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Sonic the Hedgehog is the most popular video game series that SEGA has ever made. Here are Metacritic’s top picks for the best Sonic games. Since 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog has been able to run and spin. Sonic started out Sega’s answer to Mario, with a focus on speed, complicated level design, and a not-so-healthy love of gold rings.
Since then, he has moved into many sequels and different types of games, with mixed results. So, how do you decide which games are the best in a series as confusing and different as this one? In addition to my own opinion, we focused on two things: the quality of the fast-paced gameplay that made Sonic famous in the first place, and how well the new ideas worked.
Best Sonic Games Comparison Table
Game Title | Genre | Mode | Price | Download Link |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sonic Generations | Action | Single-player, multiplayer | $19.99 | Download Now |
Sonic Mania | Platform | Single-player, multiplayer | $19.99 | Download Now |
Sonic and the Black Knight | Action, RPG | Single-player | $19.99 | Download Now |
Sonic 3D Blast | Platform | Single-player | $4.99 | Download Now |
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | Platform | Single-player, multiplayer | $4.99 | Download Now |
Sonic Adventure | Action, RPG | Single-player | $7.99 | Download Now |
Sonic Colors | Platform | Single-player | $19.99 | Download Now |
Sonic Rush | Platform | Single-player | $34.99 | Download Now |
Sonic Generations

Minimum System Requirements | Recommended System Requirements |
---|---|
OS: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit) | OS: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit) |
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.4 GHz | Processor: Intel Core i5 @ 2.66 GHz or better |
Memory: 2 GB RAM | Memory: 3 GB RAM |
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8800/ATI Radeon HD 2900 XT | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460/ATI Radeon HD 5850 or better |
DirectX: Version 9.0c | DirectX: Version 10 |
Storage: 11 GB available space | Storage: 11 GB available space |
Even in 2022, Sonic Generations is still the best way to celebrate Sonic’s history, and we think it’s the best way to play both old and new Sonic games. Sonic Generations was made to make people feel nostalgic, but it didn’t fall into the trap of relying too much on warm memories.
The 14 levels that were based on previous Sonic zones used parts of those stages but always found a way to make them feel new and different. This made for an unforgettable Sonic game that, at the time, was both a throwback to his past and a look at his future, as well as our pick for the best Sonic game to date.
The Good
- Both old and new ways to play Sonic
- Graphics and level design that are a feast for the eyes
- Nostalgic levels from previous Sonic games
- A lot of different characters to play as
- Boss fights that are fun and hard
The Bad
- Some camera and control issues
- Some parts can feel like a repeat
Sonic Mania

Minimum System Requirements | Recommended System Requirements |
---|---|
OS: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit) | OS: Windows 7/8/10 (64-bit) |
Processor: Core 2 Duo | Processor: Intel Core i5 |
Memory: 2 GB RAM | Memory: 4 GB RAM |
Graphics: DirectX 9.0c compliant video card with 256MB RAM | Graphics: DirectX 11 compliant video card with 2GB RAM |
DirectX: Version 9.0c | DirectX: Version 11 |
Storage: 400 MB available space | Storage: 400 MB available space |
What else can you say about Sonic Mania that hasn’t been said already? It’s one of the best 2D Sonic games we’ve gotten since Sega stopped making its own games and only worked with third-party developers. Sonic Mania is love letter to the blue hedgehog made by fans for fans.
Mania gave a new look at what made Sonic famous by mixing up the old formula and adding fast-paced gameplay, great level design, and great pixel art. Sonic Mania would have been great even if it had only used remastered and updated versions of old Sonic zones.
The Good
- Real vintage style Beautifully animated pixel art is used in the Sonic game play.
- There are new levels and new versions of old ones.
- Classic Sonic characters you can play as
- Platforming challenges and boss fights
The Bad
- Only able to play like the old Sonic games
- Compared to Sonic games today, it doesn’t last as long.
Sonic and the Black Knight

Minimum System Requirements | Recommended System Requirements |
---|---|
Console: Nintendo Wii | Console: Nintendo Wii |
Memory: 512 MB RAM | Memory: 512 MB RAM |
Graphics: Wii video card or Wii component video | Graphics: Wii video card or Wii component video |
Storage: 8 GB available space | Storage: 8 GB available space |
“What does Sonic need? Nobody ever said, “I want a sword—preferably one that talks!” except for that one person in the meeting where Sonic and the Black Knight was made. This game is the second in the “Storybook” series, which started with “Secret Rings.”
It puts Sonic on an adventure set in the time of King Arthur and adds Wii-waggle sword fighting for good measure. It’s about as good as it sounds, and while there are some charming parts, the whole thing just doesn’t work.
The Good
- The story is set in a unique place and has an Arthurian theme.
- Controls for swordplay based on movement
- There are a lot of different weapons and skills.
- Teamwork-based multiplayer mode
- Compared to traditional Sonic games, this one has a different way of playing.
The Bad
- Not much to do again
- Can be boring to play and make levels for.
- Not everyone may be able to use motion controls.
Sonic 3D Blast

Minimum System Requirements | Recommended System Requirements |
---|---|
OS: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10 | OS: Windows 7/8/10 |
Processor: Pentium 4 @ 1.6 GHz | Processor: Pentium 4 @ 2.0 GHz or better |
Memory: 256 MB RAM | Memory: 512 MB RAM |
Graphics: 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 9.0c | Graphics: 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 9.0c |
DirectX: Version 9.0c | DirectX: Version 9.0c |
Storage: 500 MB available space | Storage: 500 MB available space |
Sonic 3D Blast, or Sonic 3D: Flickies’ Island in Europe, is a good isometric 3D version of the Sonic formula from Traveller’s Tales. It was made as a technical showcase for the Genesis/Mega Drive, which was getting old at the time.
The graphics do a good job of capturing the look of Sonic’s checkerboard Zones, but the controls are slow and the game is generally slower than the 2D classics, making it an interesting also-ran.
The Good
- The game has a unique isometric view and style of play.
- The graphics are colorful and the music is catchy.
- There are different power-ups and skills.
- Platforming and exploring that are hard
- There are extra levels and secrets to find.
The Bad
- It can be hard to figure out how to use the controls, and it takes time to get used to them.
- Can feel repetitive in level design
Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Minimum System Requirements | Recommended System Requirements |
---|---|
Varies by platform | N/A |
Sonic 2 on the Genesis is probably the game that most people think of when they think of Sonic. It’s where a lot of Sonic’s formula came together. The game came out in November 1992, the same month that Bill Clinton was elected president.
The game’s creator, Yuji Naka, said that Sonic’s positive attitude was based on that of Clinton. And it’s safe to say that both events had about the same kind of effect on the next ten years. Sonic 2 was released to a lot of hype around the world.
The Good
- Fast-paced platforming in the style of classic Sonic games
- Tails is added as a playable character.
- Levels that are famous and boss fights that stand out
- Mode of play with competition
- There are secret paths and things to find.
The Bad
- On older platforms, the graphics and sound quality may be old.
- Some players have little reason to play again.
- Some versions don’t have modern features like save points and checkpoints.
Sonic Adventure

Minimum System Requirements | Recommended System Requirements |
---|---|
OS: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10 | OS: Windows 7/8/10 |
Processor: Pentium III @ 600 MHz | Processor: Pentium 4 @ 1.8 GHz or better |
Memory: 256 MB RAM | Memory: 512 MB RAM |
Graphics: DirectX 8.1 compatible video card | Graphics: DirectX 9 compatible video card |
DirectX: Version 8.1 | DirectX: Version 9.0c |
Storage: 3.5 GB available space | Storage: 3.5 GB available space |
You have to understand that seeing Sonic go from 2D to 3D so smoothly in 1998 was like running into an old friend you hadn’t talked to in a long time and finding out that since you last saw them, they had become George Clooney.
Even games made 10 years later don’t look as good as the original Dreamcast game. Sega would always have trouble putting Sonic’s twitch-based gameplay on the Z-axis, but for a while, Sonic Adventure made it look like the company had done it.
The Good
- The first 3D Sonic game where you can play as more than one character
- Voice acting and cutscenes make the story interesting.
- Large hub of the open world to explore
- Different ways to play and different goals
- Boss fights that are hard and give each character special skills
The Bad
- Outdated graphics and trouble with the camera controls
- There were some bugs and technical problems with the PC version.
- Levels with a linear layout and little reason to play again
- Voice acting that varies in quality
Sonic Colors

Minimum System Requirements | Recommended System Requirements |
---|---|
Console: Nintendo Wii | Console: Nintendo Wii |
Memory: 512 MB RAM | Memory: 512 MB RAM |
Graphics: Wii video card or Wii component video | Graphics: Wii video card or Wii component video |
Storage: 512 MB available space | Storage: 512 MB available space |
Sonic Colors is one of the better Sonic games that came out in the 21st century. At first, it was only available from Nintendo. In 2010, it came out for both the Wii and the DS handheld system. Even though the game was a 3D Sonic platformer, it was different because it took place in space.
Sonic Colors is one of the better Sonic games that came out in the 21st century. At first, it was only available from Nintendo. In 2010, it came out for both the Wii and the DS handheld system. Even though the game was a 3D Sonic platformer, it was different because it took place in space.
The Good
- Graphics that are bright and colorful, and levels that look good
- Different “Color Powers” that add new ways to play
- Platforming that moves at Sonic’s usual speed
- Boss battles and platforming sections that are memorable
The Bad
- Not much to do over and over, and not much time to do it.
- Controls aren’t always easy to use, especially on the Wii.
Sonic Rush

Minimum System Requirements | Recommended System Requirements |
---|---|
Console: Nintendo DS | Console: Nintendo DS |
Memory: 256 MB RAM | Memory: 512 MB RAM |
Graphics: 3D hardware accelerator card required | Graphics: 3D hardware accelerator card required |
Storage: 64 MB available space | Storage: 64 MB available space |
Sonic had a hard time in the middle of the 2000s. In 2001, SEGA stopped making the Dreamcast, which meant that it was no longer making consoles. On top of that, Sonic games like Shadow the Hedgehog and the infamously bad Sonic the Hedgehog of ’06 kept coming out. The good news is that Sonic games worked well on handheld devices.
While people wanted fully 3D games on consoles, they didn’t mind if handheld games stayed 2D, and Sonic is best at 2D platforming games. When Sonic Rush came out for the DS, it gave gamers a chance to play a classic Sonic game at a time when many people didn’t know what would happen to SEGA.
The Good
- Both screens are used to make levels that are different from each other.
- Fast-paced platforming with Sonic’s trademark moves
- Blaze the Cat is added to the game as a playable character.
- The music is catchy, and the graphics look cool.
The Bad
- Short games with few chances to play again
- Nintendo DS has limited graphics capabilities. Controls can be hard and need precise input.
FAQs
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is still one of the best Sonic games in terms of pure fun. It added Tails, made it possible for two people to play together, and improved on the first game in almost every way.
Sonic Frontiers might be the longest Sonic game ever made. It’s an open-world adventure with a lot of game options and an epic story. Sonic Frontiers brings Sonic the Hedgehog back to the world of 3D adventures, and the new game is by far the biggest one he has ever been in.
It’s not as hard as Sonic Adventure 2, for example. If you want to play the really good 3D Sonic games in order, starting with Sonic Unleashed is a good choice for a beginner.
Sonic Mania Plus is the best Sonic game in 15 years, and it’s now available for Nintendo Switch. You can play as Mighty or Ray, and there’s a fun new mode called Encore mode. The game comes in a collectible box with a reversible SEGA Genesis cover and a 32-page art book. This is liked by Tracy Pytlakowski and 852 other people.