Sonic Games Ranking

Clearly the best, with expansive levels, elemental shields, more differences between the characters and much more.

Good levels, although it seems shorter than its counterpart Sonic 3. It's very similar, but adds Knuckles as a playable character. Sonic 3 & Knuckles really it's better than them separated, though.

This is definitely something special and unique. It also does challenge right, where all the sequels are a bit too easy.

Although it's good, I don't think it's as special as the ones above. Compared to the first, it added more variety (there are more stages, with only two acts each), the spindash and Super Sonic as an unlockable.

Very good and surprising and probably as good as Sonic 2. What it brought to the franchise is the drop-dash.

It's a good game, but not great. The Adventure Fields are a bad idea and the excessive automation kinda started here. But at least it's full 3D without 2D parts. Best levels: Lost World, Red Mountain.

A good game. I like the 3-character swap system. But Casino and Bingo levels ruin this, they're so bad. Best levels: Hang Castle, Lost Jungle, Power Plant, Egg Fleet.

A good game, but in an era where the games were even more automated (the boost formula). Generations is the best game in the boost formula. It's definitely the boost game with the most platforming, it even has platforming in 3D parts. Best levels: (the modern versions of:) Sky Sanctuary, Seaside Hill, Crisis City, Planet Wisp.

You only run in 3D and you only platform in 2D. It's more of a 2D game, but it's a good game. And unlike Generations, the levels are all new; and it doesn't pad the game with something other than good old Sonic, unlike many other 3D games. Also, the wisp powers are cool. Exception: Asteroid Coaster Act 1 - has 3D platforming.

A good follow-up to a mess. This one has great graphics and good gameplay and physics. It brought Tails back and special partnering moves. The levels are too derivative of the classics, but there are some neat gimmicks. And the homing attack and its annoying reticule should never feature in 2D Sonic games!

I like Sonic's levels, although none of them is as good as those on the first Adventure and the only good level is Crazy Gadget. I hate that we're forced to play with the other characters and their unwanted gameplay styles.

EXTREMELY automated in the day levels (except Dragon Road) and boring God of War clone at night.

Totally exclusive to the Game Gear, this is the best of the 8-bit Sonic games.

This third game is based on customizable combinations of two characters where the second character changes the parameters of the first one's moves and gives it a specific special move. Though physics seem to be a bit worse than the first game. Sonic loses speed too easily and gets out of ball mode too easily.

DIMPS 2D handheld Sonic games are sort of neat, but they're also in parts filled with unfair obstacles, DIMPS's level-designs are not up to the classics standards. Neither is their art style. How they use the side-characters is nice, though. And the physics are on point. This first one is certainly the most similar to the classics. It's also boring.

It's not fast. But not a bad game. The Director's Cut version released by Gamehut seems better.

This has bad level design. It also features a nice time-travel system that's ruined by the bad level design.

This had a lot of potential, the concept was awesome, but the execution was extremely bad.

This seems almost good. But way too automated and with too many gameplay styles. And the parkour system is an automated way to add something that should be physics-based. Sonic didn't need a system to parkour, it should happen automatically when he's too fast. I kinda like the idea, though.

A very serviceable 8-bit Sonic game.

Homing attack shouldn't feature in 2D Sonic games. Graphics are bad. Levels are too derivative of the classics. Physics are AWFUL.

Certainly the best of the Boom games.

DIMPS's level design is too automated in most games, but this practically plays itself. The excess of speed is too repetitive and simplistic. This game has a sort of boost mode you enter when you maintain speed and it's a great idea, much better than the actual boost of later games.

The Rivals games are about racing against another character to the end of the stages.

An on-rails Sonic game with an arthurian legends theme.

An on-rails Sonic game with arabian knights theme.

DIMPS added homing attack and boost to the 2D games. I hate it.

This seems to be the very worst of the boost games, with an EXTREMELY automated gameplay and very bland, simple level design.