Solar Storm is an action-packed game where you control a spaceship to defend your home planet from incoming enemy ships and debris. A deadly threat lurks in the form of Solar Storm 's enemies, who are also drawn to the destroyed sun's explosive energy. Your goal is to shoot everything that gets too close before it reaches your planet at the bottom of the screen. Each time an enemy ship or debris makes it past you, your planet's shield absorbs the energy and heats up; if it overheats, your planet will be destroyed, and the game will end.
The gameplay involves quick reflexes as you navigate through increasingly fast-paced levels. If your laser ship crashes into any incoming danger, you lose a life, and the game ends when all lives are lost. However, every 500 points earned brings up a bonus screen where you can earn extra lives. The longer you last, the faster the game will become.