Urban Strike Deep cut
Sega Genesis / Mega Drive · Shoot 'em Up / Shooter
Desert Strike
Deep cut
| System | Sega Genesis / Mega Drive |
|---|---|
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up, Shooter |
| Developer | Visual Concepts |
| Publisher | Electronic Arts |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Strike |
| Legacy | Deep cut · legacy score 5 |
Developed by Visual Concepts and published by Electronic Arts, Desert Strike arrived on the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive as a shoot 'em up. 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 is part of the Strike series; on the Genesis you can also try Urban Strike and Jungle Strike. The series also appears on other systems with Desert Strike (SNES) and Soviet Strike (PS1). Visual Concepts also made ClayFighter and WeaponLord for the Genesis.
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 Genesis 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
84 codes on file (Action Replay, Other codes). Here are a few Action Replay codes to start with:
| Infinite Lives | 006AA4:4A79 |
|---|---|
| Unlimited Fuel | 00689C:4A79 |
| Bonus Armor | 0049D0:7FFF |
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…
Jungle Strike Deep cut
Sunset Riders Classic Co-op
Zombies Ate My Neighbors Classic Co-op
Rolling Thunder 2 Co-op
Dangerous Seed Deep cut
Playing Genesis games today
Genesis games are fast and immediate, and many are made for two players. Official collections and Nintendo Switch Online carry a big slice of the library, and Rec0m88 can run your own Genesis backups with online netplay.
Desert Strike FAQ
Who made Desert Strike?
It was developed by Visual Concepts and published by Electronic Arts.
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.