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.

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.

Think about space and time too. A large jigsaw needs a table or board where it can stay out for days, which is not always practical. Puzzles can be a calming, screen-free way to spend a wet afternoon, and working on one together is a quiet way for a family to sit down side by side without a fixed finish time.

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 games for adults.

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 outdoor happypuzzle.co.uk garden games.

For a shortlist of compact games that pack down small and set up fast, browse the travel-friendly games chosen by games for children.