Play Ray-Thunder (Japan) Online

Ray-Thunder is a Japan-exclusive Game Boy shooter from 1990, developed by A-Wave and published by Coconuts Japan. It arrived during a period when the handheld was filling up with straightforward action games, and it fits right into that no-frills, high-challenge mold.

You pilot a small fighter through vertically scrolling stages, shooting down waves of enemy craft and dodging their increasingly dense bullet patterns. The main goal is simply to survive as long as possible, racking up points while navigating tight corridors filled with hazards. Signature mechanics include collecting power-ups to enhance your ship’s firepower and facing screen-filling bosses that require precise movement to overcome. The pacing is relentless; early levels ease you in, but later stages demand quick reflexes and memorization of attack sequences. It feels tense and demanding, especially when you’re weaving through curtains of enemy fire with just one life to spare.