Horseshoes is probably one of the oldest traditional games enjoyed by campers. I'm thinking it might have something to do with the lack of other options on wagon trains. No doubt they carried extra horseshoes with them and had little room for other play equipment so making a game out of things on hand just made sense. Just take care to keep the playing area free from living targets!
Tug-of-war is fun group activity and all you need is a big rope and room enough for the two teams to face off on either end. For an extra incentive and added fun on a hot day stretch the rope over a creek or a puddle. You can even do a tug-of-war in the snow (I recommend forgoing any kind of wet obstacles in cold weather; being draggesd down into the snow will be punishing enough).
Lawn darts are another game you'll see often in RV stores. It requires even more care than horseshoes to ensure safety, but it can be a lot of fun. And, again, it takes up little room. Variations of the game can include throwing for accuracy at targets formed by string on the ground or trying for greatest distance. A safer variation are "nerf"darts, that won't make nasty holes in someone's head if they land on them.
I've seen Boy Scout troops have knife and tomahawk throwing contests, but for that you will need special knives and axes, special targets, and lots of safety precautions, to say nothing of proper training and lots of practice.
Washers is another tossing game that has gained some popularity. The "washers" are usually large, flat, plastic rings. The game is played much like horseshoes, attempting to toss them onto a vertical post.
Frisbees are light weight and fun for both people and dogs. You can even build your own "Frisbee golf course" or just play catch with them. In a pinch they can also be used as paper plate holders.
Various games of "tag" can be adapted to almost any location and usually required little if any special equipment.
Old school yard games like "Red Rover" and "Mother May I" can be fun when you have enough people and a comfortable (grassy or sandy) place large enough to play and they don't require any special equipment.
Volleyball is a pretty flexible game that can be set up where ever you have a flat, sandy or grassy area big enough. You might play on a paved playground, but that can deliver some nasty contusions should you fall, as players often do while going for the ball. You can usually use the same ball to play soccer or dodge ball.
Badminton can share a net with volley ball and provide an alternate 2 or 4 person game.
Lawn tennis might also be played using a volleyball or badminton net.
Squirt gun fights are a fun way to cool down a hot summer afternoon. We've found a variety of squirt guns and even "super soakers" at Dollar Tree, so it doesn't have to expensive to equip your whole group and they're resusable as long as you don't step on them or otherwise treat them too rough. While this may seem to appeal mostly to kids, you might be surprised how much fun it can be for adults. I remember a few such activities with my Dad when we were growing up and with a squirt gun in his hand he quickly became a kid again, giving us (me at least) memories of family fun that have lasted for decades. Of course you'll need access to a campground faucet or provide some other means for readily refilling your devices.
Basketball may be an option in a developed campground that has a designated court. It probably isn't a good thing to try in primitive desert or forest camps.
Football, especially the "touch" or "flag" versions, are popular pastimes where ever you have grassy field or sandy beach where you can play. Although your inherent macho drive might make you want to the play full-contact, tackle game, lack of proper equipment is likely to lead to injuries that will spoil your day as quickly and surely as rain on a picnic -- especially if you're on the receiving end of the pain!
Softball is an All-American classic. There are several games you can play with just a bat, a ball, and a mitt. If you have enough people you can choose up teams and have a full 9-inning game. You can play with fewer players, either with small teams or with no teams by simply rotating positions. It is called Scrub or Workup Baseball. I recall a playground game from my youth called "Knock Up and Lay Down" where the batter hit the ball. If someone caught the fly, they got to be the batter. If they missed the catch, but retrieved the ball, they'd roll it toward the bat, which the batter had laid down crossways in front of his feet. The object of rolling the ball was to hit the bat. If the batter didn't catch the ball when it bounced off the bat, he lost his turn at bat to the person who rolled the ball. There is no penalty for the roller missing the bat except losing a an opportunity to win your chance at bat. You need a nice grassy field for a game of softball and pretty smooth paved area, like a playground, parking lot, or a vacant street for "Knock Up and Lay Down". A fun version of baseball for the smaller kids is T-ball, where the ball is set on a "T" and the batter takes a swing at it instead of facing a pitcher.
Croquet was once a the very popular sport of royalty. Again, it takes little equipment and needs only a level, grassy area. Because it isn't as popular as it once was, it provides a kind of novelty that can be fun for all ages. A croquet set consists of at least 2 mallets, several balls (traditionally made of wood) and a number of wire hoops and a couple of end posts so it doesn't take up a lot or room or add a lot of weight to your camping stuff.
Card games are usually reserved for indoor, rain-day options, but having an outdoor group session can also be a fun thing to do in the afternoon or evening, especially if weather prevents other more active outdoor games.
Board games likewise, mostly come out when you're stuck inside in bad weather, but can also be quite vigorous and exciting in larger groups.
Skeet shooting and other target practice is something we often found to be a fun change from riding our dirt bikes in the desert. It isn't something you can do just anyplace, but it works well in many remote areas unless shooting is prohibited. Be sure to make sure no riders or hikers show up down range! It is a really good idea to designate one member of your group as "Range Safety Officer". His or her ONLY job is to monitor the range and the shooters and watch for and stop unsafe conditions. That includes keeping an eye down range for errant hikers or riders who may wander in and policing the shooters so ensure they maintain safe practices on the firing line. Doing a little shooting might even provide a level of security by letting would-be future felons in the area know yours is an armed camp and they may choose to look elsewhere for an easier target.
Archery is another shooting sport that is fun and lends a kind of pre-technology "Robin Hood" or American Indian spirit to the outing. You sometimes find small archery ranges at resorts or you may have to set up your own targets. Bales of straw make good target backstops for archery. Targets might include standard bulls-eye formats and animal silhouettes for those interested in perfecting their primitive hunting skills or just making it more fun. An advantage of archery over skeet shooting is that it is QUIET. Be sure you have proper safety devices (arm guards and finger tabs) to avoid unnecessary injuries. Even with arm guards I've seen shooters with purple forearms on their bow hands after a few rounds of the bowstring whacking them. Be sure someone in the group has some skills and experience they can use to train others. What you seen in movies and on TV is a far cry from safe and sane procedures and discipline needed for fun and accurate shooting.
Bicycling is good exercise and gives you a certain amount of increased mobility around camp. Bicycles are environmentally friendly and economical to operate. Mountain bike models can even extend your excursions beyond roads to more primitive routes. Bikes might be a nice addition to OHV outings where you can take advantage of nearby OHV trails. I've even seen all-wheel drive mountain bikes for off road use.
Shuffleboard requires a prepared court so you'll only have this option at developed campgrounds who have built one.
Nerf toys provide an almost endless variety of possible games. Nerf footballs give almost all the fun of regular footballs, but with likelihood of injuring bystanders. One of our family favorites were Nerf Rockets that whistled loudly when thrown.
Golf, tennis, pickleball, and ping pong are available at some resorts.
Play on!
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