Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG) Istanbul Big Box - Board Game, Collect Gems, Be a Master Merchant, 2 to 5 Players, 40 to 60 Minute Play Time, for Ages 10 and Up, Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG)

Looks more complicated than it is. Plays smoothly. It's a light, collect and deliver type game with a unique movement aspect. Personally, it feels comparable to Genoa without the bidding. Standard, decent quality components. The board with all expansions takes some space and set up the first few times can take some time. My husband and I recently bought a bunch of board games that can play well with just 2 people but also sometimes three or more and I'd say this fit the bill. Chose this one because the expansions come with it. Great deal!

One of the best games ever! Don’t let the amount of pieces in the box scare you. If you’re not good with following directions on paper, watch some YouTube videos on how to play. Once you get the concept, you’ll want to keep playing again and again. The expansions are so much fun once you play a few rounds of the standard game. I strongly suggest playing a few rounds without the expansion so you can grasp the concept of the game before adding in new rules. It will be much less complicated that way. This game is great regardless if it’s 2 players or 5...the more players, the longer the game play. Everyone in our group has different strategies and everyone has won at least once...so what works for one, may not work for another or what worked for someone during one game, may not work in another game. This is one of our top games, though, and we’ve played a LOT during our game nights with friends.

One of the best board game

I played this game without expansions at a friend's house for the first time. I had previewed it online and discounted it as too simple and boring. I couldn't have been more wrong. The game is high in strategy, easy to learn or teach, and high replayability. The expansions aren't necessary but are well worth the price for the big box. With a random layout and using zero, one, or both expansions, it's never the same game twice. It plays extremely well with all player counts. All of the components are very good quality with one exception. The cardboard money doesn't seem to hold up really well. I recommend just getting metal coins. This is such a minor flaw that it still gets 5 stars in my book. In short this has become one of my favorite games, and gets to the table more often than just about any other game I own.

Muy buena jugabilidad

A brilliant and accessible game, enjoyable for young and old alike. Perfect for both board gaming enthusiasts and newcomers to the hobby. Simple, easy to learn rules but also allows for complex strategies and gambits. "Istanbul" is one of my family's favorites, and should be yours too!

Solid game, a bit of time investment to learn but there are good videos out there to learn. The expansions that it comes with gives the game a good bang for buck and adds many more layers making the game even more intense

Love the drawings, the game takes long to learn