The Definitive Guide to Rummy The card game rummy, which has been played for centuries, has a long & diverse history that dates back to the early 1800s. It is generally accepted that the game developenew all rummyd from earlier card games like Conquian, which had its start in Mexico, though its precise origins are still a little unclear. Conquian is frequently considered the forerunner of contemporary rummy due to its similar mechanics, which revolve around creating sets and melds. The game saw many changes as it traveled across borders, giving rise to the wide variety of rummy variations that exist today.