There is something special about playing board games in the summer. I have such fond memories of playing cards at the beach as a kid, or playing Parcheesi with a friend’s family after a long day a the lake, or playing games poolside on a hot summer afternoon.

The only trouble is, summer means water and water can spell damage for a beloved game.

Today, I am sharing ten of our favorite waterproof games. These are the game we pack in our beach and pool bags, and the games we bring on vacation. They are durable and waterproof and, most importantly, fun!

10 Waterproof Games for the Beach or Pool

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UNO Splash

If there is one game that reminds me of the beach, this is it. I have such vivid, wonderful memories of playing this game on the sand with friends in middle and high school. My deck was so worn and tattered, but nowadays we have UNO Splash. The cards are waterproof and they all attach on a handy key ring that you can hook onto your pool or beach bag. I love this classic game!

Spot it Splash

My children love Spot It, and I had no idea that there was a waterproof version available… until last week when we won a summer fun basket in a raffle and found this deck tucked inside. I am certain that Spot It Splash will get tons of use this summer! If you have never played Spot It before, you should. It is a simple, easy to learn game that all ages can enjoy. The neat thing about this deck of cards is that any two cards have one, and only one, match. Each card has colorful objects and words on it, in various sizes. In this game, you have to be the first to spot it. Everyone is playing at once so it’s fun and fast and crazy. The winner is the person with the most cards at the end.

Swish

This brightly colored transparent card game requires players to think fast and use spatial reasoning. These cards are super-durable and travel well. I wish this game had been around during my swim team days. It would have been perfect for those long meets, wet hands, and wet surfaces! I always say this, but our family has yet to meet a ThinkFun game we don’t love!

Story Cubes

Story Cubes are a versatile game that can be used as an ice breaker in a group activity, as a one player game, or in a group. There are several versions available. There are also countless ways to play this game, but the way we normally play is to roll all nine dice and then tell a story based on the images rolled. Rory’s Story Cubes never fails to elicit laughter, all the while building creativity and imagination.

Math Dice

ThinkFun has a variety of dice games on the market and you can’t go wrong with any of them! In fact, our family has yet to meet a ThinkFun game we don’t absolutely love! Math Dice can be used for all ages and in a variety of different ways. Younger players can identify numbers or count dots, while older players can work on addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. To add a challenge, grab a stopwatch!

Bananagrams

I have loved Scrabble since I was a little girl, and Bananagrams is like a throw-it-in-your-purse Scrabble. You can play it anywhere! It is great for restaurants, vacations, and family game nights. You can play it with friends, or play a solitaire version.

Sumoku

Sumoku is a crossword-style math game; a mathy and brilliantly-colored Bananagrams! For each game, you roll a die and the number that you roll (either a 3, 4, or 5) is the “key number” for the game. Players take turns placing single rows, in a crossword-style, of tiles that add up to a multiple of that key number. This is a game you can toss in your purse and take anywhere!

Namits

Namits is a super-simple card game that can be hooked onto your purse for emergencies. The object of the game is to name as many items in a certain category as possible. We have played it in the car, in waiting rooms and restaurants, and by the pool!

Waterproof playing cards

This almost seems too simple for a post, but with waterproof playing cards the possibilities for play and fun are endless! This deck is a must-have!

Waterproof floating multi-game board

With this handy little game board, you can play checkers, chess, and backgammon. You can also use the board in conjunction with your waterproof cards on a hot day. It is a perfect floating surface!

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Now, it’s your turn. Tell me: Does your family like to play games at the beach or by the pool? What is your favorite? Share here!