Summary

  • Amy Rose has had varying roles in the Sonic franchise, but there are many great Sonic games where she is playable.
  • Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice allows players to freely switch to Amy as a playable character, making it a great option for Amy fans.
  • Sonic Advance 1, 2, and 3 finally give Amy the chance to be a playable character in her own right, just like Tails and Knuckles.

Amy Rose is one of the most recognizable faces of the Sonic franchise, along with some of Sonic's other best friends. Her first appearance was in Sonic CD on the Sega Genesis as "Rosie the Rascal," but she's since changed and adapted to become a well-loved character. Even if it took time for her to grow into the person she is today, Sonic wouldn't be the same without her.

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Throughout her existence, Amy has varied in her roles. Although she almost always takes an active stance, saving Sonic or venturing out with her other allies, there are a lot of classic Sonic games that don't feature Amy as a playable character. Even if modern Sonic games have a less-than-perfect track record, there are a lot of options out there for Amy fans who want to see her in action.

6 Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice

Allows Amy To Switch In And Out Freely

Amy Rose in Sonic Boom: Ice & Fire, falling from the sky with a blue rushing background behind her
Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice
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Action-Adventure
Platformer
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Released
September 27, 2016
Developer(s)
Sanzaru Games
Platform(s)
Nintendo 3DS
Genre(s)
Action-Adventure, Platformer

Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice is the third installment in the Sonic Boom spin-off series from the Sonic franchise. It's the most recent title, released in 2016, that follows Sonic and his friends in the quest to stop Dr. Eggman and save the environment. While the first two Sonic Boom games were prequels to the Sonic Boom TV show, this game had direct tie-ins with the plot of Season 2. It sees Amy return as a playable character after she was excluded as a PC in Shattered Crystal.

The Sonic Boom franchise is not known for producing particularly good games, with Fire & Ice being the highest-rated one. It was praised for returning more to the form most players expect from a Sonic title, and the variety in stages and characters was among its best aspects. Players can freely switch between PCs, meaning it's a great choice for gamers who want to play as Amy whenever they want rather than waiting for the story to allow them.

5 Sonic Heroes

Team Amy!

sonic heroes team rose
Sonic Heroes
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Released
December 30, 2003
Developer(s)
Sega
Platform(s)
GameCube, PC, PS2, Xbox (Original)
Genre(s)
Platformer, Racing, Fighting, Action-Adventure

Sonic Heroes is a 2003 platforming Sonic game that reverted from the action-adventure style of previous Sonic games to a more linear, less exploration-based style. Taking cues from Sonic Adventure 2, Sonic Heroes had four different teams composed of different Sonic characters that each had their own campaigns for defeating Dr. Eggman.

One of these teams is fronted by none other than Amy herself, with Cream the Rabbit and Big the Cat by her side. This is one of the few times Amy gets the chance to be a leading PC and step completely out of Sonic's shadow (no pun intended). The only downside is each team represents a different difficulty, and Amy's is beginner-level. That's good news for newer Sonic players but might come as a disappointment to gamers hoping to finally see Amy fulfill her potential.

4 Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games (Series)

Amy Measures Up Against The Best

Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games: Amy competing in climbing and boxing, as well as her on the first-place podium
Mario & Sonic at The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
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Released
November 1, 2019
Franchise
Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games
Platform(s)
Nintendo Switch

Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games is a longstanding spin-off game combining iconic characters from the Mario and Sonic franchises, in which they compete in various sports at the different Olympic Games. First released for the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Amy has been a playable character in every installment.

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Her statistics vary depending on the version, but Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games is a fantastic example of Amy being allowed to shine in her own light. Amy is typically very fast, although not quite as fast as Sonic, and her highest ability is usually skill. As far as Sonic games go, this spin-off series has always given Amy the chance to be center stage and demonstrate her abilities without any help.

3 Sonic Origins Plus

Playable Amy In Classic Sonic

Amy completing Green Hill Zone 1, smiling in front of her end-of-level sign
Sonic Origins Plus
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Released
June 23, 2023
Developer(s)
Sega
Publisher(s)
Sega

Sonic Origins Plus was a physically released, more content-packed version of Sonic Origins - released the following year, also as a DLC. The Sonic Origins compilation title remastered the first four Sonic games, and Sonic Origins Plus added the twelve Sonic games released for Sega's Game Gear.

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Along with these games, Sonic Origins Plus also added Amy - who was noticeably absent from the original four games - as a playable character. Players responded positively to Amy's inclusion, noting that it added a fresh perspective to the games and very much contributed to the feeling of "new" content in the compilation. On Metacritic, Amy is named by several critics as one of the main reasons to purchase the game, particularly for those who would prefer to experience the classic adventures with her front and center.

2 Sonic Adventure

Playable Amy In 3D

Sonic Adventure's Amy in a lab after solving a puzzle
Sonic Adventure 2
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Released
June 19, 2001
Developer(s)
Sonic Team USA
Genre(s)
Platformer

Sonic Adventure is a much-loved 3D Sonic title. In fact, it was the first main Sonic game to feature 3D gameplay and was instrumental in the history of Sonic games becoming more exploration and action-adventure-based. Both Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 are thought to be fan-favorite games thanks to their release dates and never-before-seen 3D style .

Sonic Adventure features Amy as a key part of the storyline. She's one of six protagonists that are unlocked as the game progresses, encountering her fourth. Amy is equipped with her hammer, which is one of her unique abilities that she can use to fight enemies. In her level, she must avoid an enemy robot and solve puzzles to progress. Sonic Adventure is one of the few Sonic games to really do Amy justice. She gets her mechanics, level, and sub-plot, which lets her personality and skills shine through like never before.

1 Sonic Advance 1, 2 & 3

Amy Finally Gets To Be A Sonic Character In Her Own Right

Sonic Advance's Amy falling through the air, with palm trees and the sea behind her
Sonic Advance 2
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Released
December 19, 2002
Developer(s)
Sonic Team, Dimps, Sega

Sonic Advance is a trilogy of Sonic side-scrolling platform games that are more true to Sonic's gaming roots. Each one sees the Sonic gang go up against Dr. Eggman to prevent his various machinations. All three games were positively received, with critics stating how the genuine fun and creativity of the original games had been recaptured.

The Sonic Advance trilogy offers three fantastic choices for gamers who want to see Amy treated the same as Tails or Knuckles. For some reason, Amy has never been given her own Sonic title and has struggled more than once to be featured as more than an NPC. Finally, Sonic Advance gave Amy the chance to be featured as a PC the same way other Sonic characters have been for years. Featuring her own set of skills - namely her iconic hammer - Amy is a playable character in Sonic Advance 1 & 3, and can be unlocked in Sonic Advance 2 after players complete the game.

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