[1] The game gained notoriety owing to its goal of raping a Native American woman who is tied to a post.

[1] Under PlayAround's parent company, Castlespring Enterprises, Custer's Revenge was re-branded as Westward Ho for the European market and given slight modifications to its original gameplay.

[6] Custer begins the game with three lives, which are represented by small cacti on a black stripe at the bottom of the screen.

[9] Custer's Revenge was developed as part of the "Swedish Erotica" series to capitalize on the lack of pornography available in the medium of video games.

Sold in a sealed package labeled "NOT FOR SALE TO MINORS"[11] and selling for $49.95 (equivalent to $158 in 2023),[12] it acknowledged that children might nonetheless see the game.

"[13] The makers elected to preview the game for women's and Native American groups, an act that many thought was a publicity stunt.

[18][19] American Multiple Industries president Stuart Keston responded to criticism of the game by saying "There is a sexual act, but it is not rape.

"[20] Los Angeles County voted 3–1 to ban Custer's Revenge alongside American Multiple Industries' other adult-only games Bachelor Party and Beat 'Em & Eat 'Em.

[23] Oklahoma City, home to a large Native American population, also unanimously passed a resolution condemning the game as "distasteful" and "not in the best interests of the community".

[26][27] Nevertheless, the focused media attention generated publicity for the game and it sold approximately 80,000 copies, twice as many as Bachelor Party and Beat 'Em & Eat 'Em.