
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,533
- BGG rating
- 7.3
Hold the Line
- 2 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2008

2007
Rules assistance for Cowboys: The Way of the Gun
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Cowboys: The Way of the Gun is a board game released in 2007 for 2–10 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Grant Wylie, Mike Wylie, Matt Burchfield, and Kevin Wylie and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Square Grid, and Grid Movement.
THE COWBOYS is our game of the Old West. 2 - 10 Cowboys (players) shoot it out in 10 - 60+ minutes. The game features stand-up Cowboy Counters artistically designed with full color artwork by Gary S. Zaboly. There are 26 Historical and Hollywood style scenarios in the game. Six double-sided geomorphic mapboards create the battlegrounds of the Old West. The game rules allow you to pick up and play the game in minutes. The optional rules add chrome but still keeps the game very playable. The "Old West" personalities are there; Wyatt, Doc, Jesse, Billy, and many other legends of the Wild West. Some of the variables include town folk,horses, etc. Bank robberies, cattle rustling, stagecoach holdups, jail breaks, lynch mobs, and many other western actions are depicted. It pits opposing sides against each other, bringing to life the daring and dastardly deeds of heroes and villains when the way of the gun ruled the day. Included are the lawmen, gunfighters, gamblers, and ne'er do wells who knew how to handle themselves during a gunfight. Also the town folk will show up to add a much needed gun to the fight. Every person has dreamed of being the cowboy standing in the middle of street, alone, staring down your enemy, fingers twitching by the side of your gun belt, looking for the flinch in your adversaries face that will unleash blazing steel from your side...now is your chance...but watch your back! Game includes hard mounted geomorphic map boards, counters, stand-up cowboy counters, plastic bases, dice, box, rules, scenario book, cards, and other game play materials.
Cowboys: The Way of the Gun supports 2–10 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 Cowboys: The Way of the Gun is 60 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 Cowboys: The Way of the Gun for ages 8 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.
Cowboys: The Way of the Gun has a complexity rating of 1.6 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
Cowboys: The Way of the Gun belongs to these categories: Wargame and American West. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Square Grid, and Grid Movement. 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 Cowboys: The Way of the Gun are: Grant Wylie, Mike Wylie, Matt Burchfield, and Kevin Wylie. 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 Cowboys: The Way of the Gun 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.