In Colt Express, you play a bandit robbing a train at the same time as other bandits, and your goal is to become the richest outlaw of the Old West.

The game consists of five rounds, and each round has two phases:

• Phase 1: Schemin’ Each player plays 2-5 action cards on a common pile, with the cards face up or face down depending on the type of the round. Instead of playing a card, a player can draw three cards from their deck.
• Phase 2: Stealin’ The action cards are carried out in the order they were played, with a player’s best-laid plans possibly not panning out due to mistakes and oversights!

The game takes place in a 3D train in which the bandits can move from one car to another, run on the roof, punch the other bandits, shoot them, rob the passengers, or draw the Marshal out of position.