Mobile game · 1992

Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf

Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf, commonly known as Desert Strike, is a shoot 'em up video game released by Electronic Arts (EA) in February 1992 for Sega's Mega Drive. The game was later released on several other formats such as the SNES, including a much upgraded version for the Amiga home computer. The game was inspired by the Gulf War and depicts a conflict between an insane Middle Eastern dictator, General Kilbaba, and the United States. The player controls a lone Apache helicopter and attempts to destroy enemy weapons and installations, rescue hostages and capture enemy personnel, while managing supplies of fuel and ammunition.

Feb 1, 1992BlackBerry OSESRB 12USK 0

Shooter Strategy Action Warfare

Community activity

Last checked Aug 9, 2026

Community signals

How many people gather around Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf outside the stores — members, subscribers and live viewers.

Twitch viewers

Live channels: 0

First reading taken Aug 9, 2026 — the chart appears once there are two.

Not tracked for Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf: Google Play, App Store, Steam, Discord, Reddit, YouTube. A platform appears here once the game has a link to it — most mobile games have no Steam port or subreddit, so a gap is normal rather than a sign the game is small.

Storyline

After terrorist leader General Kilbaba has seized control of an unnamed "small but wealthy" Gulf emirate, overthrown the monarchy and installed himself as dictator, the United States sends a lone helicopter to destroy his army in a series of swift strikes. The game's plot was felt by commentators to be a thinly disguised reference to the Gulf War, while comparisons were drawn between Kilbaba and Saddam Hussein, and between the game's unnamed desert setting and Iraq