Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf
Sega Genesis · 1993
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.
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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 Sega Genesis
Known as the Mega Drive outside North America, the Sega Genesis (1988/1989) was Sega's most successful console and Sonic the Hedgehog's original home, fueling the "console wars" era against Nintendo's SNES. Genesis cartridge collecting is well-established: common sports and platformer titles are affordable, while sports-license and later-era games with smaller print runs can carry a meaningful premium.
Gamevaro tracks Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf for Sega Genesis 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: Return to the Gulf 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 GEN release dates back to 1993.
Price history
Market values by condition
PAL
NTSC-U
NTSC-J
Recent sales
| Date | Type | Region | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-14 | Item only | PAL | €18.12 |
| 2026-07-14 | Complete in Box | NTSC-J | €18.35 |
| 2026-07-14 | Item only | NTSC-U | €14.53 |
| 2026-07-14 | Complete in Box | PAL | €20.18 |
| 2026-07-14 | Item only | NTSC-J | €14.53 |
| 2026-07-14 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €18.35 |
| 2026-07-12 | Box Only | NTSC-J | €27.65 |
| 2026-07-12 | Graded New | NTSC-U | €180.45 |
| 2026-07-12 | Manual Only | NTSC-U | €7.00 |
| 2026-07-12 | Graded New | PAL | €46.30 |
| 2026-07-12 | Manual Only | PAL | €5.57 |
| 2026-07-12 | Box Only | NTSC-U | €7.47 |
| 2026-07-12 | Complete in Box | PAL | €16.30 |
| 2026-07-12 | Item only | NTSC-J | €9.66 |
| 2026-07-12 | Complete in Box | NTSC-U | €17.96 |
| 2026-07-12 | Manual Only | NTSC-J | €17.28 |
| 2026-07-12 | Item only | PAL | €6.74 |
| 2026-07-12 | Box Only | PAL | €6.70 |
| 2026-07-12 | New (sealed) | NTSC-J | €208.22 |
| 2026-07-12 | New (sealed) | PAL | €42.09 |
| 2026-07-12 | Graded New | NTSC-J | €229.05 |
| 2026-07-12 | Complete in Box | NTSC-J | €83.34 |
| 2026-07-12 | Item only | NTSC-U | €6.56 |
| 2026-07-12 | New (sealed) | NTSC-U | €34.11 |
| 2026-07-10 | New (sealed) | NTSC-J | €208.13 |
| 2026-07-10 | Item only | PAL | €6.73 |
| 2026-07-10 | Item only | NTSC-J | €9.65 |
| 2026-07-10 | Manual Only | PAL | €5.57 |
| 2026-07-10 | Manual Only | NTSC-J | €17.27 |
| 2026-07-10 | Box Only | NTSC-J | €27.63 |
Market insights
Rarity & condition
Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf has a steady sales history on the tracked marketplaces, meaning enough copies circulate to establish a reliable market price.
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: Return to the Gulf worth?
Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf for Sega Genesis is currently worth €18.12 loose, €16.30 complete in box, and €42.09 factory sealed. Prices are based on real sales and update regularly on Gamevaro.
Is Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf rare?
Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf has a steady sales history on the tracked marketplaces, meaning it trades hands regularly and isn't considered particularly rare.
What's the difference between loose, CIB and sealed for Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf?
Loose means cartridge or disc only, CIB (complete in box) includes the original box and manual, and sealed means factory-sealed and never opened. For Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf, loose is €18.12 and CIB is €16.30 — CIB commands a premium because original boxes and manuals are fragile and often don't survive.
Is Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf worth more in PAL or NTSC?
The PAL version of Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf is currently worth €18.12 loose, versus €14.53 for NTSC-U. Regional price differences usually come down to print run size and regional collector demand.
Ratings & Reviews
Also on other platforms
More Sega Genesis games