While the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise of games may be primarily associated with fast-paced gameplay and high-speed thrills, that doesn't inherently mean that every game featuring the Blue Blur needs to follow this particular gameplay formula. Sonic Team is a group of developers who have experimented with the franchise on numerous occasions over the last decade or so, and in some cases, this has meant dialing down the speed to create an entirely different gameplay experience that can appeal to gamers who might struggle to keep up with the classic games.
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It's always going to be an absolute blast being able to race through Green Hill zone at full speed as Sonic the Hedgehog, but it can also be just as fun to partake in a slower and more meaningful adventure that focuses on other gameplay elements rather than just speed. Anyone looking for a Sonic game that manages to take its foot off the gas while still being a ton of fun to play definitely ought to try these excellent titles listed below.
Sonic Lost World
Sonic's Planet-Hopping Adventure Focuses Primarily On Platforming
Sonic Lost World
- Released
- October 29, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
After the enormous success of Nintendo's Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii, Sega decided to try out the planet-hopping 3D platforming gameplay style with their very own mascot, resulting in Sonic Lost World. Because the areas of Lost World are a lot smaller than the average Sonic level, it means that the protagonist has been given a dedicated Run button, which will allow him to move at moderate speeds while taking out Eggbots and hopping over obstacles along the way, before coming up against a member of the Deadly Six, who act as the main antagonists of the game.
Because Sonic's overall pace has been significantly reduced for this game, it allows the core gameplay to feel a lot more methodical and easygoing, without ever becoming too stressful for players to deal with. Lost World also places a big focus on its brand new villains, who have all become mainstays in the series because of how unique and memorable they each are as antagonists.
Sonic Frontiers
Explore A Collection Of Dazzling Open Areas At Your Own Pace
Sonic Frontiers
- Released
- November 8, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Sonic Team took a pretty creative approach when deciding on the general gameplay loop that would be at the heart of Sonic Frontiers. What they landed on was a semi-open-world setting where players are able to explore four unique areas at their own pace. The goal is to grab as many shiny collectibles as possible on each island, which will then open up dialogue options with Sonic's friends, who have all been trapped in Cyberspace. Needless to say, the game never forces players to move full speed or to rush to a new objective, but instead, simply gives them the freedom to explore these jaw-dropping areas for as long as they want before moving on with the story.
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While the game does feature Cyberspace Levels, which play very similarly to classic fast-paced stages of old, they are much shorter than the likes of Green Hill Zone or Chemical Plant, with most being over in less than a minute. It's clear that when making this game, Sonic Team wanted to try and branch out to gamers who maybe weren't that fond of the high-speed hijinks that Sonic is most well known for, and by borrowing a few notes from the open-world and action genres, they managed to do just that.
Shadow The Hedgehog
Be Prepared To Use A Massive Arsenal Of Heavy Weaponry
Shadow the Hedgehog
- Released
- December 15, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E 10+ // Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Action-Adventure, Third-Person Shooter
The Shadow the Hedgehog standalone game may not have been very well received when it was first released, but many fans now look back on it fondly for how ambitious it was, especially in terms of its gameplay. For the first time ever in the franchise, this game enables players to use guns while running around each stage as a way to take out enemies, to the point where the game features a massive arsenal of human, alien, and robotic weaponry which can be switched out on the fly to take down anyone who dares to stand in Shadow's way.
Speaking of Shadow, the game's story entirely revolves around the black hedgehog's backstory, giving players the option to create their own branching narrative by helping out either the heroes or villains in each stage. While there's certainly nothing wrong with trying to blast through a level to score a record time, it's heavily encouraged that players make full use of the heavy weaponry surrounding them to partake in the explosive and flashy combat, which is so much fun to play around with.
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
Sonic And A Few Of His Pals Enter The RPG Realm
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
- Released
- September 30, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- RPG
There are several Sonic spin-offs that many fans consider to be underrated gems, but Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood definitely deserves to be near the top of that list. Developed by BioWare of Dragon Age and Mass Effect fame, Dark Brotherhood is a turn-based RPG where Sonic, Tails, Amy, and a few other iconic characters must duke it out with a mysterious race of aliens called Marauders that seem obsessed with taking the heroes down no matter what.
The game completely ditches the fast and fluid gameplay to instead go all in with its RPG mechanics, with each member of the party having their own unique traits and abilities that make them useful for different combat cases. There are even team-up abilities that add a little bit of spice to the traditional turn-based gameplay formula, allowing players to pull off big and flashy attacks with the press of a button.
Sonic the Fighters
Leave The Running Shoes Behind And Duke It Out In The Ring
Sonic the Fighters
- Released
- June, 1996
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
Despite being slightly older than most of the games on this list, Sonic The Fighters is still an incredibly fun and addictive spin-off that manages to toe the line of being accessible and straightforward, while still featuring enough of a learning curve to reward players who hone their skills before a match. There's certainly no punishment for button-mashing when it comes to this brutal brawler, but if players dedicate time to learning about how each fighter reacts to specific attacks, they will then be able to chain together stylish combos to overwhelm their opponent before they even know what's hit them.
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It goes without saying that, since the whole game revolves around battling it out with another player in the ring, it means there's no need to run through an open area while keeping track of every incoming obstacle and Eggbot along the beaten path. In stark contrast, players can simply jump in and enjoy the chaotic combat right away, either with a friend or by running through the game solo to unlock all the hidden bonus characters.
Sonic Unleashed
The Werehog Missions And Exploration Sections Help To Slow Down The Pace
Sonic Unleashed
- Released
- November 18, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Beat 'Em Up
Many Sonic fans were initially skeptical about the Werehog's inclusion in Sonic Unleashed when the form was first revealed, but in hindsight, it turned out to be somewhat of a blessing in disguise. Unleashed is split up into two types of stages: day and night. The former involves Sonic cruising along a stage at blistering speeds while collecting rings and emblems along the way, but this is ultimately a very small portion of the overall experience, as the majority of the game is made up of the night stages, where players assume control of the big and ferocious Werehog.
This hairy beast can use a myriad of attacks and techniques to make quick work of the aliens that players will need to face off against in each stage. These levels also contain plenty of tricky platforming sections, alongside a plethora of hidden collectibles and secrets to keep an eye out for. Sonic Unleashed also features a pretty ambitious story, which shines a spotlight on Sonic's relationship with his new friend Chip, and as a result, the slower and more methodical gameplay feels like more of a compliment to the big and captivating story, rather than a distraction.
A Sonic Starter Kit
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