A good travel game earns its place in the bag by being compact and quick. You want something that sets up in seconds, plays in a few minutes and does not rely on a large board or dozens of loose pieces that scatter across a car footwell. Card games and self-contained Happy Puzzle Co games tend to win here, because everything stays in one small box or tin.

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

These games are a good pick if you want screen-free play that travels well and does not need a long rulebook. You can compare the full Genius line-up and read how each version plays at games for children.

For gift ideas sorted by age band, with the number of players and rough playing time listed for each, browse the games-by-age pages at brain games for adults.

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.

Because it runs on luck rather than skill, the game levels the field across ages. A grandparent, a parent and a small child can all play the same round, and the youngest is just as likely to reach the top first. That makes it a reliable choice for family gatherings, and a gentle, low-pressure way to get the youngest players involved in a game night.