By Wynk Team
Once upon a time, not so long ago, a summer hang was as simple as dialing up a friend to arrange plans to meet up at the nearest Big Green Box. As every millennial can attest, our imaginations were once capable of getting lost in hours and hours of elaborate play: one day the box could be a schoolteacher’s desk, the next a mermaid’s rock, or a knight’s roundtable. On the playground we’d play tag, whisper secret messages into the “phones,” and swing as high as we dared. Adulthood has its perks, but with all of the tensions and responsibilities we now face, it’s hard not to miss the days when our most important obligation was getting home for dinner before the streetlights came on.
No matter how many years go by, something about the familiar sensations of summer makes us long to feel that childhood freedom again, before the existence of the smartphones and social media that now often keep us inside and glued to our screens. But even though we can never quite go back, we’re never too old to reconnect with our inner children through the intentional play that we all crave deep down. So this summer, let’s get back to sticky popsicle hands, bare feet running through grass, sunshine, belly laughs – and most importantly: being present. With that said, here are ten of our favorite classic games perfect for grownup hangs and infused with the spirit of being forever young at heart.
1. Kickball
Locate your nearest park with the space to spread out, assign teams, and pick your pace. Whether you’re serious about taking home a trophy or just having a laugh, the fun is guaranteed.
2. Uno
Load up your best friendly trash talk and assert your dominance to see which friend will reign as the day’s supreme Uno champion. And of course, it wouldn’t be Uno without making up new rules as you go along.
3. Sardines
To play Sardines, one person hides, and everyone else seeks. When you find them, you squeeeeeeze in to hide with them. As you’re discovered, each subsequent seeker will also squeeze in with you. The last person to find the hiding spot loses (or wins, depending on how you look at it). It’s a little spooky, very silly, and will make you feel 13 again – in a good way. So get sipping your garden seltzer and prepare to get very, very comfortable.
4. Friendship Bracelets
Set up a picnic table with some string, beads, and snacks, to see who can make the best friendship bracelet in 10 minutes. It’s part crafting, a liiiiiittle bit of competition, and above all, connection, which is what friendship bracelets are all about. Why did we ever stop making these?
5. Freeze Tag
With a little buzz under your belt, the laughs come easy, and the only stakes are having a good time. Unleash your mischievous side for a re-run of a childhood classic, where all you need to do is run.
6. Capture the Flag
Split into two teams, pick your territories, and hide your flags. Suddenly, your local park transforms into the epic battlefield it used to be. You’ll be sprinting, sneaking, and shouting “gotcha!” before you know it.
7. Kick the Can
A mix of tag and hide-and-seek, this game adds a can to kick free your teammates from “jail.” It’s all about strategy, sneaking, and the thrill of the chase, plus the satisfying moment when you sprint up and send the can flying.
8. Water Balloon Fight
Stock up on balloons, form alliances, and let the ambushes begin. Just like when we were kids, someone’s going to take a direct hit to the back and laugh so hard they can’t even retaliate.
9. Slip ’N Slide Showdown
Nothing says summer throwback quite like a slippery sheet of plastic and a running start. See who can slide the farthest or the fastest. Bonus points if you end up covered in grass clippings.
10. Knockout Basketball
Head to the nearest hoop, line up with your friends, and get ready for some fast-paced fun. With just two basketballs, the pressure’s on to sink your shot before the person behind you knocks you out. It’s competitive, chaotic, and guaranteed to feel like gym class all over again, but in the best way.
When the sun starts to dip and the streetlights flicker on, you’ll realize you’ve spent the day exactly how you used to laughing and losing track of time with your favorite people. The best part? You don’t need to be a kid to feel that kind of joy again. You just need a few friends, a little imagination, and maybe a cold Wynk in hand.
