23 Pool Games for All Ages to Enjoy Pool Party
One of the best ways to beat the heat and enjoy summer is to have fun by the pool and unwind with pool games. Whether it’s weekend pool time with family or a casual get-together with friends to enjoy the pool. I have for you some fun pool party games that will suit all needs and age groups. You can mix active splashy ones with more relaxed floating or teamwork games, depending on the group, and turn an ordinary swim day into a mini celebration.
P.S. If you are planning a pool party, make sure to read Throw a Pool Party That Makes a Big Splash after this.
Classic Pool Party Games
Pool Volleyball
This game is just like regular volleyball, but in the water. You can set up a net across the pool or even use an inflatable one. If you don’t have a real volleyball, a beach ball works great too. Split into two teams and hit the ball back and forth. The goal is to keep it from hitting the water on your side. It’s fun and splashy.
Treasure Hunt
This one is perfect for anyone who likes a little adventure. Toss a bunch of stuff like dive rings, coins, or even plastic toys into the pool. Then everyone jumps in and tries to collect as many as they can. You can play with teams or see who gets the most individually. It’s like diving for treasure.
Floatie Race
Everyone picks their favorite pool float and lines up at one end of the pool. On the shout of “Go,” everyone races to the other side without falling off their float. You can paddle with your hands, kick your feet, or wiggle your way across. It’s fun to watch and even funnier to try.
Water Balloon Toss (Pool Edition)
This is the classic balloon toss, but in the pool. Pair up with a buddy and toss a water balloon back and forth. After each toss, take a step farther apart. If it pops, you’re out. Even simple games become fun in the pool with water splashes.
Ping Pong Scramble
Dump a bunch of ping pong balls into the pool and let everyone scramble to collect them. Set a timer for a minute or 2 and see who gets the most, or make it harder by allowing use of only one hand. The balls bounce and float everywhere, so it gets crazy fast.
Inflatable Relay Races
For this, you will need a few floaties or pool toys. Pair in team, one person must ride a float to the other side, then tag the next person. Who must swim back holding a beach ball or balance a toy on their head. Make up silly tasks for each round. It’s all about having fun, not who wins.
Basket Float Shootout
If you have a floating basketball hoop, this game is awesome to play. You take turns trying to shoot a ball into the hoop. You can play solo to beat your score or go one-on-one. It is like a mini basketball game, but more fun.
Scavenger Hunt (Poolside + Pool)
Before the game starts, hide small pool toys, clues, or notes around the pool area. Some things can float, some can sink. Give everyone a list of things to find. You can make teams or play in singles. The first one to find everything wins. This one keeps everyone moving and looking all over the place.
Float & Sip (for Grownups)
This one is for the grown-ups. Grab a comfy float and your favorite drink in a spill-proof cup. Then just relax and float around. One by one, each person makes a statement like, “Never have I ever _____.” If it’s true for someone, they take a sip of their drink. You can keep it tame, funny, or a little spicy as it fits your group. It’s chill, fun, and gets everyone talking and knowing each other better.
Pool Noodle Games
Pool Noodle Jousting
Pool Noodle Jousting is fun to play and even funnier to watch. Two players, each sits on their own floatie, like a big ring float or animal float with a pool noodle. The game is to bop the other person off their floatie. Of course, no hard hits, just playful, silly swipes with the noodle until someone loses their balance and falls into the water. Everyone around has fun watching the action.
Tug of War – Pool Noodle Style
This one’s perfect when you have a large group to play as teams. Use one long pool noodle and have two people (or two teams) grab either end. When the game starts, everyone pulls as hard as they can, like a usual tug of war, but in the water. It’s different, it’s slippery, and when someone loses, they splash in water, and that is so much more fun.
Pool Obstacle Course (with noodles)
Turns your pool into an adventure by setting up some hurdles in the pool. Each person races through the pool, passes through the obstacles, and finishes. The one who completes or does it in the shortest time wins the game. Here are some ideas to set it up using pool noodles:
- Bend a noodle into a rainbow shape and weigh down both ends to make a tunnel. (Use small pool weights or tie the ends to something heavy.)
- Lay noodles across the pool like hurdles to swim over.
- Line up a few noodles like a path, and have players only step or swim on the noodle path without touching the pool bottom.
Noodle Horse Races
Everyone grabs a noodle and rides it like a horse by straddling it, holding the front. Everyone lines up at one end of the pool and races to the other side by bouncing and paddling.It sounds silly and easy, but fun to play and watch.
Noodle Limbo
Two person must hold a pool noodle across the water like a limbo stick, holding each end. Next, everyone takes turns leaning back and swimming under without touching it. After each round, lower the noodle a little. To see how low everyone can go.
Noodle Ring Toss
Bend a noodle into a circle and tie the ends to make a ring. Add smaller floaty toys or balls into the pool, like a target. Everyone takes turns to float the ring in the pool on the target. Whoever makes the most tosses wins.
Simple but Unique Pool Games
Marco Polo
This one is a classic. One person closes their eyes and becomes “Marco.” Everyone else spreads out around the pool. The person with their eyes shut yells “Marco” and the rest shout back “Polo”. That’s how Marco tries to find and tag others by their sound. If someone sneaks out of the pool, Marco must say “Fish out of water” to catch them. This game gets loud in a fun way.
Sharks and Minnows
Get ready to run or swim. In this game, one person is the “shark” and stands in the middle of the pool. The others are “minnows” and line up on one side. When the shark yells “Go”, all the minnows try to swim to the other side without getting tagged. If you get tagged, you become a shark too. The last swimming minnow wins.
Freeze Dance – Pool Version
This game is easy and fun, perfect for a pool party. All you need is a speaker or phone to play music. While the music plays, everyone swims, dances, and splashes. But when the music stops, everyone must freeze right where they are. If someone keeps moving, they’re out. It’s fun, especially when someone freezes in a weird pose.
Underwater Ring Toss
You will need dive rings or even loops to play this game. Drop a weighted target on the pool floor, something like a stick or a bottle with a rock inside, and players take turns diving and tossing rings onto it. If you don’t have rings, try tossing dive sticks as close to the target as possible. It’s a tricky game, not for everyone.
Mermaid or Superhero Contest
This one’s all about being silly and creative. Take turns swimming across the pool like a mermaid, superhero, or sea creature. You can do flips, strike poses, or make up dramatic moves. Everyone claps and cheers, and someone can be the judge if you want to score it. But honestly, it’s just about being goofy and showing off. You can get some cool, funny videos from this
Name That Tune – Hummed Underwater
This game makes everyone laugh. One person dips underwater and hums a song. The others float nearby and try to guess what it is. It’s way harder than it sounds, and that’s what makes it funny. You can take turns humming and guessing. Keep score or just play for fun.
Ball Push Relay
This one is silly. Players must push a ball across the pool to the finish line, but you can only use your head or your nose; no hands allowed. Players race to see who can push the ball the fastest. It’s hard to steer but super funny to watch.
Simon Says – Pool Edition
This is just like regular Simon Says, but with pool moves. One person is Simon and gives commands like “Simon says splash,” “Simon says do a cannonball,” or “Swim like a dolphin.” If Simon doesn’t say “Simon says” first and someone does the move, they’re out. It’s a fun way to get everyone moving and laughing.
From My Party Notes
With so many options to choose the pool games. You must select the games to play based on the age group and the skills of the people who will be joining the game.
- For kids, simple and quick win games are better. Once we played Floatie Race, Freeze Dance, it was total fun and easy play, and totally enjoyable.
- If your group is experienced swimmers, you must give Underwater Ring Toss a try.
- Competitive teens and grown-ups love games that keep them moving, like Treasure Hunt, Basket Float Shootout, Pool Obstacle Course, and Ball Push Relay.
- If you are just planning some chill time with family by the pool, go for Simon Says, Mermaid, Superhero Contest, or Sharks and Minnows.
- For grown-ups who just want to chill and relax, you must go for Float & Sip, Noodle Ring Toss, or a low-effort game like Basket Float Shootout.
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