I ask myself why this is my favourite game all the time.
But then I play it almost every year guaranteed and always have a good time.

Literal 2D platforming perfected.
Heroes may be my favourite but 3&K is the peak Sonic game. This will always be what I recommend to someone looking for a Sonic game to play. Ace level design, quality music, and fantastic show-not-tell storytelling.
The only negative I can give is that in the 30+ years the franchise has gone on for, this was when Sonic peaked. it's been about 30 years since we peaked, and we haven't been close to that in more than 5 years (thanks mania)

My preferred half of 3&K, has Big Arms so it's superior.

Probably the other best Sonic game, has great 2D and 3D level design, with fantastic music and redesigns of old levels. Great celebration for Sonic.

I spent a lot of time on this one, the treasure hunting stages are very hit or miss but I do love the other characters levels. Probably the best OST, Tails has the best level themes. Great storytelling and full of charm.

Very hit or miss with characters, but otherwise a fine game, one I love. Like Adventure 2, full of charm and great music once again. Bold first main series 3D platformer, and I think it hits.

Including base Mania, fantastic love letter to the 2D games. Amazing sprite work, and killer OST. Wish there were more original levels much like 99% other people as well, but it plays fiiiiiiiiiiiiine like wine.

Whilst still great in its own right, I can't remember the last time I played &K on its own. It's still very good but definitely play 3&K, or even 3 Complete or A.I.R.

This one REALLY surprised me on replay. Fantastic level design with only a few mishaps here and there, great level concepts, and great music too. Really charming game when it all comes together, and Johnny has one of the slickest designs for a character in the entiere series.

(HD Version; 360/PS3)
Everyone is so god damn mixed on this game. It really is love or hate with this one. Don't get me wrong I can tolerate and somewhat enjoy the Werehog, but even then it has its problems right? Whilst nowadays I'm quite good to blitz through the Night levels and pickup most Sun/Moon Medals along the way so I don't have to go back and grind for them, I still see why so many are turned off. I think a lot of why I like this game is due to how much I respect it. It was Sonic's first BIG big hit in YEARS, and back then it was such a big deal to have a Sonic game that was remotely GOOD. Really respect this one. It may have many flaws but dang is it ambitious.

Probably the best multiplayer Sonic game, tons of fun. Honestly, it really is. With friends it's some of the most fun I've had online.

This one has a lot of sentimental value to me. I know this game has a bit of backlash in terms of level design, but I think this game has such charm and really breaks from the trends of Sonic game design, in terms of levels concepts. Aside from Green Hill but at Sunset, there's some really neat levels, and I'm always a fan of tag-team games. Wish there were more than just the core 5 tho, could've had Shadow or Rouge in there too. Shame.

(DS Version)
I love this game so much, probably one of my most played Sonic games. Really fun story mode and incredibly engaging events, with nothing too gimmicky or feelbad. Very fun, would definitely recommend.

This game OOZES style. Truly unique, one of a kind. I love the Babylon Rogues they're so dumb haha. Hard to master game that really rewards those who stick with it, and it's just dumb fun.

Still a cool entry for the handheld, got cool levels and perhaps even a better soundtrack than its Console counterpart.

(DS Version) The good Colours game, love that this is just Rush 3 with Wisps implemented to compliment gameplay rather than to overstay their welcome or be used once or twice for replayability. Asteroid Coaster sucks tho.

Fuck everyone else, Speed Battle kicks ass. Gameplay is okay but this has a better representative roster than the Olympic Games and Team Sonic Racing. Those games wish they had the characters Speed Battle did. S/o to bringing Tikal back and fueling an unexpected hatred for her. Also s/o to the Deadly Six still being terrible, and massive s/o for giving us Excalibur Sonic

No matter how hard I try I cannot see what others see in this game. That being said... Great level design complimenting the duo, and fantastic sound design too. Very nice game to play through.

Super weird game. Absolutely stunning OST on both JP/US ends, and has really cool concepts but plays so differently from the other classic sonic games and it's very odd. Sometimes it feels too slow or backtrack-y but you gotta respect it.

Ooooooo this a good one. This game's level design hasn't aged the best, but super funky sound design and is probably the coolest game, alongside Riders.

This game fast, and has really infuriating late levels but the feel of this game is sick. Great spritework too.

Unique racing game, and a cool roster. Would've loved to see a 3rd game. Everyone is so god damn angry in this game though.

why couldn't sonic stay dead i wouldn't have to update this list any more
this was his best game in 5 years!!

(Wii Version)
This game is pretty neat, great multiplayer game.

(Wii Version)
Best Summer Olympics, really cool events and cooler dream events.

Really surprised, thought this one would be mediocre but it was neat!

(Wii U Version)
Cool! Football is dumb fun I love it

This game infuriates me yet I still enjoy it more than I should lol. Really fantastic OST and great courses, and a cool concept. But jesus christ this roster fucking sucks. Couldn't even get Team Rose fully or Team Chaotix back, big shame. Also Zavok fuck off you dumb shit.

Unique game! Make more like this please! Even if it's aged a bit lol

This game would be so much better had it not make you do basically every fight twice. Might be one of two games where I genuinely hate Eggman. Fuck him, Emerl deserved better.

Cool game, just outclassed by its newer relatives.

I suck at this game but it's fun.
Fuck Metal Sonic tho

(DS Version)
The one I grew up with, actually a cool single player game.

(Wii Version)
I put my girlfriend through this hell

haha sonic sword go whoosh

Where people race for no reason.
Also I hate Silver god

Funny game, nice distraction but god tank controls lol

This game has really cool design and interesting levels and whatnot. Strange one.

Triple Trouble more like, Triple uhhhhh yeah it's cool I guess

(Both Game Gear and Mega Drive Versions) Get beaned fucko

(Both Saturn and Mega Drive Versions)
Surprising game, really strange but once you're into it it's cool!

This game is okay.

it's just colours again

Sonic does what he does best. Run. And it's okay. Wish I could've played it during its release I'll have to try Runners Revival soon.

Sonic says "fuck COVID-19" and we get a mediocre mobile olympic games out of it. Was it worth it? Not really, a nice distraction for a time though.

Really took base Riders and sucked the slick gameplay out and what we got was a real husk of what we had. Not a terrible game but feels very empty.

(Wii/PS2 Version)
Yeah, Day Stages in this one are really cool! Loving the different places and level design here! The night levels actually suck though. I would rather play a 15-25 minute long level than have to sit through 50+ loading screens for three 5 minute levels. No thank you.

man the godlike ost and bosses are amazing. too bad the other 95% of this bloated overwhelming uninteresting mess exists. its not the worst thing but i cant say im going back to it soon

This one is cool. Does what Dash does but probably a little more fun, if lacking the support that its base game has nowadays. You don't see Hat Knuckles here.

This is such an improvement over the first episode man my god. Actually had a little fun playing this.

On first playthrough, I really didn't like this much, but on a second playthrough when I'm not trying to get out of 16-bit hell, there are some really cool level designs! Final couple levels still suck hard!

(3DS Version)
On the other hand, we got very few events and the "dream" events suck ass but the roster is huge. Edges out London 2012 3DS because I can finally play as Omega.

(3DS Version)
It's cool? It's okay, just why restrict characters to events. Though there are like 50+ events.

It's okay.

Yeah it's aight.

This was not as good as I remember lol. Yeah the later level design in this sucks, like actually bad.

Run

This is a terrible game, but if your Wii U bricks itself every time it updates at least I get the infinite Knuckles jump. Absolute mess but fucking hilarious to play.

EVIL TAILS PLAYS PINBALL

Sonic does the Mario in 2007

Sonic does the Mario in 2012 but with less personality

Sonic does the Mario in 2014 but somehow even less fun than its two predecessors with a shitty tacked on gimmick

Very small screen, and irritating last levels, but I like that it used modern designs, really set a nice bridge from Classic to Adventure.

(3DS Version)
This game has its frustrating moments but on the whole I can somewhat recommend it. Not a terrible game!

There is some age to this game. Definitely. My god. Stop putting it in your top 10 just because "it's the one that started it all".

Meh. It's so nothing and like, it's that type of mediocrity that's just, worse than terrible games lol

(Both 16-bit/8-bit versions) Yeah it's pinball with Sonic again. Again.

Really doesn't have a lot outside of an expansive roster. Just play Dash 2 or Speed Battle.

EIOUHFJKLNDSVM ,CX god this is one miserable game but it's always at least funny for the first half hour. It's not even a bad designed game just miserable to play.

Please play TSR or the Sega racing games. This one has Metal Sonic at least.

(8-bit) it's... not great.

ACAB

this game frustrates me but maybe if I go back without every sonic game in my head I might find something

sonic is slowwwwww and its miserable but aint the worst shit around

sonic's nightmare class

bad rpg go play pokemon

(8-bit) scrambled egg zone gave me 10 migraines and took my will to live

the one and only sonic 06 is god awful and i cannot stand it. if you play it on an off beat on its own i guess its just "okay" but with everything else it's bAD STOP SAYING IT'S GOOD OR OKAY

look if i wanted to move i'd go for a fucking walk you shit

this is a bAd game lol

This one used to be my least favourite but honestly I can at least respect some things about it. The music has a few good bangers and the stage design is at least creative for a Sonic game. plays like ass tho so fuck this pile of garbage

literally any other racer please

Yes the shitty GBA port of Sonic 1 I wasn't gonna play ports of games but this one really deserves its spot

tails make robots not music (and stop being a whiny bitch)

TAILS

this game made me so fucking miserable

probably the absolute most nothing sonic game experience. just go play tetris or puyo puyo

this dlc is so fucking detatched from the base game in terms of how i feel it was designed that i had to rank it seperately
we live in 2023, no, padding bosses with tons of HP, whilst forcing your stats to the minimum is not difficulty
also the final trial being a fucking boss rush when BOSS RUSH EXISTS
this plot makes no sense
knuckles controls like ASS
and sonic elitists can die

this game is so god damn miserable and a waste of time. the amount of mediocre this game is makes it one of the worst of all time.

can you believe this was the last released game during jason's time as sonic and it was fucking awful.

(Wii U Version) this is the worst game i've ever played. it has one good moment and that was when sonic was bitch slapped by a sandwich.