Summer fun at home is the best kind of fun! And on a hot summer day, there’s nothing better than some good old-fashioned fun with water balloons.
We’ve rounded up 21 exciting water balloon games your kids will love this summer. You can even turn it into a water balloon theme day and play them all, or spread the fun out over the season.
For even more ways to keep the fun going all summer long, check out our guide to 100 Fun Backyard Activities for Kids. It’s packed with creative ideas to keep your kids entertained!
(For a fun variation, fill the water balloons with shaving cream! This makes them lightweight and easier to handle, especially for younger kids—they won’t pop as easily.)
When all else fails, just fill up as many water balloons as you can, and let the splashy fun begin!
1. Water Balloon Toss Game
Overview: For a class water balloon challenge, look no further than the tried-and-true Water Balloon Toss Game. All you need for this game are water balloons and the ability to throw and catch.
How To Play:
- First, stand across from your partner and try to toss and catch the water balloon.
- Then, take a step back between each turn, and see how far you can make it!
- For each successful catch, you get a point as a team.
- If you break it, grab a new balloon and start over!
- You can play with two people for a personal challenge, or you can play against other teams of two. Whichever team can throw it the farther, wins.
2. Water Balloon Spoon Race
Overview: The Water Balloon Spoon Race is great for developing hand-eye coordination, and it’s a good challenge for kids of all ages.
How To Play:
- First, create a course. You can keep it simple by making it simply “across the yard and back”, or you can make it more complicated using ropes, buckets, cones, etc.
- Next, have one player try to complete the course while simply holding water balloon and not breaking it. Easy, right?
- Then, kick it up a notch by having each player run the course holding a water balloon on a wooden spoon. It’s tougher than it looks!
Variations:
- You can decrease or increase the level of difficulty by making the course more simple or complicated. You can also vary the size of the spoon.
- Try timing contestants to see who can get through it fastest!
3. Water Balloon Musical Chairs (AKA Hot Potato)
Overview: It’s a party classic! Who doesn’t love a rousing round of musical chairs? And it’s even more fun with water balloons!
How to play:
- First, have the kids sit in a circle.
- Next, turn on your favorite party song. Have them pass the water balloon to the next player, around and around the circle, until the music stops.
- When the music stops, whoever is left holding the water balloon is out. (And, they have to break the water balloon over their head! It’s all part of the fun.)
- Keep playing until you have just one person left – that’s the winner!
4. Water Balloon Squat Race
Overview: This game will delight all ages because it’s so silly and easy to play. All you need are water balloons and a hula hoop (or something that can create a circle on the ground).
How To Play:
- Split into teams, or, if you only have a few people, it’s every person for themselves. Each player races to the goal (i.e. a hula hoop laying on the ground) and sits on the water balloon to pop it, then runs back.
- Whoever does it faster – individually or part of a relay team – wins!
5. Water Balloon Ring Toss
Overview: A ring toss game is simple enough for all ages to enjoy, and it requires very few materials. All you need are water balloons and a hula hoop or bucket.
How To Play:
- Have one child hold a hula hoop, or other circular object like a bucket, and another try to make it through the hoop for points.
- Then, have the next player do the same. Whoever gets more points, wins!
Variations:
- Try to see how many you can make into the goal in a set amount of time. You can also make it a relay race if you have several players.
6. Water Balloon Back-to-Back Challenge
Overview: This partner challenge is one of the most fun water balloon games, especially for birthday parties. It required players to work together towards a common goal. This is a great way to team build between siblings or friend groups.
How To Play:
- First set up a course. It can be very simple such as “across the yard and back” or more complicated involving cones, zig-zags, obstacles, etc.
- Then, have two team members try to hold a water balloon between their backs and get to the finish line without popping it. If the balloon pops, you have to go back to the starting line. The first team that gets to the finish line without popping the water balloon is the winning team.
Variations:
- If you have enough people, you can turn this into a relay race!
7. Water Balloon Painting
Overview: This activity is perfect for creative and artistic kids. We did it once with a rain barrel, and it turned out so colorful and bright! The kids had a blast.
How To Play:
- First, change into swimsuits or clothes that you don’t mind getting messy.
- Then, bring your canvas outside. It can be a giant posterboard, rain barrel, cardboard box, or anything that needs a little color.
- Next, dip the water balloons in washable paint and press them onto your canvas. Create a masterpiece like no other! It’s such a fun way to let your creative juices flow. You could even fill in the details with sidewalk chalk.
8. Water Balloon Roll
Overview: This game is similar to bowling and extremely easy to play. All ages will enjoy it, and all you need are water balloons and some space.
How To Play: Have the first person roll their water balloon as far as they can. Then it’s the next player’s turn to give it a try. Whoever rolls their water balloon the farthest wins.
Variations: Try to set up some objects to knock down for a bowling game. You can use empty bottles, wooden blocks, or anything that will stand on its own and potentially be knocked down by a rolling water balloon.
9. Water Balloon Dodge Ball
Overview: Everyone loves dodgeball! And this playground favorite s even more fun with water balloons. It’s easy to learn, easy to play, and always a crowd-pleaser.
How To Play:
- First, fill up at least one hundred water balloons. You’re going to need plenty of water balloons to make the game last a long time.
- Then, split up into teams. Once you start, team members try to hit each other with the water balloon. If you get hit by an opposing team member, you’re out.
- The last player standing, wins!
Variations: You can decide whether or not the water balloon has to break on the person who was hit in order to be considered “out.”
10. Fill the Bucket
Overview: This might be the simplest water balloon game on the list. All you need are a ton of water balloons and a few buckets or containers.
How To Play: Assign a bucket to each player. Draw a mark on the bucket, or decide where it needs to be filled up to.
On the count of three, each person breaks open their water balloons to fill up their bucket. Whoever fills up the bucket first wins. Simplest water game ever!
Variations: Make it a team effort! Work together to fill up one bucket and time yourselves. Then, do it again, and try to beat your time.
11. Water Balloon YoYo
Overview: Water Balloon Yo-Yo is a unique water game that takes a certain amount of fine motor skills and dexterity. All you need are water balloons and rubber bands.
How To Play:
- First, cut a rubber band in half. The will be your yo-yo “string”.
- Then, tie it to the end of your water balloon. Now you’ve got a water balloon yo-yo!
- Whoever can yo-yo the longest without breaking their balloon wins! (You can also just have fun playing with your water balloon yo-yos without making it a competition.)
12. Water Balloon Tag
Overview: Almost every kid knows how to play tag, making this an easy go-to water balloon game. All ages can play, and all you need are water balloons.
How To Play: It’s like regular tag, but with water balloons! Whoever is “it” carries the water balloon. They try to hit other players with the water balloons. If you get hit and the balloon breaks then, you’re it!
Variations: Decide before you start playing if the water balloon has to break in order for the person to be out. Either way works, and you might want to change this rule in between rounds.
13. How Far Can You Throw?
Overview: This game take a surprising amount of skill. It’s not just about who can throw it farthest, but rather, who can throw it the farthest without breaking the water balloon!
How To Play: First, have all players line up at the start line. The first player tosses it as far as they can without popping it. Then everyone else takes a turn. Whoever can throw their balloon the farthest without popping it, wins!
You can play several rounds, and you can even make it into a tournament!
14. Water Balloon Basketball
Overview: This one’s a slam dunk! Older kids especially will love water balloon basketball.
How To Play:
- First, you’ll need to find an empty bucket to use as the basketball hoop. If you don’t have a bucket, any basket or box will suffice. You can place it on the ground or on a chair.
- Next, take turns trying to toss the balloon into the bucket. If you make the shot, step back another foot and try again. Who can make a basket from the furthest distance away?
Variations: Try it from different heights! You can place it on a higher chair, or even on a low-height roof, if you’re safely able to do that.
15. Water Balloon Easter Egg Hunt
Overview: It doesn’t need to be springtime for a water balloon Easter Egg Hunt. Summer is the perfect time for an egg hunt – with filled water balloons, of course!
How To Play:
- First, hide different color balloons all around your yard, like an Easter Egg Hunt.
- Then, let everyone go find as many as they are able to. Once they are all claimed, yell “GO!” and the water balloon fight can begin!
Variations: Have kids turn in their water balloons for prizes. Or, try to hide prizes inside of the water balloons.
16. Water Balloon Obstacle Course
Overview: When you’re a kid, there’s nothing more fun than an obstacle course. Except of course, a water balloon obstacle course!
How To Play: Create an obstacle course in your backyard or another designated space. Some obstacles might include: running in between two balloons, zig-zagging between several balloons, jumping over a pile of balloons, etc.
Then, see who can make it through without hitting a balloon or getting wet. Better yet, time people to see who can get through the fastest.
17. Water Balloon Target Practice
Overview: How accurate is your aim? Find out with water balloon target practice!
How To Play:
- First, choose something to be your target. For example, you can use masking tape or chalk to draw a target on the driveway, a tree trunk, etc. Or, you can set up a soda can or bottle on a ledge.
- Next, have each player try to throw the balloon as close to the target as they can. You can earn a point for each time you hit the target, or compete to see who can get closer to the target in each round.
Variation:
For younger kids, you can write different numbers with side walk chalk. Ask them to try to hit a certain number. This is good number practice for preschoolers!
18. Water Balloon Relay Race
Overview: For a successful water balloon relay race, you’ll need a bunch ‘o water balloons, and at least four people.
How To Play:
- Divide into teams and set out a chair for each team. Place a water balloon on the chair, and some extra water balloons beside the chair.
- Each player takes a turn running to the chair, and sitting on a balloon until it pops. After they pop the balloon, they set out a new one on the chair, and run back to tag the next teammate. The first team to pop all of their balloons wins!
19. Water Balloon Towel Toss
If you have at least four players and two towels, you can easily play this fun variation of a water balloon toss.
Two players hold a large towel tight at the ends, and place the balloon onto the towel. The other two players stand a few feet away from the first team with their own towel stretched between them.
The first team throws the water balloon up into the air with their towel, towards the other team, who try to catch the balloon with their towel.
20. Water Balloon Fight
Overview:
Who needs an organized game when you can just have a good old fashioned water balloon fight?
How To Play:
When it comes to water balloons, there’s really no need to be super-organized. Just fill up a ton of balloons, divide players into two teams, and have an epic water balloon fight! You can also have every man or woman play for themselves.
21. Water Balloon Clean Up Race
Overview:
After your epic water balloon game day, there are sure to be lots of little pieces laying around your yard or space. These can be choking hazards for wildlife, and you’ll probably want your yard back to looking presentable.
How To Play:
Make the cleanup process into a game! Tell everyone they get a point for every balloon piece they pick up. Offer a small prize to the winner!
22. Water Balloon Capture the Flag
Overview: Capture the Flag is always fun, and adding water balloons makes it even better! This game combines strategy and speed with some splashy action.
How to Play:
- Divide players into two teams and designate two “flag” zones in your yard (you can use buckets or actual flags).
- Each team must try to capture the opposing team’s flag while defending their own zone.
- To make things tricky, players can “freeze” opponents by hitting them with water balloons. Once tagged, players are frozen until a teammate tags them to unfreeze.
- The first team to capture the other team’s flag and bring it back to their side wins!
23. Water Balloon Limbo
Overview: Who can limbo the lowest while avoiding getting wet? A great water balloon twist on a classic party game.
How to Play:
- Set up a limbo stick (or have two people hold a rope or pool noodle).
- Each player takes turns going under the stick while holding a water balloon.
- Gradually lower the stick with each round. If you drop your balloon or break it, you’re out.
- The last player remaining with an intact water balloon wins!
24. Water Balloon Volleyball
Overview: Set up a volleyball net and replace the volleyball with a water balloon for some splashing fun!
How to Play:
- Use a volleyball net (or a makeshift one with rope) and divide into two teams.
- Instead of hitting the water balloon with your hands, each team uses a towel (two players per towel) to toss it over the net.
- The goal is to catch the water balloon in the towel and toss it back over. If the balloon bursts on your side, the other team gets a point.
- First team to reach 10 points wins!
25. Water Balloon Freeze Tag
Overview: This twist on freeze tag adds a refreshing splash! Players will need to stay on their toes to avoid getting soaked.
How to Play:
- One person is “it” and tries to tag others with water balloons.
- Once a player is tagged, they must freeze in place.
- They can only be unfrozen if another player crawls under their legs.
- The game continues until everyone is frozen, or you can set a time limit and see how many players are still standing.
Do you have another water balloon game idea? Email us at hello@mkewithkids.com.
More Popular Posts You’ll Love:
- 100 Fun Backyard Activities for Kids (2024) – Keep your kids entertained at home with these exciting backyard ideas.
- Best Pool Games & Activities for Kids – Dive into hours of fun with these creative poolside games.
- 5 Ways to Play Hopscotch (+ Fun Variations!) – Learn new twists on this classic game to keep it exciting.
- 100 Outdoor Activities Your Kids Will Love (2024) – From nature hunts to sports, discover the ultimate list of outdoor adventures.
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
