Thunder Force V Saturn box art

Sega Saturn · Shoot 'em Up

Thunder Force V

Certified classic

SystemSega Saturn
GenreShoot 'em Up
DeveloperTechnosoft
PublisherWorking Designs
Players1 player
CommitmentQuick session (Under an hour, or endless arcade fun)
SeriesThunder Force
LegacyCertified classic · legacy score 8

Thunder Force V is a shoot 'em up released for the Sega Saturn, developed by Technosoft and published by Working Designs.

Among the 33 Saturn shoot 'em ups in our database, it ranks #1 by legacy score.

It is part of the Thunder Force series; on the Saturn you can also try Thunder Force IV. The series also appears on other systems with Thunder Force III (Genesis) and Thunder Force II (Genesis). Technosoft also made Blast Wind for the Saturn.

Thunder Force V 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 Saturn'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 V 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 V gameplay screenshot on Saturn
In-game screenshot (Saturn)

Thunder Force V walkthroughs & guides

Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Thunder Force V.

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Playing Saturn games today

Many of the Saturn's best games never left Japan, and original discs can be expensive. Rec0m88 lists Saturn support for players who own their games.

Thunder Force V FAQ

Who made Thunder Force V?

It was developed by Technosoft and published by Working Designs.

Is Thunder Force V multiplayer?

No. Thunder Force V is a single-player game.

How long does Thunder Force V take to play?

As a shoot 'em up, Thunder Force V 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 V 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.

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