If you want a shortlist of games tested for family play and grouped by…

Playing time is worth checking before you start. Many escape games run for around an hour to ninety minutes, so it helps to set aside a clear evening rather than squeezing one in. Some are single-use, where you mark or fold the components as you go, while others can be reset and passed on to friends once you have finished, which is handy if you want to share the fun.

Solo puzzle games are useful when you need to keep one child occupied without a second player. The Genius Square and Genius Star are self-contained, so a child can roll, place and solve on a tray table or a picnic blanket without anyone else joining in. Card games such as Flip 7, available from The Happy Puzzle Company, come into their own when the whole family wants a quick round at a campsite or in a holiday cottage.

To compare word games by pace and age suitability, and see which reward speed versus vocabulary, take a look shop at Happy Puzzle the word games at brain games for adults.

Matching a game to a child''s age saves a lot of guesswork. For four and five-year-olds, look for chunky, simple games with clear rules and short rounds, so there is not much waiting between turns. Bee Genius, pitched at younger children, is one example that uses big pieces and a single, easy-to-grasp goal.

If you want a shortlist of games tested for family play and grouped by how long they take, browse the family and party games chosen by puzzle games for adults.

For a hand-picked selection of Christmas games and stocking-filler puzzles for every age, browse the seasonal range at brain teaser puzzles.