For 30 years, Sonic the blue hedgehog of the SEGA company continues to seduce young and old in many titles. However, not all of them are of good quality, nor dedicated to all audiences.
Sonic games are available on multiple platforms (consoles, mobile, and PC). In general, when the game is available on several of these platforms, it is less technically good on Nintendo Switch than on the rest because of the low performance of this console.
We explain what it is.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
(Nintendo Switch only)
It is a compilation of mini-games inspired by the Olympic Games and featuring characters from the worlds of Mario and Sonic. A lot of reading, and dexterity to the controller necessary to triumph in the Olympic events.
From 1 to 4 players.
Buy Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 digitally for Nintendo Switch on the Humble Store
Sonic Mania
(Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Steam PC) (Compatible with Playstation 5 and Xbox Series)
A 2D platform game like in the days of the first Sonic. Very good game. Quite difficult to navigate. No need to know how to read.
Suitable for everyone.
For a 1 or 2 players simultaneously.
Buy Sonic Mania digitally on Nintendo Switch from the Humble Store
Buy Sonic Mania digitally on Steam PC from the Humble Store
Sonic Mania Plus
(Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC) (Compatible with Playstation 5 and Xbox Series)
Same as Sonic Mania above, but with 2 additional characters. They can be purchased separately if you already have Sonic Mania. To buy them separately you have to buy “Sonic Mania – Encore DLC”, available on all digital stores of each console, computer.
A 2D platform game like in the days of the first Sonic. Very good game. Quite difficult to navigate. No need to know how to read.
Suitable for everyone.
For a 1 or 2 players simultaneously.
Buy Sonic Mania Encore DLC digitally on Steam PC from the Humble Store
SEGA Ages Sonic The Hedgehog 1
(Nintendo Switch only)
The original 2D platform game Sonic released in 1991 for the SEGA Genesis (or SEGA Megadrive if you are in Europe/Japan).
A must-see classic. Becomes quite difficult towards the end. Contains many improvements over the original version. No need to know how to read.
Suitable for everyone.
Available only on the Nintendo eShop Digital Store.
For a 1 player only.
Buy SEGA Ages Sonic The Hedgehog 1 digitally for Nintendo Switch from the Humble Store
SEGA Ages Sonic The Hedgehog 2
(Nintendo Switch only)
The sequel to the original 2D platform game Sonic released in 1991 for the SEGA Genesis (or SEGA Megadrive if you’re in Europe/Japan).
A must-see classic. Becomes quite difficult towards the end. Contains many improvements over the original version. No need to know how to read.
Suitable for everyone.
Available only on the Nintendo eShop Digital Store.
For a 1 or 2 players simultaneously.
Buy SEGA Ages Sonic The Hedgehog 2 digitally for Nintendo Switch from the Humble Store
SEGA Genesis Classics
(Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC) (Compatible with Playstation 5 and Xbox Series)
A compilation of 50 old games released on SEGA Genesis (or SEGA Megadrive if you’re in Europe/Japan) in the 1990s.
Full of different games like action games, role-playing games, shooting games, progression fighting games. The compilation includes:
Sonic The Hedgehog 1
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Sonic 3D Blast
Sonic Spinball
It’s a good idea in theory, it’s just poorly executed because there’s a delay when you press a button in each of the games compared to the original versions.
If you are not very demanding with the quality of the reproduction of the original games, the compilation does the trick. Otherwise go your way.
Requires knowing how to read to understand menus.
For a 1 or 2 players simultaneously.
Buy SEGA Genesis Classics digitally on Nintendo Switch from the Humble Store
Buy SEGA Genesis Classics digitally on Steam PC from the Humble Store
Sonic Origins
(Playstation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, PC)
Sonic Origins contains 4 retro games from the Sonic Series:
Sonic The Hedgehog 1
Sonic The Hedgehog 2
Sonic 3 & Knuckles
Sonic CD
One can play the original versions or remastered versions with a full screen display and unlimited life. This mode is very convenient since retro games in the Sonic series are known to be very challenging. The game also unlocks special levels and other additional content.
It is possible to buy the basic edition or the “digital deluxe” edition. This latest edition is aimed at fans of Sonic’s retro games.
It is possible to buy two downloadable contents: “pack classic music” and “pack premium fun”. Again, both of these contents are aimed at fans of Sonic’s retro games.
Playable with 2 players in local mode only, on a single console at the same time. Available digitally only (download on console).
Sonic Colors Ultimate
(Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC) (Compatible with Playstation 5 and Xbox Series)
A 3D and 2D platform game in various environments. The game is constantly changing the perspective between 2D and 3D.
This is the same game that was released for the Nintendo Wii in 2010. Now the graphics have been improved and some additional improvements have been added. If you’ve already played the Nintendo Wii version, there’s no need to buy it back.
Requires reading to understand the instructions.
Very good game, very pleasant to browse.
Suitable for everyone.
For a player.
More details in our detailed test here
Buy Sonic Colors Ultimate digitally on Nintendo Switch from the Humble Store
Sonic Forces
(Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC) (Compatible with Playstation 5 and Xbox Series)
A 3D and 2D platform game in various environments. The game is constantly changing the perspective between 2D and 3D.
Requires reading to understand the instructions.
Very good game, very pleasant to browse.
Suitable for everyone.
For a player.
Buy Sonic Forces digitally for Nintendo Switch on the Humble Store
Buy Sonic Forces digitally for Steam PC on the Humble Store
Team Sonic Racing
(Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC) (Compatible with Playstation 5 and Xbox Series)
A 3D racing game with all the main characters from the Sonic series of games. The environments are also inspired by previous games. The game is sometimes filled with visual effects that make the action confusing, but you get used to it, it’s not prohibitive. Multiple difficulty modes available.
Requires reading to understand the instructions.
Very good game, very pleasant to browse.
Suitable for everyone.
From 1 to 4 players.
Buy Team Sonic Racing digitally for Steam PC on the Humble Store
Buy Team Sonic Racing digitally for Nintendo Switch on the Humble Store
Sonic Frontiers
Sonic Frontiers is the first game in the Sonic series that takes place in an open world. Sonic explores the Starfall Islands in order to find the Chaos Emeralds. Each of the five islands is full of puzzles to solve, platforms to climb and secrets to find. Run at full speed, fight robots and solve the mystery of the Starfall Islands.
1 player only.
Conclusion: Which Sonic game to choose?
If you have a large family and as many controllers as players: Team Sonic Racing is fine.
For 2D platformers, Sonic Mania Plus, as well as the SEGA Classics Sonic The Hedgehog 1 and 2 are excellent, although a bit challenging towards the end. Sonic Orgins is more for fans of Sonic retro games.
Otherwise Sonic Forces and Sonic Colors Ultimate are among the best Sonic 3D platform games released to date and are safe values.
Sonic Frontiers is less like the usual games in the series, but it offers a new and very fun gaming experience.
Article produced with the contribution of François Néron.
