As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, I love the grimdark of Warhammer 40,000 and the tight, tactical skirmishes of Kill Team. I love both systems—they’ve given me epic moments, great friends, and plenty of tabletop fun. But I’ve found myself looking for a game that recaptures the excitement of wargaming that I experienced back when I was first starting out (a long time ago). The recent incarnations of 40K are super complicated and I’ve been on the lookout for something a little simpler with engaging gameplay. And recently, I’ve been noticing something called Bolt Action.
World War II miniatures. Thematic, gritty tables. Terrain that looks like an actual battlefield. Order dice being drawn creating a chaotic swirl of combat that keeps you engaged throughout. This sounded like just my thing. I’d always been curious… so last November I reached out on the Facebook group of a local club and Jackson offered to run a demo game.
I’m very, very glad I said yes.
The Demo Game: Soviets vs Germans
It was a simple setup: Soviets vs. Germans, a classic match-up. Jackson had everything ready—beautiful terrain, two well painted armies, and the kind of calm, patient enthusiasm you only get from someone who genuinely loves the game.
I took the Germans.
Within minutes, I realised two things:
- This system is incredibly easy to pick up.
The core mechanics are intuitive. No encyclopedic stratagems. No flipping between multiple supplements. Just straightforward rules that give you tactical freedom without drowning you in complexity. It basically boils down to rolling a 4 + on a D6 with various modifiers. Obviously there’s more to it than that, but it’s a very simple game at its core. - There is no down time.
The way units activate based on the order dice draw creates this constant feeling of uncertainty.. You never know who’s going next, so you’re always involved, always paying attention, always planning. This swinging back and forth keeps the engagement level high at all times.
These put Bolt Action in a completely different space to 40K. It’s not better or worse—it’s just different. More narrative. More engaging. Much less downtime.
The Table Matters
One thing that really sold me was the terrain. This wasn’t a competitive layout with perfect symmetry and L-shaped ruins. This was:
- hedgerows
- burnt-out farmhouses
- muddy fields
- woodlands
- cover that looked like cover
The whole experience felt like we were playing a real battle on the Eastern Front. That immersion was much deeper than I expected.
The Mechanics Just Make Sense
The alternating activation system keeps both players engaged constantly—no long, 40K-style “go make a coffee” phases.
You draw a die. If it’s yours, you activate a unit. Next die drawn determines the next force to activate. Is it yours or your opponents….
It’s simple, but the tension it creates is addictive. You’re always one dice pull away from something heroic, chaotic, or disastrous. Despite the game’s easy fundamentals, it forces you to make deep decisions. Which unit do you activate first and which stay in reserve for later in the turn. Where do you focus your efforts and how do you react to your opponents activations.
From Demo to… Buying a Whole New Army
I don’t think I am alone in suffering this and I’ve heard many wargamers lamenting the same thing. You try something new, enjoy it, before convincing yourself you’ll just dip our toe in the water.
And then suddenly you’re on Ebay and thinking:
“Well, Commandos do look cool…”
So yes… I’ve taken the plunge. I now own a British Commando starter army, which I spent quiet periods of the Christmas break painting and basing.
The playstyle appeals to me: mobile, elite, characterful, full of flavour. I also have a strong family connection to the Royal Marines. So, I’ve been researching WW2 commando engagements and uncovering some fascinating stuff including the many raids across the English channel and the battle of Walcheren. I’m also doing some reading about 30 Assault Unit, the commando group set up by Ian Fleming of James Bond fame. I hadn’t realised it would be so satisfying setting up a force that has such real-world history behind it.
The 20-Player Game
There’s a big multiplayer Bolt Action event planned for March—around twenty players from different clubs and communities. If all goes well, I’ll be joining that battle line with my freshly-painted and battle-tested Commandos.
The idea of a huge, sprawling WWII tabletop game filled with gorgeous terrain, cinematic moments, and dozens of players all leaning in together? That sounds like exactly the kind of hobby experience I want more of.
Not only that, but I’m taking my commandos to a 6 player narrative game this weekend as part of the open day of a nearby club. I’m really looking forward to this and I’m sure the experience will form another article in the near future.
Final Thoughts
My first game of Bolt Action was everything I’d hoped for:
- easy to learn
- narratively rich
- tactically engaging
- visually immersive
- very welcoming community
It hasn’t replaced 40K or Kill Team for me—instead adding something new and refreshing. And honestly? I can’t wait to get stuck in.
