Istanbul

The longer I've been in the board game hobby, the more I appreciate games that can be learned in 15 minutes, played in an hour, but still manage to offer complex and meaningful decisions. This time I will look at one of them - the game Istanbul , which won the 2014 "Kennerspiel des Jahres" award.

Subject matter

During the game, you are a greedy merchant in a big Turkish city. You are not such a merchant, but a serious man who has his own assistants who do all the dirty work for you. During the game, you travel around the market, collect various resources, stop by a tea house once in a while to satisfy your desire for gambling, or improve your cart. All actions are done to collect 5 rubies and thus become the most powerful trader.

Components

The game components are designed very smartly. The field consists of 16 cardboard tiles that will be placed differently in each game, thus creating a completely new puzzle. Each player has a cart to store raw materials. Very thoughtful iconography has been created on the plates and carts, which helps to remember the rules during the game and to place the collected resources. Everything is thought out ahead of time, which makes the game easier and also reduces potential errors.

Mechanics

Basically, there is something in between the mechanics of action selection and worker placement. The moves are extremely simple, you move one or two tiles, then leave or collect one of your helpers and do what you can do on each respective tile. The moves are very fast, which helps the dynamics of the game well. The challenge starts when you have no more assistants to leave, so you have to go to a square that is already in use. Also, if there is an opponent's merchant on one of the tiles, you have to pay him two lira, which is not much, but enough to disrupt the plans and help the opponents. Therefore, you should always think 2-3 steps ahead.

Each time the 16 tiles are placed differently, so you have to think of a slightly different path to the dots each time. In addition, if one of the opponents has decided to go the same way, you have to change your plans, because it is very unprofitable to follow the opponent and pay him two lira each time. There are at least 3 alternative ways to score points in the game, which, unlike the layout of the tiles, will be either more convenient or less convenient.

Multiplayer

Rarely have I managed to play a game 10 times in the first month after buying it. This is an indicator that the game does not get boring and offers something new every time. The base game already has enough well-thought-out material to provide good multiplayer. But two expansions are also available, which can refresh the game over time.

Rating

I believe that Istanbul is a very good game, with a wide audience of potential players. It's a good next level after Ticket To Ride, because in a way the game also promotes the spirit of competition, but the choices are already wider and more serious than in the Ticket To Ride series. My rating is 9 out of 10.

Kristaps

The game can be purchased at the Brain Games store at K. Barona street 55 or at the online store: Istanbul

Board Game Geek rating: 7.6

Pictures: BGG