Spikeball has to be one of the most exciting games that both kids and adults alike can play, and it has taken backyards, parks, beaches, and everywhere in between by storm. It’s very easy to learn but hard to master, and it’s super fast-paced too.
Spikeball is all about dynamic teamwork, exhilarating rallies, speed, power, and accuracy. With that being said, there’s only so much spikeball that a single person can handle, which means that you might be looking for an alternative.
Today, that’s exactly what we’re here to do, to talk about 25 games like spikeball that you can play with your friends, games that have elements of competition, camaraderie, and are a whole lot of fun. Let’s take a look at some of the best spike while alternatives out there.
1. Crossnet
Crossnet is a very interesting game to play, a combination of foursquare and volleyball. This is a four-player game, where each player has their own quadrant. The aim of the game is to defend your quadrant, or in other words, to prevent the ball from hitting the ground.
It’s like volleyball in the sense that you can serve and spike the ball, and that you have to get it out of your quadrant and into your opponent’s quadrants.
It’s a great game to play in a backyard, on the beach, or anywhere in between. It requires players to be both athletic and strategic, although this is not to say that it can’t be a whole lot of fun. It’s all about fast-paced movement and making sure that you never let the ball touch the ground.
2. Four Square
We already mentioned foursquare above, and it is a very simple game to play, something that you might be familiar with from your school days on the playground. All you need to play are four people, a ball, and a piece of chalk to draw on the ground.
This makes it ideal for people of all skill levels and backgrounds, because it can be played virtually anywhere. The game involves bouncing a ball among the different squares, with everybody trying to ascend to the highest square and eliminating their opponents.
Players have to be quick, strategic, and have a lot of agility. Although it is an exceedingly simple game, one played by kids, it requires a lot of speed, which can make it more difficult for adults to play. It’s competitive yet straightforward, just like spikeball.
3. Pickleball
Pickleball is one of the newer sports to take the world by storm, and it’s like a combination of ping pong, badminton, and tennis. One of the reasons why it’s so popular is because it is very easy to play, and it’s something that both young and old alike can engage in.
The court itself is the size of a badminton court, with a modified tennis net in the middle, and modified paddles made out of perforated plastic used to hit a ball over the net.
It’s a really good game to play because it’s low impact, so you don’t have to be the best player in the world, or in the best physical shape. It can still be competitive and fast-paced, but it’s not nearly as growing as something like tennis. It works your hand eye coordination and will have you sweating as well. Pickleball has become so popular that there are now social media influencers surrounding it!
4. 
If you’re looking for a fun game to play that is like spikeball, you might want to try water skip ball. Walter skip ball is similar to spikeball, but it of course is played in the water. The point here is to throw the ball and to skip it across the surface of the water to your teammates in such a way that they can’t catch it. If your opponent misses the ball, you get a point.
It’s a great game because it’s so competitive like spikeball, but it’s also relaxing and refreshing because you get to spend time in the water, whether at the beach or in a pool. If you’re looking for a good summertime game to play that helps cool you off, while still challenging your reflexes and dexterity, then water skip ball is a great option to consider.
5. Butts Up
Going back to the schoolyard, here we have butts up, which is like a combination of dodgeball and and ball. Yes, it’s something that usually kids only play, but this doesn’t mean that adults can’t play either.
The point here is to throw a ball against the wall, and to cause your opponent to miss it. If you miss the ball on the rebound, or if you get hit by the ball, you lose a point.
It’s a great game for kids and adults alike, because it requires a lot of speed, precision, and dexterity. If you want to play a game that needs a bit of physical output, without being far too intense and challenging you too much, then butts up is a great spikeball alternative.
6. Mini Golf
If you’re looking for something much more relaxing to play, mini golf, otherwise known as putt putt, is the perfect option. This is the game that people of all backgrounds, ages, sizes, and skill levels can play.
It’s much easier than golf of course, because the course is much smaller, not to mention more exciting too. With a wide variety of whimsical obstacles and creative paths to maneuver around, mini golf is a great deal of fun for the whole family. Just like spikeball, mini golf is also a bit competitive, but also more social in nature.
It allows for some good and light hearted competitiveness, while also allowing you to spend time with your family. It doesn’t cost much money to play, doesn’t require much equipment, and you can find a mini golf course virtually anywhere. It’s so popular that some AirB&Bs now have mini golf courses!
7. Beach Tennis
Yes, there is such a thing as beach tennis, like a combination of volleyball, badminton, and regular tennis, although it is of course played on the beach.
Here, depressurized tennis balls are used, with players using paddles to volley these balls back and forth. It’s all about having the ball land in your opponent’s court without allowing it to bounce.
It’s really exciting, yet also challenging due to the sand. Standing in soft sand means that you require a lot of agility, speed, and explosive power to move quickly enough to rally back and forth.
It’s actually one of the more physically exhausting spikeball alternatives on the list today, making it ideal for those people who really want to work up a sweat. It’s also ideal for those people who like spending some time outside.
8. Disc Golf
If you’re looking for a super-exciting game that combines frisbee or ultimate frisbee with golf, then this is the game for you. Disc golf involves a player throwing a frisbee or disc from a designated area towards a target. However, unlike in golf where the target is a hole, here the target is some kind of metal basket.
Just like in golf, the point of disc golf is to get the frisbee into the metal basket in as little throws as possible. The person who has the least throws at the end of the game is the winner. It is a physical game in the sense that you have to throw, but it’s not overly demanding.
Throwing a frisbee doesn’t require that much energy, but what you do need is precision and accuracy. It’s a great game for people of all ages, it doesn’t require great physical exertion, and it’s not expensive to play either, while allowing for great fun among families and groups of friends.
9. Slackline
Slackline has to be one of the most interesting spike ball alternatives on the list today. It involves a flat rope, kind of like a wide bungee cord, that is stretched in between two anchors, which are often trees. Here, the aim is to walk back and forth along the flat rope without falling down, and the real experts learn how to do all kinds of cool tricks.
It’s all about seeing who can walk the farthest without falling, perform the coolest tricks, or even just stay balanced the longest without falling off. Although it might sound easy, the balance, flexibility, and core strength required for this game are quite high. It’s also a great game because it fosters a sense of competition.
10. Cornhole
If you’re looking for something leisurely that the whole family can play, cornhole, otherwise known as bean bag toss, is a great game to play. All you need is a raised platform that has a hole at the far end, along with some bean bags. This makes it ideal because it can be played virtually anywhere.
The point is very simple, to throw the bean bags into the hole. It might sound really easy, but depending on how far away you have the platform from the throwing position, it can be quite difficult.
Furthermore, if your beanbag lands on the platform, other players can then use their beanbags to blast it aside. It’s deceptively simple, yet requires a lot of skill and precision. It does also have some elements of competition. This game has become so mainstream that some colleges are now offering cornhole scholarships, and no, that’s not a joke!
11. Pitch & Putt
We then have pitch and putt, which is like a much simpler and shorter version of golf. Unlike in golf where holes can be several hundred yards from the starting point, in pitch and putt, holes are rarely longer than 100 yards, and instead of many clubs being used, only two or three are used in this game.
It’s a great way to play a game that’s similar to golf, without actually having to play a full 18 holes. Instead of having to use a lot of power to drive the ball far distances like in golf, the emphasis is on accuracy and precision.
It’s also a great way to improve your short game, especially your putting. Just like with spikeball, pitch and putt is both social and competitive. It’s like a quick round of golf that makes for a fun afternoon with friends and family members.
12. Horseshoes
Horseshoes, a game that’s been around for a very long time, and yet still hasn’t gone out of style. It’s perhaps one of the most classic lawn games around.
The great thing about horseshoes is that as long as you have the horseshoes and the pole that they have to be thrown at, you can play virtually anywhere, whether at the beach, your backyard, or at a park.
It’s a very simple game, with the point being to get your horseshoe around the pole, which is set at a relatively far distance from the throwing point.
It requires a good deal of concentration and technique, yet also requires a bit of luck. It’s not nearly as physically intense as some of the other games on the list today, or as competitive. This makes for a great family game, particularly when you don’t want to end up in a fight about who’s the winner.
13. Kickball
If you like playing something that’s going to make you break a sweat, and you’ve always liked baseball, then you might want to try kickball. Kickball is similar to baseball in the sense that a ball is hit from a home plate, with players having to run the bases, and scoring a home run being the main objective.
However, unlike baseball where bats and small balls are used, in kickball, something like a dodgeball is used. Players kick the ball as hard as they can instead of hitting it with a bat.
Just like with baseball, two teams face each other, therefore making this a great sport for a group of people. If you like team sports and having to work together, then it’s a fantastic game to try. The only downside is that you do need a baseball field to play on.
14. Dodgeball
If you want a game that is going to test your power, speed, and agility, as well as accuracy and precision, while putting you in a highly competitive environment, then dodgeball is always a great sport to try. Dodgeball involves two teams throwing soft balls at each other, with the aim being to hit your opponent.
However, if your opponent catches the ball, then it’s you, the person who threw it, who ends up being out. It’s a super fast-paced game that has your head on a swivel and constantly making sure that you don’t get pegged in the head by a ball.
It involves a lot of strategy and teamwork, although a bit of luck is involved as well. If you like breaking a sweat and you want to play something physically intense, then dodgeball is it.
15. Wiffle Ball
If you like baseball, but you want something that’s a bit less intense, you might want to try playing wiffle ball. Instead of heavy equipment, this game uses a plastic ball with perforations, as well as a plastic bat.
It’s like a much simpler version of baseball, something that’s ideal for all ages and skill levels, particularly for young kids. The game is designed for easy pitching and hitting, so the game is filled with a lot of strikes, home runs, and big hits.
It’s a great way to enjoy the competitive nature of baseball without having to be quite as grueling. It’s also something that can be played in virtually any environment, including your own backyard.
16. KanJam
If you like games that require precision and accuracy, then KanJam is worth trying. This is a game that requires four people, as it involves two teams of two players.
Each team has discs which they try to throw into a can for points, or even better, get it through a very narrow slot, which results in an instant win.
If there is one game on the list that requires more precision and accuracy than any other, this is it. It’s also a good game if you like teamwork. Just like spikeball, it’s both competitive and social.
17. Ladder Toss
Ladder toss is one of the more interesting games on the list, also known as ladder golf. Here, the objective is to throw bolas, which are two balls connected to each other by a string, onto a special type of ladder to score points.
There are three rungs on these ladders, each of which are worth different amounts of points. The aim of the game is to get as many points as possible in as few throws as possible.
It’s a relatively casual game that isn’t overly physically intense, so you probably won’t end up breaking a sweat. It’s more social and fun than anything else, and it’s also something that you can play virtually anywhere, whether at the beach, at a park, or even in your backyard. It’s often touted as one of the best family games around.
18. Lawn Bowling
Lawn bowling is a great spikeball alternative to consider, especially if you want something slow paced, relaxed, and something that won’t have you sweating.
Here, a very small ball is thrown down a lawn or pathway. Players then each have their own balls, with the objective being for each player to get their ball as close as possible to the small ball initially thrown. Although you might not break a sweat playing it, it requires a great deal of control, strategy, precision, and a gentle touch.
It’s a very tactical and measured game that doesn’t require high paced action, but it can still get very competitive. That said, it’s ideal for people of all ages and skill levels, making it a fan favorite among many.
19. Badminton
Obviously, we couldn’t forget badminton, a somewhat fast-paced racket sport that is kind of like tennis, although a bit slower. Badminton involves hitting a shuttlecock or birdie back and forth over a net using rackets. If the shuttlecock lands on your side of the court, the opponent gets a point.
It doesn’t require you to rally as quickly as in tennis, but you still require a good deal of strategy and athleticism.
Furthermore, you need to know how to make strategic shots and you need to have fast reflexes too. Although it’s not the fastest paced game in the world, if you play long enough, you’ll probably end up breaking a sweat. It’s a great game as well, because it can be played by individuals and by teams alike.
20. Giant Jenga
Yes, you could play regular Jenga, but where’s the fun in that when there is Giant Jenga? Giant Jenga involves stacking super sized blocks on top of each other to create a tower. Players must then remove blocks from within the tower and place them on top, without having the tower crumble.
The first player who causes the tower to collapse is considered the loser. This is probably the least physically demanding game on the list today, because all you have to do is pull blocks out of a tower. With that being said, although it may not be athletic, it is extremely strategic in nature.
You have to have steady hands, you have to know which blocks to pull, and you have to be very precise too. It’s a game that allows for a whole lot of excitement and tension without actually having to exercise. There are even special versions where Jello shots can be inserted into the blocks, making for one heck of a drinking game!
21. Kubb
Kubb is also known as Viking chess, a game that can be played on any lawn, but generally requires a rectangular court. Here, there are wooden blocks set up across a certain space, with the objective being to knock them down by throwing wooden batons at them.
It’s almost like a huge game of chess, because you have to be strategic and precise, but it also incorporates physicality. You have to be very strategic in nature, but also have a good deal of strength.
22. Bocce
Very similar to lawn bowling, Bocce also has players throwing large balls as close as possible to a smaller ball, in this case known as a pallino. Unlike regular lawn bowling which is usually played on a manicured lawn, this game can be played on a lawn, a special court, or any other flat surface.
Although it’s not physically demanding, it does require a good deal of patience, strategy, and precision. It’s also a good game for people who like playing solo, because this is an individual sport, not a team sport.
23. Beach Volleyball
If you like having fun in the sun, you don’t mind sweating a little bit, and you want to play a game that requires great physical exertion, as well as power and accuracy, then beach volleyball is always worth trying. Just like with regular volleyball, the aim is to prevent the ball from hitting the ground on your side of the court.
It can be played by two people facing each other, teams of two, or much larger teams. Therefore, it’s a great game for both those who like being solo and those who like being on teams. The fact that this game is played on the sand adds an extra level of difficulty, because moving quickly on sand is always hard. It’s a great combination of sun, sports, and sand.
24. Tchoukball
Although overly hard to pronounce, it is exceedingly simple to play. This game is all about bouncing a ball off of a so-called rebound net, otherwise known as a frame, so that your opponent’s cannot catch it. It’s like a combination of squash, volleyball, and handball.
It involves a lot of teamwork, athleticism, and skill, but doesn’t have any contact, therefore making it perfectly safe. It’s a very inclusive game that is ideal for people of all ages, but it is quite fast-paced, so get ready to work up an appetite.
25. Ultimate Tug of War
Last but not least, we have a game known as ultimate tug of war. It’s like regular tug of war, but with more rules and much larger teams. More than anything else, this is a test of teamwork and strength.
Everyone involved needs to have great endurance, teamwork capabilities, and must be able to think strategically, while having strong muscles too.
Of course, the number one aim of the game is to pull your opponents over a predetermined line. It’s very simple to play, yet offers a great physical challenge.
Jamie is the founder of Action Sporter. He is the chief zipline writer and the lead editor. He has 5 years of zipline experience being a tour guide in Newfoundland. Most of the time you can find Jamie adventure traveling, hiking, skiing, skateboarding, or anything action related!
