Istanbul: Choose & Write

Categories: Card Game

Mechanics: Paper-and-Pencil, Solo/Solitaire Game, Turn Order: Progressive

Playtime: 1–5

Ages: 8+

Playtime: 30–45 Min

Welcome back to the Istanbul Bazaar! In Istanbul: Choose & Write, players once again step into the shoes of savvy merchants aiming to collect goods and lira, which are then traded for the valuable rubies needed to secure victory.

Instead of a shared set of locations, each player has their own bazaar in front of them—a personal tracking sheet where they record their choices. On their turn, players can choose to play either a Location card or a Guild card. Location cards enable all players to perform the action associated with a specific location or an adjacent space on their sheet. Alternatively, players can use a Guild card, which is costly but triggers powerful effects and can prevent others from taking certain actions.

While familiar locations like the Large Market and the Gemstone Dealer make a return, the innovative choose-and-write mechanism introduces a fresh challenge to this beloved bazaar setting.