If you’ve been a fan of the Blue Blur for long, you know there are good and bad Sonic games. They come in all kinds of ways: on the PC, for mobile devices, and on retro consoles from the 2000s. The best Sonic games are down to player preference. However, fans usually agree on which ones are the best, and which ones could use a little polish. Below we’ll get into some of the best Sonic games out there. For your convenience, I’ve ranked from least to the best according to the fans. Without further ado, let’s do it to it.
10. Sonic Colors
Sonic Colors is a 3D Sonic game that was released in 2010. It was part of the 3D era that let Sonic shine. Colors features a whole new world to run around in: Planet Wisp. This entry in Sonic’s history is iconic for all kinds of reasons. It was the first instance we saw of a new voice actor, Roger Craig Smith.
However odd the changes, Sonic Colors was a great step in the right direction for Sonic in the platforming medium. Tomoya Ohtani and other experienced developers at Sonic Team composed the soundtrack for Sonic Colors, which amazed players. Sonic Team maintained a balance between 2D and 3D, with few glitches. Sonic Colors was a huge success for the modern Sonic franchise, and it gave fans hope for a bright future.
9. Sonic Unleashed
Sonic Unleashed is a 3D platforming title produced by Sonic Team, released in 2008. With Jason Griffith’s performance as Sonic’s voice actor, the game is almost instantly iconic from the first seconds of the opening cutscene. Sonic Team initially conceived Sonic Unleashed as another title, Sonic World, with the intention of creating a spiritual successor to Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2. However, due to budget and time constraints, they redesigned the game to become the new concept, Sonic Unleashed.
The day stages within Sonic Unleashed were Sonic in 3D at one of its finest moments. The game came with the new Hedgehog Engine, a processing software for the graphics and overworld that allowed Sonic Team to make games across consoles more capably. While it did cap at 30FPS across versions, the game still ran capably and without almost any glitchy handicaps upon release.
However, the drawback of Sonic Unleashed is the night stages. During these stages, you play as Sonic in werehog form, a mode completely different than in the day. These stages feature mob fights and slow platforming sections. For many, this was a dealbreaker, which is why it’s so far down in the list.
8. Sonic Rush
Sonic Rush is a 2D platforming game produced by Dimps and released in 2005. One of the most iconic games to be released not by Sonic Team, Sonic Rush was an attempt to capitalize on the mobile console market by releasing a Sonic game on the Nintendo DS. It featured a new character, Blaze, who continues to be an interesting and captivating character for fans.
In Sonic Rush, players navigate the game as either Sonic or Blaze. The 2D levels are cleverly built, making each a satisfying and quick-paced puzzle. The game introduced the boost formula, allowing Sonic or Blaze to boost after collecting a certain amount of rings. Sonic Unleashed would later perfect this recipe, allowing later games like Colors and Generations to run with full stride.
Concerning the soundtrack of Sonic Rush, the high energy scores for each stage are electric and upbeat. Produced by Hideki Naganuma, these tracks are nothing short of the best, which is to be expected. As you may know, Hideki worked on the Jet Set Radio series.
7. Sonic Advance Trilogy
The Sonic Advance Trilogy was an ambitious set of games that was released for the GameBoy, produced by Dimps, and released by Sega. Like Sonic Rush, Sonic Advance took to 2D and made an incredible game with an innovative level design, an addictive play pattern, and more than one character to control. Sonic Advance 1, 2, and 3 featured characters like Tails, Knuckles, Amy, and Cream.
From Sonic Advance 2 onward, the games employ a system where a single player can control two characters and access unique movesets between the two. By introducing this mechanic, players could replay the game easily to discover more ways to pass each stage. Even after almost 20 years, Sonic Advance is still a highly regarded game discussed among fans today.
6. Sonic Heroes
Sonic Heroes is an iconic title in the Sonic franchise, released by the Sonic Team in 2003. Coming off the heels of Sonic Adventure 1 and 2, Sonic Heroes was an attempt to change up the formula in a delightful way that would retain current fans of the day while bringing in new ones with experimental concepts. This notion was that players control multiple characters at once.
In Sonic Heroes, you control three characters. One for speed, one for power, and one for flight. Naturally for Sonic’s team, that consists of Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails. The game features four teams of characters: Team Sonic (Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles), Team Dark (Shadow, Rouge, and E-123 Omega), Team Rose (Amy, Cream, and Big the Cat), and Team Chaotix (Espio, Charmy, and Vector). Each team has its own story and motivations, and the game allows players to switch between the three characters in their team on the fly.
The game received mixed reviews upon release, with critics praising its colorful graphics, character designs, and music but condemning its camera system and repetitive gameplay. Despite the mixed reception, Sonic Heroes remains a popular and beloved Sonic the Hedgehog franchise entry. Sega has re-released the game on various platforms, including the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.
5. Sonic 2
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a platformer video game developed and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis console in 1992. It is the second game in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and was a significant success, helping to establish the franchise as a major player in the video game industry.
In Sonic 2, players control Sonic the Hedgehog and his new ally, Tails the Fox, as they attempt to stop the evil Dr. Eggman from taking over the world with his latest invention, the Death Egg. The game features eight main zones, each with two acts and a final boss battle with Dr. Eggman. The gameplay in Sonic 2 builds upon the original Sonic the Hedgehog game, with Sonic and Tails running, jumping, and spin-attacking through levels filled with enemies and obstacles. The game introduces new power-ups, such as the Super Sonic transformation, which grants invincibility and enhanced speed for a limited time, and the Spin Dash move, which allows Sonic and Tails to charge up a spin attack from a standing position.
Sonic 2 was a critical and commercial success, selling over 6 million copies worldwide. Fans praise the game for its graphics, music, and gameplay, with many critics calling it an improvement over the original Sonic the Hedgehog game. Sega has rereleased Sonic 2 on various platforms, including the Sega Genesis Mini and digital platforms. Fans consider it a classic of the 16-bit era, and it remains one of the most popular and beloved Sonic games of all time.
4. Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Sega developed Sonic 3 & Knuckles, a platformer video game that Sega published for the Sega Genesis console in 1994. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic 3 & Knuckles were two different games that the developers intended to be single, but they divided it due to time constraints.
In the game, Dr. Eggman’s plot to take over the world is thwarted by Sonic the Hedgehog and his friend Tails. Knuckles the Echidna, a new character, is introduced as a rival to Sonic and Tails before becoming their ally. Players control Sonic, Tails, or Knuckles as they navigate levels full of enemies and obstacles in the platformer, similar to previous Sonic games. The game also offers new power-ups, such as elemental shields that provide the player with new abilities while protecting them from damage.
One of the unique features of Sonic 3 & Knuckles is the ability to lock the two games together to form a single, larger game. This allows players to play through Sonic 3 and then immediately continue to Sonic & Knuckles, with the latter game’s content unlocking after completing Sonic 3. This feature was made possible by a special cartridge called the “Sonic & Knuckles Lock-On Technology.”
Upon its release, the game received critical acclaim, with critics praising its graphics, music, and gameplay. Fans consider it one of the best Sonic games ever made and often cite it as a classic of the 16-bit era. Sega has since re-released the game on various platforms, including the Sega Genesis Mini and various digital platforms.
3. Sonic Generations
Sonic Team developed Sonic Generations, a 3D video game Sega published for various platforms, including Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo 3DS, and PC. The game commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and was released in 2011. In Sonic Generations, players control two versions of Sonic the Hedgehog: Classic Sonic, the 2D pixelated Sonic from the original Sega Genesis games, and Modern Sonic, the 3D, more modern version of Sonic from recent games. The game features classic 2D and modern 3D gameplay styles, with each version of Sonic having its unique levels and challenges.
Sonic Generations features redesigned versions of classic levels from past Sonic games, including Green Hill Zone from Sonic the Hedgehog, Chemical Plant from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, and City Escape from Sonic Adventure 2. The game also features remixed versions of classic Sonic music and new music tracks. Classic Sonic can perform spin attacks and spin dashes, while Modern Sonic can perform homing attacks and boost through levels at high speeds. Critics praised Sonic Generations and it was a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide.
2. Sonic Adventure
Sonic Team developed Sonic Adventure, a 3D platformer game that Sega published for the Dreamcast console in 1998. It achieved critical and commercial success, helping establish the franchise as a 3D gaming powerhouse. In Sonic Adventure, players control Sonic the Hedgehog and five other characters. These include Knuckles the Echidna, Tails, Amy Rose, Big the Cat, and E-102 Gamma. Each character has its own unique gameplay style and storyline, with Sonic’s story being the main focus of the game.
This game’s considered one of Sonic’s best steps, as it was his second 3D installment. It started off 3D right, establishing base mechanics and bringing the series into a new era. New designs, voices, locations, and lore were all established here in 1998, with a hedgehog with an enormous attitude.
Sonic Adventure also introduced several new features to the Sonic franchise. These included a hub world called Station Square, where players can interact with non-playable characters and mini-games. The game also features a Chao-raising system. Players can raise and train small creatures called Chao that can help them in the main game. The Chao Garden is a mechanic that everyone wants to see come back.
Sonic Adventure received critical acclaim upon its release. Critics praised its fast-paced gameplay, innovative design, and use of 3D graphics. The game was also a commercial success, selling over 2.5 million copies worldwide. Sega re-released the game on various platforms, including the GameCube, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.
1. Sonic Adventure 2
Sonic Team developed Sonic Adventure 2, a 3D platformer Sega published for the Dreamcast in 2001. Sega released the game on several other platforms, including the GameCube, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. According to many fans, Sonic Adventure 2 is the best Sonic game in the series. It did everything Sonic Adventure did but with a fresh coat of paint. Everything from the animation to the level design to the cast to the music was all on Sonic Team’s A-game. This 2000s-era hedgehog who’s too cool for rules had the dial pumped up to 11.
Players switch between the two sides, Hero and Dark, to complete the game. In the Hero story, players control Sonic the Hedgehog, Knuckles the Echidna, and Miles “Tails” Prower. They try to stop the villainous Dr. Eggman from taking over the world. In the Dark story, players control Eggman, Shadow the Hedgehog, and Rouge the Bat. They attempt to steal the seven Chaos Emeralds to power the Eclipse Cannon.
Sonic Adventure 2 introduced a new gameplay mechanic called the “grind rail.” They allowed players to grind on rails at high speeds. The game also included various other gameplay elements, such as treasure hunting levels, shooting levels, and racing levels.