Desert Strike
Game Boy · 1992
About this game
The first game in the Strike series.
A year after the Gulf War, a self-styled general named Kilbaba (Muababa in the GBA version) takes over an Arab Emirate and threatens to start World War III against his western enemy, the United States.
↓ Read more
The whole world holds its breath as the President has chosen you to destroy Kilbaba and his terrorist army before he launches a nuclear attack on the world! You must fly a specially designed AH-64A Apache on a series of missions to rescue missing-in-action characters, destroy power plants, blow apart SCUD missiles, etc. to take out the enemy defense while trying to find out Kilbaba's plans.
The player controls the helicopter from an overhead, isometric perspective.
The Apache is equipped with three weapon types: a machine gun and two types of missiles of different strength.
During the missions, the player must beware anti-aircraft guns, missile launchers and tanks, outmaneuvering enemy fire or destroying the enemy weaponry.
The Apache is destroyed if its fuel runs out, or if the armor (functioning as health) is completely depleted.
However, armor can be replenished by bringing back MIA soldiers and prisoners of war back to the landing zone.
There are also fuel, ammo and armor pickups available on the field.
About Game Boy
The original Game Boy (1989) proved that handheld gaming didn't need cutting-edge graphics to succeed — its monochrome screen and legendary battery life, combined with Tetris as a pack-in, made it a cultural phenomenon. Game Boy cartridges are famously durable, so this remains one of the more accessible retro platforms to collect, though translucent color variants and complete-in-box copies with the original brick-sized manual add real value for condition-focused collectors.
Gamevaro tracks Desert Strike for Game Boy with separate market values for loose, complete-in-box (CIB) and factory-sealed copies, sourced from real eBay sales. Prices also vary by region — PAL, NTSC-U and NTSC-J releases of the same game often sell for different amounts due to print run sizes and regional collector demand.
Adding Desert Strike to a Gamevaro collection takes seconds — search by title or scan the box barcode, and the app fills in cover art, release details and current pricing automatically. This GB release dates back to 1992.
Market values by condition
NTSC-J
Recent sales
| Date | Type | Region | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-12 | Boxed (CIB) | NTSC-U | €68.64 |
| 2026-07-12 | Sealed / New | NTSC-U | €157.48 |
| 2026-07-12 | Loose / Item only | NTSC-U | €19.24 |
| 2026-07-10 | Boxed (CIB) | NTSC-U | €68.61 |
| 2026-07-10 | Loose / Item only | NTSC-U | €19.23 |
| 2026-07-10 | Sealed / New | NTSC-U | €157.41 |
| 2026-07-09 | Boxed (CIB) | NTSC-U | €68.79 |
| 2026-07-09 | Loose / Item only | NTSC-U | €19.28 |
| 2026-07-09 | Sealed / New | NTSC-U | €157.84 |
| 2026-07-08 | Sealed / New | PAL | €195.04 |
| 2026-07-08 | Loose / Item only | NTSC-U | €21.88 |
| 2026-07-08 | Loose / Item only | NTSC-J | €21.88 |
| 2026-07-08 | Loose / Item only | PAL | €21.20 |
Market insights
Rarity & condition
Only a handful of market sales have been tracked for Desert Strike, suggesting it doesn't trade hands very often — a sign of relative scarcity compared to more common Game Boy titles.
Complete-in-box (CIB) copies typically command a premium over loose cartridges/discs because the original box and manual are more fragile and get discarded or damaged over time — fewer complete sets survive.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Desert Strike worth?
Desert Strike for Game Boy is currently worth €21.20 loose, and €195.04 factory sealed. Prices are based on real sales and update regularly on Gamevaro.
Is Desert Strike rare?
Desert Strike has only a handful of tracked market sales, suggesting relative scarcity compared to more common Game Boy titles.
What's the difference between loose, CIB and sealed for Desert Strike?
Loose means cartridge or disc only, CIB (complete in box) includes the original box and manual, and sealed means factory-sealed and never opened. These are tracked as separate market values because the price gap between them can be significant, especially for older releases.
Is Desert Strike worth more in PAL or NTSC?
The PAL version of Desert Strike is currently worth €21.20 loose, versus €19.24 for NTSC-U. Regional price differences usually come down to print run size and regional collector demand.
Ratings & Reviews
Also on other platforms
More Game Boy games
