How it plays
Sixteen location tiles form the bazaar as a 4×4 grid. On their turn, players move their stack, made up of a merchant and four assistants, one or two locations onward. There they leave an assistant behind or collect one of their own; only then does the action apply, such as loading goods, selling them or upgrading the wheelbarrow. At the fountain, all the assistants return. Lira and goods are turned into rubies at the sultan’s palace or the gemstone dealer. Whoever has five (six with two players) triggers the end of the game; after the current round, whoever has the most rubies wins.
What it can help develop
Istanbul calls for planning ahead in chains of moves: anyone who loads goods has to know where they will turn them into lira or rubies, and whether they will still have assistants left by then. Otherwise the turn ends without an action. Every round is a new optimisation puzzle. Plans have to stay flexible: occupied locations cost lira, and after each use, the governor and the smuggler jump to a location determined by rolling the dice.
Especially suitable for
- Children from age 10 who enjoy working out efficient moves
- Families with gaming experience who are looking for something more challenging
- Groups of three or more people who enjoy the race
Less suitable for
- Two-player games, if interaction matters
- Children who prefer to play spontaneously rather than to plan
Our verdict
Istanbul is a worthwhile choice for families with gaming experience and children from age 10 who enjoy efficient planning, especially in groups of three or more. In 2014, it won the Kennerspiel des Jahres, and the jury highlighted the bustle of the bazaar and the unusual movement mechanism. Its limitations are the need to explain the 16 locations in the first game, the limited interaction with two players and the luck of the dice.
Getting started
- Explain the principle of the assistants in one sentence: the stack moves one or two locations onward and leaves an assistant there or collects one of its own; only then does the action apply.
- Show the fountain early on: all the assistants return there, and a location occupied by other players costs no lira there.
- Keep plans flexible: after each use, the dice are rolled again to decide where the governor and the smuggler move.
In detail
Variants and player count
According to spielregeln.de, 16 location tiles form the board, and laying them out in a 4×4 grid is recommended. Brettspiele-Report names three set layouts; with a suitable layout, the distances are shorter. Reich der Spiele mentions a recommended starting layout with short distances and more demanding arrangements with longer distances. According to Wikipedia, the end of the game is reached as soon as someone has 5 rubies, or 6 with two players; the current round is still played to the end. In the event of a tie, according to Brettspiele-Report, lira, goods and bonus cards count.
What reviewers say
According to Wikipedia, Istanbul became Kennerspiel des Jahres in 2014, took second place in the Deutscher Spiele Preis 2014 behind Russian Railroads and won the Swiss Gamers Award 2014. In its statement, the jury of the Spiel des Jahres (German game of the year award) calls Istanbul a brisk strategy game full of bazaar bustle. The jury praises the stack of merchant and assistant discs as an original movement mechanism. Brettspiele-Report calls the components high-quality and points out the luck of the dice at 2 locations and little interaction with two players. Reich der Spiele rates the components and the rules as good and calls the basic rules short, but notes that the 16 locations have to be explained in the first game. The review also mentions dead turns without an action, little interaction and luck of the dice; according to the review, families should have some gaming experience.
How it compares
In the catalogue, Istanbul (from age 10, 2 to 5 people, about 40 to 60 minutes) belongs to the skill area of logic and planning. So do Imhotep (from age 10, 2 to 4 people, about 40 minutes) and Carpe Diem (from age 10, 2 to 4 people, about 45 to 75 minutes). Imhotep also has the skill area of flexibility; the catalogue describes it as tactical deliveries with constant rivalry. According to the catalogue, Carpe Diem is a compact optimisation game in which players choose tiles and build a Roman estate. Istanbul can be played with up to 5 people, the other two with up to 4.
Sources
- Spiel des Jahres: Istanbul (jury, in German)
- Wikipedia (German): Kennerspiel des Jahres
- Wikipedia (German): Deutscher Spiele Preis
- Wikipedia (German): Swiss Gamers Award
- Wikipedia (German): Istanbul (Spiel)
- Brettspiele-Report: review (in German)
- Reich der Spiele: review (in German)
- spielregeln.de: Istanbul (in German)
Frequently asked questions
What age is Istanbul suitable for?
Istanbul is recommended from age 10. A child is ready when they plan moves over several steps and can cope with a turn without an action. Anyone who prefers to play spontaneously will enjoy it less. Reviews also assume that the family has some gaming experience.
How long does a game take and how many people can play?
A game takes about 40 to 60 minutes. The game is for 2 to 5 people, who play against each other in a race for rubies. Whoever has five (six with two players) triggers the end of the game, and after the current round, whoever has the most wins.
What skills can Istanbul help develop?
The focus is on logic and planning. When loading goods, players need to be sure where these will turn into lira or rubies and whether assistants will still be available then. Every round sets a new optimisation task, and plans must not be rigid.
Is Istanbul hard to explain?
The basic rules are short. What takes effort is the 16 locations, which have to be explained in the first game. The starting layout with short distances recommended in the rules helps.
