You know what the worst thing is about growing up? Toys…or rather, the lack thereof. No one buys you toys, no one asks you to play with toys, and generally, it’s frowned upon to hang out in the toy aisle or the toy store (unless you have kids of your own, of course).
The good news is that all toys and games aren’t just for the under-18 crowd. In fact, we’ve put together a list of 37 fun buys that are great for all ages both indoors and out. No. 13 and 16 are guaranteed to be big fun on hot summer days, No. 28 has major throwback vibes for parents and No. 4 is sure to get some giggles before it’s even out of the box. (Seriously, just go look at the name.) Relive your childhood — if even for a moment — with these toys and games from Amazon.
Wait, I’m Puzzled
Jigsaw puzzles are a lost art and sure, you’re not going to want to work on one all the time, but when the weather is gloomy or you’re having a family night in, this 1,000-piece Earth-shaped option is guaranteed to hold your attention. These puzzles, including sun and moon options, are crafted from high-resolution photography and present a unique challenge due to their round shape.
Put a Ring on It
Games don’t have to be elaborate to be fun, which is exactly how I’d describe this ring toss game. This set includes 10 plastic rings, five rope rings, five pegs, a two-piece standing base, and a convenient carrying bag that holds everything. From the smallest member of your household to the oldest, it’s a game that’s perfect for the backyard that everyone will enjoy.
Whatever Floats Your Boat
What is it about kids and remote-controlled vehicles? They just love them and for some, the appeal doesn’t stop with age. (I mean, c’mon, peep the dad in the picture above.) This remote-controlled boat can reach speeds up to 20 miles an hour and has an innovative design to improve wave resistance. Use this in the pool, pond, or lake with a convenient remote with an LCD.
Flarts (Giggle)
I don’t love fart jokes; in honesty, I don’t hate the word “fart” as a whole. But, I know a bunch of people who find it hysterical. It’s clear the manufacturer of this game, called “Flarts,” was attempting to draw on the laughs of the similar-sounding “farts” to advertise its game. This lawn dart game features inflatable darts and a double-sided dart “board.”
Have a Ball
What’s more fun than throwing a ball around in the front yard? Throwing a glow-in-the-dark football around in the front yard, of course. This light-up football adds a new twist on an old game with LED lights and pre-installed batteries. It’s impact-activated, water-resistant, and shuts off automatically after a period of no use. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the unique spin on a classic.
No Dice
{These dice might look like a normal size but further inspection will tell you they’re jumbo-sized for backyard Farkle and Yardzee. Giant yard games are a lot of fun and this one has everything you need including large reusable
score cards, a collapsible bucket, a dry eraser marker, and — of course — the jumbo wooden dice. One reviewer mentioned how much fun they’d had with the set and that she liked the bucket for rolling the dice as well as storage.
Check out This Melon
Imagine the fun for everyone when they think there’s a giant watermelon in the pool. This watermelon ball is ideal for water and dive games in the pool, lake, or pond and stays underwater, unlike other inflatable balls. You fill this with water (instead of air) and then let the good times roll (no pun intended). This comes in 6.5-inch and 9-inch sizes.
Just A-Swingin’
Why should kids have all the fun on swings? This saucer swing accommodates weights up to 450 pounds with extra-thick padding and a durable frame perfect for adults and kids alike. Install it on any tree, porch, or patio for great outdoor fun that doesn’t involve any electronic gadgets. (Fine, you can take your phone on the swing. I’ll never tell.)
Go like a Rocket
This one is equal parts outdoor fun and educational activity. It’s a water bottle rocket launcher kit that’ll propel ordinary two-liter plastic soda bottles up to 100 feet in the air. Featuring a durable one-piece design with a built-in pressure release safety valve, this “toy” teaches educational concepts of science, technology, engineering math, and more. Except it won’t feel like learning and that’s even more fun.
Chip off the Old Block
If you’ve always enjoyed Jenga indoors (or thought you might), you’ll love this giant tumbling stacking game designed for outdoor play. At their tallest, these blocks stack up to five feet tall. They’re made from solid wood and come with a carrying bag for easy storage and maneuverability. If you enjoy games that don’t require a lot of ongoing concentration, this is the one for you.
Tickle the Ivories
As someone who has played piano since the age of three and was raised by a music teacher, I take my piano playing far too seriously to consider it a toy or game. Regardless, others do, and this 61-key portable keyboard is a great entry-level instrument to instill the love of music at any age. This comes with an adjustable stand, microphone and headphone ports, and three teaching modes.
Jump the Gun
Don’t pay big bucks to take the entire family to a laser tag place. You can achieve the same effect for less than $80 for four people. This set includes four laser gun types that have a striking distance of approximately 130 feet and four different colors as well as vests. You’ll need a slew of batteries for everything but judging by the reviews, it’ll be well worth it.
Water Works
Who doesn’t need a floating cactus for their pool? This float is a dual cornhole board and ring toss combo but it’s a whole lot more fun because you’ll be standing around in a refreshing body of water instead of in somebody’s humid backyard. (Of course, you could use it out of the pool, too.) It comes with inflatable rings and what the manufacturer calls “bean bag blobs.”
Connect the Dots
This might be my favorite item on the list because it’s a jumbo wooden version of the Connect 4 game we all played as kids. This set includes the wooden base, red and blue discs, and even a handy built-in storage rack for the discs themselves. Throw it all in the included travel bag and take it on the go to the tailgate or park.
Zip It Up
Who’s going to have the coolest house in the neighborhood with this zipline up and running? You are, of course! This slackline pulley has a monkey bar for holding on and more than 50 feet of zipline for the ultimate backyard set-up. Built to hold weights from child to adult, you’ll probably want to sneak in a few turns before the kids get a chance.
Get the Ball Rolling
It’s a proven fact that everything is more fun in the pool and that includes this four-in-one inflatable basketball hoop that’s quick and easy to inflate and deflate. You’ll get the hoop (with points printed on the side) and three balls so there won’t be any fighting. (Oh, who am I kidding? There’s still going to be fighting.) The red, white, and blue design is a nice touch.
Dart About
Love darts but don’t trust the under-18 set with pointy objects? This dartboard uses magnetic darts so it’s safe for all age levels. One reviewer said, “The board itself seems sturdy and having two different sides to play on is a plus.” Enjoy two target styles and four different colors of darts to make it easier to keep track of scores.
Slip-Slidin’ Away
If there’s one toy I remember from my childhood, it’s the Slip ‘N Slide. I couldn’t wait for the temperature to get warm enough to pull it out. This XXL yard water slide runs a whopping 30 feet long and eight feet wide with durable material and stakes to keep it in place. If you’re feeling extra crazy, go for the extreme version; it’s a massive 150 feet long.
Grease the Wheels
Scooters are a good time and, surprisingly, are a great way to get around. But, they’re usually sized in one version for kids and another for teens and adults. This three-wheeled scooter works for any age from five on up with an adjustable T-bar and a patented folding design when not in use. The extra-wide deck supports weights up to 220 pounds.
Portable Fun, Cubed
I like my fidget cubes to be a little more, um, fidget-y. This electronic cube satisfies that button-pushing desire but has a whole lot more going on. Think of it like a Rubik’s Cube on steroids. This offers both speed and memory games that both light up and play sounds (or don’t, if you’d rather not). One reviewer called it challenging and fun at the same time.
Too Many Balls in the Air
Whether you’re thinking about running off and joining the circus as a juggler or you just want to improve your balance, gross motor movement, and fine motor skills, this ball skill game will quickly become addicting. It comes in a variety of colors (not that it matters), including neon, and you can buy additional balls if you really are trying to master the art of juggling.
Drone On
If cost has been keeping you out of the drone game, look no further: This beginner drone costs less than $70 and has plenty of interesting features including a 1080p HD wide-angle camera, an easy remote control, headless mode, 360-degree flip and more. Different from normal drones for adults, kids drones for ages 8-12 support toss to launch, which you can fly by throwing horizontally. It will unlock the blades and fly.
Bowled Over
You’ll be “bowled” over by this one and you don’t even have to wear someone else’s shoes. This backyard bowling game has 10 wooden pins, two balls, and a mesh carrying bag so you can transport it and always be the life of the party. It’s sized to be perfectly portable so you can take it to the beach, block parties, and more.
Fidget Around
If fidget toys were extra bougie, they’d be these geode magnetic fidget spheres that you can build, deconstruct and then put together all over again. Stack, shape and snap these together as simply as shaking them together in your hands (they’ll self-align) or more methodically in 100-plus possible designs. If you’re feeling extra fidget-y, you’ll want to grab these in a couple of color options.
Food Fight
During the holidays, you’ll find me and my family pulling out the card and board games to pass the time. I didn’t include a bunch of those options since we’re headed into summer but I highly recommend a game night once in a while. Taco vs Burrito is one of our favorites, a highly strategic card game that was actually created by a kid.
Chew It Over
All men — I don’t care if they’re five or 55 years old — have done at least one Chewbacca impersonation in their lives. This roaring Chewbacca mask makes sounds inspired by the iconic Wookiee and the sounds of his roars from the Star Wars movies. And yes, before you ask, it will definitely fit your husband as well as your six-year-old.
Log Off
Battle it out on the water this summer with this inflatable raft and battle log set. The pool battle log floats set includes two giant sitting pool floats and two walking sticks to fight to the death and see who has better balance (or maybe just see who has better balance and skip the death part). These floats are great for anyone up to 220 pounds.
For the Love of the Game
I grew up in the golden age of video games. Seriously, keep your Nintendo Switch and give me the Game Boy or the original Nintendo NES system. I’m always hesitant to trust these off-brand handheld games but this one gets glowing reviews and has 100 preloaded games included. That’s not bad for less than $35, which is about a tenth of what you’ll pay for a Switch.
Catch a Break
These toss and catch sets have been around as long as I can remember but people still love them or they wouldn’t still be popular. This set includes six paddles and three balls as well as a carrying case. Easy to play, you can engage with as few as two people or as many as six. The best part is it’s small enough to pull out anywhere and packs neatly away.
On Target
It’s never too early to work on your aim and these digital shooting targets are going to be big fun in your house, from the little one to the biggest one. This set includes one target shooting gallery, one foam dart toy gun, one dart clip, 12 darts, and four targets perfect for some rainy day fun. (Please tell your partner it’s time to give the kids a turn, O.K.?)
It’s a Slam Dunk
If I’ve seen this disc dunk game on the beach one time, I’ve seen it a hundred times. I suppose it’s a good time — a combination of Frisbee and dunking a basketball. This purchase includes two Frisbees and two targets. You’ll find it simple to transport and even easier to play, no matter what your skill level is (or isn’t).
Wooden You like to Work This Puzzle?
Puzzles have come a long way, haven’t they? From the 500- or 1,000-piece versions, we’ve evolved to a wooden three-dimensional variety that’s as intricate as this hot air balloon or a Cinderella-style pumpkin cart. Made of 140 pre-cut pieces, the entire process should take you around two hours start to finish. Hear it from one reviewer: “The pieces were easy to pop out and fit together. Would definitely buy another.”
A Horse of a Different Color
Full confession time: I’d never heard of a ladder toss game until a few years ago. It’s definitely a good time, though, with two targets with score trackers, six rubber bolos, and a handy carrying case. PVC targets are pre-glued so assembly takes less than two minutes, which is especially important if you have impatient little (or big) kids standing by.
Disc Jockey
File this under “games I’d never heard of at all,” but this Polish horseshoe kit is an interesting spin on a backyard game. With a set that includes a flying frisbee disc, bottle stands, and pole parts, you’ll be up and running as soon as you find a good target (like a water bottle). You could also use beer unless “beer abuse” is a thing for you.
Spike the Ball
No list of games and toys for kids and adults would be complete without the addition of this slam ball game. Spike the ball into the net at the park, beach, or in your backyard. This set includes a playing net, three balls, and a carrying case. Make leaping spikes and cunning drop shots and become the ultimate player in this game of skill and deception — no matter your age.
It’s Bocce, Baby
Bocce ball is serious business in some circles so be careful who you casually invite over for a “friendly game.” This bocce set includes eight balls, pallino, case, and measuring rope and you can choose between classic resin or soft balls, which might be better if you have younger players in your midst. One reviewer called this “the best non-pro set.”
Checkmate, Chessmaster
Do you remember the best part of the trip to Cracker Barrel when you were a kid? It had to be the giant checkerboard where you could take down an opponent before diving into some chicken and dumplings. This purchase includes an oversized checkerboard and an oversized tic-tac-toe game. The best part is that the game board is reversible to make it even easier to transport.