The Best Water Balloon Games for Kids and Adults

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Looking for some fun water balloon game ideas? We’ve got the best ones all right here perfect for some summer fun.

Water balloon games are a classic summer pastime that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Whether it’s a family picnic, birthday party or a backyard barbecue, water balloon games can add an extra element of fun and excitement to any outdoor gathering.

These make great group games for kids and adults as well as one of our favorite outdoor activities for kids.

Water Balloon Toss

This water balloon toss game is a simple and fun game perfect for adults and kids.

Objective of the game: The objective of this water balloon game is to keep a water balloon in the air as long as possible while gradually increasing the distance between players.

The team with the last unbroken water balloon wins the game.

Equipment needed: Several water balloons and at least two players are needed for this game.

How to play: The game starts with two players standing a few feet apart. One player gently tosses the water balloon to the other, who must catch it without breaking it.

If the player successfully catches the balloon, they take a step back and toss the balloon back.

Continue tossing the balloon back and forth while taking a step back after each successful catch.

The game continues until the water balloon pops, and the last team standing with an unbroken water balloon wins.

Players can also pair up in teams of two and play the game as a relay.

This makes a great trampoline game if you have one available. The bouncing adds an extra challenge.

Balloon Relay Race

Objective of the game: The objective of water balloon relay is to be the fastest team to complete a relay race while successfully passing water balloons back and forth without breaking them.

Equipment needed: Each team needs an equal number of players, a bucket filled with water balloons, and a designated start and finish line.

How to play: Divide players into two or more teams, with an equal number of players on each team.

Position the teams in a line, with the first player in each line holding a water balloon.

On the signal, the first player will pass the water balloon to the next player in line, who must catch it without breaking it and run to the finish line.

The relay continues until all players have participated or until time runs out. The team that successfully gets all its players across the finish line without breaking any water balloons wins the game.

If any team breaks a water balloon, they must go back to the beginning and start the relay from the beginning.

Water Balloon Pinata

This fun game features a birthday party favorite and turns it into a perfect game for a hot summer day.

Objective of the game: The objective of Water Balloon Pinata is to break open a water balloon in order to drench the players standing below the water balloon.

Equipment needed: A water balloon, a long string or rope, a sturdy tree branch or pole, and an area suitable for a group to stand underneath the balloon.

How to play: Tie a long string or rope to a sturdy tree branch or pole, and then attach a water balloon to the other end of the string.

Raise the water balloon to a height where players can reach it but still must jump to hit it.

Players, one by one, take turns trying to hit the water balloon with a stick, bat, or any other available object. When the water balloon is hit, it breaks, and those underneath it get drenched with water.

Players can either take turns hitting the water balloon or split into different teams and compete to see who can break the balloon the fastest.

Hot Potato Water Balloon

Like the classic hot potato with a fun twist.

Objective of the game: The objective of the Hot Potato Water Balloon game is to pass a water balloon around as quickly as possible without getting caught holding it when the music stops.

Equipment needed: A water balloon, music player, and an area where players can stand in a circle.

How to play: Players stand in a circle with one player holding the water balloon. When the music starts, the water balloon is passed from player to player as quickly as possible.

Players can only hold the water balloon for a maximum of five seconds before passing it on.

When the music stops, the player holding the water balloon is out of the game.

The game continues until there is only one player left standing.

Players can make the game more challenging by moving around the circle as they pass the balloon or by adding obstacles to the playing area to make it harder to pass the balloon.

Water Balloon Dodge Ball

Objective of the game: The objective of Water Balloon Dodge ball is to eliminate all the players on the opposing team by hitting them with water balloons.

Equipment needed: A large open playing area, water balloons, and a designated centerline.

How to play: Divide players into two teams and position them on opposite ends of the playing area. The centerline divides the playing area into two halves.

Each team gets an equal number of water balloons, and players must stand behind their team’s side of the centerline. On the signal, players start throwing water balloons at their opponents on the other side.

If a player is hit by a water balloon and it breaks, they are out of the game and must go to the designated waiting area. Players can also catch water balloons thrown at them.

If a player catches a water balloon without breaking it, the person who threw the balloon is out. The game continues until one team has no players left, and the other team wins.

Water Balloon Spoon Race

Objective of the game: The objective of Water Balloon Spoon Race is to be the first team to successfully carry a water balloon from the start to the finish line using a spoon without breaking it.

Equipment needed: Two or more teams, a large playing area, water balloons, plastic spoon or wooden spoon for each player, and a designated start and finish line.

How to play: Divide players into two or more teams, with an equal number of players on each team.

Position the teams at the starting line and hand each player a plastic spoon with a water balloon sitting in it.

Once the game starts, players must carry the water balloon on their spoon from the starting line to the finish line as quickly as possible without breaking it.

If a water balloon breaks, they must go back to the starting line and start again. The game continues until one team successfully carries the balloon to the finish line without breaking it.

Water Balloon Musical Chairs

Like the classic musical chair game, but with water!

Objective of the game: This is a really fun water balloon game for kids. The objective of Water Balloon Musical Chairs is to be the last player remaining after the music has stopped and the chairs have been taken away.

Equipment needed: Chairs, music player, water balloons, and an area where players can move around freely.

How to play: Arrange chairs in a circle, with one fewer chair than the number of players. Players walk around the circle of chairs while the music plays.

When the music stops, players must sit on the nearest chair to them. The player who is left standing is eliminated and must leave the game.

Before the music starts again, players scramble to grab a water balloon placed under each chair. The game continues in this manner until only one player is left standing.

That player is declared the winner. To make the game more challenging, reduce the number of chairs and have more than one water balloon under a chair so that some players are unable to grab a balloon when the music stops.

Water Balloon Baseball

Objective of the game: The objective of Water Balloon Baseball is to score the most runs by appropriately hitting a water balloon with a bat.

Equipment needed: Plastic bat, water balloons, bases, and a designated playing area.

How to play: Divide players into two teams, each taking turns batting and fielding. The batting team throws a water balloon towards home plate while the opposing team tries to field the balloon.

The batting team takes turns hitting the water balloon with a plastic bat and must run counterclockwise around the bases while the fielding team attempts to catch the balloon and stop the runners from advancing.

A player earns one run for each time they complete running around all the bases, ending back at home plate. The team with the most runs at the end of the game is declared the winner.

Play multiple innings to make the game more exciting.

Water Balloon Limbo

Objective of the game: The objective of Water Balloon Limbo is to pass under a limbo stick without dropping or breaking a water balloon.

Equipment needed: A limbo stick, music player, water balloons, and an area where players can stand in a line.

How to play: Players stand in a line and hold a water balloon each. When the music starts, players must pass under the limbo stick while holding onto their water balloon. The goal is to pass under the stick without dropping or breaking the water balloon.

Once a player safely passes under the limbo stick, the stick is lowered, and the game continues until only one player is left standing.

That player is declared the winner. Players can make the game more challenging by using smaller water balloons, reducing the height of the limbo stick, or increasing the tempo of the music.

Fill the Bucket

One of the classic water balloon games you probably played in your own childhood.

Objective of the game: The objective of Fill the Bucket is to fill a bucket with water using only a water balloon.

Equipment needed: A water bucket, a water balloon, and a group of players.

How to play: Players are divided into two teams, with one team standing on each side of the bucket. A referee throws the filled balloon into the air, where players must try to catch it.

The player who catches the balloon first must run to the bucket and try to fill it with the water from the balloon.

Players can toss the water balloon to teammates, but the balloon can only be caught and thrown using one hand. If a team member misses the balloon, it is the other team’s turn to try to catch it and fill the bucket.

The game continues until one team successfully fills the bucket with water using the water balloon. This team is declared the winner.

Water Balloon Basketball

Objective of the game: The objective of Water Balloon Basketball is to score as many points as possible by successfully throwing a water balloon into a basket or a designated target.

Equipment needed: A small basketball hoop or a designated target such as a bucket, water balloons, and an open playing area.

How to play: Divide players into teams, with a minimum of two players per team. Set up the basketball hoops or designated targets at a suitable distance from the players.

Players take turns throwing the water balloons at the hoop or target, with each successful throw earning a player one point. If a player misses a throw, they must wait for their next turn to try again.

The game continues for a set amount of time, with the team with the most points at the end declared the winner.

Players can also compete in individual competitions, with the player scoring the most points declared the winner.

To increase the level of difficulty, players can move the target further away or limit the number of throws per player.

Target Practice

Objective of the game: The objective of Water Balloon Target Practice is to hit as many targets as possible with water filled balloons.

Equipment needed: Targets (buckets, cans, bottles, etc.), water balloons, and a designated playing area.

How to play: Set up targets at a suitable distance from the players. Players take turns throwing water balloons at the targets, with each successful hit earning a player one point.

If a player misses a throw, they must wait for their next turn to try again. The game continues for a set amount of time, with the player with the most points declared the winner.

Players can also compete in teams, with the team scoring the most points declared the winner.

To increase the level of difficulty, adjust the distance of the targets or add obstacles for players to throw around.

Water Balloon Ring Toss

Objective of the game: The objective of Water Balloon Ring Toss is to toss as many water balloons onto a set of rings as possible.

Equipment needed: Rings (hula hoops, pool noodles, etc.), a stand to hold the rings in place, water balloons, and a designated playing area.

How to play: Arrange the rings on the stand and place them at a suitable distance from the players. Players take turns tossing the balloons towards the rings, with each successful toss earning a player one point.

If the balloon misses the rings, the player must wait for their next turn to try again. The game continues for a set amount of time, with the player with the most points declared the winner.

Players can also compete in teams, with the team scoring the most points declared the winner.

To increase the level of difficulty, adjust the distance of the rings or add obstacles for players to throw around.

Water Balloon Fight

Objective of the game: The objective of Water Balloon Fight is to stay dry while throwing water balloons at opposing players.

Equipment needed: Water balloons, a designated playing area, and a group of players.

How to play: Divide players into teams or have them play as individuals, depending on the number of participants. Players are each given a set number of water balloons.

The objective is to hit opposing players with water balloons without getting hit themselves. Players can take cover behind trees, walls, or any other obstacle in the playing area to avoid getting hit.

Once a player is hit and their water balloon breaks, they are out of the game. The game continues until there is only one player or team remaining.

The winning player or team is declared the winner of the Water Balloon Fight.

To make the game more challenging, limit the number of water balloons each player can carry or make a designated area for each team to defend.

Water Balloon Olympics

Objective of the game: The objective of Water Balloon Olympics is to complete various water balloon-related challenges and win as many points as possible.

Equipment needed: A variety of water balloons and equipment for each challenge (e.g., buckets, water guns, ropes, etc.), a designated playing area, and a scoreboard.

How to play: Divide players into teams and explain the different challenges. Assign point values to each challenge. For example:

1. Water Balloon Toss: Two players toss a water balloon back and forth. The team that tosses the most consecutive times without breaking it wins one point.
2. Water Balloon Target Practice: A player throws water balloons at a target (a bucket, a designated spot, etc.). Every hit earns one point.
3. Water Balloon Relay Race: Teams must carry water balloons from one end of the playing area to the other without breaking them. The first team to finish wins three points

Set up several other challenges, keeping in mind age and skill levels of the participants. Once all challenges are completed, tally up the points and declare a winning team. The team with the most points wins the Water Balloon Olympics!

Water Balloon Obstacle Course

Objective of the game: Another fun water balloon game idea is making a Water Balloon Obstacle Course. The objective is to complete an obstacle course filled with water balloon-related challenges as quickly as possible.

Equipment needed: Various equipment for the obstacles (e.g. cones, buckets, ropes, etc.), water balloons, a designated playing area, and a stopwatch to time each player.

How to play: Set up an obstacle course filled with various water balloon-related challenges. For instance:

1. Water Balloon Limbo: Players must safely press the water balloon against their chest while passing under a rope without breaking it.
2. Water Balloon Relay Race: Players must carry water balloons from one end of the playing area to the other without breaking them.
3. Water Balloon Toss: Players must toss a water balloon from a designated throwing line and land it into a bucket without breaking it.

Other obstacles can be created based on the creativity and ingenuity of the players involved.

The game is played with players going one at a time, and the player with the shortest completion time declared the winner.

Encourage players to go as fast yet safe as possible to add an element of excitement to the game.

We hope you try out a water balloon game this summer and have a blast!