Best Sonic Games Of All Time

Best Sonic Games
Image: Nintendo Life

Update: Now with 100% more Sonic Superstars.

Remember that this is a dynamic reader-ranked list that re-orders automatically depending on each game’s rating in our database.

In order to rate any of the games on the list below out of 10, logged-in Nintendo Life users can simply tap the ‘star’ and assign each game a personal rating. Enjoy!


It was back in 1991 that Sonic the Hedgehog — the blue dude with the most ‘tude — first burst forth onto the Mega Drive in Japan and Sega finally presented a credible challenger for the platforming crown Nintendo’s jumping plumber had been wearing since the mid-1980s. In the decades since, the blue blur has starred in a host of platform games: some 2D, others 3D, some fantastic, others not so much.

Regardless of his myriad hits and misses, Sonic has proven that he has something far more important than merely his speed and aforementioned ‘tude: Sonic’s got staying power.

To celebrate his 30th birthday we asked Nintendo Life readers to rank every 2D Sonic game, and by combining the results with an existing list of the 3D games, we can now present to you the definitive ranking of every Sonic game ever — the ones that appeared on a Nintendo platform, that is (sorry-not-sorry Sonic 2006).

Remember: the order below is updated in real-time according to each game’s corresponding User Rating in the Nintendo Life game database. Even as you read this, it’s entirely possible to influence the ranking below. If you haven’t rated your favourites yet, simply click the ‘star’ of the game you wish to rate below and assign a score right now.

So, grab a chili dog and a companion from your ever more ragtag bunch of sidekicks, and let’s check out the best (and worst) Sonic games on Nintendo systems.


Please note: We’re only featuring Sonic platformers that have appeared on Nintendo platforms — be it as part of a collection or as an individual release — so you won’t find Knuckles Chaotix or Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure or anything that’s not a platform game (no Mean Bean Machine or Tails’ Skypatrol shmup action or Sonic Drift karting, then).

Also, the 8-bit Sonics that appeared on both Master System and Game Gear are only featured once below. And finally, Sonic Spinball — or Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball, to give the game its full and proper title — was an edge case, but we couldn’t bring ourselves to exclude it. If its presence offends you, just imagine it isn’t there and bump everything below it up one spot. Easy!

Okay, ready now? Prepare for some excellent Erinaceidae platforming. Just not straightaway…

Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric (Wii U)

Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric (Wii U)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Big Red Button

Release Date: 11th Nov 2014 (USA) / 21st Nov 2014 (UK/EU)
Sonic Labyrinth (GG)

Sonic Labyrinth (GG)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Minato Giken

Release Date: Nov 1995 (USA) / 10th May 2012 (UK/EU)
Sonic Blast (GG)

Sonic Blast (GG)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Aspect

Release Date: Nov 1996 (USA) / 14th Jun 2012 (UK/EU)
Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal (3DS)

Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal (3DS)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Sanzaru Games

Release Date: 11th Nov 2014 (USA) / 21st Nov 2014 (UK/EU)
Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii)

Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: SEGA Studio USA

Release Date: 20th Feb 2007 (USA) / 2nd Mar 2007 (UK/EU)
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 (WiiWare)

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 (WiiWare)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Dimps

Release Date: 11th Oct 2010 (USA) / 15th Oct 2010 (UK/EU)
Shadow The Hedgehog (GCN)

Shadow The Hedgehog (GCN)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: SEGA Studio USA

Release Date: 15th Nov 2005 (USA) / 18th Nov 2005 (UK/EU)
Sonic 3D Blast (MD)

Sonic 3D Blast (MD)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Travellers Tales

Release Date: 19th Nov 2007 (USA) / 2nd Nov 2007 (UK/EU)
Sonic and the Black Knight (Wii)

Sonic and the Black Knight (Wii)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Sonic Team

Release Date: 10th Mar 2009 (USA) / 13th Mar 2009 (UK/EU)
Sonic Spinball (GG)

Sonic Spinball (GG)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: SEGA Technical Institute

Release Date: Sep 1994 (USA) / Aug 1994 (UK/EU)

Sonic Spinball in itself is a pretty decent spin-off title that showcased reasonably decent visuals and gameplay for the Genesis, but the Game Gear version undoubtedly suffers from the necessary downgrades to get the game running competently. Gameplay feels clunky and the music is a bit of a mess. Still, it’s not a terrible effort, all told.

Sonic Forces (Switch)

Sonic Forces (Switch)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Sonic Team

Release Date: 7th Nov 2017 (USA) / 7th Nov 2017 (UK/EU)

Best Sonic Games
Image: Nintendo Life

Update: Now with 100% more Sonic Superstars.

Remember that this is a dynamic reader-ranked list that re-orders automatically depending on each game’s rating in our database.

In order to rate any of the games on the list below out of 10, logged-in Nintendo Life users can simply tap the ‘star’ and assign each game a personal rating. Enjoy!


It was back in 1991 that Sonic the Hedgehog — the blue dude with the most ‘tude — first burst forth onto the Mega Drive in Japan and Sega finally presented a credible challenger for the platforming crown Nintendo’s jumping plumber had been wearing since the mid-1980s. In the decades since, the blue blur has starred in a host of platform games: some 2D, others 3D, some fantastic, others not so much.

Regardless of his myriad hits and misses, Sonic has proven that he has something far more important than merely his speed and aforementioned ‘tude: Sonic’s got staying power.

To celebrate his 30th birthday we asked Nintendo Life readers to rank every 2D Sonic game, and by combining the results with an existing list of the 3D games, we can now present to you the definitive ranking of every Sonic game ever — the ones that appeared on a Nintendo platform, that is (sorry-not-sorry Sonic 2006).

Remember: the order below is updated in real-time according to each game’s corresponding User Rating in the Nintendo Life game database. Even as you read this, it’s entirely possible to influence the ranking below. If you haven’t rated your favourites yet, simply click the ‘star’ of the game you wish to rate below and assign a score right now.

So, grab a chili dog and a companion from your ever more ragtag bunch of sidekicks, and let’s check out the best (and worst) Sonic games on Nintendo systems.


Please note: We’re only featuring Sonic platformers that have appeared on Nintendo platforms — be it as part of a collection or as an individual release — so you won’t find Knuckles Chaotix or Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure or anything that’s not a platform game (no Mean Bean Machine or Tails’ Skypatrol shmup action or Sonic Drift karting, then).

Also, the 8-bit Sonics that appeared on both Master System and Game Gear are only featured once below. And finally, Sonic Spinball — or Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball, to give the game its full and proper title — was an edge case, but we couldn’t bring ourselves to exclude it. If its presence offends you, just imagine it isn’t there and bump everything below it up one spot. Easy!

Okay, ready now? Prepare for some excellent Erinaceidae platforming. Just not straightaway…

Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric (Wii U)

Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric (Wii U)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Big Red Button

Release Date: 11th Nov 2014 (USA) / 21st Nov 2014 (UK/EU)
Sonic Labyrinth (GG)

Sonic Labyrinth (GG)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Minato Giken

Release Date: Nov 1995 (USA) / 10th May 2012 (UK/EU)
Sonic Blast (GG)

Sonic Blast (GG)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Aspect

Release Date: Nov 1996 (USA) / 14th Jun 2012 (UK/EU)
Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal (3DS)

Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal (3DS)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Sanzaru Games

Release Date: 11th Nov 2014 (USA) / 21st Nov 2014 (UK/EU)
Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii)

Sonic and the Secret Rings (Wii)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: SEGA Studio USA

Release Date: 20th Feb 2007 (USA) / 2nd Mar 2007 (UK/EU)
Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 (WiiWare)

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 (WiiWare)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Dimps

Release Date: 11th Oct 2010 (USA) / 15th Oct 2010 (UK/EU)
Shadow The Hedgehog (GCN)

Shadow The Hedgehog (GCN)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: SEGA Studio USA

Release Date: 15th Nov 2005 (USA) / 18th Nov 2005 (UK/EU)
Sonic 3D Blast (MD)

Sonic 3D Blast (MD)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Travellers Tales

Release Date: 19th Nov 2007 (USA) / 2nd Nov 2007 (UK/EU)
Sonic and the Black Knight (Wii)

Sonic and the Black Knight (Wii)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Sonic Team

Release Date: 10th Mar 2009 (USA) / 13th Mar 2009 (UK/EU)
Sonic Spinball (GG)

Sonic Spinball (GG)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: SEGA Technical Institute

Release Date: Sep 1994 (USA) / Aug 1994 (UK/EU)

Sonic Spinball in itself is a pretty decent spin-off title that showcased reasonably decent visuals and gameplay for the Genesis, but the Game Gear version undoubtedly suffers from the necessary downgrades to get the game running competently. Gameplay feels clunky and the music is a bit of a mess. Still, it’s not a terrible effort, all told.

Sonic Forces (Switch)

Sonic Forces (Switch)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Sonic Team

Release Date: 7th Nov 2017 (USA) / 7th Nov 2017 (UK/EU)

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