Jungle Strike Deep cut
Sega Game Gear · Shoot 'em Up / Shooter
Desert Strike
Deep cut
| System | Sega Game Gear |
|---|---|
| Released | 1993 |
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up, Shooter |
| Developer | Tiertex |
| Publisher | Domark |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Strike |
| Legacy | Deep cut · legacy score 3 |
Desert Strike is a shoot 'em up released in 1993 for the Sega Game Gear, developed by Tiertex and published by Domark. Depending on the region, you may also know it as Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf. It blends shoot 'em up and shooter elements.
It landed about 2 years into the Game Gear's life. Other notable Game Gear releases from 1993 include Sonic Chaos, Tom & Jerry: The Movie and Power Strike II. Among the 17 Game Gear shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #5 by legacy score.
It is part of the Strike series; on the Game Gear you can also try Jungle Strike and Urban Strike. The series also appears on other systems with Desert Strike (SNES) and Soviet Strike (PS1). Tiertex also made FIFA International Soccer, Paperboy and Star Wars for the Game Gear.
Desert Strike is a single-player game, so it's one to enjoy at your own pace.
Pick it if…
- you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
- you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
- you've played the Game Gear hits and want something less obvious
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing Desert Strike is like
Shoot 'em ups (shmups) put you in a ship facing waves of enemies and bullets. Runs are short and intense, and the goal is to survive, collect power-ups and push your high score.
Tip for newcomers: Focus on your ship's small hitbox rather than the flood of bullets, and learn which power-ups suit each stage. Most shmups are designed to be replayed many times.
Desert Strike cheats & codes
65 codes on file (Game Genie, Action Replay, Other codes). Here are a few Game Genie codes to start with:
| Start With 1 Hellfire | 01E-03E-C4A |
|---|---|
| Start With 5 Hellfires | 05E-03E-C4A |
| Start With 9 Hellfires | 09E-03E-C4A |
| Start With 1 Hydras | 01E-08E-3BA |
| Start With 56 Hydras | 56E-08E-3BA |
| Start With 99 Hydras | 99E-0DE-3BA |
Desert Strike walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Desert Strike.
If you like Desert Strike, the Matrix also picks…
Urban Strike Deep cut
Space Invaders Classic
Contra 4 Classic
Sunset Riders Classic Co-op
Battle City Classic Co-op
Contra Force Classic
Playing Game Gear games today
Game Gear games are compact, colorful and closely related to the Master System library, so they are quick to dive into.
Desert Strike FAQ
When did Desert Strike come out on the Game Gear?
Desert Strike was released for the Sega Game Gear in 1993.
Who made Desert Strike?
It was developed by Tiertex and published by Domark.
Is Desert Strike multiplayer?
No. Desert Strike is a single-player game.
How long does Desert Strike take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Desert Strike typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about Desert Strike on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.