittles and cups
• Straws
• Sets of cards with names and questions

How to Execute:

Split into teams and complete games based on the questionnaire answers for survey sent out before the reunion. Match numbers to questions, use straws to place Skittles in cups, and match names to quotes. The first team to complete all tasks wins. This helps everyone learn more about each other in a fun way.

Here are the questions from the questionnaire we all answered at our reunion:

1. What is the best part of waking up?

2. What is a random, but not well-known fact, about yourself?

3. If Earth was invaded by aliens, what would you do?

4. What is your best piece of advice?

5. If you were a color, which one would you be?

The first game had five or six questions based off of the answers people put on their survey. For instance, there was the question, “How many people said they would be purple,” Or “How many people were friendly with the aliens,” and then, there were pieces of paper with different numbers on them. We had to match up the numbers (which represented people) with the correct question, and then one or two members of the team had to place that number of skittles into a cup corresponding with each question, using a straw, just for a fun twist.

The next game had two sets of cards — one had different family members names, and the other had questions such as “who said they were a turquoise crayon” or “who said cartoons was the best part of waking up.” You just had to match the names to the correct question (there were typically more than one person per card.

For the final game, it had a quote from everyone’s questionnaire, and we had to match it with the person. This was my favorite part, because we learned a lot of things we didn’t know about each other.

6. Clothespin Game

A simple, yet competitive game perfect for playing during dinner.

What You Need:

• Enough clothespins for each person

How to Play:

Everyone starts with a clothespin and must avoid saying certain banned words. If someone hears another person say a banned word, they can take their clothespin. The person with the most clothespins at the end wins.

7. Guessing Game

A highlight of our reunions where participants guess the number of items in jars.

What You Need:

• Jars of various sizes filled with candy, treats, or money
• Paper and pens for guesses

How to Execute:

Set up jars filled with different items. Everyone writes down their guess for how many items are in each jar. Winners are announced at the end, and they get to keep the jars. This game is very competitive and fun.

Ideas for Jar Contents

• Mike and Ikes
• Jelly Beans
• M&Ms
• Gummy Worms
• Money (pennies, dimes, dollars, etc.) It’s especially tricky if you roll up a bill and put it on the inside of the coins!
• Gum Balls
• Warheads
• Hershey Kisses
• Skittles
• Starburst

8. Minute to Win-It Games

Intense, one-minute games that are perfect for family reunions or any party.

What You Need:

• Various props and materials depending on the games

How to Execute:

Set up a series of quick, one-minute games. Participants compete in these fast-paced challenges. The variety of games keeps everyone entertained and engaged. Check out our minute-to-win-it games blog post for more ideas.

9. Family Trivia Challenge

Test everyone’s knowledge about your family history with a Family Trivia Challenge! Prepare a list of questions related to family milestones, funny stories, and interesting facts.

What You Need:

• Pre-prepared trivia questions
• Answer sheets and pens
• A small prize for the winning team

How to Execute: Divide the family into teams. Ask questions and have each team write down their answers. Collect and score the answer sheets at the end. The team with the most correct answers wins a prize!

You could also turn this into a Jeopardy game using a template found online.

10. Picture Scavenger Hunt

Engage everyone in a Picture Scavenger Hunt where teams search for specific items or scenes and capture them on camera.

What You Need:

• List of items or scenes to photograph
• Cameras or smartphones
• Small prizes for the winners

How to Play:

Divide into teams and give each team the list of items or scenes to find and photograph. Set a time limit for the hunt. The team that captures the most or the best photos wins.

10. Amazing Race

Create an Amazing Race-style event with different stations where participants must complete tasks or challenges.

What You Need:

• A series of challenges or tasks
• Clues or maps for each station
• Props or materials for tasks

How to Play:

Set up stations around your venue, each with a different task. Teams receive a clue to find their next station after completing each task. The first team to finish all tasks and reach the final destination wins.

Learn more about how we played this at our reunion in this blog post – Relay Race Ideas & Games for a Family Reunion

11. Giant Jenga

A life-sized version of the classic Jenga game, perfect for outdoor fun and excitement.

What You Need:

• A Giant Jenga set (can be bought or made from large wooden blocks)

How to Play:

Set up the Giant Jenga tower on a flat surface. Players take turns removing one block at a time from the tower and placing it on top. The game continues until the tower falls. The last person to successfully place a block without toppling the tower wins.

12. Slip n’ Slide Kickball

Use a Slip n Slide as the base path to combine the classic game of kickball with a slippery, wet twist. Find our full instructions and different variations here – How to Setup DIY Slip and Slide Kickball

What You Need:

• Slip n’ Slide
• Kickball
• Bases (can be plastic plates or towels)

How to Play:

Set up the Slip n’ Slide along the base paths. Play kickball as usual, but players must slide to each base. This adds an extra element of fun and challenge.

13. Relay Race

Classic relay races that can be tailored to suit all ages and abilities.

What You Need:

• Cones or markers for the course
• Baton or any item to pass between teammates

How to Play:

Set up a course with a starting point and a turnaround point. Divide the family into teams. Each team member must run to the turnaround point and back, passing the baton to the next runner. The first team to complete the race wins.

14. Kuub

A traditional Swedish lawn game that’s a combination of bowling and horseshoes.

What You Need:

• Kuub game set (wooden blocks and batons)

How to Play:

Set up the wooden blocks (kubbs) in a playing field with a “king” block in the center. Teams take turns throwing batons to knock down the opposing team’s kubbs. The game is won by knocking down all the kubbs and then the king.

15. Charades

Description:

A classic party game where players act out words or phrases without speaking, while their team tries to guess.

What You Need:

• Slips of paper with words or phrases
• Timer
• We love this Family Charades game if you want to make it simpler!

How to Play:

Write down words or phrases on slips of paper and place them in a bowl. Divide into teams. One player from each team acts out the word or phrase while their team guesses. Set a time limit for each round. The team with the most correct guesses wins.

16. Family Jeopardy

A family-themed version of the popular game show Jeopardy.

What You Need:

• Jeopardy-style board (can be a large poster or digital version)
• Categories and questions
• Buzzers or a way to signal answers

How to Play:

Prepare categories and questions related to family history, fun facts, and general knowledge. Divide into teams. Teams take turns choosing questions from the board. Correct answers earn points, and the team with the most points at the end wins.

17. Water Balloon Volleyball

A fun twist on volleyball, using water balloons instead of a traditional ball.

What You Need:

• Water balloons
• Volleyball net or a rope stretched between two points
• Towels or sheets for teams to catch and throw balloons

How to Play:

Fill water balloons and divide players into teams. Use towels or sheets to catch and throw the water balloons over the net. The game continues until the balloon bursts. Keep score like traditional volleyball, or just play for fun.

18. Horseshoes

A classic yard game where players try to throw horseshoes to encircle a stake.

What You Need:

• Horseshoes
• Stakes

How to Play:

Set up stakes in the ground at a suitable distance apart. Players take turns throwing horseshoes, aiming to encircle the stake or land closest to it. Score points based on how close the horseshoes land to the stake.

19. Board Games

Gather around for some classic and modern board games that are perfect for groups.

What You Need:

• A selection of board games suitable for groups Here are some of our favorite board games for groups

How to Play:

Set up a few tables with different board games. Let family members choose which games they’d like to play. Rotate games throughout the event to keep things interesting and inclusive.

20. Giant Kickball

An oversized version of kickball, using a giant inflatable ball for added fun and challenge.

What You Need:

• Giant inflatable ball
• Bases (can be plastic plates or towels)

How to Play:

Set up a kickball field with bases. Play kickball as usual, but with the giant ball. This makes kicking, catching, and throwing more fun and challenging. Divide into teams and play a few innings.

21. Name Game

A fun and engaging game where everyone tries to guess who put which name in the bowl to build their team.

What You Need:

• Slips of paper
• Pens
• A bowl

How to Execute:

1. Each participant writes the name of a fictional or famous person on a slip of paper and places it in the bowl.
2. Mix the names in the bowl.
3. One by one, each person draws a name from the bowl and tries to guess who wrote it.
4. If they guess correctly, the person whose name was guessed joins their team.
5. If they guess incorrectly, the name goes back into the bowl.
6. Continue until all names are drawn and everyone is on a team.
7. The game can be played over several rounds to mix up teams and increase interaction.

22. Fruit Bowl Game

An energetic and interactive game where players switch seats based on fruit names, similar to musical chairs but with a twist.

What You Need:

• Chairs arranged in a circle (one less than the number of participants)
• A list of fruit names

How to Play:

1. Arrange chairs in a circle.
2. Have each participant sit in a chair, except one person who stands in the middle.
3. Have each player pick a fruit name.
4. The person in the middle calls out two fruit names
5. Whoever is assigned that that fruit must stand up and switch seats with the other fruit.
6. The person in the middle also tries to find a seat.
7. The person left without a seat becomes the new caller in the middle.
8. For added fun, the person in the middle can call out “fruit bowl,” causing everyone to switch seats at once.
9. Play continues for a set amount of time or until everyone has had a turn in the middle.
10. Alternatively, you can have 3-4 fruit names and assign them to the different participants. The person in the middle just calls out one fruit name at a time and those people assigned the fruit change seats (unless you call fruit bowl).

Other Family Reunion Articles You May Enjoy:

• Family Reunion Shirts: 18+ Fun and Creative Ideas
• Relay Race Ideas & Games for a Family Reunion
• Chocolate Caramel Corn Puffs and 44 Other Snacks for Family Reunions