Ridley's Games

Ridley's Games publishes a considered range of boxed games, puzzles and after-dinner diversions that look as good on a coffee table as they play at it. The sets are packaged in illustrated boxes designed to be kept rather than hidden away, covering everything from Think Fast to classic parlour games updated for modern play.

The range spans quick-play card games, dice sets, classic board games and after-dinner puzzles, with Think Fast, Utter Nonsense and the Classic Collection among the most popular. The brief across every release is sociable, short-form play that works across ages.

Most titles are designed for ages 8 and up, with a small number aimed at younger children. Age recommendations are printed on every box, and the mixed-age family games are clearly flagged in the listing.

Each game comes in an illustrated box designed to be displayed rather than hidden in a cupboard, the covers take cues from mid-century print design. That makes them gift-friendly and visually at home on a shelf between books.

Think Fast, Utter Nonsense and the Classic Collection all play well in groups of four to eight, with short rounds that keep the tempo up after dinner. The smaller card-format games are useful for travel or for a quieter two-player round.