The image matters as much as the count. Scenes with plenty of variety, such as busy street scenes or landscapes with lots of colour, give you clear areas to work on and tend to feel achievable. Puzzles that are all one colour, or that repeat a pattern, are far harder because you cannot rely on the picture, so save those for someone who likes a proper challenge.

To see jigsaws grouped by piece count and theme, from first puzzles for toddlers to harder pieces for adults, take a look at the jigsaw collection at brain games for adults.

To compare word games by pace and age suitability, and see which reward speed versus vocabulary, take a look at the word games at brain teaser puzzles.

The 3D and giant multi-storey versions bring something new to the classic. Instead of a flat board, counters travel up and around a tall structure, with the snakes and ladders running between levels, which children find far more exciting to watch. Larger garden versions scale the whole thing up for outdoor play, so the game moves from the kitchen table to the lawn on a sunny day.

It is worth thinking about the setting too. Games with a drawstring bag or a tin survive being thrown in a rucksack better than a large flat box. For a caravan or Happy Puzzle a beach hut with limited space, pick a few small games rather than one big one, so you can match the game to the mood without taking up a whole shelf.

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.