Fire up the grill and grab your friends: Top five games for the summer 

Summer is one of those seasons that you either hate or love. It can finally make you feel alive by bringing some warm sunshine your way, or it can make you feel like a sweaty pile of sludge. Never fear! This article has all of you guys covered, the summer lovers and the summer haters. Here are my top five picks of summer games with a mix of outdoor games, board games and video games.  

1. Water balloon toss (Battle Royal edition)  

Coming in hot, or should I say, splashing into first place, we have a childhood classic. Not only is this game perfect for a hot summer’s day, but it also doesn’t have a limit on the number of players. As the title suggests, I’m recommending a Battle Royal edition of this classic game. Why not make it more interesting by having a dedicated playing zone with a limited amount of ‘ammo’? Once you get hit, you’re out. Eliminated players then make sure to move the buckets into the more exposed parts of the play area, forcing the other players to move closer, and out of cover. The rounds will be quick and fun, just make sure not to soak a poor passerby! 

I recommend going for a swim after this one, as you might get a bit sticky

2. Hive Pocket 

The next recommendation is for those who like to keep their mind sharp, even on holiday. One thing that I hate about the summer is the number of bugs. Wasps that want to do nothing more than fly into you, ants that climb up your legs and spiders that really want to be friends. So why not immerse yourself in that bug-filled summer feeling by playing Hive Pocket? This game is perfect as it can be played outdoors because it uses tiles, and indoors if the weather is too hot. The objective is to use your bug tiles to surround the other player’s queen bee. Of course, this is easier said than done…   

3. Drink Roulette  

For those who love cracking open a nice cool beer (or cider) during the summer heatwaves, this one is for you! Drink Roulette is super simple and perfect for the outdoors. Take any fizzy alcohol (or non-alcoholic) drink and shake a couple of cans. Place them back with the normal cans and into a cooler or some kind of box. Then you take all the cans and line them up on a table. The aim of the game is not to pick the can that will leave you drenched. For added fun in a big group, you can shake multiple cans. I recommend going for a swim after this one, as you might get a bit sticky. 

There are still so many different games that you can explore this summer

4. Dave the Diver  

Not everyone likes to be out and about during summer. So, for the homebodies, I think this game is perfect. This casual adventure game allows you to go on deep-sea adventures and run a sushi business. Why travel hours to the nearest ocean when you can just take a dip in a virtual one? This game is also perfect for those who are the only gamers in the family and friend group, as it’s a single-player game.  

5. Plato  

Last but not least, we have an app recommendation rather than a game one. Plato is perfect if you want to play mini games with a group of friends, no matter where they might be. This app has lots of mini games to choose from, such as Golf, Bankroll (a Monopoly dupe), Pool, Ocho (an Uno dupe) and many more. The only thing this app needs is a phone; no console or payments are required. 

With that, the list comes to a close. Of course, there are still so many different games that you can explore this summer, but hopefully, this gives you some ideas on how to make the most of this summer!