Sonic Games Ranked
A personal ranking of every Sonic game I've played. I usually just replay the stages I like once the game is over, but full playthroughs are considered here.
Still need to play: Sonic Eraser, Waku Waku Sonic Patrol Car, SegaSonic Cosmo Fighter Galaxy Patrol, SegaSonic Popcorn Shop, SegaSonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Athletics, Sonic the Hedgehog's Gameworld, Tails and the Music Maker, Sonic Schoolhouse, Sonic Free Riders, Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric, Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal
Still need to play: Sonic Eraser, Waku Waku Sonic Patrol Car, SegaSonic Cosmo Fighter Galaxy Patrol, SegaSonic Popcorn Shop, SegaSonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Athletics, Sonic the Hedgehog's Gameworld, Tails and the Music Maker, Sonic Schoolhouse, Sonic Free Riders, Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric, Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal
68 Games
By the mania, for the mania. If you're someone who knows Sonic, especially Classic Sonic, you understand why this is the best Sonic game. Even many non-fans, however, have used the word "joy" when discussing this game. The levels are paced better than any others in the series. The boss fights are exciting (though can be overly long on replays). The aesthetics are beautiful. The one big downside is the reused levels, but even those show so much creativity in how the team has remixed them.
1
Sonic 3 & Knuckles: Part 1
The better of the two halves, personally speaking. Until Mania came along with its superior level designs, Sonic 3 & Knuckles was pretty definitively the best Sonic game. Huge Zones that accommodate multiple playable characters with unique abilities. Diverse level themes that even change between Acts. A simple but effective story (and cool lore, if you bother to read the manual). This is a standard many Sonic games still can't quite reach.
The better of the two halves, personally speaking. Until Mania came along with its superior level designs, Sonic 3 & Knuckles was pretty definitively the best Sonic game. Huge Zones that accommodate multiple playable characters with unique abilities. Diverse level themes that even change between Acts. A simple but effective story (and cool lore, if you bother to read the manual). This is a standard many Sonic games still can't quite reach.
2
Sonic 3 & Knuckles: Part 2
Some of the levels in the latter half can feel overly-long and tedious, but it's made up for by the bombastic finale. Sonic & Knuckles on its own also has the benefit of Lock-On compatibility with other Genesis games (most notably Sonic 2) and probably the best box art of all time.
Some of the levels in the latter half can feel overly-long and tedious, but it's made up for by the bombastic finale. Sonic & Knuckles on its own also has the benefit of Lock-On compatibility with other Genesis games (most notably Sonic 2) and probably the best box art of all time.
3
The Boost stages feel significantly more fair than they did in Unleashed while also being better paced than in Colors (though a bit less open to exploration). The Classic levels are fun in their own right, with lots of extra paths I'm still discovering.
4
Sonic CD is an odd one, so I understand why a lot of people dislike it. What's important to keep in mind when playing it is that speed isn't a reward for good play. It's a tool for traversing space and time.
Also please do not ask me to pick a favorite soundtrack.
Also please do not ask me to pick a favorite soundtrack.
5
Now we get to the titles that aren't so much "exemplary works that exhibit a quality all Sonic games should strive for," and more just "games I like a lot."
Sonic Rush has such style and energy, with its trick system and its boost. It's addictive trying to string together as many tricks as possible for both a better score and a higher "tension gauge" (such a perfect name) to then spend on boosting. Then there's Hideki Naganuma's score, which remains one of the series' best and more distinct. It also introduced Blaze the Cat, one of the few Sonic characters no one seems to dislike.
The bosses are pretty frustrating, especially if you keep the difficulty on Normal, and the levels rely too much on bottomless pits, but that's made up for with the second best Special Stages in the series (right behind Sonic Mania's).
Sonic Rush has such style and energy, with its trick system and its boost. It's addictive trying to string together as many tricks as possible for both a better score and a higher "tension gauge" (such a perfect name) to then spend on boosting. Then there's Hideki Naganuma's score, which remains one of the series' best and more distinct. It also introduced Blaze the Cat, one of the few Sonic characters no one seems to dislike.
The bosses are pretty frustrating, especially if you keep the difficulty on Normal, and the levels rely too much on bottomless pits, but that's made up for with the second best Special Stages in the series (right behind Sonic Mania's).
6
This game is honestly probably better than the original Sonic Rush, with levels that are more fair and additional content that ranges from "not half-bad" to "actually pretty fun" (an achievement for side-content in a Sonic game). But, well, I played Rush Adventure for the first time in 2013, whereas I played Rush in 2005. I just have more fondness for the original. That's a personal reason, but it's my list, so nyeh.
7
Sonic 2 is the quintessential Sonic game. Level design that focuses more on slopes and speed, the brilliant additions of multiplayer and the spin-dash, memorable level themes, and a bombastic finale. Only really let down by some obnoxious enemy/obstacle placements.
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11
The real April Fools Day joke is that this seems like an ironic joke game poking fun at how infamous the franchise has become when in reality it's a genuine labor of love with some of the best character-driven comedic writing in the series.
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I love this garbage game so much.
21
It's Puyo Puyo, and I love Puyo Puyo. Granted, it's the first iteration of Puyo Puyo's rules, but it's still fun.
26
"Oh, Sonic Colors DS is basically Sonic Rush 3."
WRONG! They removed tricks. How am I going to stim now?
In all seriousness, the levels just feel a bit more dull and difficult to remember. The color powers add some nice variety though, and you could argue that Colors DS uses the amusement park setting better than the Wii counterpart.
WRONG! They removed tricks. How am I going to stim now?
In all seriousness, the levels just feel a bit more dull and difficult to remember. The color powers add some nice variety though, and you could argue that Colors DS uses the amusement park setting better than the Wii counterpart.
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