Games like TimeGuessr
If the daily where-and-when itch needs scratching, here is an honest rundown of the genre — and where PinPast fits.
The genre at a glance
GeoGuessr started it: dropped into Street View, guess where. TimeGuessr added the second axis — historical photos, guess where and when. PinPast is our take on that two-axis daily: five rounds a day, a map pin and a year dial, scored out of 10,000 per round.
What we do differently:
- Real archives, shown to you. Every image is public-domain — Wikimedia Commons, Europeana, national archives — and the reveal includes the actual source record, license and backstory. Half the game is discovering the sources.
- 1855 to the present. 609 photographs across 65 countries; a 1998 street scene can be harder to date than an 1890s one.
- One daily, done properly. Five photographs a day rather than a second half-finished mode. A newspaper mode is in the works and stays offline until its redaction is trustworthy — a puzzle that leaks its own answer is not a puzzle.
Frequently asked
Is PinPast free?
Yes — free, no account, no ads. One daily set of five rounds per mode, plus unlimited practice.
How is PinPast different from TimeGuessr?
Same where-and-when idea, different sourcing: every PinPast image is public-domain, and after each round you see the actual archive record it came from — source, license, and the story behind it. A newspaper-dating mode is in development.
How is it different from GeoGuessr?
GeoGuessr drops you in Street View and asks only where. PinPast shows a historical photograph and scores two axes: where on the map, and when on a year dial from 1855 to the present.
Can I share my results without spoilers?
Yes — after the fifth round you get a Wordle-style share card with your scores and no answers.
TimeGuessr and GeoGuessr are their respective owners' games — named here for comparison only. No affiliation.