Water balloon games are an age-old tradition, and there’s nothing like a bucket of water-filled balloons to entice the kids to get off their arses and go outside and play on a July afternoon. Herein, I’ve compiled a find a wealth of water balloon games and activities for kids of all ages, plus lots of variations to help keep things interesting.

But first, did you know that you don’t have to suffer through the tedium of filling and tying a pile of water balloons every time the kids want to throw water-filled projectiles at each other? As it happens, water balloons have come a long way since we were kids. Nowadays, you can find self-tying, self-filling, and reusable water balloons that do all of the hard work their own dang selves.

Here’s a quick run-down of your three main water balloon choices — for each one, I scoured Amazon to find the most economical and best-rated options. If you click on one of the links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission — so thanks! And if you’re one to detest comparison shopping — you’re welcome!

Latex water balloons

Latex balloons are your standard, run-of-the-mill water balloons you buy in bulk on Amazon or wherever party supplies are sold. Even though a whole lot of brands label their latex water balloons as “biodegradable,” it takes a really long time for that process to happen, and in the meantime, those small pieces of latex pose a danger to pets and wildlife. Whenever you use latex water balloons for your epic backyard battles, be sure to clean up all of the debris. Here’s my top pick for latex water balloons:

Bunch O Balloons

When my kid was in her water balloon-obsessed phase, I always ordered these Bunch O Balloons rapid-filling, self-sealing water balloons. They work surprisingly well — you hook up one stem of balloons to the spigot, and it fills a bunch o’ balloons at the same time. Then, you slide each balloon off its stem, and the sealing band closes around the opening. The stems are made from recycled plastic and are recyclable. 4.6/5 stars, 10,147 ratings.

Here’s a quick vid of my daughter and her BFF filling up a bunch o’ balloons:

Reusable water balloons

Reusable water balloons are more expensive up front than latex balloons, but you can use them over and over again, year after year. They come in two main types: silicone magnetic water balloons and absorbent fabric water balls. Here are my top picks for reusable water balloons:

Magnetic refillable water balloons

These refillable water balloons are made of silicone and feature a magnetic seal that shuts tight to keep water inside. You can fill them up at the hose or just dunk them in a bucket of water — they’ll fill up and close on their own. You can find a lot of brands selling magnetic reusable water balloons, but I recommend the above based on high ratings, rave reviews, and a competitive price per piece. 4.8/5 stars, 1,527+ ratings.

Reusable water balls

These super absorbent water balls are made from soft PP cotton and hold enough water long enough to soak whatever target they hit. They measure about 2.5 inches across and come in 6 bright colors. They’re machine washable and make great pool toys, too! 4.5/5 stars, 502+ ratings.

Whatever type of water balloons you decide to use, these games and activities will keep your kids outside, moving their bodies and staying cool on hot summer days.

12 water balloon games for all ages

1. A good, old-fashioned water balloon fight

A water balloon fight can take any form, whether it’s a free-for-all where everyone’s out for themselves or an organized game with opposing sides.

Whichever way you play, create rules up front to suit the ages and abilities of the kids, and make sure all of the participants understand them to avoid conflicts. Rules of engagement might include:

No aiming for the face or head
No going outside of the set boundaries (you can mark the boundaries with sticks, pillows, pool noodles, or whatever else you have on hand.)
Each kid gets X-number of water balloons, or each kid gets assigned a balloon color. (Or, just throw all of the balloons in a bucket, and let them work it out amongst themselves.)

2. Water balloon toss

Pair up the kids, and have them stand an appropriate distance apart — a shorter distance for little kids or a longer distance for older kids. The kids toss a balloon back and forth, and after each round of successful catching, they move back one step and continue tossing until the balloon bursts (or, in the case of absorbent water balls, until someone drops the ball.)

Here are some variations on the water balloon toss game:

Have multiple balloons in play: Instead of just one balloon they’re tossing to each other, they’re managing several balloons!
Water balloon sky-high toss: Instead of tossing the water balloon back and forth, one kid tosses it high in the air, and the other kid catches it ever so gently to keep it from popping.
Water balloon net toss: Instead of using their hands to catch a sky-high toss, kids use nets, like the kind you use for catching bugs. We like these inexpensive nets, which come in a 4-pack.

3. Water balloon dodgeball

Divide the kids into two teams, divide the play area in half, and assign each team a side. Mark the boundaries with rope, chalk, or flags — whatever you have on hand.

Set up a bucket full of balloons for each team to throw at the other team. When someone gets hit with a balloon, they’re out. If someone catches a balloon and it doesn’t break, the person who threw it is out. (If you’re using refillable water balloons or reusable water balls, the kids who are “out” can get to work refilling or re-soaking them!)

The round is over when there’s one kid left on the court. If you’re using traditional water balloons, the game ends when the balloons are gone. Otherwise, they can keep refilling their balloons and play this game until the cows come home.

4. Water balloon hot potato

To play hot potato with water balloons, players sit or stand in a circle (or face-to-face if there’s just two kids.) The spacing between players should be based on their ages and abilities.

The first person takes a water balloon out of the bucket and passes it to the next person, who passes it to the next person, and so on. If someone drops the balloon, they’re out. If the balloon bursts in someone’s hands, they’re out. Each round ends when there’s only one player left.

Here are a few variations on the water balloon hot potato toss:

Set a timer or play some music at the start of each round, and when the timer goes off or the music stops, whoever’s left holding the balloon is out.
Have two or more balloons in play at one time to make it extra-challenging.
When someone is out, have them remain in the circle, so the kids have to skip that person, which makes the game more challenging, especially if they have to pass (or toss!) the water balloon to someone three seats over!

5. Water balloon batting practice

This fun game can be played by two or more kids. All it requires is a bat (a plastic one is fine — you can also use a tennis racquet, ping pong paddle, or whatever else you have on hand).

Water balloon batting practice can be as simple as two kids taking turns tossing balloons and trying to hit them with a bat, or it can turn into a more involved water balloon game resembling baseball. Either way, the pitcher is the only one throwing water balloons, either to the batter or at members of the opposing team who are trying to steal bases.

6. Water balloon Capture the Flag

The goal of this water balloon game is to cross enemy lines, capture the opposing team’s “flag” and bring it back to your side without being hit by a water balloon.

Divide a large playing area in half, and assign each team a side. Use two items to serve as each team’s “flag” — this can be virtually anything. Place each team’s flag at the back of their territory. Behind the flag, lay down a hula hoop or other enclosed boundary to serve as a “jail” to hold players from the other team who get “captured.”

Each team gets a bucket of water balloons, placed inside their territory just behind the dividing line.

Whoever gets hit by a water balloon has to go to “jail” on the opposing team’s side. To get out of jail, a teammate has to get to you and escort you back across the dividing line without getting nailed.

The game is over when a team wins by capturing the other team’s flag — or all of the players on a team end up in jail on the opposing side.

7. Water balloon tag

Water balloon tag is played the same way traditional tag is played, except instead of tagging players with a touch of the hand, whoever is “it” tags them by hitting them with a water balloon.

Here are some variations for water balloon tag:

Water balloon freeze tag. When a player is hit with a water balloon, they have to freeze in place until someone thaws them out by crawling between their legs, running a circle around them, or taking another agreed-upon action.
Water balloon vampire tag. One player is chosen to be the “vampire.” The vampire tries to hit other players with a water balloon. Players who are hit become vampires as well, and they help tag other players. The last person to be turned into a vampire wins.
Water balloon shield tag. Each player gets a shield — this can be a garbage can lid, a piece of cardboard, a tennis racquet, or anything else that fits the bill. If a water balloon hits the shield, it doesn’t count as a tag.
Water balloon sniper tag. The person who is “it” remains stationary in a single location with a supply of water balloons. The players run back and forth on the playing field while “it” throws balloons at them. Whoever gets hit is now “it.”

8. Water balloon painting

This non-competitive water balloon activity is fun for little kids and budding artists alike. Fill latex or magnetic water balloons with watered-down, non-toxic paint, and let the kids throw them at the concrete driveway or an old sheet or canvas drop cloth to make a colorful work of art. The paint will wash off any outdoor surfaces in the rain, or you can hose down the area (and the kids!) afterwards.

A fun variation of this activity requires latex balloons. Fill them with water, and use a pin to poke a hole in the top, where the air pocket is:

Use a pin to pierce the water balloon over the pocket of air.

The kids can use it as a pen to draw pictures and write their names on the hot pavement (warning: they’ll definitely make pee jokes)!

Squirting water through a hole in the balloon to make pictures on the pavement.

9. Water balloon target smash

Kids love trying to hit a target with water balloons. The target can be anything — here are some ideas:

Stack up empty soda cans to form a pyramid, or lay them out like bowling pins. Kids earn a point for each can they knock over — they can keep score on the sidewalk with chalk.

Hang a cardboard circle from a pergola, fence, or tree limb. If it’s breezy, the cardboard will spin, adding another layer of challenge to the game. Each kid gets a certain number of balloons per round, and they get a point for each hit.
Let the kids be the target! Each kid gets a turn standing still while the others get a certain number of chances to hit them with a water balloon. Each hit is worth one point. Once everyone has had a turn as the target, add up the points to determine the winner.
Water balloon hula hoop target: While one kid holds a small hula hoop (an old empty picture frame would also do) in front of them, the other tries to throw balloons through the hoop. It’s inevitable that the hoop holder is gonna get wet, and that’s part of the fun.

10. Water balloon relay race

Divide kids into two teams, and have them stand in line at the starting point. Give each team a bucket of water balloons.

The first kid on each team grabs a water balloon and carries it to a designated turnaround spot — and back — without dropping or breaking it.

If they drop the balloon but it doesn’t break, they have to pick it up, take it back to the starting line, and start over with the same balloon..
If the balloon breaks — or if you’re playing with fabric water balls — they have to go back to the starting line, get a new balloon, and start over.

Once they make it to the turnaround point and back with the balloon intact, they pass it on to the next kid in line, who takes a turn and hands it off to the next kid, and so on. Whichever team runs out of water balloons first loses the game.

Here are a few variations on the water balloon relay race to make it more challenging for older kids:

Make it a sack race, where the kids have to put both feet in a pillowcase or garbage bag and hop to the turnaround spot and back. They’ll have to hold the sack up with one hand and the water balloon in the other.

Make it a spoon race, where the kids have to carry the water balloon on a spoon. If it falls off, they have to start over..
Add obstacles (see #11 below).

11. Water balloon obstacle course

For a super-fun twist on a water balloon race, add an obstacle course to the mix.

You can either create two identical obstacle courses for a two-person or two-team race, or you can create one obstacle course and time each kid — the fastest time wins!

However you set up your water balloon obstacle course, decide the rules ahead of time. The standard rules are:

If a player drops their water balloon at an obstacle, but it doesn’t break, they pick it up and start that obstacle over.
If a player drops their water balloon and it breaks, they have to go back to the beginning of the course, get a new balloon, and start the whole course over.
To make the obstacle course even more challenging, make the kids carry their balloon on a spoon through the obstacles.

Consider the kids’ ages and abilities when you’re choosing the obstacles. You can make them super easy for little kids or extra-challenging for bigger kids. Here are some easy DIY obstacles you can set up with stuff you have on hand at home:

Jumping and hopping obstacles: Set out items the players have to jump across (like chair cushions or a chalk circle) or hop over on two feet (like pool noodles or a rope laid out on the grass.)

Kiddie pool obstacle: Make the kiddie pool part of the obstacle course. Kids have to enter the pool and either wade, swim, or walk on their knees to the other side without dropping or popping their water balloon.

Tunnel obstacles: Use your kid’s pop-up play tunnel, or make your own tunnel with blankets or towels draped across two lawn chairs or other structures.

Balance beam obstacles: Lay a two-by-four or other piece of lumber across bricks or cinder blocks for a more challenging balancing obstacle. For an easier obstacle, lay two lengths of rope parallel to each other — if kids cross the boundary, there’s nothing to fall from!

Laundry basket jump: Set out a laundry basket that the kids have to jump into with both feet, then jump out of with both feet.

Bottle slalom: Set up sand-filled bottles that the kids have to weave in and out of, slalom-style. If they knock over a bottle, they have to re-set it and start the obstacle over.

Limbo challenge: Set up a long stick, like a broomstick or bamboo pole, across two chairs, or have two kids hold a jump rope at a certain height. The kids have to make it under the obstacle without touching it. Older kids can do the limbo, where they bend backwards to clear the stick or rope. Younger kids can just crawl or crouch under the obstacle.

Rope maze: Use a long rope or twine to create a pattern on the ground, and have the kids follow the pattern, placing one foot in front of the other. For a challenging pattern, create loops and zigzags with the rope. For an easier pattern, lay the rope in a fairly straight line with gentle curves and zigzags.

Water balloon post-game cleanup

Once the fun is over, it’s time for cleanup. Reusable water balloons are easier to clean up than latex water balloons, since they don’t disperse tiny pieces of rubber when they burst. Before the kids start playing, count how many projectiles you’re starting with, and once they’re finished playing, have the kids retrieve the same number of balloons. Squeeze out or shake off the extra water, and set them in the sun to dry. Once they’ve dried, store them in the mesh bag they came in.

Cleaning up latex water balloon debris is a little more difficult, but doesn’t have to be a drag — just make it into a water balloon hunt game!

Beat the Clock

Tell the kids you’re setting a timer for two or three minutes — however long you think it’ll take them to clean up when they’re really going at it. Offer an incentive, like popsicles all around, if they pick up all of the balloon debris before the timer goes off.

Whoever Gets the Most Wins

Give each kid a receptacle — a paper cup, a sandwich bag — and challenge them to pick up as many balloon pieces as they can in two or three minutes. Whoever gets the most, wins — popsicles all around!

By-the-Color

Assign each kid a specific color of balloon debris to look for, or if there’s just one kid doing the cleanup, tell her to go around the yard and collect all the blue balloon pieces, then all of the red pieces, then the yellow ones, and so on.

Whatever form they take, water balloons games are great for getting the kids outside, moving around, practicing numerous motor and social skills. Next time your kid has one or more pals over, fill up a big bucket with water balloons, and let them have at it.