In each game, players assume the role of Galaxy Federation pilots taking control of a space fighter craft to defeat the Orn Empire and a powerful threat called Vios.

[3] In Thunder Force II, players assume the role of Galaxy Federation pilots Raido A. Jupiter and Diana Lean commanding the Exceliza space fighter craft to defeat the Orn Empire's Plealos battleship.

[7] In Thunder Force IV, players take the role of pilots Roy S. Mercury and Carol T. Mars commanding the Rynex ship to face a powerful threat called Vios, formed from survivors of the Orn Empire, by destroying their base in the planet Aceria.

[2][9] Midway through the game, players obtain a powerful attack called "Thunder Sword" but requires two CRAW satellites attached to Rynex.

[21] Video Games's Wolfgang Schaedle noted the lack of change with playability in Thunder Force Gold Pack 1 but commended the technical improvements over the Sega Mega Drive originals, enemy patterns and power-up system, stating that Gold Pack 1 "is a nice game collection of two top-class 16-bit titles, which may no longer knock a modern console gamer off his feet, but all in all ensure rock-solid shoot'em-up entertainment.