Fire Shark is the most direct next game after Flying Shark: Tatsujin’s official catalog pairs them in an M2 ShotTriggers Toaplan Arcade Garage release. For a different aircraft-shooter experience, try Twin Cobra; choose Tiger-Heli to explore the earlier helicopter lineage. These are recommendations based on documented links between the games, not a ranking of difficulty or quality.
Which game should you play first?
Start with Fire Shark if you want the closest follow-up. It shares an aircraft-shooter frame of reference with Flying Shark, and the official catalog groups the two together in an M2 ShotTriggers collection. If you would rather branch into a prominent Toaplan helicopter shooter, try Twin Cobra. Tiger-Heli is the pick for tracing that helicopter lineage back to an earlier game.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol. 1 - Nintendo Switch | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol. 2 - Nintendo Switch | $34.15 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol. 2 PS5 | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol. 2 NS | $34.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol. 1 NS | $50.20 | Buy on Amazon |
How the games compare
| Game | Connection to Flying Shark | Best fit | Edition detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Shark | Paired with Flying Shark in the official M2 ShotTriggers catalog. | Players who want another aircraft shooter and the most direct follow-up. | Check the region, platform, and whether a listing is digital or physical. Tatsujin’s catalog and Clear River Games’ release page identify a Flying Fire Shark collection for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4; they do not establish retailer stock or price. |
| Twin Cobra (Kyukyoku Tiger) | Part of the lineage associated with Tiger-Heli; Tatsujin describes it as a seminal Toaplan shooter. | Players looking for a prominent helicopter shooter. | Verify the regional title, platform, and collection. The official Tatsujin catalog groups it with Tiger-Heli. |
| Tiger-Heli | An earlier Toaplan helicopter game and a precursor to Twin Cobra. Toaplan recommends it to fans of Flying Shark and Twin Cobra. | Players interested in the earlier helicopter-shooter lineage. | Check which version you are playing; ports should not be assumed identical to the arcade original. See Toaplan’s game page and the official catalog. |
| Zero Wing | Another Toaplan shooter, but the documented connection to Flying Shark is less direct. | Players ready to explore beyond the aircraft-and-helicopter comparisons. | Confirm the platform and regional release details; the Toaplan licensing catalog lists the title. |
Why Fire Shark is the closest follow-up
Flying Shark is a single-player, top-down World War II biplane shooter, according to Toaplan’s official game page. Fire Shark stands out as the clearest next choice because Tatsujin’s official catalog pairs it with Flying Shark in an M2 ShotTriggers Toaplan Arcade Garage release. That pairing is a concrete way to continue with another Toaplan aircraft shooter without implying the games are identical.
The physical collection is titled Flying Fire Shark. Clear River Games identifies Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 formats on its official release page. Those formats do not establish current availability, price, or the contents of any particular retailer listing, so check the exact platform and edition before buying.
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#1 Best Overall
- This collection includes Tiger-Heli, Flying Shark, Twin Cobra, Fire Shark, Out Zone, FixEight, Dogyuun, and Batsugun. It's octuple the action, a billion times the fun, and a thrill ride back in time to the neon-lit arcades of the past!
- Through this re-release, a new generation of players will surely discover what made Toaplan such a special company, and their games timeless masterpieces. Now, let's blast some enemies!
Choose Twin Cobra for a prominent helicopter shooter
Twin Cobra, also known regionally as Kyukyoku Tiger, is a strong next step if you want to move from a biplane to a helicopter theme. Tatsujin calls it a seminal Toaplan shooter and groups it with Tiger-Heli in its official product catalog. Toaplan’s Tiger-Heli page describes that earlier game as a precursor to Twin Cobra.
This relationship makes Twin Cobra a useful branch from Flying Shark, not a direct sequel. The available official material establishes historical and catalog connections, but does not provide a like-for-like difficulty ranking or prove that their gameplay is interchangeable.
Rank #2
- This collection includes Slap Fight, Truxton, Hellfire, Twin Hawk, Zero Wing, Vimana, Truxton II and Grind Stormer. It's octuple the action, a billion times the fun, and a thrill ride back in time to the neon-lit arcades of the past!
- Through this re-release, a new generation of players will surely discover what made Toaplan such a special company, and their games timeless masterpieces. Now, let's blast some enemies!
Go back to Tiger-Heli to explore the earlier lineage
Tiger-Heli is the earlier helicopter game in the documented connection to Twin Cobra. Toaplan’s page also points fans of Flying Shark and Twin Cobra toward it. Its description outlines crate-based pickups, giving you a specific gameplay feature to look for when choosing a version.
As with other classic arcade titles, check the edition and platform rather than treating every port as the arcade original. Tatsujin’s catalog groups Tiger-Heli with Twin Cobra, but the platform and contents depend on the specific release.
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- Eight classic titles, including some of the most influential games in shoot ‘em up history!
- Modern quality-of-life additions such as quick save and leaderboards.
- Not just one unforgettable soundtrack – but eight!
- Meet Pipiru, the whimsical mascot of Toaplan! Can you find all his locations?
- Uk import, Region-Free
When to try Zero Wing
Zero Wing is a reasonable further Toaplan pick once you are ready to explore beyond the most direct aircraft-shooter connection and the Tiger-Heli lineage. The official licensing catalog includes it among Toaplan’s titles, but the sources establish no closer relationship to Flying Shark than that. Confirm the regional release and platform for the version you want.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to check before choosing a version
- Platform: Match the release to your console or preferred system; a collection’s availability on one platform does not establish availability on another.
- Region and title: Twin Cobra may be listed as Kyukyoku Tiger in some regional contexts, so search by both names when comparing editions.
- Physical or digital edition: For Flying Fire Shark, verify whether the listing is for Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 4 and check the exact edition and included content.
- Arcade original or port: Confirm which version is included rather than assuming a modern release reproduces every detail of the arcade original.
- Availability and price: Official product pages identify releases and formats, but do not confirm a particular retailer’s current stock or price.
There is no supported, comparable difficulty ranking for these games. Choose by the connection you want to follow: Fire Shark for the direct pairing, Twin Cobra for a prominent helicopter shooter, Tiger-Heli for the earlier lineage, or Zero Wing for a broader Toaplan selection.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Eight classic titles, including some of the most influential games in shoot ‘em up history!
- Modern quality-of-life additions such as quick save and leaderboards.
- Not just one unforgettable soundtrack – but eight!
- Meet Pipiru, the whimsical mascot of Toaplan! Can you find all his locations?
- UK Import. Region-Free
Rank #4
- Eight classic titles, including some of the most influential games in shoot ‘em up history!
- Modern quality-of-life additions such as quick save and leaderboards.
- Not just one unforgettable soundtrack – but eight!
- Meet Pipiru, the whimsical mascot of Toaplan! Can you find all his locations?
- UK Import, Region-Free
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
