For a shortlist of compact games that pack down small and set up fast, browse the travel-friendly games chosen by games for happypuzzle.co.uk children.
For a hand-picked selection of Christmas games and stocking-filler puzzles for every age, browse the seasonal range at brain teaser puzzles.
For a hand-picked selection of brain teasers across easy, medium and fiendish levels, have a look at the adult puzzle range at escape room puzzle games.
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.
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.
The 3D and giant multi-storey versions bring something new to the classic. Instead of a flat board, counters travel up and around a tall structure, with the snakes and ladders running between levels, which children find far more exciting to watch. Larger garden versions scale the whole thing up for outdoor play, so the game moves from the kitchen table to the lawn on a sunny day.