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 educational games for kids.

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

To compare escape room games by difficulty and player count, and find one that suits your group, see the escape room range at puzzles and games.

Difficulty is worth checking before you buy. A puzzle that is too easy gets solved once and put away, while one that is far too hard can end up back in the box. Many puzzles carry a difficulty rating, and it helps to match that to how much time the person likes to spend. Someone who wants a ten-minute coffee-break challenge needs something different from a person happy to pick away at the same puzzle over several evenings.

For a hand-picked selection of brain teasers across easy, medium and fiendish levels, have a look at the adult puzzle range at escape room puzzle games.

These games are a good pick if you want screen-free play that travels well and does not need a long rulebook. You can compare the full Genius line-up and read how each version plays at games for children.