Bolt is based on the animated movie of the same name, starring Bolt, a dog with super powers on a TV show, and his owner Penny. However, the game does not follow the story of the movie, instead taking place within the fictional TV series. The plot revolves around rescuing Penny's father, who was kidnapped by the evil Dr. Calisto.
Throughout 25 missions, control switches between Bolt and Penny. Bolt's sections focus on melee combat, where he uses his super powers and regular attacks against multiple enemies at once. The energy bar limits the use of these powers.
Penny's missions are divided into platforming and stealth segments. During linear platform levels, Penny jumps over gaps and uses her Wheelbar to reach certain ledges. When stuck, she can activate her enhanced vision, which shows where the Wheelbar needs to be used. In stealth sections, the goal is to reach points unseen while avoiding guards. Guards can be taken out instantly with a stealth attack or by solving a quick-time event if Penny is caught. Sometimes, Penny must hack computers using a mini-game.