Summary
- Sonic Rush: Introduced the Boost mechanic and Blaze the Cat, offering unique gameplay styles and faster pace.
- Sonic 3 & Knuckles: Features iconic stages, groovy soundtrack, and fun characters like Knuckles.
- Sonic Heroes: Ambitious game with three characters to control simultaneously, offering satisfying gameplay flow.
While it should come as no surprise that the Blue Blur himself is usually the main focus in the Sonic the Hedgehog games, there are many entries in this popular franchise which allow players to jump into the action as other characters too. With such a vast roster of lovable characters, it's always a blast to cruise through a level in their shoes, even though many of them are nowhere near as fast as Sonic.
If anything, though, this only ends up making these games much more diverse in terms of their gameplay. A lot of these characters have their own unique stages and gameplay styles thanks to their abilities. It's always going to be fun sprinting through Green Hill Zone or the Chemical Plant as the lightning-fast Sonic the Hedgehog, but these are the games in the series that did the best job at incorporating other playable characters to help freshen things up.
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8 Sonic Rush
Newcomer Blaze Navigates The Stages With Fiery Abilities
Sonic Rush
- Released
- November 15, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Sonic Rush introduced two major components to the series: the Boost mechanic, and the fan-favorite character Blaze the Cat. Being able to get Sonic back up to full speed with the press of a button ensures that Sonic Rush's 2D stages always move at a breakneck pace. However, Blaze navigates these stages slightly differently.
Thanks to Blaze's ability to wrap herself in flames any time she pulls off an attack, she can throw out deadly kicks and strikes to fire herself through the air at blistering speed, reaching areas that Sonic can't latch onto. While the campaign is a little on the shorter side, the effort that went into making both Sonic and Blaze feel different in terms of movement goes a long way in keeping Sonic Rush fresh and fun from beginning to end.
7 Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
An RPG-Style Game Featuring Iconic Characters
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
- Released
- September 30, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- RPG
There was once a time when legendary RPG developers BioWare were tasked with creating a brand-new Sonic role-playing game. Though Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood has largely been forgotten outside the core Sonic fan base, it's often seen as an underrated gem, featuring a dark and mature story alongside traditional turn-based combat.
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Those aren't the only aspects it borrows from the popular RPG genre. It also includes a fully-fledged party of iconic characters from the franchise, including Sonic, Tails, and even Omega. Each fighter has their own set of moves, and there's even the option to throw out group attacks which allow multiple characters to come together for one explosive barrage. The gameplay is wildly different from anything in the series before. While it's experimental, it's worth checking out.
6 Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Iconic Stages, A Groovy Soundtrack, And Fun Characters
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
- Released
- February 2, 1994
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
It's not uncommon to hear people say that Sonic 3 is the best entry in the original trilogy. The wonderful variety of stages, paired with the infectious soundtrack and refined movement, allows Sonic 3 to stand as the culmination of everything Sega had been building towards back in the 90s.
While the original Sonic 3 is already incredible, the Knuckles expansion makes the newcomer himself a playable character. Though it sounds like a small addition, the ability to glide makes traversing areas much easier, opening up a new way to play through these memorable stages. Though there are only a few characters to pick from with this game, the quality on offer here is still extremely high.
5 Sonic Heroes
Swap Out Characters To Defeat Enemies And Traverse Tricky Areas
Sonic Heroes
- Released
- December 30, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Racing, Fighting, Action-Adventure
Sonic Heroes was an incredibly ambitious game which took some big risks to freshen up the traditional Sonic formula. The biggest example is allowing players to control three characters at the same time, who are all organized into specific teams. While one of these characters will be able to run through the stages at a high speed like in most of the games, there's also a damage dealer who will take out enemies. Meanwhile, the flyer can traverse tricky platforming sections or find hidden secrets.
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While it can be tricky to get into the habit of switching between each character at first, there's a flow to the gameplay loop that feels extremely satisfying to use after getting accustomed to it. Each of the four teams goes through the same levels, but their objectives, and even the difficulty at which they play, are adjusted so that players don't feel like they're running through the same game over and over.
4 Sonic Mania
Familiar Faces And Stages From The Series' Past
Sonic Mania Plus
- Released
- July 17, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone Due To Mild Cartoon Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Sonic Mania is primarily designed to be a celebration of the series. It feeds back to the classic era by taking a 2D approach to its gameplay, giving players a chance to navigate their way through plenty of familiar stages, alongside a few new ones, with the familiar retro style. While all of these areas look jaw-dropping from a visual perspective, what makes them so much fun to run through again and again is the different ways players can explore them with the characters.
Sonic, for example, is obviously the best when it comes to reaching high scores by finishing the level as fast as possible. Tails, meanwhile, can use his flying ability to snoop out any hidden collectibles such as the Giant Rings. Knuckles can find hidden pathways by climbing high walls and using his glide. He even earns a few of his own levels in the Mania Plus edition of the game, where Mighty and Ray can also get in on the action.
3 Sonic Adventure
Different Campaigns And Gameplay Styles For Six Playable Characters
Sonic Adventure
- Released
- December 23, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Featuring six playable characters in one game already sounds like a lofty goal, but the fact Sega gave everyone their own campaign and style of gameplay in Sonic Adventure is a big reason why it has become so memorable. Whether it's the treasure-hunting missions with Knuckles, the third-person shooter platforming hybrid levels with E-102, or a classic fast-paced adventure formula with Sonic, it truly feels like everyone is playing their own game.
The stellar gameplay of Sonic Adventur e is complemented by a fun and intriguing story which allows each of these iconic characters to share some of the spotlight throughout their adventure. Except for Big the Cat, who feels a little slow and boring, every other character in Sonic Adventure is a ton of fun to play, adding so much replay value to the experience.
2 Sonic X Shadow Generations
Two Versions Of Sonic, Plus A Chaos-Powered Shadow The Hedgehog
Sonic X Shadow Generations
- Released
- October 25, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
There have always been discussions and debates among Sonic fans about whether the 2D or 3D games are better, so to please everyone, Sega decided to get creative with Sonic Generations. By featuring both classic and modern Sonic, each stage in Sonic Generations can be played in either 2D or 3D. Classic Sonic still has the physics-based movement and Spin Dash that makes his levels reminiscent of the classic games. Meanwhile, modern Sonic retains the Boost mechanic to allow for faster and more exhilarating gameplay.
With the new remaster, Shadow has also been added. Not only can he explore his own hub world, but he can also race through a few of his own missions too. Thanks to Shadows' Chaos abilities, alongside his double jump, which makes a huge difference when platforming, he doesn't come across as a complete copycat of the protagonist. With tons of stages to enjoy, a competitive online leaderboard system, and a staggering number of minigames, Sonic X Shadow Generations is a fantastic game that's amplified by its diverse cast of playable hedgehogs.
1 Sonic Adventure 2
Pairs An Ambitious Story With An Intriguing Cast
Sonic Adventure 2
- Released
- June 19, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
The first Sonic Adventure game proved what was possible by featuring a wide cast of playable characters in a single game. Then, the sequel expanded on this even more. With an over-the-top story featuring many familiar faces interacting with brand-new newcomers, everyone feels relevant to the overall plot, ensuring none of the gameplay segments feel like filler.
The game kicks off with players skating through the all-time classic City Escape, but from there, they will assume control of other heroes and villains as the story goes on. Some of these play the same as they did in the original Adventure, but the introduction of characters like Shadow and Rouge adds enough variety to ensure things never feel too predictable. Sonic Adventure 2 is also very replayable thanks to the different challenges and rankings that can be earned for each individual character. The result is what many consider to be one of the best games in the entire series.
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