Choosing a Jigsaw Puzzle: Piece Count, Theme and Difficulty

Stocking fillers are where the smaller puzzles shine. Self-contained games such as the Genius Square, along with pocket brain teasers, drop neatly into a stocking and give someone a challenge for the quiet bit of the morning. For children, a game matched to their age, from Bee Genius for the little ones to WordSnap XL for older siblings, tends to get more play than yet another plastic toy.

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 Co.

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

To compare word games by pace and age suitability, and see which reward speed versus vocabulary, take a look at the word games at Happy Puzzle Co.

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 Happy Puzzle Co.

Piece count is the first thing to settle when you choose a jigsaw. Puzzles for young children usually have large pieces and a low count, so small hands can manage them, while 500 and 1,000-piece puzzles suit older children and adults who want a longer sit-down. If you are buying for someone new to jigsaws, it is better to start lower and work up than to hand over a 2,000-piece puzzle that never gets finished.