Istanbul / Similar games

18 games like Istanbul

The best games like Istanbul are Yokohama, The Settlers of Catan and The Voyages of Marco Polo — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Yokohama shares economic, contracts, grid movement with Istanbul.

Every alternative below links to its own Istanbul-style fact page, drawn from MeeplePick’s economic shelf.

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Istanbul’s 2.6 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

As an Amazon Associate, MeeplePick earns from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

1. 

   1. Yokohama (2016)

   2–4 players · 90 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium · See Yokohama alternatives →

   Shares with Istanbul: Economic, Contracts, Grid Movement, Modular Board, Network and Route Building · 5 shared tags · 4 of Istanbul’s 6 mechanics (67%)

   vs Istanbul: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~40 min longer · +0.7 heavier

   Check price for Yokohama →
2. 

   2. The Settlers of Catan (1995)

   3–4 players · 60–120 min · ★ 7.2 · Medium-light · See The Settlers of Catan alternatives →

   Shares with Istanbul: Economic, Dice Rolling, Modular Board, Network and Route Building · 4 shared tags · 3 of Istanbul’s 6 mechanics (50%)

   vs Istanbul: overlaps at 3–4 players · ~40 min longer · 0.3 lighter

   Check price for The Settlers of Catan →
3. 

   3. The Voyages of Marco Polo (2015)

   2–4 players · 40–100 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium · See The Voyages of Marco Polo alternatives →

   Shares with Istanbul: Economic, Contracts, Dice Rolling · 3 shared tags · 2 of Istanbul’s 6 mechanics (33%)

   vs Istanbul: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~20 min longer · +0.6 heavier

   Check price for The Voyages of Marco Polo →
4. 

   4. Grand Austria Hotel (2015)

   2–4 players · 60–120 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium · See Grand Austria Hotel alternatives →

   Shares with Istanbul: Economic, Contracts, Dice Rolling · 3 shared tags · 2 of Istanbul’s 6 mechanics (33%)

   vs Istanbul: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~40 min longer · +0.6 heavier
5. 

   5. My Little Scythe (2017)

   1–6 players · 45–60 min · ★ 7.4 · Medium-light · See My Little Scythe alternatives →

   Shares with Istanbul: Economic, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement, Pick-up and Deliver · 4 shared tags · 3 of Istanbul’s 6 mechanics (50%)

   vs Istanbul: overlaps at 2–5 players · plays solo · scales to 6 · about the same length · 0.6 lighter
6. 

   6. Roll for the Galaxy (2014)

   2–5 players · 45 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium · See Roll for the Galaxy alternatives →

   Shares with Istanbul: Economic, Contracts, Dice Rolling · 3 shared tags · 2 of Istanbul’s 6 mechanics (33%)

   vs Istanbul: overlaps at 2–5 players · about the same length · +0.2 heavier
7. 

   7. Rajas of the Ganges (2017)

   2–4 players · 45–75 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium · See Rajas of the Ganges alternatives →

   Shares with Istanbul: Economic, Dice Rolling, Network and Route Building · 3 shared tags · 2 of Istanbul’s 6 mechanics (33%)

   vs Istanbul: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~10 min longer · +0.3 heavier
8. 

   8. Glen More II Chronicles (2019)

   2–4 players · 90–120 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium · See Glen More II Chronicles alternatives →

   Shares with Istanbul: Economic, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement · 3 shared tags · 2 of Istanbul’s 6 mechanics (33%)

   vs Istanbul: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~55 min longer · +0.5 heavier
9. 

   9. Santiago de Cuba (2011)

   2–4 players · 40–75 min · ★ 6.9 · Medium-light · See Santiago de Cuba alternatives →

   Shares with Istanbul: Economic, Dice Rolling, Modular Board, Pick-up and Deliver · 4 shared tags · 3 of Istanbul’s 6 mechanics (50%)

   vs Istanbul: overlaps at 2–4 players · about the same length · 0.4 lighter
10. 

    10. Clans of Caledonia (2017)

    1–4 players · 30–120 min · ★ 8.0 · Medium · See Clans of Caledonia alternatives →

    Shares with Istanbul: Economic, Contracts, Modular Board, Network and Route Building · 4 shared tags · 3 of Istanbul’s 6 mechanics (50%)

    vs Istanbul: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~25 min longer · +0.9 heavier
11. 

    11. Twilight Imperium Fourth Edition (2017)

    3–6 players · 240–480 min · ★ 8.7 · Heavy · See Twilight Imperium Fourth Edition alternatives →

    Shares with Istanbul: Economic, Dice Rolling, Grid Movement · 3 shared tags · 2 of Istanbul’s 6 mechanics (33%)

    vs Istanbul: overlaps at 3–5 players · scales to 6 · ~310 min longer · +1.7 heavier
12. 

    12. Viticulture Essential Edition (2015)

    1–6 players · 45–90 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium · See Viticulture Essential Edition alternatives →

    Shares with Istanbul: Economic, Contracts · 2 shared tags · 1 of Istanbul’s 6 mechanics (17%)

    vs Istanbul: overlaps at 2–5 players · plays solo · scales to 6 · ~18 min longer · +0.3 heavier
13. 

    13. Roads & Boats (1999)

    1–4 players · 240 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium-heavy · See Roads & Boats alternatives →

    Shares with Istanbul: Economic, Grid Movement, Modular Board, Network and Route Building, Pick-up and Deliver · 5 shared tags · 4 of Istanbul’s 6 mechanics (67%)

    vs Istanbul: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~190 min longer · +1.6 heavier
14. 

    14. Gaia Project (2017)

    1–4 players · 60–150 min · ★ 8.5 · Heavy · See Gaia Project alternatives →

    Shares with Istanbul: Economic, Modular Board, Network and Route Building · 3 shared tags · 2 of Istanbul’s 6 mechanics (33%)

    vs Istanbul: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~55 min longer · +1.8 heavier
15. 

    15. Silverton (1991)

    1–6 players · 180 min · ★ 7.1 · Medium

    Shares with Istanbul: Economic, Dice Rolling, Network and Route Building, Pick-up and Deliver · 4 shared tags · 3 of Istanbul’s 6 mechanics (50%)

    vs Istanbul: overlaps at 2–5 players · plays solo · scales to 6 · ~130 min longer · +0.7 heavier
16. 

    16. Power Grid (Recharged Version) (2004)

    2–6 players · 120 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium · See Power Grid (Recharged Version) alternatives →

    Shares with Istanbul: Economic, Network and Route Building · 2 shared tags · 1 of Istanbul’s 6 mechanics (17%)

    vs Istanbul: overlaps at 2–5 players · scales to 6 · ~70 min longer · +0.7 heavier
17. 

    17. Crown of Emara (2018)

    1–4 players · 45–75 min · ★ 7.5 · Medium

    Shares with Istanbul: Economic, Modular Board, Pick-up and Deliver · 3 shared tags · 2 of Istanbul’s 6 mechanics (33%)

    vs Istanbul: overlaps at 2–4 players · plays solo · ~10 min longer · +0.5 heavier
18. 

    18. Akrotiri (2014)

    2 players · 45 min · ★ 7.3 · Medium · See Akrotiri alternatives →

    Shares with Istanbul: Economic, Modular Board, Pick-up and Deliver · 3 shared tags · 2 of Istanbul’s 6 mechanics (33%)

    vs Istanbul: both play at 2 · about the same length · same complexity

Looking for the original? See the full Istanbul fact page — players, play time, age and complexity.