Skill Level: Puzzles usually come with a skill rating or the age recommendation for a particular game. This can be used to select puzzles according to the age of a person or the skills that he or she has in that particular puzzle. Mind benders and brain teasers come with ratings. The skill level or age is not necessarily important a factor since most people easily do the highest rated puzzles as easily as doing a smaller level puzzle.

However, if you are considering buying puzzles for children, it is better if you go with the age indications, since they also warn if the puzzle has small parts that can be swallowed.

Number of Players: Most puzzles are meant for one person; however there are a few which require participation of two or more people. These puzzles can be solved by the entire family. Some jigsaw puzzles come in giant sizes that need more than one person to solve. These are the most popular family puzzles. Puzzles such as Pictionary, Charades and Taboo are popular party puzzles.

Speed of Game: Choosing a game based on the speed with which it can be completed needs to be dependent on the availability of time. Large jigsaw puzzles with 1000 plus pieces can take about two or three weeks to be completed, hence if one lacks time, these puzzles are not recommended. Most people get bored and frustrated within a few hours. Puzzles such as scrabble, slide image puzzle and Dutch Blitz are short and challenging puzzles that get over in matter of minutes.