Desperados III
Desperados III
Game
Game2013
Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive
Developer Spellbound
Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive is a real-time tactics video game developed by Spellbound Entertainment and published by Infogrames for Microsoft Windows. In the game, the player controls up to six characters in an Old West setting. The protagonist is a worldly knife-fighter and gunslinger, John Cooper, who sets out to capture a notorious train-robber named "El Diablo" and claim the bounty on his head. As Cooper… From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
247 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Oct 27, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
85
LovedLoved
145 positive · 26 negative
95% range 79–89%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 145 | 26 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 27 | 1 | 28 |
| Lemmy * | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 3 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
809 of 938 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
84% recommend · 147 yes, 27 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 174 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (2,162 of 2,458 positive).
Players praise the game as a nostalgic classic that holds up well over time. [1][2][3] Some reviewers note technical issues and lack of modern support. [4][5][6] The game is considered a standout in the real-time tactics genre. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [16]
Start game, struggle with controls, fail first mission due to learning mechanics (musical watch, right?), restart mission, 20 min wasted... COME ON! Why doesnt it warn you there's no autosave? On the positive side, loved the fact that you have a top-down game, RTS style, but with an extra dimension of being able to crouch, go up and down buildings, and so on. Will probably try later. Until then, don't recommend. 3/10
- [1]
The game is 24 years old — it's from my childhood, and it's still really good even today.
- [14]
Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive is a stealth based strategy game that makes you really think before doing anything, one wrong move and you're dead. The wild west setting of the game is so refreshing and for such an old game, the graphics aren't that bad and the dialogues between the characters is entertaining. Despite being somehow difficult with some levels that might take more than an hour to finish, it is still …
- [8]
This is one of the best games ever made. Most people remember the Commandos saga, particularly the first and second games. But Desperados is not just Commandos in the far west, is the perfection of the genre. They took everything that was already incredible about Commandos and built a masterpiece on top. Desperados plays as the ultimate western game, you start only with one playable character, John Cooper who is …
- [2]
For every cornflakes loving children of the 90's, this is as nostalgic as it gets. Superb game!
Summarised from 34 of the 242 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 12, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive sits at 85% positive across 171 opinionated reactions from 4 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Rob Smolka reviewed the PC version of the game for Next Generation, rating it four stars out of five, and stated that "this gets an extra star just for being that rare Western-themes game that does justice to its source. Stick with it through the tough times, or you'll miss out on a great story and a stable full of action". The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 247 · most liked first2. Shadow Gambit Speaking of my favourite games from last year, I still can't recommend Shadow Gambit highly enough and deserved so much better, a stealthy strategy murder-puzzle in the vein of the old Commandos/Desperados games with an undead pirate crew. store.steampowered.com/app/1545560/...
neutral · AI labelView post →Great game from the Desperados III team. Sadly overlooked and so the studio ended up closing up because there seemingly wasn't a market for them. Well worth picking up.
positive · AI labelView post →Dev of Shadow Tactics, Desperados III, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew shutting down.
neutral · AI labelView post →Dev of Shadow Tactics, Desperados III, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew shutting down.
neutral · AI labelView post →Iron Harvest was one of the best modern RTS games, set in the same universe as the Scythe boardgame, and handing these devs the Dawn of War IP? That's like when they gave Desperados to Mimimi, a perfect fit. Colour me very, very intrigued. store.steampowered.com/app/826630/I...
neutral · AI labelView post →Desperados 3 is a tremendously good strategy game, I think I recommend one of Mimimi's stealth tactics games nearly every steam sale, but for damn good reason. Nobody did it like them. Take your posse of cowpokes on elaborate murder-puzzle stages in a genuinely epic revenge narrative.
positive · AI labelView post →27. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun With this game, developer Mimimi singlehandedly resurrected the stealth strategy genre that started with the likes of Commandos and Desperados, and it's every bit the successor to that legacy you could ever desire, nobody did it quite like them. Play it!
neutral · AI labelView post →This game is incredible, as is the same crew’s Desperados 3 and Shadow Tactics. No one, and I mean no one, has done realtime stealth tactics better than Mimimi.
positive · AI labelView post →Weekend PC Game Deals: Autumn and Black Friday specials take charge. - Diablo IV – $41.99 on Steam - Persona 5 Royal – $35.99 on Steam - Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition – $35.99 on Steam - Street Fighter 6 – $32.46 on GreenManGaming - Cyberpunk 2077 – $29.99 on Steam - Forza Horizon 5 – $29.99 on Steam - Dead Space – $29.99 on Steam - Dying Light 2 Stay Human – $29.99 on Steam - Hogwarts Legacy – $29.79 on Gamebillet - HITMAN 3 – $27.99 on Steam - Rust – $26.79 on Steam -…
neutral · AI labelView post →There's the best deal yet on Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew + DLC. Probably the best stealth-tactics game (Commandos, Desperados, etc) of its kind. There may not be another like it, as the studio disbanded immediately after release. Really fun Ghost Pirates versus Magic-Hating Inquisitors setting.
positive · AI labelView post →Mimimi say goodbye with two big Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew DLC expansions releasing December 6th. Very little is known so far, but each apparently brings a new character and a mini campaign. Quite excited, the main game was fantastic and I loved to see what they had learned from the individual ups and downs of Shadow Tactics and Desperados 3.
positive · AI labelView post →[Steam] Desperados III ($3.99 / 90% off). Mimimi Games is a defunct developer.
neutral · AI labelView post →Bought a new game (for me). Desperados should be called Isometric Beauty.
positive · AI labelView post →Weekend PC Game Deals: Bundled VR and narrative ventures, Xbox PC hits, and more. Big Deals - Cyberpunk 2077 – $35.99 on Steam - Resident Evil 4 – $33.59 on Fanatical - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - GOTY Edition – $29.99 on Steam - Grounded – $26.79 on Steam - The Expanse - A Telltale Series – $23.99 on Epic Store - Stray – $22.49 on Steam - EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 5 – $20.99 on Steam - Gloomhaven – $20.99 on Steam - Hi-Fi RUSH – $20.39 on GreenManGaming - Sea of Thieves 2023 Edition – $19.99 on…
neutral · AI labelView post →Weekend PC Game Deals: Affordable EA classics, Kombat to try, a tabletop fest, and more. Big Deals - Mortal Kombat 1 – $35.69 on GreenManGaming - Forza Horizon 5 – $29.99 on Steam - Voidtrain – $22.49 on Steam - Crusader Kings III – $22.49 on Fanatical - Sifu – $19.99 on Steam - Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond – $19.99 on Steam - The Wandering Village – $18.74 on Steam - Stoneshard – $18.74 on Steam - The Last Spell – $17.49 on Steam - Resident Evil Village – $15.99 on Steam - Cult of the…
neutral · AI labelView post →The game is 24 years old — it's from my childhood, and it's still really good even today.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Today’s Black Video Game Character: Isabelle Morale (Desperados)
neutral · AI labelView post →For every cornflakes loving children of the 90's, this is as nostalgic as it gets. Superb game!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Maybe none, maybe a couple; lately I have resisted sales since my backlog is so big. That being said, some of the more interesting ones on my wishlist are on sale this time around. I might pick one or two of these: First person shooters: - Trepang2 (F.E.A.R. homage) - 60% off, $12 - Prodeus (boomer shooter) - 40% off, $15 - Metal: Hellsinger (boomer shooter) - 75% off, $8 Indie/puzzle/chill: - The Talos Principle 2 - 70% off, $9 - Everspace 2 - 70% off, $15 -…
neutral · AI labelView post →My Favorite Game of all Time!!! Nothing has ever been beaten this. I wish they made more like this today! <3 Anyone with suggestions of similar games, please do write me! ^^
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game captures the essence of the Wild Wild West with its gripping strategy gameplay and authentic atmosphere. You'll navigate through tactical puzzles using a diverse cast of characters, each with unique abilities. Despite its aging graphics, the game's immersive storyline and unique gameplay make it a standout in the genre. Whether you're planning ambushes or unraveling a captivating narrative, Desperados delivers an unforgettable journey through the rugged landscapes of the Old West.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →my childhood memories passing over my eye's ..
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is Mimimi's Final Game as the Studio Shuts Down - IGN. Mimimi Games has announced it is shutting down and Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is its last game. I really enjoyed this company's games, Shadow Tactics and Desperados III (I haven't gotten to Shadow Gambit yet because, let's be real, Baldur's Gate 3 *just* came out, but I was going to move on to this game next). It was the perfect modernization of an older genre, and it even worked great on controller. I…
positive · AI labelView post →An absolute classic that offers an engaging story and stunning art, immersing players in its Wild West setting. Despite its challenging gameplay, it's incredibly fun and rewarding. It still holds up today, showcasing timeless design and captivating storytelling. Charming.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Commandos to me is the start of a different lineage of real-time tactical stealth games, which goes on to include Desperados, Shadow Tactics, and Shadow Gambit (yes, most of those were made by the same team). Outside of the OGRE-alikes (FO Tactics, FF Tactics, Disgea, and so on) some other options for tactical games that are a little different: - Nexus: The Jupiter Incident - sort of a 4X game mixed with tactics, or like Homeworld with a lot fewer units - Myth: The Fallen Lords (and sequels)…
neutral · AI labelView post →Random shoutout time! Any Desperados III fans out there? It was probably my 1st tactical stealth isometric game since Commandos 2, and I was surprised at how solid the gameplay and story were. Sucks that Mimimi closed doors. But I still a couple of their games in my backlog waiting to be played.
positive · AI labelView post →Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive is a stealth based strategy game that makes you really think before doing anything, one wrong move and you're dead. The wild west setting of the game is so refreshing and for such an old game, the graphics aren't that bad and the dialogues between the characters is entertaining. Despite being somehow difficult with some levels that might take more than an hour to finish, it is still a decent game. If you like western tactical games then Desperados is for you.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I played this at its original release which makes it fantastic. When I found that they built Linux compatible version of it. I bought it as nostalgia, but I admitted that it is still fantastic. Graphic details after over 20 years is unbelievably great. I recommended as they do not build this type game again which you buy a game and it is enough and no more money is needed.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →02 - Desperados Always been a wild west fan & this released when I was 14 and had my 1st computer. First ever game I owned the original of. I still remember all the great times I had with this, also playing with my bestie again years later! Hiding maaaany bodies in small shacks was our fav thing X'D
positive · AI labelView post →The pinnacle of the Real-Time Tactics genre.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is one of my favorite games. I love the graphics, the music and the gameplay.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Start game, struggle with controls, fail first mission due to learning mechanics (musical watch, right?), restart mission, 20 min wasted... COME ON! Why doesnt it warn you there's no autosave? On the positive side, loved the fact that you have a top-down game, RTS style, but with an extra dimension of being able to crouch, go up and down buildings, and so on. Will probably try later. Until then, don't recommend. 3/10
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game so awesome! It was my all time favorite 2D RTS game, still is now. Cause I'am a big fan of westerns. I had so much fun playing with it back then.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Wanted to play this since I was a kid. Finally did it, it was a great experience.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game aged well in my opinion. The maps were really beautiful, the colours, both bright and dark were used appropriately, the music was great, the story was good as well, the enemies were a bit comical in expressing reactions but somehow still managed to not throw off the seriousness of the missions. Mexicans all saying "Caramba!", and then Sam saying "Yippedi Doo Da!" and such other quips were slightly off-putting at a few points while performing actions, still it was a lot of fun. The map…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great game commandos set in the wild west a little hard to get and keep running on modern setups
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →simply the best game i ever played
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Well that was a successful ambush - game 1 to the Desperados!
neutral · AI labelView post →A classic for which I kept my old laptop so I could replay it. The new adaption to windows 11 works well so let the laptop collect dust. Fun to play this old game again.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is one of the best games ever made. Most people remember the Commandos saga, particularly the first and second games. But Desperados is not just Commandos in the far west, is the perfection of the genre. They took everything that was already incredible about Commandos and built a masterpiece on top. Desperados plays as the ultimate western game, you start only with one playable character, John Cooper who is wearing Indiana Jones clothes for some reason. Every couple of levels a new…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Oh I loved Desperados 3! 😁 I paid £18 for it back in March 22 and spent 61hrs in it. Excellent game. [Shadow Gambit](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1545560/Shadow_Gambit_The_Cursed_Crew/) is meant to be good too by the same people.
positive · AI labelView post →They should make a Commandos/Desperados style strategy game about fighting other people for bargains on Black Friday or somesuch
neutral · AI labelView post →childhood favourite - adulthood favourite. just as fun and playable as it was 20 years ago
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is an old game and lacks the quality-of-life improvements found in modern games of this genre.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Desperados 3 did it for me. The game ends right where it promised, getting revenge and jumping to black as soon as the trigger's pulled. Knowing something like this will likely never be made again drove me into a light melancholy.
positive · AI labelView post →A true real-time strategy classic that remains just as atmospheric and fun as ever.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →📿❄️Schedule Time📿❄️ This week in the monastery: - I'm finally doing more game streams! Any and all games are on the table. - The Valley tackles the Desperados #ttrpg - and I pay a visit to Maki's neck o' the woods to talk anything and everything! #ENvtuber #vtuber #vtubersupportbeam
neutral · AI labelView post →Great game, I wish there was a new version of this with slightly improved mechanics and more maps... I know Desperados 3 exists though, might give it a try
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Perfect old school game! It's low price for the value it provides. If you are into Commandos or 2,5D games, cowboys and good story + gameplay - This is the game to try and beat for under 20 hours. Replayable too when you start loving the game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →so i've noticed that the steam version is even buggier than the original game that i played back in 2004, i'm on level ten called lullaby for four aces, in the map there's some big stairs leading to the higher level where the big boss sanchez is . so this is pretty important and game breaking because the stairs don't work! the enemies can't come down them and get stuck at the top (cool for easy kills) when my characters go up the stairs it's not even a walking animation it's a climbing one,…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →"Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive" is an ancient game from 2001. It's a whopping 23 years old at the time of this review. The game lacks support for any modern gaming display resolutions (or widescreen monitors), hasn't been modernised or updated to run smoothly on modern gaming PCs. Despite this lack of modernisation, it carries a pretty high price tag for such an ancient game. This seems to have been put on Steam as a nostalgia gouge, or just a cash grab to try profit from abandonware.…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game holds a special place in my heart as one of my favorite nostalgic games. "Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive" is a must-play for fans of tactical stealth games. Its immersive Wild West setting, combined with its blend of real-time strategy and action-adventure elements, creates a truly unique and engaging experience. The game's emphasis on non-lethal takedowns and environmental interactions allows for a variety of creative solutions to each level, encouraging replayability.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Best value was Desperados III. I intentionally paid full price for the base game and DLC on GOG after playing Shadow Gambit: Blades of the Shogun and loving the gameplay/concept. It was one of the few titles I've ever 100 percented and played repeatedly for months. I loved it so much I bought an unopened collector's edition for the PS4 at a steep discount and it now sits proudly on top of my bookshelf next to my Batman Beyond statue and Venture Bros. discs. My worst was LA Noir on Steam. That…
positive · AI labelView post →Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive is a real-time strategy game, similar to the Commandos series, where you control a cast of characters with different abilities in order to solve the challenges of each level. The western theme is really well done, the story is engaging, and the levels offer a great deal of variety. The music and sound effects also stand out to enhance the gameplay. The game is from 2001, but this version works well on modern systems and I had no problems running it on my…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I played some Desperados last year and tbh they hold up pretty well apart from some graphics/UI stuff. I don't think I ever played Robin Hood beyond the demo back in the day, but I played enough Commandos/Desperados to know it's quality.
positive · AI labelView post →We got the demo for this game in a cereal box or something, and played it so much we became masters at it. That demo stage is still my favourite, and luckily it is included in the full game. The gameplay is simple, but very engaging; you control several characters with different abilities, and need to sneak or fight your way across the map to achieve your objectives. The task will often seem impossible, but examining the enemies' movement and view will eventually reveal blind spots that can…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This Saturday, who doesn’t like a drinks offer?!? 🍻 11am-2pm & during game! Desperados - whilst they last. See you Saturday from 11am! #everton #newcastle #EFC #UTFT #COYB
neutral · AI labelView post →game is great, but clunky as you play it nowdays (you had to be a really oldschool player to get through this clunk) From what weird timeline and earth you took half of these screenshots? They are like an unfinished product and sprites xDD
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game has for a long time served as a blueprint for how my ideal digital entertainment should look like. As aomeone who suffers from severe simulator sickness, I have to resort to playing games that don't rely on 3D graphics. Discovering Desperados meant I could finally dive into hours-long gameplay and my affinity to RTT genre was thus born. The only thing I realized after playing (and loving to death) Desperados 3 is how badly the graphics side of their predecessor aged.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Love the old west style
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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