Softline in 1983 called Knights of the Desert "a very fluid and exciting game ... not a simple nor a simplistic program". Computer Gaming World in 1983 complimented it for being both easy to play and offering realistic units and combat, and concluded that Knights of the Desert "is another solid step toward the ideal computer wargame".
Softline's description of Knights of the Desert as "a very fluid and exciting game" was echoed by Computer Gaming World's praise for its accessibility and realism. Both reviewers agreed that the game offered a more sophisticated experience, moving closer to the ideal of a computer wargame.