The Complete Guide to Rummy The card game known as rummy has been a favorite among players for centuries, dating back to the early 1800s. Although the game's exact origins are unknown, it is generally accepted thatall patti Rummy developed from a number of previous card games, such as the Chinese game Mahjong and the Mexican game Concentration. In the 1930s, the game became well-liked in the US, especially during the Great Depression when people were looking for inexpensive entertainment options. As card games proliferated in American culture, rummy's popularity grew along with them, giving rise to numerous regional variations and adaptations.