2026Chris Helm, Seth Stigliano
- Videos
- 23
- Creators
- 11
Mainly reviews and how-to-play
2 - 4 players120 - 420 minHeavy weight
By Swords and Bayonets
2025Allen Dickerson
- Videos
- 13
- Creators
- 9
Mainly unboxings. By Swords and Bayonets is covered on BoardGameVideo.com by 2 how-to-play guides, 3 recorded sessions, 6 unboxings, and 2 other videos.
1 - 2 players
240 - 360 min
Very heavy weight: Rules-dense, long sessions
From BoardGameGeek
By Swords and Bayonets is the ninth member of GMT Games' Great Battles of The American Civil War series (GBACW). This game is meant to serve as a introduction for players new to the series by limiting the size of the playing area as well as the number of combatants on the map. Experienced GBACW players will appreciate the addition of these four short, sharp "done in an afternoon" battles. Features Include: Four Civil War battles, each on a 22" x "17 "half size" map Opposing forces are no more than one division per side with 50 or fewer combat units each The full GBACW rulebook is supported so there is nothing to "unlearn" when players delve into other GBACW series games The Battle Scenarios: Big Bethel, June 10, 1861 detailing Gen. Benjamin Butler's overconfident assault on John Magruder's Confederates Rappahannock Station, Nov. 7, 1863 in which elements of Sedgewick's VI Union Corps attempt to isolate and disperse a section of Early's CSA division. There is a one turn "learning scenario" for this battle. New Bern, Mar. 14 1862, featuring Maj. General Ambrose Burnside's launches an attack on dug-in but inexperienced Confederates in the vicinity of Fort Thompson. Mill Springs, Jan. 19, 1862 where Rebel Gen. G. Crittenden raced to surprise a large Union contingent before they could be reinforced. -description from the publisher
Watch first
Which By Swords and Bayonets video should I watch?
By Swords and Bayonets has 13 videos from 9 creators: 2 how-to-play guides, 3 playthroughs, 6 unboxings and 2 other videos. They date from May to August 2025.
To learn the rules, start with "ZOUAVES STORM the Confederate EARTHWORKS!" by Aaron Plays, which runs 45 min. For a quicker teach, "3D Printed Counter Trays for Swords and Bayonets by GMT Games" by Nerd Workshop runs 11 min.
To see it played, watch "By Swords and Bayonets (GMT Games) - Gameplay Part 1" by Hexed And Countered, one of 3 playthroughs.
If you like it, try Song for War: Mediterranean Theater, Pacific War: The Struggle Against Japan, 1941-1945 (Second Edition), Wizard Kings or Scotland Yard, which share several of its mechanics.
All videos
8 of 9
Creators who cover this
Hexed And Countered
4 videos of this game
Nerd Workshop
2 videos of this game
Aaron Plays
1 video of this game
Ardwulf's Lair
1 video of this game
Blastpop
1 video of this game
GMTGames
1 video of this game
KilroyWasHere
1 video of this game
My Own Worst Enemy
1 video of this game
Games like this
2022Mark Herman
- Videos
- 63
- Creators
- 18
Mainly how-to-play
2 players60 - 6000 minVery heavy weight
2000Tom Dalgliesh, Grant Dalgliesh
- Videos
- 26
- Creators
- 6
Mainly how-to-play
2 - 7 players150 minMedium weight
1983Manfred Burggraf, Dorothy Garrels, Wolf Hoermann, Fritz Ifland, Werner Scheerer, Werner Schlegel
- Videos
- 38
- Creators
- 4
Mainly reviews and how-to-play
2 - 6 players45 minLight weight
About By Swords and Bayonets
From BoardGameGeek:
By Swords and Bayonets is the ninth member of GMT Games' Great Battles of The American Civil War series (GBACW). This game is meant to serve as a introduction for players new to the series by limiting the size of the playing area as well as the number of combatants on the map. Experienced GBACW players will appreciate the addition of these four short, sharp "done in an afternoon" battles. Features Include: Four Civil War battles, each on a 22" x "17 "half size" map Opposing forces are no more than one division per side with 50 or fewer combat units each The full GBACW rulebook is supported so there is nothing to "unlearn" when players delve into other GBACW series games The Battle Scenarios: Big Bethel, June 10, 1861 detailing Gen. Benjamin Butler's overconfident assault on John Magruder's Confederates Rappahannock Station, Nov. 7, 1863 in which elements of Sedgewick's VI Union Corps attempt to isolate and disperse a section of Early's CSA division. There is a one turn "learning scenario" for this battle. New Bern, Mar. 14 1862, featuring Maj. General Ambrose Burnside's launches an attack on dug-in but inexperienced Confederates in the vicinity of Fort Thompson. Mill Springs, Jan. 19, 1862 where Rebel Gen. G. Crittenden raced to surprise a large Union contingent before they could be reinforced. -description from the publisher
Designer
Allen Dickerson
Artists
Dariusz Buraczewski, Charles Kibler, Rodger B. MacGowan, Justin Martinez, Mark Simonitch
Publisher
GMT Games
Categories
Mechanics