Bolt Action is a miniature wargame produced by Warlord Games. It is set during World War II and uses 28mm-sized models. The game was developed by Alessio Cavatore and Rick Priestley. The first edition of the rulebook was published in 2012, and the second edition was published in 2016. Supplements for the game include: The Korean War, and Konflikt '47, set in a Dieselpunk and supernatural alternate history of World War II.[1]

Bolt Action
A game of Bolt Action.
ManufacturersWarlord Games
DesignersAlessio Cavatore and Rick Priestley.
PublishersWarlord Games
Years active2012 to present
GenresWargaming
Players2+
Websiteboltaction.com

The game has multiple playable armies such as the Soviet Union, British Empire, United States, German Third Reich, and Empire of Japan. The game also has a few smaller or supporting armies such as France, British Commonwealth, Greece, Australia, Belgium, Finland, Poland, Bulgaria, Kingdom of Romania, China and Kingdom of Italy as well as rules for major battles such as The Battle of Stalingrad, Pegasus Bridge, Battle of Berlin and D-Day. Some starter Boxes can symbolize the Campaigns done in World War 2 like the American Island Hopping Campaign against the Empire of Japan in the Island Assault box and African Campaign with the British Empire and German Third Reich in the A Gentleman's War box

Bibliography

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The following core rules were published for bolt action:

  • 2012 Bolt Action[2]
  • 2016 Bolt Action Rulebook Second edition[3]
  • 2016 Konflikt ’47: Weird World War II Wargames Rules[4]
  • 2024 Bolt Action Rulebook Third edition[5]

The rules of the second edition were also translated into spanish,[6] french,[7] italian,[8] and german.[9]

In addition, several expansions were published:

The following expansions were published for bolt action:

  • 2014 – Bolt Action: Battleground Europe D-Day to Germany[10]
  • 2015 – Bolt Action: Ostfront – Barbarossa to Berlin[11]
  • 2015 – Bolt Action: Germany Strikes! – Early War in Europe[12]
  • 2015 – Bolt Action: Empire in Flames – The Pacific and Far East[13]
  • 2016 – Bolt Action: Duel in the sun – The African and Italian Campaigns[14]
  • 2019 – Bolt Action Second edition: Korea[15]

The following army-expansions were published for Bolt Action:

  • 2012 – Bolt Action: Armies of Germany[16]
  • 2013 – Bolt Action: Armies of the United States[17]
  • 2013 – Bolt Action: Armies of the Soviet Union[18]
  • 2013 – Bolt Action: Armies of Great Britain[19]
  • 2013 – Bolt Action: Armies of France and the Allies[20]
  • 2013 – Bolt Action: Armies of Imperial Japan[21]
  • 2016 – Bolt Action Second edition: Armies of Germany[22]
  • 2013 – Bolt Action: Armies of Italy and the Axis[23]
  • 2014 – Bolt Action: Tank War[24]

The following campaign expansions were published for Bolt Action:

  • 2017 – Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Battle of the Bulge[25]
  • 2017 – Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign New Guinea[26]
  • 2017 – Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign The Road to Berlin[27]
  • 2018 – Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Market Garden[28]
  • 2018 – Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Battle of France[29]
  • 2019 – Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign D-Day: Overlord[30]
  • 2021 – Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign D-Day: US Sector[31]
  • 2021 – Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign D-Day: British & Canadian Sectors[32]
  • 2020 – Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Mariana & Palau Islands[33]
  • 2021 – Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Italy: Soft Underbelly[34]
  • 2023 – Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Italy: Tough Gut[35]
  • 2018 – Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign The Western Dessert[36]
  • 2020 – Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Stalingrad[37]
  • 2023 – Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Case Blue[38]
  • 2017 – Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Sea Lion[39]
  • 2017 – Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Gigant – Operation Sea Lion: The second front
  • 2019 – Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Fortress Budapest[40]

The following expansions were published for Konflikt '47:

  • 2017 – Konflikt ’47: Resurgence[41]
  • 2018 – Konflikt ’47: Defiance[42]

Reception

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Bolt action has been awarded a 7.8 out of 10 overall rating by BoardGameGeek. The game has also been described as the leading World War 2 wargame by many people worldwide.

References

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  1. ^ Wells, Robison (January 21, 2022). "Building Armies in Bolt Action: A Primer".
  2. ^ Warlord Games; Alessio Cavatore; Rick Priestley (2012). Bolt Action - WWII Wargame Rules. Osprey Publishing. p. 216. ISBN 978-1-78096-086-9.
  3. ^ Warlord Games; Alessio Cavatore, Rick Priestley (2016). Bolt Action: World War II Wargames Rules: Second edition (2. ed.). Ospery Games. ISBN 978-1472814944.
  4. ^ Clockwork Goblin Miniatures; Warlord Games (2016). Konflikt ’47: Weird World War II Wargames Rules. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472815682.
  5. ^ Warlord Games; Alessio Cavatore (2024). Bolt Action - World War II Wargames Rules: Rulebook Third edition. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472863799.
  6. ^ Warlord Games; Alessio Cavatore; Rick Priestley. Bolt Action: Reglamento Básico wargames. 2a guerra mondial segunda edición. Osprey Games.
  7. ^ Warlord Games; Alessio Cavatore; Rick Priestley (2016). Bolt Action Règles de wargame pour la 2e guerre mondiale seconde édition (2. ed.). Osprey Games. p. 228. ISBN 9781911281245.
  8. ^ Warlord Games; Alessio Cavatore; Rick Priestley (2017). Bolt Action: Regole per giocare alla seconda guerra mondiale seconda edizione. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1911281276.
  9. ^ Warlord Games; Alessio Cavatore; Rick Priestley. Bolt Action: World War II Wargames Rules Zweite edition (2. ed.). Osprey Games. ISBN 9781911281788.
  10. ^ Warlord Games (2014). Bolt Action: Battleground Europe D-Day to Germany. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1472807380.
  11. ^ Warlord Games (2015). Bolt Action: Ostfront - Barbarossa to Berlin. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1472807397.
  12. ^ Warlord Games (2015). Bolt Action: Germany Strikes! - Early War in Europe. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1472807410.
  13. ^ Warlord Games (2015). Bolt Action: Empire in Flames - The Pacific and Far East. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1472807403.
  14. ^ Warlord Games (2016). Bolt Action: Duel in the sun - The African and Italian Campaigns. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1472807427.
  15. ^ Warlord Games (2019). Bolt Action Second edition: Korea. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1472836670.
  16. ^ Warlord Games (2012). Bolt Action: Armies of Germany. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1780960883.
  17. ^ Warlord Games (2013). Bolt Action: Armies of the United States. Osprey Games.
  18. ^ Warlord Games (2013). Bolt Action: Armies of the Soviet Union. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1780960906.
  19. ^ Warlord Games (2013). Bolt Action: Armies of Great Britain. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1780960890.
  20. ^ Warlord Games (2013). Bolt Action: Armies of France and the Allies. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1780960920.
  21. ^ Warlord Games (2013). Bolt Action: Armies of Imperial Japan. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1780960913.
  22. ^ Warlord Games (2016). Bolt Action Second edition: Armies of Germany. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472817808.
  23. ^ Warlord Games (2013). Bolt Action: Armies of Italy and the Axis. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1782007708.
  24. ^ Warlord Games (2014). Bolt Action: Tank War. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472807373.
  25. ^ Warlord Games (2017). Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Battle of the Bulge. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472817839.
  26. ^ Warlord Games (2017). Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign New Guinea. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472817891.
  27. ^ Warlord Games (2017). Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign The Road to Berlin. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472817921.
  28. ^ Warlord Games (2018). Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Market Garden. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472828682.
  29. ^ Warlord Games (2018). Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Battle of France. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472828804.
  30. ^ Warlord Games (2019). Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign D-Day: Overlord. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472838964.
  31. ^ Warlord Games (2021). Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign D-Day: US Sector. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472839084.
  32. ^ Warlord Games (2021). Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign D-Day: British & Canadian Sectors. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472839121.
  33. ^ Warlord Games (2020). Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Mariana & Palau Islands. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472839008.
  34. ^ Warlord Games (2021). Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Italy: Soft Underbelly. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472852687.
  35. ^ Warlord Games (2023). Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Italy: Tough Gut. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472860187.
  36. ^ Warlord Games (2018). Bolt Action: Campaign The Western Desert. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472834355.
  37. ^ Warlord Games (2020). Bolt Action: Campaign Stalingrad. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472839046.
  38. ^ Warlord Games (2023). Bolt Action: Campaign: Case Blue. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472863690.
  39. ^ Warlord Games (2017). Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Sea Lion. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472817860.
  40. ^ Warlord Games (2019). Bolt Action Second edition: Campaign Fortress Budapest. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472835727.
  41. ^ Clockwork Goblin Miniatures; Warlord Games (2017). Konflikt ’47: Resurgence. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472826503.
  42. ^ Clockwork Goblin Miniatures; Warlord Games (2018). Konflikt '47: Defiance. Osprey Games. ISBN 978-1472828798.
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