- BGG rank
- BGG #3,050
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Timeline
- 2–8 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,683
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Chronology
1996
Rules assistance for Chronology
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–8 players
- 30 min
- 12+
- Complexity 1.4/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Chronology
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Chronology is a board game released in 1996 for 2–8 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jane Ruemmele.
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About the game
Chronology is a card game of all time. More specifically, during the game each player builds a timeline of cards, with each card listing an historical event and the year in which it occurred. At the start of the game, players are dealt two cards, which are then placed face up in chronological order. On their turn, a player is read an event from a new card; the player must then indicate the position on their own timeline where the card should be placed. If they're correct, they take possession of the card and inserts it in their line; if not, the next player gets a crack at it, and so on. The first player with ten cards wins. Some versions of Chronology have players compete to create a timeline of only five cards.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Fundex
- Spear's Games
- Gibsons
- Great American Puzzle Factory
- Buffalo Games
Questions and answers
Chronology supports 2–8 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Chronology is 30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Chronology for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Chronology has a complexity rating of 1.4 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Chronology belongs to these categories: Card Game, Party Game, and Trivia. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Chronology and want something comparable for your next game night.
The credited designers of Chronology are: Jane Ruemmele. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Chronology as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.