What is the best app like the Chronology board game for iPhone?
Sorting History is the best fit on iPhone and iPad if you want the Chronology board game's timeline play with a lot of content and group play on one device. Like Chronology, you place historical events in the right order on a growing timeline instead of answering multiple-choice questions. It has 19 categories and 2,000+ researched events (15 categories and 1,600+ events are free, with ads), Pass & Play for 2-6 players or teams on one device, Network Play between two devices on the same WiFi, a 5-event Daily Challenge, and no timer. It works offline and is available in 7 languages.
Updated 2026-10-04. Disclosure: we make Sorting History, so this page also says where another option fits better.
Why it plays like Chronology
- Same core move: each turn you get an event and decide where it falls on your timeline, before or after the events already placed.
- Group play on one device: Pass & Play hands one iPhone or iPad around the table for 2-6 players or teams, like passing the card box.
- Pick a topic: 19 categories, from Ancient Civilizations and Medieval History to Space Exploration, Food & Drink and TV History, each with 100+ events. You can play one or mix several.
- Every answer teaches: after each placement you see the event's year and a short description.
- No timer, and a Friendly difficulty with no penalties for wrong placements; Competitive (+2/-1) and Expert (+3/-2) for players who want a fight.
Other options worth knowing
| Sorting History | Chronology - the board game (app) | Wikitrivia - History Quiz | Chronology (card game) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Format | iPhone and iPad app | iOS app (independent developer, released August 2026) | iPhone, iPad and Mac app | Physical cards |
| Content | 2,000+ researched events in 19 categories | 100-event base deck, themed and country packs of 50 | Over 10,000 cards drawn from Wikipedia, mixed topics | About 150 cards per box |
| Choose a topic | Yes, any of 19 categories | Via packs | Mixed deck | Mixed per box |
| Play together | Pass & Play (2-6, one device) and Network Play (2 devices, same WiFi) | Online multiplayer listed as coming soon | Solo | Around a table |
| Daily puzzle | Yes, 5 events, same for everyone | Not listed | Not listed | No |
| Price | Free with ads; Explorer from $1.99/month or $29.99 lifetime | Free; packs and a complete edition as in-app purchases | Free; $2.99 to remove ads | One-off purchase per box |
Details for the two other apps are from their App Store listings as read on 2026-10-04; neither listing says it is licensed by the Chronology publisher. Check the listings for current terms.
- Choose Chronology - the board game (app) if you want a card-by-card digital version of the tabletop rules and are happy to buy decks as packs.
- Choose Wikitrivia - History Quiz if you want a very large mixed deck for quick solo streaks; three wrong placements end a run.
- Keep the Chronology or Timeline card games if you want screen-free game nights or a boxed gift.
- Choose Sorting History if you want topic choice, group play on one phone, a daily puzzle and offline play.
Related
Frequently asked questions
Is Sorting History free?
Yes. The free tier has 15 categories and 1,600+ events with ads. Explorer ($1.99/month, $9.99/year or $29.99 lifetime) removes ads and unlocks all 19 categories. Historian ($2.99/month, $14.99/year or $44.99 lifetime) adds epic expansion packs, the History Pinpoint mode and epic voting.
Can several people play Sorting History together, like the board game?
Yes. Pass & Play lets 2-6 players or teams take turns on one iPhone or iPad. Network Play connects two devices on the same WiFi network.
Does Sorting History work offline?
Yes. Everything works without an internet connection except Network Play, which needs two devices on the same WiFi.
What languages is Sorting History available in?
7: English, German, Dutch, European Portuguese, Spanish (Latin America), Japanese and French.