The history guessing game Guess the year
Drop a pin on the year it happened. The closer you are, the more points.
Rather put events in order? Try Timeline
How to play Guess the year
Guess the year is a free online history quiz and trivia game: you see a moment in history and drop a pin on the year it happened. It plays like GeoGuessr, but the map is time: a timeline from 10,000 BC to today. Every round goes like this:
- Read the event on the card.
- Drop a pin on the year you think it happened.
- The closer you are, the more points. Up to 5,000 a round.
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How scoring works
Each round is worth up to 5,000 points. How many you get depends on how far off you are, measured against how long ago the event was. Ten years off is a near miss for ancient Egypt and a clear miss for the 1990s. Only the exact year gives the full 5,000.
| The Moon landing (1969), 10 years off | 3,884 |
| Magna Carta (1215), 50 years off | 3,868 |
| The Great Pyramid of Giza (2,560 BC), 160 years off | 3,739 |
A history guesser like GeoGuessr
If you like GeoGuessr, TimeGuessr or Chronophoto, you will feel at home. Those games show a photo and ask where or when it was taken. Guess the year shows a historical event instead, from the first temples to last decade's headlines, so it tests what you know about history rather than your eye for old cars and clothes.
It is also a close cousin of timeline games such as the Timeline card game, Timdle and our own classic Timeline game, where you put events in order. Here you name the year itself, and every year closer earns points.
Challenge a friend
Share your score and your friend plays the same events with the same rules, then sees who won. Play 5, 10 or 20 rounds or Endless, pick modern or ancient events, add a timer, or choose topics such as war, science, sports or music. Over 2,000 events. Free, no account, and it works in the browser on phone and computer.
What is Guess the year?
Guess the year is a free history game from The Chronology Game. You see a historical event and drop a pin on the year you think it happened. The closer your pin, the more points, up to 5,000 a round and 25,000 for a game of five rounds.
What games is Guess the year like?
It plays like GeoGuessr, with time instead of places. Photo games such as TimeGuessr and Chronophoto come close, and so do timeline games such as the Timeline card game and Timdle. Daily year games such as Yeardle and Which Year are close too, but give you one puzzle a day. Guess the year uses historical events instead of photos, and asks for the exact year instead of the order.
Is Guess the year easy or hard?
Both. Pick Modern for easier history trivia from 1900 to today, Old for a hard one with events before 1500, or Balanced for a mix. Scoring is fair either way: being 10 years off counts for less the older the event.
Does Guess the year cover world history and US history?
Yes. The events span world history from 10,000 BC to today, with many from US and UK history, plus science, inventions, art, sports and music. Pick topics before you start to play only the ones you like.
How are points counted in Guess the year?
Points depend on how far off you are compared with how long ago the event was. Ten years off is a lot for something from last century but very little for something from ancient Egypt. Only the exact year gives the full 5,000.
Can I challenge a friend in Guess the year?
Yes. At the end of a game, tap Share. Your friend opens the link and plays the same events with the same rules, then sees who won. On one device, tap Play as Player 2.
Can I use Guess the year for a history quiz night?
Yes. Play on one screen and take turns, or send everyone the same challenge link: all players get the same events and rules, and the scores show who knows their history best.
Can I change the rules in Guess the year?
Yes. Pick 5, 10 or 20 rounds, or Endless. Choose random, balanced, modern or old events, a timer of 30, 10 or 5 seconds, and the topics you like.
Can I type the year in Guess the year instead of using the timeline?
Yes. Open the settings menu (the gear) and turn on Type the year under Accessibility.
Is Guess the year free?
Yes. No account, no download, no ads. Your best score is saved in your browser.