It's never a bad time to jump into the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, but like any video game series that has been running for so many years, there are inevitably going to be a few entries which haven't aged all that well. The good news is, Sega has been hard at work releasing as many creative and experimental Sonic games as possible over the last few years, and while not all of them may have landed with the fan base, there are more than a few which are well worth playing because of how fast, fun, and memorable they are as gameplay experiences.
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This means that while some of the Blue Blur's games can be considered a little outdated by today's standards, there are others which are regarded as some of the best platforming and action adventure games in the last decade or so. Of course, many of these titles stand out for their exhilarating speed, considering this is still Sonic at the end of the day, but there are also a few which slow things down a little so that newcomers can enjoy the series without feeling overwhelmed. With all that being said, these Sonic games listed below are all entries that are well worth checking out in the year of 2025.
Sonic Unleashed
A Perfect Blend Between High-Speed Thrills And Chaotic Beat 'Em Up Action
Sonic Unleashed
- Released
- November 18, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Beat 'Em Up
Sonic Unleashed is a game that received mixed reception when it was first released in 2008, and all of it has to do with the addition of the Werehog. Because Sonic will turn into a grizzly beast after the sun goes down, it means the game is split up into two types of gameplay, depending on the time of day. In the daytime, players will be free to blast through some of the most vibrant and memorable stages in the 3D era of the franchise, while at night, they will be partaking in all-out brawls as the Werehog, where they're able to use a plethora of deadly upgradable techniques to defeat the swarms of enemies who stand in their way.
The Sonic franchise very rarely strays too far from its traditional gameplay formula of running at full speed through a level, but Sonic Unleashed does an excellent job at providing a healthy balance between fast-paced platforming gameplay, and engaging beat 'em up combat. Therefore, while it may be more than a decade old by this point, Sonic Unleashed still stands as one of the best 3D titles in the series, and a game that everyone, regardless of their prior experience with the franchise, needs to check out.
Sonic Mania
Experience What Made The Classics So Special Through A Modernized Perspective
Sonic Mania
- Released
- August 15, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Mild Cartoon Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
While there are a lot of Sonic fans out there who have a deep love and respect for the first three games, it can admittedly be pretty difficult to return to them these days considering how much time has passed since they first released. This is why Sonic Mania, a game that features a mixture of classic stages and a few original ones, is considered a must-play by anyone who wants to understand what made the early years of Sonic so special to such a massive number of people.
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Sonic Mania retains the retro aesthetic of the classics, but also features a modernized graphical style that grants it an incredible amount of charm, while also just making it very pretty to look at. Iconic stages like Green Hill Zone and Chemical Plant are all fully playable here, but there are also a bunch of stages that have been created specifically for this game, which helps spice things up for anyone who has been a long time fan. Pair this with the multiple playable characters and abundance of collectibles to look out for throughout the adventure, and it results in Sonic Mania being by far the best representation of 2D Sonic that doesn't feel like a game that belongs to a bygone error.
Sonic Lost World
Lost World Took Some Creative Risks, Resulting In A Weirdly Satisfying Gameplay Loop
Sonic Lost World
- Released
- October 29, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
In an attempt to make the core gameplay a little more focused on strategic platforming than previous entries, Sonic Lost World dials down the speed and gives players a dedicated Run button, which they can use any time they need Sonic to move a little faster. Because of this, the game plays a lot differently than many other Sonic titles, especially because it also takes a page out of Mario Galaxy's book by allowing Sonic to traverse his way over individual planets where the only thing preventing him from floating away is a gravitational force at the center.
The sheer amount of creativity that Sonic Team put into this intriguing game is already enough to make it worth playing, but another big reason is because of how important it is to the current lore of the franchise. Because the Deadly Six, a group of powerful aliens who first appear in Lost World as the antagonists, have actually been showing up fairly frequently in the games since Lost World released, it provides an easy way to get up to speed with the world and characters of the Sonic universe, while still having an absolute blast in the process.
Sonic X Shadow Generations
The Ultimate Package Featuring Tons Of Content And Plenty Of Character Development
Sonic X Shadow Generations
- Released
- October 25, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
The original Sonic Generations was essentially a celebration of the franchise which gathered together some of the most beloved levels from Sonic's history all into one big package. Because players could choose to race through each level as either classic Sonic in a 2D formula, or modern Sonic with a 3D camera angle, it means there's plenty of content to get through, and that's not even mentioning the staggering number of Challenge Stages, which can also be completed to earn goodies.
In 2024 though, much to the surprise of pretty much everyone, Sega decided to remaster Generations with a whole new campaign, this time featuring Shadow the Hedgehog. Not only does Shadow have his own batch of stages which are all connected to his involvement in the games, but players also get to learn quite a lot about his backstory, especially his intimate relationship with Maria. It's a brilliant game which is pretty easy to access thanks to being available on all modern consoles, and with hundreds of hours of content to get through, alongside a heightened focus on important characters involved in the story, it's an entry that every Sonic fan should have in their collection.
Sonic Adventure 2
The Game That Proved Sonic Games Can Have Compelling Stories And Characters
Sonic Adventure 2
- Released
- June 19, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Some might argue that Sonic Adventure 2 is old enough to be considered outdated, but to be honest, the game holds up remarkably well, even though it was one of Sega's first attempts to port Sonic over to the 3D realm. Players will have the ability to switch between multiple different characters throughout a playthrough of Sonic Adventure 2, resulting in many different gameplay styles that help to keep the game from ever becoming predictable or bland. While Sonic may enjoy nothing more than cruising through an area in record time, Knuckles' missions are more based around finding hidden collectibles in the environment, while Tails is all about blasting away enemies with his deadly mech.
8 Best Sonic Games For An Over-The-Top Story, Ranked
These Sonic games featured some truly outlandish and over-the-top stories that fans should definitely check out.
The game also features what very well might still be the most ambitious story in the Sonic franchise, marking the introduction of several crucially important characters, especially Shadow the Hedgehog. Considering how immensely popular Shadow has become over the years, Adventure 2 can essentially be seen as the starting point of the modern Sonic era, especially because of how important he has become to the wider lore of the franchise since then. This is a huge reason why Adventure 2 is worth diving into in 2025, as not only is the gameplay incredibly fun because of how versatile it is, but the story also acts as the foundation for everything that will come after.
Sonic Frontiers
Get A Taste Of Where Sonic Games Are Headed In The Future
Sonic Frontiers
- Released
- November 8, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
It's no secret that the Sonic franchise felt a little lost throughout the 2010s, with Sonic Team being unable to create something which felt new and fresh, while also carrying over the heart and soul of the original classics. In an attempt to breathe new life into the series, the developers came out with Sonic Frontiers, a semi-open-world game where players spend much of their time running through visually stunning environments where they can seek out collectibles and speak with Sonic's friends, before taking on the Cyberspace Levels, which play like traditional Sonic stages.
Sonic Team took a very big risk with this particular entry, since it wasn't guaranteed that every fan would be thrilled with the idea of a Sonic game flirting with the open world genre, but that is why it was so surprising that the game ended up being truly amazing. Because of how fast Sonic can move, exploring each of the four islands is extremely fun and engaging, and since the Cyberscape Levels are so short, they never feel like they outstay their welcome or interrupt the core gameplay. Sega has clarified that Sonic Frontiers provides a glimpse of how mainline Sonic games will play in the future, so needless to say, anyone who is even remotely interested in where this franchise is headed needs to jump into Cyberspace with Sonic and his pals if they haven't already.
Sonic Superstars
The Best Co-Op Sonic Game To Come Out In Years
Sonic Superstars
- Released
- October 17, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- 2D, Platformer
Considering Sonic is meant to be the fastest thing alive, it makes sense why co-op would be difficult to incorporate into his games, since barely anyone in the Sonic universe can actually keep up with him. This meant that for a long time, playing a fun co-op Sonic game with a few buddies was more or less impossible, that is, until Sonic Superstars was released in 2023. Up to four players can band together to take on a collection of wonderfully vibrant and colorful stages that are all directly inspired by iconic levels from the series' past.
The developers decided to make this game much easier and more accessible than previous 2D entries so that Sonic newcomers wouldn't feel excluded from having a chance to get in on the action. Sonic Superstars is undoubtedly the game in this series most worth playing for anyone who is looking for a fast-paced co-op experience that they can enjoy alongside a few friends, no matter whether they are complete beginners or veterans who have been playing since the very first entry.
A Sonic Starter Kit
Want to know where to begin with the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise? Here's everything you need to know, including which games to start off with.