I’ve spent several hundred nights out under the stars. I love camping! So it’s no surprise that I’ve combined my love for adventures with my other love in life….playing games! I’ve spent years collecting games, and in this post, I will be sharing some of my favourite camping games for adults.
Note that all of these games have come from my bestselling book, Camping Games for Adults!
The book is jam-packed with games to play camping, from outdoor active games to competitive sitting-down word games. Plus, challenges to set your campers and dozens of prompts for conversations around the campfire. I’m very proud of this book – if you are going camping, or are looking for a gift for an outdoor enthusiast, then do check out the book.
Bringing play to your camping trip really is the best way to bring fun and laughter, whether you are with a group of friends or a couple. All the games in this camping games for adults guide are simple to learn and require minimal or no equipment. So let’s get stuck in….
1. Can You Hear Me Now?
This one always ends in chaos and belly laughs. Everyone splits into two teams. One person in the first team becomes the Shouter, who stands on one side of the campsite, starting with a shorter distance. The rest of the team, the Hearers, waits at the opposite end.
The other team gathers in the space between them, ready to make as much noise as possible. The Shouter counts down from three and shouts “Go!” At that moment, the Shouter must yell a chosen sentence, such as “Meet me by the camp kitchen!” They can step side to side, but they’re not allowed to move closer or make any signs.
The group in the middle does everything possible to drown them out: waving their arms around, singing, howling, or cackling like a banshee. The Shouter can repeat their phrase up to three times before the turn ends. The team of Hearers must decide as a group what their guess is for what the Shouter was saying. If they get it right, the team scores a point. If not, tough luck – it’s the next team’s turn. Increase the distance as the game goes on to make it even harder.
Play multiple rounds, switching who gets to be the Shouter and keep track of scores so you can crown the winning team.
2. Campsite Ghost Hunt
This slightly spooky game is even funnier after dark – ideally after a few campfire drinks. Everyone splits into two teams, each returning to their own tent to secretly appoint a “camp ghost”. The chosen ghost pulls a sleeping bag over themselves, standing upright so you can’t see their shape, clothes, or face. Both ghosts then shuffle out into the open as their teams watch from the sidelines. Their mission is to identify the other ghost by poking, prodding, or trying to make them giggle, all without removing the sleeping bag.
Each ghost only gets one guess, and if both get it wrong, neither team wins that round. But if someone correctly identifies the person hiding underneath, that player is ‘stolen’ and moves to the winning team. The game continues until one team has successfully absorbed everyone from the other side, leaving a single unlucky camper alone at the end.
3. Elements
A great game for when you want a quick filler. Players form a circle while one person stands in the middle holding a ball. Just before they throw the ball to someone at random, they announce “Earth”, “Air”, or “Water”.
The chosen player must catch the ball and instantly name a creature from that environment – a fox for earth, an eagle for air, a shark for water. Hesitating for more than a second results in elimination. Dropping the ball or repeating a creature already said will also get you out.
The game continues at a quick pace until only one speedy camper remains.
Remember that all of these games and dozens more are available in Camping Games for Adults – the must-have book for anyone planning a camping trip with friends!
4. Beanie Hat
This energetic guessing game mixes memory, comedy and quick thinking, making it ideal once everyone is warmed up and a bit competitive. Every player writes a handful of phrases – titles, famous characters, camping-themed objects, anything you like – on separate slips of paper, folds them, and tosses them into a beanie hat.
Split into two teams and set a one-minute timer. A player from each team stands at the front. The first player has one minute to go through the slips and describe them to their teammates; they aren’t allowed to use any of the words on the paper. If someone on their team guesses correctly, they put that slip aside and draw another. They do as many as they can in a minute.
Now the second team have a go in the same way. Keep alternating until all the slips are used up. The teams get 1 point for each slip won.
Now put the slips back in the beanie hat and swap players so a different person from each team stands at the front. You play another round, but this time using gestures only, no words. Alternating a minute a team until all the slips are used up. Count points, one per slip, and return them all to the beanie.
Now the same again for the final round, with 2 new players, but this time they can only say one word. At the end of the round, count the final slips and work out your highest-scoring team.
5. Bombing
If your group needs to stretch their legs or burn off energy, this is the perfect game to play in an open area of the campsite. Mark out a large square with stones or sticks.
Most players stand inside it while two players wait outside, one on each side, armed with a ball. Their task is to throw the ball at the campers inside the square, tagging them below the waist. Anyone hit joins the throwers on the outside. The ball can be passed between the outside throwers to line up better angles, but they cannot step inside the square. The last camper standing in the safe zone wins and chooses someone to join them as one of the throwers for the next game.
6. Word Act
This is a wonderfully silly game for later in the evening when everyone is relaxed and feeling playful. One or two people volunteer to be the Guessers and step away while the rest of the group secretly chooses a word with as many letters as there are players. Each person takes a letter and represents it. Then, everyone chooses a mood, action or personality trait beginning with their assigned letter – such as “Bashful”, “Angry”, “Nervous” and “Dancer”, which spells BAND.
When the Guessers return, the group must answer questions while embodying their character traits. Through observing mannerisms, tone, and responses, the Guessers try to deduce what the hidden word is. Once they crack it, new Guessers are chosen, and another word begins.
7. French Cricket
This campsite-friendly version of the classic game is great fun once everyone knows the rules. One camper stands in the middle holding a cricket bat with their feet planted firmly together – no stepping allowed. The rest of the group forms a loose circle around them and takes turns tossing a tennis ball underhand, trying to strike the batter’s legs.
The batter can defend themselves using only the bat. The ball can be passed between players in the circle to catch the batter off guard, but no one can advance while holding the ball. If someone manages to get the ball to touch the batter’s legs, that thrower replaces them in the centre for the next round.
Remember that all of these games and dozens more are available in Camping Games for Adults – the must-have book for anyone planning a camping trip with friends!
8. Fifteen Passes
This team-based game is simple but surprisingly intense. Players split into two teams and pass a ball back and forth without dropping it, letting it touch the ground, or having it intercepted. When you’ve got the ball, your feet must stay planted, making good teamwork essential.
The first team to complete fifteen uninterrupted passes wins the round. You can make the game easier by reducing the number of required passes or more challenging by expanding the play area. It’s endlessly replayable and great for sparking friendly rivalry.
9. Campsite Flood
This is more of a long-running challenge than a single game, and it works brilliantly when played unpredictably throughout a camping trip. One person becomes “on” and can yell “Flood!” at any moment – around the campfire, while cooking, during a walk to the toilet block, anywhere.
The moment they shout it, they begin counting down from ten. Everyone else has until zero to get themselves off the ground – standing on a log, climbing onto a chair, balancing on a rock, jumping into a tent, anything that lifts their feet from the soil. Anyone still touching the ground at zero is now “on” and gains control of when the next flood strikes. You can add rules, such as no repeating the same safe place twice, which makes it even harder.
10. Campsite Judo
This simple physical challenge gets funnier every time you play it. Two campers stand facing each other with their hands raised, palms open. Without moving their feet, they try to push or tap their opponent’s hands in a way that makes them lose balance. The first person whose feet shift, even slightly, loses the round. You can play best of three or introduce variations such as one-handed rounds or even blindfolded showdowns.
It’s amazing how tactical it becomes once players get the hang of it.
11. Suuken
This Japanese counting game works brilliantly as a quick fireside challenge or a relaxed tent activity. Everyone places two fists in front of them, representing two “lives”. The first player calls out a number between zero and the total number of potential thumbs that could be raised. Then, everyone simultaneously chooses to raise zero, one, or two thumbs.
If the total number matches the player’s prediction, they get to remove one of their hands from the game – that hand is considered “safe” and can’t be used again. Play continues around the group, with each player making their own prediction in turn. The aim is to be the first camper to eliminate both of your hands.
Think these games sound fun? You’ll definitely want to grab a copy of Camping Games for Adults for your next outdoor adventure, for hours of fun to be had, whether you are going as a couple or a group of friends.
Have a great camping trip 🙂
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