Colt Express Setup and Rules: Your First Train Heist FAQ
By Asmodee – Asmodee USA | Published: 2026-11-01
Category: How-to Guides
New to Colt Express? Get clear answers on setup, programmed actions, bandit movement, and loot so your first train heist runs smoothly.
Quick answer
Set up the train cars and bandit figures, deal each player a hand of action cards, then plan your moves in secret before resolving them in order. Programmed actions are the heart of Colt Express, so expect chaos and laughs rather than perfect plans.
Why programmed actions change how you plan
In Colt Express, you choose actions before seeing what other bandits will do. That means your carefully planned move can be disrupted by a rival climbing into the same car or firing a shot. The game rewards flexibility and reading your opponents more than memorizing a fixed sequence.
When the train heist gets crowded
With more players, the train cars fill up quickly and collisions become more frequent. If you are playing with a full table, expect more chaos and fewer clean getaways. With fewer players, you have more room to maneuver, but every action still matters.
Colt Express rules FAQ
- How do I set up Colt Express?
- Place the train cars in a line, put your bandit figure in the starting car, shuffle the loot tokens and place them in the cars as indicated, then deal each player a hand of action cards. The rulebook specifies exact car order and token placement. Check the rulebook for the exact starting car and loot distribution before your first game.
- What are programmed actions and how do they work?
- Each round, players secretly choose action cards from their hand and place them face down in a stack. Then you reveal and resolve them one by one in order. Actions include moving, climbing, shooting, punching, and picking up loot. Remember that you cannot change your programmed actions once chosen, so plan with uncertainty in mind.
- How do bandits move between train cars?
- Bandits can move to an adjacent car using a move action, or climb onto the roof with a climb action. Some cards let you move along the roof or change levels. Movement is resolved in the order the cards were programmed. Keep track of which car you will end up in after all actions resolve, not just after your own.
- How do you win Colt Express?
- The game ends after a set number of rounds. The bandit with the most loot value wins. Loot includes purses, jewels, and strongboxes, but watch out for the sheriff's revenge and other players stealing from you. Balance grabbing loot with avoiding getting shot or punched, which can make you drop loot.
- What happens when you get shot?
- When you are hit by a bullet card, you add it to your deck. Bullet cards clutter your hand and limit your options, because they have no useful action. Too many bullets can ruin your plans. Avoid standing in the line of fire if you can, and consider shooting rivals to slow them down.
About Colt Express
- Colt Express: The game is set on the Union Pacific Express in 1899, with heavily armed bandits robbing passengers. The train setting and bandit theme drive the programmed-action gameplay, so knowing the scenario helps you visualize your moves.
Colt Express
