- BGG rank
- BGG #3,339
- BGG rating
- 7.8
Bolt Action
- 2–6 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,536
- BGG rating
- 8.5
Bolt Action: Third Edition
2024
Rules assistance for Bolt Action: Third Edition
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.5/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Bolt Action: Third Edition
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Bolt Action: Third Edition is a board game released in 2024 for 2–6 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Rick Priestley and Alessio Cavatore and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Variable Set-up.
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About the game
Welcome to the Third Edition of Bolt Action, the world’s greatest World War II wargame! This third edition features refined and updated rules and starter army lists to get new players straight into the action Inside this rulebook you’ll find all the rules you need to play fantastic, fast-paced games with your collection of Bolt Action miniatures. Written by industry legend Alessio Cavatore, and built around the beloved and renowned Order Dice system, Bolt Action: Third Edition is the fast-paced game of World War II combat that puts you in command of platoons of infantry, heavy weapons, and vehicles on battlefields all across the world. Simple and easy to learn, but with limitless tactical potential, Bolt Action will give you endless hours of fun, fulfilling gameplay! As well as the rules for playing games of Bolt Action, this mighty tome also includes army lists for Great Britain, Germany, the United States of America, Imperial Japan, and the Soviet Union, allowing you to jump right into the action as soon as your copy arrives, alongside quick-reference tables and a full index, as well as gorgeous full-colour illustrations, and detailed background on both the Second World War in general, and particular actions and campaigns of note – perfect inspiration for your collection! The intuitive platoon selector system allows you to tailor your collection to suit any mission, while the new scenario generation system ensures that no two games need ever be the same. Finally, a whole host of additional optional special rules allow you to create your own unique tabletop battlefields to fight over. —description from the publisher
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Osprey Games
- Warlord Games
Questions and answers
Bolt Action: Third Edition supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Bolt Action: Third Edition is 120 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Bolt Action: Third Edition for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Bolt Action: Third Edition has a complexity rating of 2.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Bolt Action: Third Edition belongs to these categories: Wargame, Miniatures, and World War II. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Dice Rolling, and Variable Set-up. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Bolt Action: Third Edition are: Rick Priestley and Alessio Cavatore. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Bolt Action: Third Edition as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.