A Christmas Games Gift Guide for the Whole Family

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

If you like the Genius Square, the same puzzle idea runs through a small family of games. Genius Star adds a bonus mechanic and a different set of pieces, Genius Gems and Genius Connection change the shapes and the goal, and Bee Genius is pitched at younger children who are new to shape puzzles. Each one keeps the roll-and-fill pattern while giving you a fresh challenge.

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.

Difficulty varies a lot, so read the age guidance and the suggested group size. A game aimed at families with younger children keeps the clues fairer and the reading lighter, while a harder title will have adults scratching their heads. Working through the puzzles together is good fun, and there is a real sense of satisfaction when the last lock clicks open.

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.

Christmas is when board games and puzzles earn their keep. With the family together and a stretch of quiet days, a good game gets everyone off their phones and round the table, from the youngest cousin to the grandparents. The trick is having a mix ready: a quick game for the afternoon lull, a party game for the evening and a puzzle for someone who wants a quiet corner.