Best Sonic Games (That I've Played)

Not counting any Sonic fangames, of course. This is my favorite Sonic games sorted from best to worst.

Games like Sonic R, Sonic Riders, Mean Bean Machine are excluded due to the fact that you cannot compare these style of games.
Will update the list later as I play more Sonic games.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles
A really fun epic adventure from start to finish, no matter who you're playing as. The soundtrack, environments and stages are all challenging and compelling. The silent storytelling is among the best storytelling there is in a Sonic game. This game feels very polished, and I wouldn't have mind if this was the last Sonic Game ever made.

The final bosses are also the best we've ever gotten. Super Sonic vs Dr. Robotnik in Doomsday Zone, or Knuckles vs Metal Sonic in Sky Sanctuary.

Shame Tails didn't get an exclusive final boss.

1

Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure is a very close second to SA2. If I were younger, I would have rate SA2 higher. The stages of SA1 are better than the stages in SA2. Sonic, Tails, Gamma and Knuckles stages are more fun than the Tails/Eggman + Knuckles/Rogue stages in SA2. Camera sucks, controls are great.

2

Sonic Adventure 2
Sonic Adventure 2
SA2 does a good job with mixing its storytelling with gameplay, making you want to dive into every level and complete it. It has replay value due to the A rank grind and Chao Garden. They fixed the camera problem but force you to play stiffer and slower than SA1. Mech Stages and Treasure Hunting stages were a downgrade from the Gamma Stages in SA1 and the Knuckles stages in SA1

3

Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
I think this game has a more compelling adventure than Sonic 3 and Knuckles-- but I'll say that the stages and environments in Sonic 3 are better than Sonic 2.

Sky Chase and Wing Fortress Zone is my favorite penultimate zones. I know that's a weird criteria, but getting closer to the end of a Sonic Game usually feels epic (SA1 Sonic Lost World, SA2 Ark Stages)

4

Sonic Generations
Sonic Generations
A nostalgia-bait cash grab from Sega.

It's a good game, and it's nice to see some love for the series in general. None of the levels are original besides the 3D variants of 2D stages, and the 2D variants of 3D stages (this means, it has more new content than Mania lol)

I got really no complaints otherwise.

5

Sonic Mania Plus
Sonic Mania Plus
Sonic Mania is a great game, don't get me wrong-- but it really does rely heavily on nostalgia (similar to Generations). The game is constantly screaming "REMEMBER THIS?"

Only when the game does something new, do I find it more enjoyable. Titanic Monarch and Press Garden are some of the most enjoyable Sonic stages in history.

6

Sonic Rush
Sonic Rush
This game has a huge fetish for bottomless pits.

As a 2D Game, it would help introduced boost for 3D games. Introduces Blaze, who is one of the coolest Sonic characters. Very stylized both in music and presentation, and the gameplay feels wonderful.

The game is not too challenging, but not too simply-- and it feels rewarding to play. I love Sonic Rush. It's definitely up there as one of the best Sonic games.

7

Sonic Rush Adventure
Sonic Rush Adventure
Sonic Rush but it loses the style it's unique style. Argh.

The game adds more content and replay value (upgrading your boat, trying to win the stupid, frustrating boat races) and improves on the level design.

It's better than Sonic Rush gameplay wise, but by a small margin imo. There's something just too cool about Sonic Rush that makes it not beat the original

8

Sonic CD
Sonic CD
I like the approach of more exploration rather than speeding through the level. I think as a Sonic game, this one has a pretty unique approach to gameplay. The only thing is, playing through the game could be a little bit tedious to get through.

All these stages have the coolest designs I've seen a Sonic game (Past, Present, Future). This isn't really a bad Sonic game, so I don't understand the hate for it.

Definitely would rather play this than Sonic 1

9

Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog
This game just had the unfortunate circumstance of being the first Sonic Game.

Because of that, it feels very barebones (no spin dash) and a little slow.

Also, a couple of the zones in this game have the biggest rage factor (Spring Yard Zone, LABYRINTH ZONE, Scrap Brain Zone)

Probably the most challenging Sonic game. It does feel very rewarding when you finish it!

10

Sonic Heroes
Sonic Heroes
Sonic Heroes is an enjoyable mess. It definitely needs improvement on a lot of areas, sure-- but you can't sit here and tell me you didn't enjoy it?

Sure, it's a bit lazy that you have to play the game over four times, but it was fun, wasn't it? At least you don't have to play it over 14 times.

11

Sonic Colors
Sonic Colors
Eh, it's alright, I guess.

The gameplay is fun (love the wisps) and some of the stages are really cool to play through. The game just gets redundant after a while. Would be a better game if better paced.

Also, the voice acting and story is among one of the worst. Baldy Mcnosehair..

12

Sonic Unleashed
Sonic Unleashed
Y'all gassing this game like it was that amazing. No, it really wasn't.

There's an appreciation for the hub world and stages, but it's held back by the medal collections. There can be appreciation for the werehog stages, but why does it take about 6 minutes to complete on average?

This game could be the best Sonic game, but all it does is hold itself back. Mid mid mid.

13

Shadow the Hedgehog
Shadow the Hedgehog
Damn, not here.

This game had potential to be great, seriously. I think I'm not a fan of replaying the game 14 times to get a similar corny ending, just to actually get to the last stage. Story is hard to follow, gunplay and controls aren't great.

It was nice to have a Shadow game though.

14

Sonic 3D Blast
Sonic 3D Blast
I don't know what direction they went with this game and why. All I know is that it ain't it.

15

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II
You tried harder and failed.

16

Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Sonic the Hedgehog 4
You tried and failed.

17

Sonic Forces
Sonic Forces
Yawn.

18

Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog
Unplayable. Loading screens, way too many glitches-- horrible controls and physics issues. Elise kisses Sonic. How did I even complete this game?

19

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