Istangull

A seagull game for iPhone and iPad

Fly Istanbul
as a seagull.

You’re Susam, a Bosphorus seagull with one great love: simit. Follow the ferry from Kadıköy to Karaköy as the sun goes down, snatch the sesame rings passengers toss into the air, and dodge the trash they throw with them. The city under your wings is the real Istanbul, at full scale.

Coming soon to the App Store
Istangull gameplay at sunset: Susam follows a white ferry towards Karaköy, a simit in the air, the Historic Peninsula on the horizon and a guide reading “On your left: Topkapı Sarayı”.

iPhone & iPad · iOS 18 or later

The real city

The real Istanbul, 1:1.

No made-up city here. The streets, quays and buildings come from OpenStreetMap, the hills from real elevation data, and the ferry sails the real Kadıköy–Karaköy line. Sixteen landmarks were modelled by hand, so you always know where you are when the domes of the Historic Peninsula catch the last light.

A little guide tells you what you’re passing:

On your left: Süleymaniye Camii

Flying over the Golden Horn at golden hour: Galata Bridge, Karaköy pier and Süleymaniye Mosque on the hill.
real-world scale
1:1real-world scale
hand-modelled landmarks
16hand-modelled landmarks
continents, one ferry ride
2continents, one ferry ride

What you’ll fly past

Historic Peninsula

  • Hagia SophiaAyasofya
  • Blue MosqueSultanahmet Camii
  • Süleymaniye MosqueSüleymaniye Camii
  • New MosqueYeni Cami
  • Topkapı PalaceTopkapı Sarayı

Galata & the Bosphorus

  • Galata TowerGalata Kulesi
  • Galata BridgeGalata Köprüsü
  • Karaköy PierKaraköy İskelesi
  • Nusretiye MosqueNusretiye Camii
  • Bosphorus BridgeBoğaz Köprüsü

The Asian side

  • Kadıköy PierKadıköy İskelesi
  • Haydarpaşa StationHaydarpaşa Garı
  • Selimiye BarracksSelimiye Kışlası
  • Maiden’s TowerKız Kulesi
  • Çamlıca TowerÇamlıca Kulesi
  • Çamlıca MosqueÇamlıca Camii
Leaving Kadıköy, past Haydarpaşa Station
Leaving Kadıköy, past Haydarpaşa Station
Mid-Bosphorus, Maiden’s Tower off the Asian shore
Mid-Bosphorus, Maiden’s Tower off the Asian shore
The Historic Peninsula rising ahead
The Historic Peninsula rising ahead

How to play

Easy to fly. Hard to put down.

One ferry trip, a few minutes long. Here’s everything you need to know before take-off.

  1. 01

    Tap a simit

    See one arcing off the back of the ferry? Tap it and Susam flies straight for it.

  2. 02

    Hold the brake

    Keep Brake pressed to hang in the wind above the deck and wait for the next throw.

  3. 03

    Flick down to dive

    A quick flick down sends you into a dive. Simits caught on the way down count double.

  4. 04

    Chase the golden ones

    Golden simits are rare and shiny. Catch one to start a combo, then don’t break it.

  5. 05

    Mind the trash

    Passengers throw trash too. It makes Susam queasy, and a plastic bag sticks right to your face until you flap it off.

  6. 06

    Keep your belly full

    The hunger bar drains as you fly and every simit fills it back up. If it runs empty, the trip’s over.

  7. 07

    Land at sunset

    The ferry docks at Karaköy under an orange sky. Count your simits and spend them in the market.

Look around by moving your phone, or switch to a two-finger drag in Settings if you’re on a bumpy bus.

On iPad: the Şehir Hatları ferry seen from behind, passengers on the stern and simits marked in the air above the Bosphorus.

The ferry

A real Şehir Hatları ferry.

Tea glasses clinking, gulls circling, and someone at the back of the boat tearing up a simit for the birds. If you’ve ever crossed the Bosphorus, you’ve seen it. It’s the most Istanbul thing there is.

In Istangull you’re finally on the right side of the throw. Your ride is a real Şehir Hatları ferry, the ŞH-KADIKÖY, and her passengers are generous. Mostly.

ŞH-KADIKÖY · Kadıköy → Karaköy

The birds

Six birds, one appetite.

Susam is yours from the start. Spend the simits you catch in the market on Istanbul’s other famous flyers, or treat yourself to the legendary Altın Martı. Every bird has three stats: Power (Güç) for climbing and diving, Speed (Hız) for cruising, and Maneuver (Manevra) for tight turns.

Altın Martı is an in-app purchase, and simit packs are there too if you’re short.

The in-game market: Susam, Galata Güvercini, Üsküdar Güvercini, Beyoğlu Tıknazı, Kadıköy Kargası and Altın Martı with their prices and stats.

  • Susam

    Free

    A Bosphorus seagull. Balanced, and mad about simit.

    Power
    Speed
    Maneuver

  • Galata Güvercini

    300 simits

    Lives on the tower’s ledges. Quick off the mark.

    Power
    Speed
    Maneuver

  • Üsküdar Güvercini

    500 simits

    Turns on a kuruş. Nothing escapes it.

    Power
    Speed
    Maneuver

  • Beyoğlu Tıknazı

    800 simits

    Chubby from café crumbs, but climbs like a lift.

    Power
    Speed
    Maneuver

  • Kadıköy Kargası

    1,500 simits

    The Asian side’s cleverest thief. Fast and strong.

    Power
    Speed
    Maneuver

  • Altın Martı

    In-app purchase

    The legend of the Bosphorus. Best at everything.

    Power
    Speed
    Maneuver

Leaderboard

Who’s the hungriest gull in Istanbul?

Pick a username when you first open the game. No account, no password. Your best trip goes on the leaderboard, whichever bird you fly.

Tip: use a nickname, not your real name. Usernames are public.

Best trips

Example standings
  1. 1vapurcu34Altın Martı2,480
  2. 2simitavcisiKadıköy Kargası2,215
  3. 3kizkulesi_kidSusam1,960
  4. 4caysimitÜsküdar Güvercini1,720
12susamfan (you)Galata Güvercini1,340

The ferry’s about to leave.

Istangull lands on the App Store soon. Grab a tea and keep an eye on the sky.

Coming soon to the App Store