The Allure of Rummy: A Thorough Examination The card game rummy, which has enthralled players for centuries, has a long and diverse history that dates back to the early 1800s. Although its precise beginnings are still somewhat unknown, marummy bigny historians think the game developed from a mashup of earlier card games, such as the European game "Whist," the Mexican game "Conquian," and the Chinese game "Kong.". The first known mention of Rummy appears in the works of American author and humorist Mark Twain, who in the late 1800s made reference to a game that resembled Rummy. The game experienced multiple adaptations as it traveled across continents, giving rise to the wide range of variations that exist today.