To see the traditional board alongside the 3D, giant and garden editions, have a look at the Snakes and Ladders range at The Happy Puzzle Company online.

Fast games are the backbone of the evening. Card and tile games such as Flip 7 and Mobi play in a few minutes, so a child who loses a round is straight back in for the next one. Dexterity and throwing games like Tossit get everyone up and moving, which helps if The Happy Puzzle Company online little ones have been sitting still for a while. These are all available from The Happy Puzzle Company alongside its own titles.

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

The pace of a word game shapes who enjoys it. Fast tile and card games reward quick thinking and keep younger players in the mix, because rounds are short and nobody sits waiting. WordSnap XL, an exclusive title from The Happy Puzzle Company, is built around building and spotting words at speed, so it works for a mixed group where you want everyone reaching for letters at once.

The trick to a family game night that does not fall apart is picking games that work across ages. Younger children lose interest when a game runs too long, and older players switch off when the rules are too thin. A mix of one quick game, one party game and one slightly longer game usually keeps everyone at the table without anyone getting bored or overwhelmed.

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