Hello everyone,
I would like to suggest adding a proper Dark Mode to Ikariam.
This suggestion is not simply about changing the city scenery from day to night. I am suggesting a complete optional dark theme for the game's interface.
Many of us spend several hours playing Ikariam, especially during wars, military operations, trading, alliance management, or late-night sessions. The current interface contains many bright backgrounds and panels, which can become uncomfortable for the eyes, particularly in a dark room or during nighttime.
The suggestion
Add a Dark Mode toggle in the game settings.
When enabled, it could change:
- Menus and navigation panels
- Advisor screens
- Messages
- Alliance pages
- Military and fleet screens
- Trading Post
- Research screens
- Town and island interface panels
- Pop-up windows
- Reports and tables
- Other bright UI backgrounds
The important point is that this should be an optional visual setting. Players who prefer the current design would not be affected.
For example:
Theme:
- Light
- Dark
- System / Automatic
An automatic option could also follow the player's browser or operating-system theme.
Why would this be useful?
Ikariam is a game that many players keep open for long periods of time.
During nighttime, the bright interface can cause unnecessary eye strain, especially when constantly switching between cities, reports, military screens and messages.
Dark Mode has become a standard accessibility and comfort feature in many modern websites, applications and games.
It would:
- Reduce visual discomfort during nighttime play
- Make long gaming sessions more comfortable
- Improve accessibility
- Modernize the Ikariam interface
- Have no effect on game balance
- Give every player the choice of using it or not
Important distinction
There have previously been suggestions about a "Night Mode" where the city itself becomes dark or displays torches and nighttime scenery.
That would also be interesting, but this proposal is different.
The main purpose of this suggestion is a functional dark user interface, designed primarily for eye comfort and accessibility.
A nighttime city skin could optionally be added later, but it is not necessary for the basic Dark Mode feature.
Implementation
Ideally, a simple button could be added under:
Options → Display / Interface → Theme
with:
Light | Dark | Automatic
This way no server-time or timezone calculations would be necessary. The setting would simply be controlled locally by each player.
I believe this would be a relatively small quality-of-life improvement compared with major gameplay changes, but it could benefit a very large number of players every day.
If you would like to see an official Dark Mode in Ikariam, please support the suggestion and share your opinion.
Thank you.
