Since 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog has remained one of the most beloved franchises in gaming, filling players with his fast gameplay, colorful worlds, and memorable characters. The years have brought many highs and just as many lows to Sonic, with series titles running the gamut from the iconic to the infamous. Going into 2024, the franchise keeps going on, trending between nostalgia and innovation for fans. Here are the top three stand-out Sonic games in 2024, plus two honorable mentions that are worth mentioning.
Sonic Mania
Release Date: August 15, 2017
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Sonic Mania has been continuously referred to as a gold standard for recent Sonic the Hedgehog games. A game developed by a team of die-hard fans, it brings in most assuredly all that was great with the classic Sonic titles of yesteryear. Taking the best from the original trilogy and combining them with modern ideas makes it feel quite new yet amazingly nostalgic.
Sonic Mania sports 2D-pixel art that is, quite frankly, a love letter to the Sega Genesis era, with smooth animations and bright, popping colors. Level design is top-notch, housing a mix of remastered classic stages like Green Hill Zone and entirely new zones like Studiopolis. The gameplay is fast, fluid, and responsive, making it an utter joy to play for both newcomers and longtime fans alike.
Additional features include multiple playable characters, such as Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, each with his special moves. The soundtrack, created by Tee Lopes, is a work of genius that perfectly fits in with the gameplay of the title. Sonic Mania can be described as a love letter to Sonic the Hedgehog franchise fans and the perfect example of how revivals must be made.
Sonic Frontiers
Release Date: November 8, 2022
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Sonic Frontiers is a new direction for the series. Gone is the linearity of previous games or even its level-based structure in favor of the open world that this game introduces. For sure, this keeps you more on your own, exploring and going through challenges at your own pace.
Sonic Frontiers takes place across five large islands, each fusing the patented spunk of its classic platformers with a new openness. Dashing across wide landscapes, puzzle-solving, and/or taking on enemies in real-time combat-all that and more. Additionally, there are “Cyber Space” levels, which offer up a far more traditional Sonic through fast-paced and linear stages.
Where Sonic Frontiers differs is in the much more mature tale it weaves, with the deeper development of its characters and more profound moments emotionally. The supersonic hedgehog needs to save his friends from some sort of mysterious digital world and find the secrets of the ancient islands he will explore.
Sonic Frontiers easily pulls off a modernization of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise without sacrificing its core identity, making it one of the best Sonic games to date.
Sonic Generations
Release Date: November 1, 2011
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Nintendo 3DS
Sonic Generations celebrates all that is loved about Sonic by fans. It launched to celebrate the franchise’s 20th anniversary and features classic 2D side-scrolling gameplay alongside modern 3D action. Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic must join forces to save the world from a new threat.
Individual levels in Sonic Generations are an act of reimagining the most legendary stages from past Sonic games, right from the classic Green Hill Zone to the more modern City Escape. The game nails the right balance between nostalgia and innovation by offering old-school fans a reason to smile while giving them a chance to share in the fun.
Controls are tight, graphics are great, and the soundtrack is simply fantastic, featuring an amazing mix of both remixed and original tracks. Sonic Generations represents both the old and new eras of Sonic the Hedgehog in their finest way and is worth playing by anyone who loves the franchise.
Honorable Mentions
Sonic Colors: Ultimate
Release Date: September 7, 2021
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
First launched in 2010 on the Wii, Sonic Colors quickly gained traction with fans of Sonic the Hedgehog for just how colorful the action was, yet fresh the gameplay mechanics were. This remastered version of Sonic Colors entitled Sonic Colors: Ultimate brings this title to modern platforms with upgraded graphics, better controls, and newer features for the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.
This game was unique due to its “Wisps” system, whereby Sonic took many forms; a laser beam to shoot through a stage or even dig into the ground. The stages were cleverly designed, and with the light-heartedness of the game, combined with the great soundtrack, it just made for an overall nice thing to do. Bound to be a must-play by modern Sonic game fans: Sonic Colors: Ultimate.
Sonic Adventure 2
Release Date: June 19, 2001
Platforms: Dreamcast, GameCube, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
Sonic Adventure 2 retains its status as one of the more well-liked titles in the Sonic the Hedgehog series for its varied gameplay, engaging storyline, and catchier soundtrack. The game had two storylines—Hero and Dark—where one can play as Sonic, Shadow, and Knuckles, among many others.
Then, of course, there’s the virtual pet simulation known as the Chao Garden- the feature instantly loved and gave this game much more depth. If argued by today’s standards, some of the gameplay mechanics can feel a little dated; nevertheless, Sonic Adventure 2 remains special for many of its fans and is still worth revisiting.
Conclusion
Sonic the Hedgehog has remained a cornerstone in gaming, and at the beginning of 2024, that fact still holds strong. From the retro-nostalgic thrill of Sonic Mania to the bold new direction of Sonic Frontiers, there is a Sonic to suit every different type of player. Sonic Generations acts as a bridge between old and new and provides a great celebration of the series’ legacy. Everything else, like Sonic Colors: Ultimate and Sonic Adventure 2, at least holds some merit on their terms. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just beginning, these will be the best games of Sonic the Hedgehog going into 2024.
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