Colt Express is a strategic game where you play as a bandit robbing a train at the same time as other bandits, and your goal is to become the richest outlaw of the Old West. This game is set on the 11th of July, 1899 at 10 am. The Union Pacific Express has left Folsom, New Mexico, with 47 passengers on board. After a few minutes, gunfire and hurrying footsteps on the roof can be heard. Heavily armed bandits, which are the players, have come to rob honest citizens of their wallets and jewels. It is suitable for aged 10 and above, for two to six players.
This game comes with 132 cards, 1 Locomotive, 6 train cars, 10 terrain elements, 26 tokens, 7 playing pieces, 6 character sheets and instructions. It requires plenty of time to assemble the 3D trains. It took me almost an hour just to assemble the train and six train cars including reading the instructions. It looked quite complicated when we started the game but once we all understood the concept, it is so much easier to play for the next round.
The game consists of five rounds, and each round has two phases:
- Phase 1: Scheming. Each player plays 2-5 action cards on a common pile, with the cards being face up or face down depending on the type of the round. Alternatively, instead of playing a card, a player can draw three cards from her deck.
- Phase 2: Stealing. The action cards are carried out in the order they were played, with a player’s best laid plans possibly not panning out due to mistakes and oversights!
The bandits can move from one car to another, run on the roof, punch the other bandits, shoot them, rob the passengers, or draw the Marshal out of position. The train has as many cars as the number of players, and each car is seeded with gems, bags of loot or suitcases at the start of play. At the end of the game, whoever fired the most bullets receives a $1,000 braggart bonus, and whoever bagged the richest haul wins!
We like the storytelling element to this game as we all determine how the plot goes. It’s hard to predict what will happen next! The game might look very complicated while setting it up to play but it is definitely worth the time and effort to do so. We all had fun playing this exciting game as it creates so many different storylines! No wonder, this Colt Express has won so many awards! I would definitely recommend it! It is available to buy from good toy retailers, online including from Amazon.
You can also read our past Asmodee UK Blogger Board Game Club’s review here: Dobble, Splendor & Pandemic!
Disclosure: We received the sample for the purposes of writing this review, however all thoughts and opinions remain our own. Contains Amazon affiliate link. We are members of Asmodee UK Blogger Board Game Club.
