Thunder Force IV Classic
Sega Genesis / Mega Drive · Shoot 'em Up / Action
Thunder Force III
Certified classic
| System | Sega Genesis / Mega Drive |
|---|---|
| Released | 1990 |
| Genre | Shoot 'em Up, Action |
| Developer | Technosoft |
| Publisher | SEGA |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | Quick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun) |
| Series | Thunder Force |
| Legacy | Certified classic · legacy score 12 |
Developed by Technosoft and published by SEGA, Thunder Force III arrived on the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1990 as a shoot 'em up. It blends shoot 'em up and action elements.
It came out in the Genesis's second year on the market. Other notable Genesis releases from 1990 include Populous, Michael Jackson's Moonwalker and Super Monaco GP. Among the 75 Genesis shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #4 by legacy score.
It is part of the Thunder Force series; on the Genesis you can also try Thunder Force II and Thunder Force IV. The series also appears on other systems with Thunder Force V (Saturn) and Thunder Force V (PS1). Technosoft also made Herzog Zwei and Elemental Master for the Genesis.
Thunder Force III is a single-player game, so it's one to enjoy at your own pace.
Pick it if…
- you want to fight, blast and test your reflexes
- you have time for a quick session (under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
- you want to experience one of the Genesis's defining games
Maybe skip it if…
- you dislike high difficulty and screens full of bullets
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing Thunder Force III is like
Shoot 'em ups (shmups) put you in a ship facing waves of enemies and bullets. Runs are short and intense, and the goal is to survive, collect power-ups and push your high score.
Tip for newcomers: Focus on your ship's small hitbox rather than the flood of bullets, and learn which power-ups suit each stage. Most shmups are designed to be replayed many times.
Thunder Force III cheats & codes
32 codes on file (Action Replay, Other codes). Here are a few Action Replay codes to start with:
| Infinite Ships P1 | FFF2B5:09 |
|---|
Thunder Force III walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Thunder Force III.
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Playing Genesis games today
Genesis games are fast and immediate, and many are made for two players. Official collections and Nintendo Switch Online carry a big slice of the library, and Rec0m88 can run your own Genesis backups with online netplay.
Thunder Force III FAQ
When did Thunder Force III come out on the Genesis?
Thunder Force III was released for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive in 1990.
Who made Thunder Force III?
It was developed by Technosoft and published by SEGA.
Is Thunder Force III multiplayer?
No. Thunder Force III is a single-player game.
How long does Thunder Force III take to play?
As a shoot 'em up, Thunder Force III typically falls into the "Quick session" category: under an hour, or endless arcade fun. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about Thunder Force III on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.