Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive
Released Nov 2013
"Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive" is the first strategy game ever to combine a movie-based and story-driven atmosphere of an adventure game with the intellectual challenge of a real time tactic game.In this western-style title, discover a game of strategy and tactics played out in exceptional real time.
87% positive · 2,434 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Where to buy
Steam $4.99 Green Man Gaming Steam key $4.99
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Evaluation
Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive is a classic real-time tactics game originally released in 2001 and re-released on Steam on November 20, 2013. The store description presents a fixed, self-contained product: 25 levels, a complete story, and a defined roster of characters — with no mention of additional content, DLC, or ongoing development.
The only post-launch developer activity found in the news record is a July 2018 compatibility patch that added Windows 7/8/10, Mac, and Linux support, along with a restored classic demo mission. This was a purely technical maintenance update, not a content expansion.
The remaining news posts are entirely about Desperados III, a separate sequel developed by a different studio (Mimimi Games) and published by THQ Nordic — they are not communications about this original game's development.
No DLC has ever been listed for this game, no roadmap or future content has ever been announced, and no developer statement suggests further work is planned. The game shipped as a complete, standalone product and has remained that way. The 2018 compatibility update was a quality-of-life improvement to keep the game playable on modern systems, not a signal of ongoing content development.
Evidence
Store description presents a fully self-contained game with a fixed set of 25 levels, 6 characters, and a complete story. No mention of DLC, additional content, or ongoing updates.
News post is about the launch of the separate sequel Desperados III (by Mimimi Games), not about this original game. The content announcements described apply only to that sequel.
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
THQ Nordic
Achievements
—
Platform
Windows, macOS, Linux
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player
About this game
"Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive" is the first strategy game ever to combine a movie-based and story-driven atmosphere of an adventure game with the intellectual challenge of a real time tactic game.
In this western-style title, discover a game of strategy and tactics played out in exceptional real time. You're in charge of a team of 6 mercenaries and must find a way to complete your missions, be it infiltrating an enemy fortress, saving a team member or escaping an ambush... Combine the different skills of your 6 heroes to lead them to victory.
But no one in and around El Paso has the courage to take on the might of the bandidos, so the outlaws just keep on robbing train after train. Even the local Marshal is keeping well out of it.
It’s only when a stranger rides into town that things start to change. Bounty hunter John Cooper pays a visit to the local Twinnings & Co manager offering to end the railroad company’s problems once and for all. He gathers together a gang of his old partners and declares war on the bandidos. But during his pursuit, which will take him through half of the southwestern United States, Cooper soon discovers that on this mission nothing is quite what it seems...
In this western-style title, discover a game of strategy and tactics played out in exceptional real time. You're in charge of a team of 6 mercenaries and must find a way to complete your missions, be it infiltrating an enemy fortress, saving a team member or escaping an ambush... Combine the different skills of your 6 heroes to lead them to victory.
The Story
El Paso, a typical Wild West town in the southwestern United States near the Mexican border. It is the year 1881. For the last few months, the trains belonging to the famous railroad company, Twinnings & Co have been the target of a whole series of hold-ups and ambushes. The management of the company has decided enough is enough and they have to put an end to the raids. It has offered a reward of $15,000 for anyone who captures the leader of the gang responsible.But no one in and around El Paso has the courage to take on the might of the bandidos, so the outlaws just keep on robbing train after train. Even the local Marshal is keeping well out of it.
It’s only when a stranger rides into town that things start to change. Bounty hunter John Cooper pays a visit to the local Twinnings & Co manager offering to end the railroad company’s problems once and for all. He gathers together a gang of his old partners and declares war on the bandidos. But during his pursuit, which will take him through half of the southwestern United States, Cooper soon discovers that on this mission nothing is quite what it seems...
Key Features
- More than 20 enemies with different profiles, from the lazy and cowardly bandit, to the fearsome mercenary.
- A team of 6 characters, each with their own very distinct characteristics, to manage in real time.
- 25 different levels provide nail-biting intrigue, with cinematic transition scenes and landscapes that will take your breath away. Amazing artificial intelligence!
- Each enemy is ranked on 10 different criteria, including intelligence, courage, marksmanship, resistance to alcohol, etc.
- An array of different settings: day-time, night-time, storms, dusk, villages, ghost towns, fortresses, gold mines, saloons, prisons, boats 6 training levels to allow the player to really get into the story
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 17, 2026
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