13 Competitive Pool Party Water Balloon Games 

Game 1: Water Balloon Toss

• What you need: Water balloons, two teams of 2-4 players each, and a designated throwing area
• How to play: Divide the players into teams and have them stand facing each other at an equal distance. Each player must toss a water balloon to their teammate, who must catch it without letting it break. If a balloon breaks, the team is out. The last team standing wins.

Game 2: Balloon Volleyball

• What you need: Water balloons, two teams of 2-4 players each, and a volleyball net or a makeshift one made from a pool noodle
• How to play: Divide the players into teams and have them stand on opposite sides of the net. Players must trow the balloon back and forth. If the balloon breaks or falls to the ground, the opposing team scores a point. The team with the most points wins.

Game 3: Water Balloon Relay Race

• What you need: Water balloons, four teams of 2-4 players each, and four buckets or containers
• How to play: Divide the players into teams and have them line up at one end of the pool. Place four buckets or containers at the other end of the pool. On "go," each player must run to their bucket, grab a water balloon, and then return to their team's starting point. The first player to fill their bucket with water from all four sources wins.
• Variation: Add some fun by having players do a specific task before filling their bucket, such as doing a shot or singing a song.

Game 4: Splash Tag

• What you need: Water balloons, two teams of 2-4 players each, and designated playing areas
• How to play: Divide the players into teams and have them spread out across the pool area. When one player is "it," they must try to tag another player with a water balloon. If someone gets tagged, they become "it." The game continues until everyone has been tagged.

Game 5: Water Balloon Dodgeball

What you need: Water balloons, open space (like a backyard or park), and markers for boundaries

How to play: Divide players into two teams. Set boundaries for the playing area. Each team has a designated safe zone where players can retrieve water balloons. Players try to hit members of the opposing team with water balloons. If hit, a player is out and must sit out until the next round. The last team with players remaining wins.

Variation: To make it more challenging, players hit by a balloon must freeze in place until a teammate can tag them to unfreeze and return to play.

Game 6: Water Balloon Hot Potato

What you need: Water balloons, music player

How to play: Players sit in a circle and pass a water balloon around while music plays. When the music stops, whoever is holding the balloon must pop it over their head, getting wet. That player is out for the rest of the round. The last player remaining dry wins the game.

Variation: Increase the suspense by using a timer instead of music. Players must pass the balloon around as quickly as possible, trying not to be the one holding it when the timer goes off.

Game 7: Water Balloon Target Practice

What you need: Water balloons, targets (like cans, buckets, or drawn circles on the ground)

How to play: Set up targets at various distances. Players take turns throwing water balloons to hit the targets. Assign points based on the difficulty of hitting each target. The player with the most points after all players have taken their turns wins.

Variation: Create a course with multiple targets that players must hit in sequence. Time each player to see who completes the course fastest.

Game 9: Water Balloon Piñata

What you need: Water balloons, a sturdy string or rope, blindfold

How to play: Hang several water balloons from a string or rope, spaced apart. Players take turns being blindfolded, spun around, and given a stick to try to break the balloons. The player who breaks the most balloons in a set amount of time wins.

Variation: Instead of blindfolding players, have them try to break the balloons with their hands tied behind their back for an added challenge.

Game 10: Water Balloon Spoon Race

What you need: Water balloons, spoons (one for each participant)

How to play: Players balance a water balloon on a spoon and race to a designated point and back without dropping it. If a balloon drops, the player must return to the starting point and begin again. The first player or team to finish the race without dropping their balloon wins.

Variation: Increase the difficulty by having players navigate obstacles or by making the race a relay with teams passing the balloon to the next player without dropping it.

Game 11: Water Balloon Drop

What you need: Water balloons, a sturdy ladder or elevated structure (like a balcony or deck)

How to play: One player stands on the ladder or elevated structure and drops water balloons to players below. Players try to catch the balloons without them breaking. Each successful catch earns a point. The player with the most points after all balloons have been dropped wins.

Variation: Increase the distance between the dropper and the catchers to make it more challenging. You can also assign different point values based on the height or difficulty of catching the balloons.

Game 12: Water Balloon Tic-Tac-Toe

What you need: Water balloons, chalk or tape to mark a grid on the ground

How to play: Draw a large tic-tac-toe grid on the ground. Players take turns throwing water balloons to try to get three in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) in the grid. Balloons that miss or break are out of play. The first player to achieve three in a row wins.

Variation: Increase the grid size or add obstacles that players must navigate around before throwing their balloons.

Game 13: Water Balloon Partner Challenge

What you need: Water balloons, pairs of players

How to play: Each pair of players must complete an obstacle course while keeping a water balloon sandwiched between them without using their hands. The obstacle course can include items like cones to weave through, hurdles to jump over, a tunnel to crawl through, and a balance beam to cross. If the balloon drops or breaks, the pair must return to the start of that obstacle and try again. The pair that completes the obstacle course in the shortest time without dropping or breaking the balloon wins.

Variation: Introduce challenges at certain points in the obstacle course where pairs must switch positions (e.g., the person in front moves to the back and vice versa) without dropping the balloon.

Make Filling Balloon Easier

These pool party water balloon games are sure to make your summer gathering an unforgettable experience for you and your friends. Whether you're looking for something fun and casual or something more exciting and adventurous, there's something for everyone on this list. So grab your water balloons, gather your friends, and get ready to dive into the ultimate summer bash!

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