As one of gaming's biggest mascots since the early 1990s, everybody, even people who don't consider themselves gamers, knows about Sonic the Hedgehog. With that being said, while the Blue Blur has gone on to become a household name, especially thanks to the live-action movies, not everyone has had a chance to play his games. Admittedly, it can be a little difficult to know where to even start with Sonic, considering the games don't tend to follow a typical mainline numbered formula like many other franchises.
8 Best Sonic Games With Multiple Playable Characters, Ranked
These Sonic games feature a ton of fun and exciting characters to play as alongside the Blue Blur himself.
This can make it easy to feel overwhelmed or lost when trying to get started with the series, but that's why we have put together this handy starter kit for anyone interested in jumping into the world of Sonic for the very first time. Without further ado, it's time to take a deep dive into the best ways to get started with Sonic the Hedgehog, including which games are the most accessible for newcomers, and also what new players need to know about the franchise as a whole before jumping in.
Before Jumping In, One Question: 2D Or 3D?
Both Play Very Differently To One Another, So It's Important To Know How They Differ
Considering how long the franchise has been running, there's a staggering number of Sonic games out there to enjoy, but an easy way to differentiate them is by splitting them into 2D and 3D.
2D often refers to the classic games that spanned the early 2000s, being fast-paced side-scrolling platformers that tend to require a lot more skill and strategy to complete each level in record time. The 3D games, on the other hand, shift the camera directly behind Sonic, which can make the gameplay easier as players are able to see what's ahead of them. These particular games will also often come with a Boost mechanic, which lets Sonic move at a blistering pace with only a single button press, while the 2D games rely on building up momentum to gradually gain speed.
Best Sonic The Hedgehog Co-Op Games, Ranked
Co-op has been a staple feature of many Sonic games for decades now. These examples are the best of the bunch.
The first question players will want to ask themselves before jumping into a Sonic game is which of these gameplay types they think they'd prefer. There really is no right answer here, and every Sonic fan will have their own opinion on which one is best, but it ultimately really boils down to how much of a challenge they're looking for above all else. The 2D titles are often a lot harder but also more rewarding. Meanwhile, the 3D games offer the fast-paced, exhilarating speed that Sonic is known for, but usually don't require quite as much brain power to enjoy.
Once fans have decided on their preferred playstyle, it's time to test out a game for themselves, with these tiles below being among the easiest to get started with for both gameplay formulas.
2D Games
Sonic Mania - Experience What Made Classic Sonic So Special In One Big Modernized Package
Sonic Mania
- Released
- August 15, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Mild Cartoon Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Sonic Mania is a game that brings the classic stages of the early Sonic titles into the modern era, allowing players to blast through plenty of fun and colorful areas from the first three Sonic games. This means that rather than finding old copies of the original titles, players can simply enjoy the very best stages from Sonic's beginner years all in one delightful package, but it doesn't stop there, as the game also contains some new levels to help keep things fresh.
As mentioned before, Sonic Mania is a modernized iteration of the classic Sonic gameplay formula. As a result, it perfectly captures the high-speed yet strategic platforming gameplay style, while also providing a catchy, mesmerizing soundtrack to keep the journey fun and exciting from beginning to end. It's a great 2D game to start with, especially since it allows players to learn all about what made the early era of Sonic truly special, without having to return to those particular games.
Sonic Superstars - Grab Some Friends And Breeze Through An Easy-Going Adventure
Sonic Superstars
- Released
- October 17, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- 2D, Platformer
Though Sega has largely shifted toward the 3D formula for most of its new Sonic games, Sonic Superstars is the exception. This is a game that takes the 2D gameplay of the classics but combines it with a vibrant new coat of paint, along with four-player co-op, to provide a fun and easy-going experience that never feels too overwhelming. There's no overly ambitious story here or brutally tough challenges, just four friends hanging out and familiarizing themselves with the classic style of Sonic gameplay while enjoying the ride.
A major reason why this is such a great place to start is that Sonic Superstars is a little more lenient when it comes to its difficulty compared to the original titles. That's not to say the game doesn't have its challenges, but it's clear that the developers were trying to draw new players in by making this game much more manageable, and they definitely succeeded. Pair all of this with an exuberant selection of levels, which all feel drastically different, along with plenty of unlockables to work toward, and it makes Superstars a great starting point for anyone who's looking to get into Sonic, especially if they also have a few buddies who are interested too.
Sonic Colors DS - Fun, Accessible, And Full Of Quirky Gimmicks To Toy Around With
Sonic Colors
- Released
- November 16, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
When Sonic Colors was released for the Wii in 2010, even though it was fairly well received, many fans had a hard time determining whether it was truly 2D or 3D, considering it constantly switches between the two. For the Nintendo DS port, however, the game is played front to back in 2D, and to be honest, it benefits greatly as a result. With seven unique areas to explore and a soundtrack full of infectious bops to nod the head to, Sonic Colors DS is a great jumping-in point for anyone who wants to experience a Sonic game that doesn't bombard them with overly complex systems or mechanics.
The 26 Best Sonic Fan Games
While some companies don't enjoy fans making their own games out of a franchise, there are quite a few Sonic fan games out there.
While the game does feature Wisps, which enable Sonic to navigate around the environment in different ways, these are extremely easy to use and only show up every so often. On the other hand, the game also provides a great introduction to the series' key characters, including not just Sonic himself, but also Tails, and the big bad of the series, Eggman, who is planning to create his very own space amusement park. To put it simply, fans really can't go wrong with this 2D DS port, which many consider to be superior to the main game.
3D Games
Sonic Frontiers - Explore A Vast Open World And Meet The Series' Iconic Characters Along The Way
Sonic Frontiers
- Released
- November 8, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Sonic Frontiers was Sega's desperate attempt to try and bring Sonic back to relevance after a dark period for the series, and to say they passed with flying colors would be putting it lightly. The game provides a unique blend of open hub areas that are fully explorable, and classic Sonic stages called Cyberspace Levels, which can be completed at the player's leisure. Freedom is really at the heart of Sonic Frontiers, as players can do literally whatever they want in each of the open spaces, whether it be finding hidden collectibles, progressing with the story, or even just fishing with Big the Cat.
While this already makes the game extremely accessible and fun to play, another reason it's such a great pick for newcomers is the attention given to the characters. Frontiers dedicates a lot of time to honing in on Sonic's relationship with his friends, giving players a strong grasp of who these individuals are and what they all think of one another through their interactions.
Sonic Lost World - For Those Who Want To Start At A Slower Pace
Sonic Lost World
- Released
- October 29, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
By far the biggest aspect of Sonic games that turns away many newcomers is the speed of the gameplay, but that doesn't mean that every game in this series is lightning fast. Anyone who wants to gradually get accustomed to Sonic's movements definitely ought to give Sonic Lost World a shot. In this game, Sonic moves noticeably slower than usual, but he does still have a dedicated Run button, which can help give him a quick jolt of speed to avoid the gameplay ever feeling bland.
Instead, there's a much bigger focus on strategic platforming, which many players will already be familiar with from other franchises, like with Mario, for example. This makes Sonic Lost World a great gateway into the series, since once players complete it, they will be more than ready to take on the slightly faster-paced titles that come after.
Sonic X Shadow Generations - A Great Introduction To The Entire Sonic Cast, With Plenty Of Content To Enjoy
Sonic X Shadow Generations
- Released
- October 25, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
The title of this game might sound a little confusing, but the truth is, Sonic X Shadow Generations is simply just a modern remaster of Sonic Generations, which was initially released in 2011. Unlike most of the Sonic games, this title pretty much ditches the story entirely, allowing it to put all of its focus on the core gameplay, which is an absolute blast. When playing as Sonic, players can choose to enter each level as either modern or classic Sonic, with the former taking a 3D camera angle and the latter going with 2D. Upon completing each mission, players will rescue one of Sonic's friends, enabling them to meet pretty much every key member of the cast in a single game.
As part of the remaster, players also have the option to jump into Shadow's story. Shadow plays a little differently than Sonic, primarily because of his Chaos powers, but these are very easy to get used to, especially since there's an entire hub area to test them out in. Shadow's campaign also provides an in-depth refresher of Shadow's backstory, giving players the chance to learn everything they need to know about the mysterious Black Hedgehog.
Spin-Offs
With a franchise as big as Sonic the Hedgehog, it was always inevitable that it would receive a few spin-offs, many of which are pretty high quality and well worth playing. For those who are interested in jumping into some of these external games to help familiarize themselves with the core gameplay and characters of the Sonic universe, these are some of the best spin-offs to try out.
Shadow The Hedgehog - Learn About Shadow's Journey And Origin
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
Sonic may be the protagonist of the franchise, but Shadow the Hedgehog is arguably just as popular as the Blue Blur himself. In 2005, Shadow would earn his very own standalone title, which dives deep into the Black Hedgehog's origin story, providing a nice foundation for players to learn about one of the most important characters in the series, before seeing him show up in future installments.
While the game itself is pretty fast-paced, just like a lot of the mainline Sonic titles, it's also the only game in the franchise that allows players to use actual guns. While this was a pretty controversial decision at the time, nowadays, Shadow the Hedgehog is seen by many fans as a weird, but still fun spin-off that acts as a great introduction to Shadow as a character.
Sonic Riders - Enjoy High Speed Hijinks While Learning About Sonic's Friends And Villains
Sonic Riders
- Released
- February 21, 2006
- ESRB
- E For Everyone To Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence
- Genre(s)
- Racing
Newcomers to the Sonic franchise will quickly realize that there's an abundance of racing spin-offs that have been released over the last few decades, but the first Sonic Riders game is a real standout because of how well it manages to balance gameplay and story. While it may not play like the traditional Sonic game, Sonic Riders does still allow players to move at high speeds by using the game's signature Extreme Gear, which are essentially super-fast hoverboards.
The racing mechanics aren't too difficult to get the hang of, and they are a lot easier to control than the other two Riders games that would come later. Despite being a racing title, there's a pretty decent story here that manages to give each of Sonic's friends and the new batch of villains a chance to show what they're made of. Considering many of the new characters that were introduced in Riders are now making a comeback in the recent Sonic games, it's not a bad idea for newcomers to jump into this fantastic racer to get a clearer idea of the Sonic world and characters.
8 Sonic Games That Deserve a Remaster
These eight Sonic the Hedgehog games deserve some fresh life with a modern remaster.