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's plot deviates from the movie's story, focusing instead on rescuing Penny's father who was kidnapped by Dr. Calisto.
Throughout 25 missions, players control both Bolt and Penny, each with unique gameplay mechanics. Bolt's sections feature melee combat using super powers and regular attacks, while fighting against multiple enemies at once. The energy bar limits the use of super powers in these battles.