10: Sonic Colors (Wii)
Top 10 Best Sonic the Hedgehog Games, Ranked
After a long string of mediocre (at best) Sonic games for the Wii, Sonic Colors finally put everything together and delivered a quality Modern Sonic experience. Developers finally ditched the strange gimmicks seen in games like Sonic and the Secret Rings and Sonic and the Black Knight and went with the 2D/3D gameplay mix that was introduced in Unleashed, which is now a staple of Modern Sonic-style gameplay. And, as just about every game on this list can claim, had an amazing soundtrack that perfectly encapsulated the game’s space/amusement park theme.
Rather than bog the game down, the primary feature associated with Colors, the Wisps, were well received and enhanced the game. Colors received praise from both fans and critics, and would have a stage featured in Sonic Generations. It was also accompanied by a DS game which wasn’t half bad either.
9: Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis)
Top 10 Best Sonic the Hedgehog Games, Ranked
The original which started it all lands at nine on our list. To some this might seem low considered it’s the original, but let’s not forget that A: every game on this list is great and B: there are A LOT of Sonic games, so being number nine is still pretty damn high.
Sonic the Hedgehog is a great game, but it is a little dated especially in comparison to the other Genesis games that followed. While the game is a lot faster than other platformers of its time, without the Spin Dash which was added in Sonic 2, the original does feel a lot slower. Zones such as Marble Zone and Labyrinth Zone in particular are quite sluggish by the standard we now hold the series to. Still, it was extremely challenging (in a good way) and completing it with all the Chaos Emeralds in-hand is quite satisfying.
8: Sonic Generations (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)
Top 10 Best Sonic the Hedgehog Games, Ranked
Sonic Generations will probably be remembered as the game where the Sonic series finally turned a corner and started trending in the right direction (Sonic Boom disasters aside). Sonic Colors and the daytime sections of Sonic Unleashed laid the foundation, but Sonic Generations was when the Modern Sonic gameplay really started to come together and was refined to a point where it was enjoyable to both fans and critics. Add to all that, a return to form for true, 2D Sonic gameplay on home consoles. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 tried to do it, but ultimately came up short. Generation’s take had much better physics and was visually impressive as well.
Also, this was the first real attempt at remaking stages, and it was a huge success. For the most part, the selected stages were worthy of being there (would have been nice to have more than one stage from both Sonic 3 and Sonic and Knuckles, but we’ll let that slide), and it was very entertaining to see Modern Sonic blast through classic stages such as Chemical Plant Zone; and likewise seeing 2D Sonic fly around City Escape. Hopefully a Generations 2 is in the cards for a release one day and we can see more of those entertaining mashups.
7: Sonic Advance (GBA)
Top 10 Best Sonic the Hedgehog Games, Ranked
The Sonic Advance games are forgotten series on the GBA that hardcore Sonic fans love to point to when people say that there hasn’t been great 2D Sonic games since the Genesis era. They aren’t wrong, Sonic Advance games are rock solid and until Sonic Mania, were the closest things you could get to playing a more modern version of the Genesis games.
The series was great throughout but started getting a little off the rails as more characters and gimmicks were added including the critically maligned debut of Cream and Cheese. Still it’s hard to find a better classic-style Sonic experience than the original Sonic Advance.
6: Sonic Rush (DS)
Top 10 Best Sonic the Hedgehog Games, Ranked
The Sonic Rush games, like the Sonic Advance series, were hidden gems for those that chose to ignore portable Sonic games for whatever reason. It deviates heavily from the classic games in terms of gameplay style allowing Sonic to use his homing attack and boost moves, but that didn’t take away from its greatness, in fact it’s still one of the best mashups of classic and modern Sonic gameplay to date.
In addition, it made very clever use of the Nintendo DS’s two screens and added Blaze the Cat, arguably the most underrated, and non-irritating of the new Sonic “friends” that were added in the games that followed Sonic Adventure. Blaze did (and still does) feel like a character that could reasonably fit in within the current classic paradigm of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, unlike some of the other bizarre characters we’ve seen throughout the years such as the aforementioned Cream and Cheese, and the walking, talking meme that is Big the Cat.
Sonic Rush’s gameplay would become the staple style that would be used DS and Nintendo 3DS Sonic games that followed such as its sequel Sonic Rush Adventure, and Sonic Colors for the DS.
5: Sonic CD (Sega CD)
Top 10 Best Sonic the Hedgehog Games, Ranked
Now we start getting to the real heavy hitters. For years, Sonic CD was the true hidden gem of the series as it released only on the Sega CD Genesis add-on. However, over the years it has finally gotten proper re-release treatment thanks to the work of Sonic Mania’s Christian Whitehead, so now fans really don’t have any excuse for skipping on it. The game introduces a rewarding time-traveling mechanic that can be taken advantage by players seeking the true ending if they can effectively balance Sonic’s speed and platforming.
Sonic CD also introduced Metal Sonic, one of the most iconic Sonic villains of all-time. The rivalry between the two culminating with the showdown on Stardust Speedway is arguably the best and coolest boss fight in Sonic history.
We’re in top five of games, so we’re definitely splitting hairs, but what knocks Sonic CD a couple pegs below some of the other games higher up is that other than Stardust Speedway, the other Sonic CD stages just aren’t as memorable as ones found in the other Genesis era games. There are so many different version of each zone/act due to the time-traveling mechanic that none of them really end up standing out. At least not in the same way as some of the other games.
4: Sonic Adventure (Dreamcast)
Top 10 Best Sonic the Hedgehog Games, Ranked
Sonic Adventure, although a lot of it certainly has not held up well, at the time of its release was revolutionary for the series. Sonic and his buddies, new and old, finally got to explore a true 3D world. Sure there were some strange design choices, including um, Big’s fishing stages. But, in an odd way, the dramatically different styles between characters like Big, E-102, and Knuckles all kind of clicked and provided a diverse playing experience, that at the time at least was pretty damn fun. The much criticized voice acting at least resides in so bad it’s funny territory, and the music is top notch with classic tracks from Crush 40 such as Open Your Heart and It Doesn’t Matter.
And let’s not forget about what is maybe the most underappreciated and sorely under-utilized mini-game of all time, Chao Adventure. Boy was/is Chao Adventure freaking awesome and addictive. SEGA continues to ignore the potential behind another Chao Adventure mini-game in their recent games because they hate money apparently, but let’s never forget where those adorable… um… whatever they are… came from.
3: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis)
Top 10 Best Sonic the Hedgehog Games, Ranked
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is where the series took its first major step toward being what it’s known for today: speed and platforming. The addition of the Spin Dash greatly increased Sonic’s “0 to 60”, and the levels in general allowed for greater momentum and speed. Who can forget tucking into a roll after a speed boost in Chemical Plant Zone and having the screen barely keep up with you because of how fast you were going?
Sonic 2 was bigger and better than its predecessor in just about every way and of course, added series staple Miles “Tails” Prower into the mix. In particular, the game’s final few stages featuring aerial platforming on Tails’ plane, a massive flying fortress to traverse, and a battle with Dr. Robotnick in space, are some of the most challenging and nerve wracking moments in the series (until you learn the Spin Dash trick for the final boss that is).
2: Sonic 3 & Knuckles (Genesis)
Top 10 Best Sonic the Hedgehog Games, Ranked
Sonic 3 & Knuckles (combined of course) until recently was the pinnacle of the 2D Sonic games. Between Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails there were three very unique ways to tackle Sonic 3 & Knuckles gauntlet of iconic zones. The music, “which totally definitely didn’t involve Michael Jackson” is to-date the best in the series hands down. Thanks not Michael Jackson for that one.
S3&K also added the ability to save your progress and level select, which allowed players to go back and collect all the Chaos Emeralds and Super Emeralds whenever they wanted. Finally, S3&K added the mythical Hyper Sonic, to-date the only appearance of the souped up version of Super Sonic. There was just something epic about the Super Emeralds, and unlocking the ultimate form of Sonic was a satisfying reward for your efforts.
1: Sonic Mania (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
Top 10 Best Sonic the Hedgehog Games, Ranked
Yes here we finally are, the best Sonic the Hedgehog to be released to date, Sonic Mania. Like we said in our review, Sonic Mania is the true next step up from the bar set so incredibly high by Sonic 3 & Knuckles back in 1994. It has everything you would want to see from the originals return such as the classic physics, a top-notch soundtrack and multi-layered level design, plus new mechanics that breathe life into the game’s eight remastered zones and improved visuals. It also features new zones such as Studiopolis and Press Garden that instantly are classics in their own right. It adds a much needed online-time attack mode, more collectibles and secrets, and brings back the competitive mode from Sonic 2.
Everything Sonic Mania has achieved, is in large part due to having something as great as Genesis classics to build up from, so immense credit has to be given to those games. Still, Sonic Mania is the most complete, polished, and loaded 2D Sonic game to date, and it’s why it lands at the very top of our list of the best Sonic the Hedgehog Games, ranked.
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