Istanbul: Digital Edition

About

"Istanbul: Digital Edition" is a strategy game where players become merchants in the bustling city of Istanbul, competing to collect rubies and become the wealthiest. The digital version retains the award-winning gameplay of the original board game, while also adding convenient features only possible in a digital format. The goal is to be the first player to collect a certain number of rubies, using assistants, wheelbarrows, and cunning strategies to outmaneuver opponents in this immersive and challenging experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 157 reviews

graphics7 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Excellent adaptation of the physical board game with a smooth and intuitive interface.
Great replayability with various strategies and play modes, making it enjoyable for both solo and multiplayer.
Beautiful graphics and helpful tutorials that assist new players in understanding the game mechanics.

Audio issues, including stuttering and lag, have been reported and remain unresolved.
The tutorial can be confusing for new players, making it difficult to grasp the game mechanics initially.
Lack of expansions and limited online multiplayer functionality detracts from the overall experience.

graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
17%
25%
Overall, the graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and aesthetic appeal, with many users highlighting the nice 2D visuals and strategic variability. However, some critiques mention that the digital version feels somewhat simplistic and lacks certain expansions, while there are technical issues with sound on RTX graphics cards. Despite these drawbacks, the graphics are considered a strong point of the game, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- “A very good game with nice aesthetics and a good number of strategic variables.”
- “Istanbul offers a unique gameplay and it has good graphics for a board game.”
- “The graphics are very nice with nice 2D graphics.”
- “This digital version is a little bare bones - simple graphics and UI, nor either of the expansions.”
- “The music and sound effects do not work on RTX graphics cards; there is static and lag.”
- “My only problems with it are the visuals. Pineapples in Istanbul?”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its fitting and pleasant nature. However, there are notable issues, including occasional distortion and malfunctioning sound effects, particularly on certain platforms and after extended play sessions. Overall, while the soundtrack enhances the experience, technical problems detract from its enjoyment for some users.
- “Love the music and little sound effects.”
- “The music is very fitting for the game.”
- “A faithful recreation of the Istanbul board game with a pleasant soundtrack.”
- “Only one con I noticed: music samples sometimes get distorted for 2 seconds, but I turned off the music because it's annoying anyway.”
- “The music and sound effects do not work on RTX graphics cards; there is static and lag.”
- “The music will stop working correctly after a while.”
gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
The gameplay is described as fun and quick, particularly against AI opponents, with a solid and polished experience that encourages strategic planning. Players appreciate the unique mechanics, such as the need to return to previous locations to retrieve assistants, which adds depth to the turn-based 4x4 grid format. While the digital version is generally well-received, some users suggest minor UI improvements and a desire for enhanced artwork.
- “Very good euro game, and the digital version is quite decent; a few minor UI improvements could help, but overall, it's a solid gameplay experience!”
- “There's something really pleasant about mooching about, filling one's wheelbarrow, planning things, and working out how to get your assistants back while just enjoying the mechanics.”
- “I like the mechanic of having to return to where you've been rather than wasting a turn to pick up your assistants, and how that forces you to plan your future moves.”
- “Gameplay is turn-based on a 4x4 grid.”
- “Took several games to get comfortable with the rules and game mechanics, but it's simple enough to understand.”
- “I would prefer it if some of the artwork was redone, but mechanically this game deserves full marks.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The game boasts high replayability due to its quick and simple mechanics, diverse board layouts, and the ability to play with friends or varying AI levels. Players appreciate the randomization of tiles and the element of chance, which contribute to a fresh experience each time. Overall, it is considered elegant, interesting, and satisfying, making it a game worth revisiting.
- “The game has very high replay value because you can randomize the tiles, play with friends or varying levels of AI, and there is an element of chance.”
- “There are different board layouts, a beginner, an advanced, and random which makes for great replayability.”
- “The game is super elegant, interesting, replayable, and satisfying.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The game has persistent audio stuttering issues that have remained unresolved since 2021, while the AI performs adequately though not perfectly optimized. However, it runs smoothly on Linux without any reported problems.
- “The game runs smoothly on Linux without any issues.”
- “The optimization is impressive, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
- “I appreciate how well the game is optimized; it maintains a steady frame rate and quick load times.”
- “Hmmm... there is a bug with audio stuttering and the developers have not been able to fix it since 2021.”
- “The AI makes decent, if not perfectly optimized, decisions and does block efficiently.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be playable, but the slow and tedious UI animations significantly detract from the experience, making it feel more laborious than enjoyable.
- “It's playable, but the UI animations make the game so slow and tedious.”
- “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I find myself doing the same tasks over and over, which really drains the fun out of the game.”