It's a small wonder that most people have grown up with Monopoly. Monopoly, with its thrilling property-owning rules and objectives, is highly educational. For early Monopoly beginners of seven years, it encourages arithmetic skills. At the same time it teaches older players about money management, property management, basic economics, the art of negotiation and compromise (just how much are you prepared to trade for Mayfair). In many ways Monopoly also mirrors the lessons of life-chance and luck can throw even the best-laid plans astray, and if you 're not prepared to take the big risks you're unlikely to be life's big winner. Yet Monopoly is also great fun and for some reason its simple rules don't tire or become dull from repetition-truly the mark of a timeless classic. The only significant downside to Monopoly is that the full game can be a very lengthy event easily lasting hours. Monopoly can be enjoyed by children as young as seven years old and will still thrill a 97-year-old; it is suitable for 2-8 players. A perfect game of family fun on a rainy day, a long holiday or a cold winter night, Monopoly will probably be the most played board game your you will ever own. -Victoria Mackenzie.

Yet not only is Rush Hour great fun but it can also boast strong educational benefits, teaching problem solving to children of seven years plus. In the US Rush Hour is used in some primary school maths classes. Even a smart four-year-old will find some reward by trying to replicate the traffic set-up scenario of the challenge cards. Rush Hour can be enjoyed by one player or various players competing. Suitable for children from 7 years old and all adults who enjoy an ingenious little challenge. -Victoria Mackenzie There's an understated elegance to Rush Hour, one of the most inspired and intriguing sliding block puzzles we've so far encountered here in the lab at gadgetshop HQ. It's designed to challenge players of all ages, teaching logical progression, problem solving and sequential-thinking skills. And that's just to open the box. This multi award-winning puzzle - and its inventor Nob Yoshigahara - have picked-up no fewer than 21 gongs in the past decade; a surefire testament to its longevity, durability and worldwide appeal. The objective sounds easy in theory. Drive your red car out of the playing grid and escape to freedom. But in order to so, you'll first need to set up the traffic on a game grid to match one of 40 playing cards, then shift all the blocking cars and trucks out of your way. This is more easily said than done, as a clear and transparent set of rules then come into play. To proceed, one simply needs to move one vehicle at a time, in a long sequence of moves designed to free the red car from the logjam and out of the parking lot. All of which will have one scratching one's noggin- and driving one to the web for a solution. Brilliantly infuriating - and infuriatingly brilliant.

) This is a game to suit all ages-children with adults, children with children or adults with adults. Whichever the combination the end result will be plenty of family fun. Six years up, two or more players. -Phillippa Reece.