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 brain teaser puzzles.

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

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 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.

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 hand-picked selection of brain teasers across easy, medium and fiendish levels, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Puzzle_Company have a look at the adult puzzle range at brain teaser puzzles.

To see the traditional board alongside the 3D, giant and garden editions, have a look at the Snakes and Ladders range at escape room puzzle games.