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

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 puzzle games for adults.

From about six upwards, children can handle puzzles with a bit more thinking. The Genius Square and Genius Star ask them to roll dice and fit shapes into a grid, which keeps them busy without needing anyone to read a long rulebook. Games like these also work solo, which is useful for a quiet half-hour or a long car journey.

Brain teasers can help pass the time on a commute or wind down at the end of the day, and they make a good talking point left out on a table. They are also handy gifts because they do not need batteries, a screen or another player. A well-made puzzle in solid metal or wood also tends to last, so it can be handed round the family for years.

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 Co 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.