Whether it’s a cold winter night or a warm summer evening, it is always a good idea to enjoy some fun and games.

That is especially true if you have a group of people gathered together in the house or around the neighborhood.

The good news is that there are plenty of exciting games for people of all ages to try out. Note that games can be an excellent way to get exercise, build strong relationships, and have fun.

Come along as we take a look at some of the best neighborhood games to play at night.

Also Read: Funniest Names For Kahoot

The Best Neighborhood Games to Play at Night

1. Hide-and-Seek

Image by Ron Lach via Pexels

Hide-and-Seek is undoubtedly one of the best neighborhood games to play at night. This game can incorporate a minimum of two people but can accommodate as many people as you find necessary.

In this game, one person is designated as “It”. This can be done through a number of methods including casting lots or random picks.

Before you start playing this game, it is crucial to establish a perimeter. This ensures no player strays too far from the main gaming area.

When everyone is ready to start playing, the person who is “It” will cover their eyes and start counting up to a given number. As the counting continues, all the other players hide in different locations.

The goal is to hide in the most difficult place so as not to be spotted. Once the person who is “It” reaches the target number, they announce that they are starting to seek out everyone.

Whenever a player is found, the player who is “It” announces it, and the player that has been found goes to sit in a designated area. The game continues until the last person in hiding is found.

Whoever is found last wins the game. However, whoever is found first becomes the next person to be “It” for the next game.

It is worth pointing out that during the game, while the person who is “It” is still looking for other players, one of those in hiding can come out of their hiding and tap on a designated object. If they do it successfully, they free all the players that had been found.

In such a case, the person who is “It” is obligated to start counting afresh and let everyone go back into hiding.

2. Cops and Robbers

Image by Katya Wolf via Pexels

Next up on the list of the best neighborhood games to play at night is Cops and Robbers or Fugitive. The goal of this game is for robbers to get from point A to point B without being arrested by the cops.

To play the game, two people are selected to act as cops. They are equipped with flashlights to help make their work easy especially as the sun sets and darkness comes.

Before starting the game, it is important to establish a perimeter over which no one is allowed to leave.

This helps in raising the stakes because the robbers will have little room to run and hide and the cops will have a much easier time tracking multiple people.

The game can be played in a large backyard or in the neighborhood. However, it is always important to alert your neighbors before starting the game just to avoid spooking anyone.

When the game begins, the cops will give the robbers a few seconds headstart toward point B. After that, the cops turn on their flashlights and start seeking out the robbers.

Robbers will have to run from one hiding place to another while trying to avoid arrest. Meanwhile, cops will be roaming the streets with their flashlights fully lit.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the robbers have a time limit to get to point B. If the time elapses before reaching point B, then they lose.

Whenever the cops arrest a robber, they recruit them into their team and so the robber also helps the cops seek out the remaining robbers.

3. Freeze Tag

Image by Thirdman via Pexels

Freeze Tag is another interesting game you can enjoy as the sun goes down. In this game, one person is designated as “It”.

Everyone else is free and must remain so by avoiding the person who is “It”. When the game begins, often abruptly, everyone needs to run away from the player who is “It”.

However, the player who is “It” chases down everyone as fast as he or she can. When they tag a person, that person freezes in place as they await all the others to be tagged.

Players that have not been tagged can save those who are frozen in place by touching them. When the person who is “It” tags the last person, the game ends and the one that was tagged first takes his or her place as the new “It”.

To ensure that the player chasing others does not get exhausted, it is important to set a boundary so that players can only run within the boundary.

If the player who is “It” is unable to freeze everyone, you can also switch up things to ensure that he or she also gets to have some fun.

Freeze Tag is especially recommended for young and energetic kids because it helps them release that extra energy and also provides some needed exercise.

4. Dodge Ball

Image by Cori Rodriguez via Pexels

Next up on this list of the best neighborhood games to play at night is Dodge Ball. This game can be played by any number of people as long as you organize yourselves into teams.

You need soft balls to play in this game because each player will be aiming at the opposing team. When a player hits another from an opposing team with the ball, the one that is hit is out.

This continues until one team emerges victorious. Then another team gets into the field and tries to outmaneuver the other.

The game requires each player to be extremely alert so that they can clearly see when a ball is aimed at them. Another important quality is agility because each player will have to dodge the ball thrown at them.

Another trick players can use to defeat their opponents is to catch the ball aimed at them. When that happens, the thrower is out.

The game is often played within a court with boundaries so that players must dodge the balls without stepping out of bounds.

If a player steps out of the designated boundary, they are also out and must sit down and hope for the best.

In most cases, games last for as long as both teams are able to dodge the ball. However, if you want to make it more inclusive and fun, set a time limit for each game.

The team with the most hit players at the end of the time period loses and must give way to the next.

5. Alien Invasion

Image by Mikhail Nilov via Pexels

Another interesting game you may want to try out is Alien Invasion. To play this game, you need to form two teams. One team consists of townspeople while the other group is made up of aliens.

In most cases, the team with the townspeople will be the majority while the team with aliens will be fewer in number. Next, you need to get a number of glowsticks and hand out one to each of the townspeople.

They then have to wear their glowsticks on any part of the body that is visible. Most wear them on their hands or legs. The team with aliens does not get a glowstick.

The next thing you need to do is establish a boundary or perimeter to restrict the movement of players. In this game, the aim is for the townspeople to make their way to a designated gathering area without being caught by the aliens.

When the game begins, the townspeople have to be standing at the farthest point from the gathering area while the aliens are somewhere in between.

Once the game begins, the aliens will try all means to capture anyone. At the same time, the townspeople must also come up with their own strategies to evade their would-be abductors.

When an alien captures one of the townspeople, the alien takes their glowstick and joins the townspeople. On the other hand, the one captured becomes part of the alien team.

6. Bad Bunny

Image by Eren Li via Pexels

Another one of the best neighborhood games to play at night is Bad Bunny. This game can have as many players as you want.

Before you start the game, one of the players must be designated as the Bad Bunny. The rest of the players are Easter eggs.

Another thing you need to do is to designate the goal. This could be a tree or a fence or any prominent object in the area.

The Bad Bunny takes their position right next to the goal. As that takes place, the other players are required to pick a color for themselves. It is important for each player to choose a unique color.

However, even if two or three pick the same color, the game must still go on. The Easter eggs are then required to stand at the opposite side of the goal, perhaps a few meters away.

Once everyone is in position, the Bad Bunny will call out saying “I want some eggs” and the eggs will reply “What color?”

Then the Bad Bunny will shout out any color they wish and the player or players that chose that color must make a dash toward the goal.

The players must try and avoid being caught by the Bad Bunny because anyone that gets caught becomes the next Bad Bunny.

7. Firefly Hide and Seek

Image by Leornado Zanini via Pexels

This is another excellent game to play at night. It is a variation of the original Hide-and-Seek game but it is also as much, if not more, fun.

In this game, one of the players is designated as the firefly and they are handed a flashlight. All the other players are then required to count up to a given number.

Once they are done counting, they need to watch out for the firefly. The firefly is free to hide anywhere they want.

They can even move from one place to another if they wish. From time to time, the firefly will light up the flashlight to let others know where they are.

But as soon as they give out that clue, they have to run and hide in another spot. That makes it difficult for the other players to find the firefly.

However, if one of the players tags the firefly, the one that had the flashlight must give it up and join the others. The new firefly will also be given a few seconds to hide before the rest start seeking them out.

8. Stop the Smuggler

Image by Victoria Borodinova via Pexels

Another interesting game to play at night is Stop the Smuggler. In this game, you’ll need to find a small jewel or unique rock to act as the object of desire for the smugglers.

Next, you’ll need to divide players into two groups with the first one assuming the role of the Coast Guard. The second group is made up of smugglers who want to take the precious jewel from point A to point B.

Again, you’ll need to specify the boundaries so that every player can remain within the set area. The goal of the Coast Guard is to capture the smuggler with the jewel before they get to their destination.

Ensure that the jewel is small enough to comfortably fit in the palm of most players’ hands because they will need to conceal it when the game begins.

Smugglers are not allowed to conceal the jewel in their pockets or any other place. They must have it concealed in the palm of their hands at all times.

However, they are free to pass the jewel to their teammates as much as they like. When the game begins, smugglers will attempt to get to point B as fast as possible.

The Coast Guard, on the other hand, will tag as many as they can. Anyone that gets tagged must stop and open their palms to reveal what’s inside.

This continues until the Coast Guard tags the person with the jewel. If the individual gets to destination B, the smugglers win the round and get to play the same role in the next game.

If the person with the jewel is tagged before getting to point B, the Coast Guard wins and they are allowed to switch places with the smugglers in the next game.

9. Spotlight

Image by Mart Production via Pexels

Another one of the best neighborhood games to play at night is Spotlight. This game is often more fun when the group of players exceeds five.

To begin, you’ll need to get a flashlight which is what you are going to use to shine the spotlight on the participants. The players then have to form a circle with each individual standing a short distance from the other.

Next, one person moves to the center of the circle and picks up the flashlight. The individual then points the flashlight beam at a random person.

The person who is in the spotlight is then required to perform an action according to the rules you set.

Some of the things that players under the spotlight can do include dancing, singing, narrating a story, sharing a joke, or doing anything else that may be funny.

Spotlight does not really have winners and losers but it is a game that can bring out the best in every participant. It can also be an excellent way to ensure everyone has fun.

10. Red Light, Green Light

Image by Rodnae Productions via Pexels

Another fun game you can play at night is Red Light, Green Light. This game can be the ideal pick for a large group of people who want to have fun together.

In this game, one individual is picked to be the stop light. The individual stands at a designated area and then everyone else forms a line about 15 feet away.

The stop light then turns their back on the rest of the players and starts issuing two sets of instructions. When they shout Green Light, all the players are free to move toward the stop light.

However, when they shout Red Light, everyone must freeze in place. As the stop light shouts any of the instructions, they turn around to watch the actions of the rest of the players.

Anyone that moves after the Red Light alert is eliminated from the game. On the other hand, anyone that makes it across the field to the stop light wins the round.

To make things even more interesting, it is prudent to specify the amount of time players must take to get from point A to point B. That way, everyone will be anxious to get across and that makes it more challenging and fun.

11. Two Truths & A Lie

Image by Kindel Media via Pexels

Two Truths & A Lie is a pretty relaxed game that is often played around a campfire as people relax and gaze at the stars.

In this game, everyone gets to say three things about themselves. The only catch is that one of the things they say is a lie.

It is up to the rest of the people to guess which of the three things is a lie. Whoever guesses right gets to say three things about themselves.

12. Ghost in the Graveyard

Image by Daisy Anderson via Pexels

Another exciting neighborhood game to play at night is Ghost in the Graveyard. This game can have as many players as you want.

However, you need to specify boundaries so that players do not stray too far. In this game, one person is chosen to be the ghost and is sent out to hide in the yard.

Meanwhile, the rest of the players count up to a specified number and then they start searching for the ghost. When one person finds the ghost, they shout “Ghost in the Graveyard” and then make a dash to the designated safe zone.

Immediately after the shout, the ghost comes out of hiding and tries to tag any of the players. Whoever is tagged before getting to the safe zone loses and becomes the ghost in the next game.

13. Capture the Flag

Image by Min An via Pexels

Next up on this list of the best neighborhood games to play at night is Capture the Flag. To play this game, you’ll need to specify boundaries so that players do not stray out.

You’ll also need to get two flags. These could be in the form of bandanas, hand towels, or two pieces of cloth in different colors.

Once you have the materials ready, you need to divide players into two or more teams. However, only two teams can participate at a given time.

Mark boundaries for each team and refer to both sections as each team’s territory. There must also be a dividing line in the middle so that everyone stays on their side before the game starts.

When the game starts, each team member will try to make their way to the opposing team’s territory and steal their flag. However, as they do that, they risk getting tagged.

Anyone that is tagged goes to jail which is often an area close to the flag. The good news is that teammates can free the inmate by tagging them.

The play continues until one team successfully retrieves the opponent’s flag.

14. Glow Stick Volleyball

Image by Del Adams via Pexels

Glow Stick Volleyball is another game you can play as the sun sets and you want to burn off a few calories while having fun.

To play this game, you’ll need to hand at least two glow sticks to each player so that they can wrap them around their arms and legs.

You’ll also need to crack a few glow sticks and insert them into the blow-hole of the beach volleyball. The glow sticks are essential because they will help ensure players can see each other and the ball in the dark.

The rules of this game are the same as those of traditional volleyball. However, players are not allowed to catch or throw the ball. They must also avoid kicking it.

15. Glow-in-the-Dark Bowling

Image by Rodnae Productions via Pexels

Finally, another of the best neighborhood games to play at night is Glow-in-the-Dark Bowling. For this game, you’ll need to find a few plastic bottles and insert some glowsticks in them.

You’ll then have to arrange the bottles on a flat surface and then draw a line a short distance away. Every player must remain behind the line when aiming at the bottles.

Use a plastic or rubber ball to hit the bottles. To make the game interesting, assign each bottle a unique score so that the player that hits the most with the fewest tries wins.

Wrapping Up

If you have been brainstorming some of the activities you can do to have fun and boost team building, the list above should help you get started.

Some of the games are ideal for kids while others may work even for grownups. It is up to you to pick the ones you find most interesting for the group you are dealing with.