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

Stocking fillers are where the smaller puzzles shine. Self-contained games such as the Genius Square, along with pocket brain teasers, drop neatly into a stocking and give someone a challenge for the quiet bit of the morning. For children, a game matched to their age, from Bee Genius for the little ones to WordSnap XL for older siblings, tends to get more play than yet another plastic toy.

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.

For a bigger group, party and bluffing games give teenagers and adults something to sink their teeth into. Titles such as The Traitors board game and card game, both available from The Happy Puzzle Company, lean on reading the room and second-guessing each other, which tends to spark the loudest laughs of the night. Keep one of these for when the whole family is together at Christmas or on a birthday.

Part of what makes it work is the head-to-head option. Two players each take a grid, roll the same starting positions, then race to finish first. A single round takes only a few minutes, which makes it easy to fit in before dinner or on a rainy afternoon. It suits ages six and up, and adults tend to get just as competitive as the children.

By eight to twelve, most children enjoy games with a little strategy or a competitive edge. Word and number games, such as WordSnap XL, and family favourites like Snakes and Ladders in its bigger 3D versions give them something to plan around and enjoy together. Mixed-age families get on best with games that scale, so older and younger siblings can play the same round.