D-Force is a vertical scrolling shooter game for the Super Nintendo in which players pilot an Apache helicopter. The gameplay features intense combat against various enemies, including large gunships that offer power-ups. Players navigate through levels that alternate between Shooting Mode and Exploration Mode, the latter being set in a fantasy environment with no power-ups and altitude changes. Each level culminates in battles against midbosses and bosses essential for progression.
Gameplay involves being the pilot of an Apache Helicopter, and shooting enemies down in the style of a vertical scrolling shooter. Large red gunships can be shot down to gain power-ups for the helicopter in order to upgrade the guns and have it fire homing missiles. Each level features a midboss and a boss, and both must be destroyed in order to advance to the next level. The style of the levels as the player advances alternates between `Shooting Mode` and `Exploration Mode,` where the latter involves levels set in a fantasy-like setting and are the only level types that provide no power-ups to the player and give the player the ability to switch their altitude.