Colt Express is a Bandit Train game for 2-6 players aged 10+ RRP £27.99. This game is an award-winning board/card game with a bit of a difference.
We first reviewed Colt Express from Esdevium in November 2015. It is still a family favourite and one we have enjoyed revisiting now that we have a Monday night free to play games as a family. Play is fast and exciting and the boy is enjoying punching and shooting us off the train as much as he did before. Have a look and see what you think of this game which would make a great Christmas gift.
The box contains, 6 playing pieces and 6 sets of action cards. Marshal, Locomotive, 6 cartridges, 13 bullet cards, 17 story cards, 18 purses, 6 jewels, 2 strong boxes. Also assembly instructions game rules and 6 player profiles.
Colt Express sounded just the sort of game that my family would enjoy so I was interested to see what they would think to this different style of board game. The box looks fairly traditional but once you open it you will find that unlike other games it has no board. Instead you have to build the Colt Express train which will act as the playing platform for your pieces. There are 6 carriages, the Locomotive, as well as money, jems and even a few scene setting cacti. When you first set up this game it is worth noting that it will take some time and care freeing the pieces, to build the train cars. We found that if you tried to rush this process there was some damage to the playing pieces. The card is of very good quality, but it was almost impossible to avoid a few tears in the pieces. Assembly instructions are included and this took about half and hour to complete.
Once you have built the Colt Express Train it is worth having a good read through of the game rules. We decided to have a play through to get a feel for how the game worked and did find that the rules are quite complex. Once you have played a few times the rules become clearer and we found after two games we had worked out where we were going wrong. The basic idea of the game is to move your bandit playing piece around the carriages of the train using action cards, collecting as much money as you can. There is extra bounty to be earn’t for being sharpest shooter, and robbing the Marshal.
You start the game buy choosing your bandit, each has a special power that comes into play when you get into the second part the “stealin’ phase” of the game. You set out the locomotive with the marshal and one of the strong boxes. You then need to add a carriage for each player. Each player has a set of 10 action cards, six bullet cards and a purse of $250 to start. Shuffle the 7 round cards and choose 4 to start your story as well as one end story card. Set up the train with the number of loot tokens indicated on each of the carriage floors. Choose a starting player and this person puts their bandit in the last carriage. Even numbered players go in the next carriage along, and odd numbers in the back. Now you are all set to start the first phase, the Schemin’.
Colt Express game play has two phases, Schemin’ and Stealin’ In phase one you take it turn to lay action cards following the descriptions on the round cards. This is quite tricky to work out the first few times you play. There are additional rules, and this is the part where you have to concentrate on where you opponents end up! Once all the cards are placed it is time for player one to read through the story in the “Stealin” phase. This is the fun part, as if you have “Schemed” correctly then you will be collecting the loot. Get it wrong and there is plenty of shooting into thin air! There are added events on some of the story cards meaning you need to think about where your bandit ends up at the end of a story too. At the end of the 5 parts to the story the Bandit with the most Loot, including shooting bonuses is declared the winner. In our case this was most often the boy, but I have managed to win back one game.
This is only a brief explanation of the game rules as there are additional play rules for experts, 2 player games and games with more players. Once we had mastered the basic play Colt Express has been a great way to spend a wet cold evening. It is a game that the boy feels he has no disadvantage with his age, with both an element of luck and mastery needed. The added special abilities of the bandits mean you tend to find a favourite player and stick to them. We had fun banning dad from his favourite player Ghost, or playing with players we hadn’t tried before. Colt Express is best played in a group of 3 or more and I can imagine is great fun in a bigger group, the age recommendation is about right as you need to have a good understanding of the complex rules and cause and effect each action card has on a player. There have been plenty of laughs as well with Colt Express as sometimes you have no option but to shoot or punch nothing, or even better being shot by the marshal and not ending up on the part of the train you thought. We even managed to persuade Granny to give it a try, and despite not really understanding fully what was happening, she said she could see it was good fun and something a bit different.
We have reviewed this game as part of the Bloggers Board Game Club #BoardGameClub
Colt Express is already winning awards, and we agree it is a great fun family game. Esdevium distribute this game in the uk, and you can find out more by visiting their Facebook and twitter pages. Colt Express is available to buy now from Waterstones, or Amazon. Have a look at my Amazon affiliate link below
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I would steal all the evil from the world and jettison it to another universe, I would do this to make the world a better place and I quite fancy being a superhero!
I would steal everything horrid in the world ,dispose of it and replace it with love
diamonds as they are worth money and they look pretty aswell
I’d steal diamonds and would probably just hide them to look at every now and again!
i like to steal food and seeds because i love food!
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Diamonds, because they are so pretty and I could wear them, then when I needed money, I could just sell a few!
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A Diamond necklace so I could be the bell of the ball.
Doctor Who’s TARDIS, would love to time travel
Diamonds so that i could have them forever!
The Crown Jewels – like Gangsta Granny – just to prove it could be done – I’d given them straight back!
Bugatti Veyron its worth alot
The Holy Grail as it will give me everlasting mortal life
I’d steal a genie bottle, so I could have something that could keep granting me wishes x
Buckingham Palace, I need a bigger house!!
lots of gold so i would be rich
The tardis no limits X
steal the key to johnnie depps heart because i love him xx
Well obviously I would steal money because you can buy anything with money. I might just do it one day too. Watch this space! Lol.
I’d steal the moon! Buauahaha!!!
(yeah, I’ve just been watching Despicable Me… can you tell… :))
I would steal all the animals from nasty/abusive homes to save them!!
Diamonds – they are forever you know….
Diamonds to save for a rainy day, but I would feel very bad so not sure if I would enjoy it 😉
A Rolex, I’ve seen the one I want, it’s gorgeous but £17000, a little out of my price range ☺
It would have to be Gemstones – Diamonds, Emeralds and Sapphires, as I could sell them and not have to launder cash lol!!
Diamonds, I love them.
Flying Scotsman – always wanted to drive a train
I would steal weapons so no one could use them
I would steal lots of Gold Bullion and wait for the next recession
Knight Rider’s car KITT, an advanced artificially intelligent, self-aware and nearly indestructible car. I could sit back and enjoy the ride and not have to worry about traffic and parking.
i like to steal food
I’d steal the keys to time! I have so little of it that I’d love to create more for myself 🙂
Gold always has a value
diamonds because they are beautiful and forever!
I would steal a space rocket and fly to the moon. I always wanted to go there.
Tiffany necklas as the are so beautiful xxx
Would have to be diamonds, they are so pretty 🙂
The Crown Jewels – it would be fun to wear around the house 😀
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The remote control – as it is a valuable weapon in this house and I would LOVE to watch just one full series or film without someone randomly turning over the tv whilst I watch it.
A plane so I could go on holiday whenever I wanted.
A time machine so I could go back and forth as I pleased!
i’d steal a holiday home, always wanted a holiday home x
A £100,000 motorhome so i can go on the run in style.
The crown jewels – the ultimate in big scale theft!
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I would steal money from the rich and give to the poor. I would like to see the rich survive on what we do :p xx
I’d steal printer cartridges, they’ve been committing daylight robbery for years it’d be nice to get my own back!
I will steal all the books kept the Vatican must be priceless and curious to read them.
I’d steal a huge house so all my family could live together under one roof, my grandparents are in the latter stages of their life and it would be wonderful to live with them and always be there
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I’d steal this board game! Or any board game really..
Knowledge, because knowledge = power
The keys to the Galaxy chocolate factory so that I could sneak in whenever I wanted and have an endless supply of Chocolate.
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a load of food for the food banks! x
The Crown Jewels, to feel like a queen.
Michael Buble! To sing me Xmas songs while i wrap all the presents!
I’d steal the Sutton Hoo treasures so I could get a proper look at it all myself.
a white audi r8
I would steal the eiffel tower and make a nice treehouse at the top, I mean its not like they’re really using it anyway 😛
Loads and loads of pet food. I would then give it to local animal shelters.
I’d steal a new house – mine just isn’t big enough!
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I’d steal Arundel castle as my partner is certain it should belong to his family!
I would steal away a really big diamond!
I’d steal the heart of the best man in the world. I haven’t found him yet, but there’s always hope..!
I’d go back in time and be Robin Hood and steal in Sherwood Forest to give to the poor
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I’d steal a years supply of pork scratchings and beer and drown my guilt.
We’ve never been to Kidzania. We do like going to Eureka though.
I’d steal a time machine….at the moment I’m obsessed with all things seventies and I’d love love love to go back to this era to experience the music and fashion for real!
We haven’t but would love too xxx
A load of cash
Time is the most valuable thing .. So I’d have a go at stealing that – then I could time travel and have amazing adventures
the crown jewels
Diamonds! Everyone loves Diamonds!
Extra time from work to spend with my son, nothing more valuable
I would steal the cakes from the finest bakery in all the land 🙂 x
The crown jewels so I could pretend I was the Queen.
I wouldn’t like to steal but if I could, then I will take a massive mansion for myself and my family to have! with a huge and lovely garden
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I would steal some bars of gold so I can help my family and friends do what they would like to do
Money off the rich to give to all the poor children of the world at Christmas time
Nothing thank you!
all the toys from the toy shop and give them to my grandaughter!
I’d steal all the money from the Royal Mint
Pink diamonds, they are so pretty!
Queen Elizabeth’s crown as I would like to personally return the Korinoor diamond back to the Punjab. I’d be nice and find a similar fit diamond to stick back in it before giving returning the crown back to her majesty, I have nothing against her, I honestly do love her! I just feel that that precious jewel really should belong to the people who the British government oppressed and disposed the king of back in the Victorian era :)!
I would steal johnny depp and keep him hidden in a very secret place so only I would set eyes on him again hehe
i would steal the keys to the parma violet factory and sneak in to top up supplies. love them 😀
I would steal the Crown Jewels and hide them in my attic!
The Mona Lisa because it would look so good on my wall
wonderful medieval books, just so i could get a better understanding of medieval life
I would steal a farm to start up a dog rescue centre!
Maybe not valuable to others but I would steal all of the dogs in Battersea and look after them hehe
A Rolex, I love them , one day , one day
I would steal all the food to feed the hungry x
A diamond tiara, just because it would look really pretty!
I would steal a plane so I could fly around the world on holiday and perhaps whilst I was at it kidnap a pilot to fly it for me!
The keys to a chocolate factory so I was the only person with access.
I would steal a mansion so I could live in luxury.
The Queens tiara – always fancied being the queen!
The Crown Jewels to return them to the Stuarts
a nice car!
I would steal the crown jewels so I could pretend I was a princess
I would steal a bundle of board games so that we have something to do on bad weather days
My partners money he doesn’t have much cash but it would give me great pleasure to see his face at the cash point (skint)
I would steal clever ideas and patent them
I would steal the crown jewels as then I would be famous forever as being a master criminal
The dinosaur from the National History Museum. I always loved the film One Of Our Dinosaurs is Missing.
Gold coins! Would never need to worry about money again!
I would rob from the rich and give to the poor (oh wait is that robin hood ) 🙂
I’d steal a huge mountain of raw fillet steak for my gorgeous cat – because she told me to! 😉
the worlds biggest diamond because I like sparkle 🙂
a Microsoft surfacebook laptop. they are out in America, but not here. SO want one.
I would steal Channing Tatum – I can’t tell you why as I am writing this pre-watershed!!!
The copyright (or whatever the apt word is) for all the cancer drugs and make it cheaper/free for all sufferers and health services to obtain.
The title deeds and rights to a sea front/coastal property on the South Coast or on the coastline of east Yorkshire. The thought of waking up and looking out at the sea – whatever the weather, would be amazing.
I would steal a delicious chocolate cake and make sure my lips were clean when they came looking!
I would steal the Mona Lisa love great works of art
I’d steal a laptop so my husband can play the football manager game
The new gold iPad – for no other reason than that I would love it !
Money – it can be used in many ways!
i would steal the monet painting water lilies its such a beautiful piece and would look lovely in my sitting room 🙂
I’d steal the keys to the castle at the magic kingdom in disneyworld – I have always wanted to get inside but never been lucky enough to be chosen (at one point they were giving a stay away to one family a day who visited the park too)
The crown jewels, just so i can wear them round house!
I think I’d steal a helicopter, just because it would make the neighbours so jealous to have that parked on my drive. Plus I wouldn’t get stuck in traffic again!
The crowl jewels, id love to feel like the queen for five minutes!
id steal a police car to drive fast make noise and make people behave by cruising behind them .
the crown jewels – so I would be rich 🙂
I’d steal all the weapons of mass destruction so we never make that mistake again
Money for sure, i could certainly find many uses for that. We havent visited kidzania yet.
I would have to steal something from the Cadbury World archive -they apparently still have the Spice Girls chocolate bars on display there and I’m STILL a huge fan (come on, who isn’t?!) So unless I could steal a time machine and go back to 1997 so I can buy enough to last a lifetime then I’m afraid I’d have to break that glass and take those 5 bars! #chocolatespice 🙂
I would love a pink diamond
I would steal Johnny Depp’s heart <3
Ferrari closes I’ll get to owning one
I would steal my childhood home back from the developers who are going to flatten it and turn it into an estate of houses. I have so many happy memories I would love to move back to that house
I would steal Ian Harding’s heart (he plays Ezra Fitz in Pretty Little Liars) – he is just lush! lol!
I would steal mcdonalds i’m sure you could make a fortune
A Mulberry handbag just because I would love to own a designer handbag instead of my usual Primark one just to see what the fuss is about
I would steal a yacht and travel around the world
The cure for cancer, I would then go around healing everyone with this awful disease
Diamonds because they are sparkly and a girls best friend
I would steal all the bad things from the world as there is far too much of it!
It would have to be cash – then I could live like a millionaire – until I was caught!
I would steal a huge wad of cash but it would be enough to live on for a few years
no not yet
I would steal a private jet so we could fly off on holidays anywhere in the world whenever we wanted!
I’d steal a nuclear warhead and hold governments to ransom !!
The crown jewels just so I could have them for a few hours 🙂
I would steal a time machine, go forward a week and steal the jackpot winning lotto numbers, return with them and win the lotto then help as many people as I could, starting with my family and my favourite charitable causes.
I would steal an extra hour a day, just for playing with my little ones
I’d steal animals who were being poorly treated so I could look after them and give them a great life like they deserve.
I would like to steal LOVE so I could spread it everywhere
I would steal the batmobile.. looks so cool x
I’m a simple thief, I’d want to steal lots & lots & lots of cash….so I could buy anything I needed/wanted.
Id go the whole hog and steal the Crown Jewels love the crown think it would suit me in my little semi
I would steal an ancient children’s book – just so that I could admire it every day
I’d steal some a-holes money!
i would steal a big diamond so i could have loads of money
I’d steal gold bars and then cash a few at a time when I’m really skint (which is most of the time)
I’d steal the most expensive perfumes from the perfume halls of the most exclusive stores in London. Perfume is one of life’s gifts and it is rare for me to be able to buy it.
got to be cash
I would steal a private jet and fly to a caribbean island.
Diamonds are they are meant to be a girls best friend x
I would steal from the rich and give to the poor!
I would steal the Crown Jewels and dress up with them before giving them back
I would steal the worlds religions and consign them to history as religion has caused most suffering, misery and superstition in this world.
I would steal the invisable cloak from Harry Potter just to hide away from the world at times, but then, think of the fun I would have 🙂
I would steal all the tickets to Justin Bieber tour in 2016 so I was the only one at his concert
A fit body so l could get rid of my M.S.
I’d steal something valuable enough not to have to work ever again.
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I would steal all the illnesses and deadly diseases if that was possible. Too much suffering in this world.
I would steal off the rich & evil people & give to the needy & hardworking people.
I’d steal Charlotte Dujardin’s horse Valegro, because I would love to ride him and experience that!
I’d steal a lifetimes supply of food vouchers so I could eat out every night
Diamonds, to sell them and pay off my mortgage lol
To be completely selfish – a Laptop because mine is pooped and giving up on me 🙁
An Oscar because I always wanted to be a film director and win one
If someone had something of mine or my families that had sentimental value, then I would be happy to steal it back 🙂 x
i would steal donald trumps identity and get access to his billions, i wouldn’t mind hacking his twitter either. that could be fun!!
I would steal all the mobile phones so everyone would have to speak to each other again
I would steal Tom Hardy’s heart
I’d have to steal time go back unravel some home truths and then runaway quick
this game looks heaps of fun
I learnt to drive at 22 I would definately encourage my kids to learn it opens up a whole new world being able to drive
Passed my test when i was 18 & definitely going to encourage my daughter to drive.
The most secret government files, make a good read
The game sounds great but I think my grandchildren would need to be a bit older before we could play it with them 🙂
Love so that it could be distributed.
This game looks amazing shame by 3 boys are a bit young to play it at the monent
This looks like a fun game. I think that I might be a little complicated for my son at the moment but would lots of fun on a rainy day in a couple of years time 🙂
This looks amazing!!
this game looks like a fun game for all the family to enjoy
Looks interesting