Platform:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Publisher:
Sega
Developer:
Christian Whitehead, PagodaWest Games, Headcannon
Release:
<time datetime="2017-08-15T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">August 15, 2017</time>
Rating:
Everyone
Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog has long been one of the most recognizable names in gaming. Whether you're talking about multiple long-running comic series, the multitude of animated shows, or the recent live-action universe, it's hard not to know who Sonic the Hedgehog is. However, no matter his omnipresence in multimedia, Sega's mascot will always be known, first and foremost, for his gaming legacy.
The Blue Blur has had his shares of ups and downs, but when Sonic games are at their best, they rival the best the platforming genre has to offer. While Sonic has appeared in a ton of games, including extreme-sports spin-offs, kart racers, and even crossover titles with Nintendo's biggest stars, we're going to keep this list focused on the mainline entries in the series. Check out our ranking of the best mainline Sonic the Hedgehog games below, and let us know your thoughts and personal rankings in the comments section below!
17
Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
If you're ranking a list of games from worst to best and Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) is included, chances are it's going to be dead last. Sonic '06 was meant to celebrate the series' 15th anniversary, but instead of ringing in the milestone birthday, it nearly dashed away any remaining goodwill from Sonic's initial jump to 3D.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) is known for its glitches (of which there are many), but that's only part of the picture. A lifeless hub world doles out mundane and frustrating challenges before dumping you into half-baked stages that typically fail to deliver on any potential they seem to have. Players could potentially overlook those problems if the game played well or had a good story, but neither is the case. Sadly, what was supposed to be a next-gen showcase on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 instead became the poster child for when once-great franchises hit rock bottom.
For more on why Sonic '06 is so awful, check out the highlights from our Super Replay dedicated to playing through the entire game, or read this feature all about why the franchise took such a downturn in the mid-2000s.
16
Sonic and the Secret Rings
When Sonic Team learned the Wii was less powerful than PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, it split the team developing Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) to create a separate title called Sonic and the Secret Rings. This motion-controlled, on-rails entry features lower resolution visuals and less agency than the aforementioned 2006 title, but the curated level design works in its favor.
While Sonic and the Secret Rings clears the impossibly low bar of being better than Sonic '06, thanks to unintuitive controls, inconsistent mechanics, and an uncooperative camera, it is still near the bottom of our ranking of the mainline Sonic the Hedgehog titles.
15
Sonic the Hedgehog 4
In 2010, Sonic Team and Sega announced a multi-part retro-revival called Sonic the Hedgehog 4. The naming convention and 2D gameplay gave fans hope this would be the true successor they had been waiting for since the mid-'90s. However, once Episode I launched later that year, it was clear something was amiss.
In addition to a bland, watered-down 2.5D art style, the physics of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I are vastly inferior to the classic series it purports to continue. Episode II, which followed just under two years later, was seen as an improvement but still not worthy of being considered a part of the classic series of games. Sonic Team eventually abandoned plans for a climactic third entry.