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 little ones have been sitting still for a while. These are all available from The Happy Puzzle Company alongside its own titles.
To see jigsaws grouped by piece count and theme, from first puzzles for toddlers to harder pieces for adults, take a look at the jigsaw collection at puzzles and games.
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 image matters as much as the count. Scenes with plenty of variety, such as busy street scenes or landscapes with lots of colour, give you clear areas to work on and tend to feel achievable. Puzzles that are all one colour, or that repeat a pattern, are far harder because you cannot rely on the picture, so save those for someone who likes a proper challenge.
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 for adults games.
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 jigsaw puzzles.