Istanbul: Digital Edition has expanded with the Mocha & Baksheesh expansion. It’s now available on Android, iOS and Steam. If you long ago mapped out the most efficient ruby-collecting circuits in the base game, the new content brings new patterns that might demand you to rethink.
Merchants still move through 16 locations with four assistants in tow, leaving them behind to carry out actions and carefully planning routes to avoid getting stranded. Each movement across the board is a calculated decision, and each ruby is still the ultimate prize. Then, what has changed?
Mocha & Baksheesh changes the texture of the decisions in Istanbul: Digital Edition
Coffee now enters the marketplace economy. Selling precious fabrics, the finest of spices, and the freshest of fruits was already good business in Istanbul, but customers at the bazaar have developed a taste for the tasty bean!
As a merchant looking to capitalise, you must adapt to this new demand. The expansion introduces four new places, opening alternative routes to secure coveted rubies. For a baksheesh, tavern guests are willing to take on small side jobs, while the guild hall offers additional support for the ones prepared to seek it.
Alongside the downloadable content, the base game has been updated to version 1.2.3 across all platforms. The patch concentrates on performance gains, stability improvements, controller fixes, and a series of quality-of-life refinements.
Mocha & Baksheesh originally debuted as the first expansion to the 2014 Kennerspiel des Jahres-winning board game Istanbul. It’s designed by Rüdiger Dorn with artwork by Andreas Resch and Hans-Georg Schneider.
In digital form, the expansion builds directly on the original systems, alongside adjustable AI difficulty, cross-platform multiplayer, and pass-and-play options.
To mark the release of the Mocha & Baksheesh expansion, a 20% launch discount is available in Istanbul. On Android, the reduced price runs through March 12th. Meanwhile, the base game, otherwise available for $6.99, is now available for $3.99 on the Google Play Store.
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