Sonic the Hedgehoghas had a massive resurgence in the past few years. From being the Sega Genesis’s mascot to becoming a multiplatform mess, Sonic eventually crawled his way back into the limelight. Now with hit new games that take Sonic back to his glory days and three whole movies to spread the popularity of the blue hedgehog, Sonic is back on top.
So which Sonic games are the most underrated and deserve just a bit more love? There are many of them from Sonic’s dark age, but also a few you might not have heard of. These are the ten most underrated Sonic the Hedgehog Games.
While Mario could easily hit any demographic, Sonic Lost World came out during a time when Sonic’s tone and humor felt mostlygeared toward little kids. This can be a turn-off for many older gamers. However, looking past that, Sonic Lost World is not as bad as it seems.
The gameplay is quite good and swaps between the traditional Sonic level design and 3D Mario Galaxy-like spaces where Sonic can run unimpeded. The game also features elements of parkour, which is a nice twist for a Sonic title.
9Knuckles' Chaotix
An Underrated Classic
Knuckles Chaotix is an often-forgotten Sonic title, but one that deserves a little more love and recognition. It plays very similarly to the classic Sonic gameplay, with the major differences being the characters and how the game utilizes co-op play.
Characters are tied to each other as you run through levels, which allows players to rubber-band themselves in a variety of different situations. Each character also has their own separate abilities which can be useful for getting through the levels, such as wall climbing, gliding, and hovering.
The Sonic fandom is full of Sonic OCs. Sonic Forces lets you put a character of your own creation straight in the middle of the action. It also features a variety of levels that hop between the classic era of Sonic and the modern 3D renditions.
Sonic Forces might not have pushed the franchise in any new direction. However, it does take inspiration from many past titles when it comes to level design. This alone makes this game a bit ofa nostalgia tripand an enjoyable experience.
7Tails Adventure
Tails Gets A Spinoff
Sonic games are all about going fast. So, naturally, games in the franchise that don’t allow you to speed up like normal are bound to fall between the cracks. Tail’s Adventure is a spinoff that focuses on Sonic’s sidekick and best friend in a much slower platforming game.
Tails can use his signature hovering ability and throw bombs as he walks through different platforming levels. He can even use small robots to crawl into small spaces and scout ahead. Some levels require the use of a ship to tunnel or travel through water.
One game that is both underrated and hasa cult followingis Shadow the Hedgehog. How do you make a Sonic game more mature? Add guns and make the main character a brooding anti-hero who can’t remember his past.
While this is a massive 180 for the franchise, the gameplay is solid and the replay value is through the roof. Shadow is also just one of Sonic’s coolest rivals and, if you want to see his origin, then it’s a game that just can’t be skipped.
5Sonic And The Black Knight
Sonic Hits The Dark Ages
Speaking of titles that change Sonic’s entire tone and setting, Sonic and The Black Knight swap out the Green Hill Zone for a medieval world. This time, players need to run across the world while swinging their swords to take down enemies.
The game had mixed reviews on release, with the Wii Mote being described as having a delayed response. At times, it feels like a proper Sonic game, other times it feels like an RPG without the RPG elements, so check it out if you enjoy medieval settings.
When you think of Sonic and fighting games, the first thing that might pop to mind is his inclusion in Super Smash Brothers. However, Sonic had his own dedicated fighting game back in mid-90s arcades that later got ported to consoles.
Sonic: The Fighters features familiar characters and new foes who come together to hold a fighting tournament. This is to determine who will fight Eggman and be the hero of the day; while not an intricate fighting game, it is a nice novelty for any hardcore Sonic Fan.
Sonic and the Secret Rings is another forgotten and underrated game from Sonic’s dark age. It’s not particularly groundbreaking, though it does take advantage of the Wii Mote for movement across the levels. It is also one of the better-looking titles on the Wii.
The game’s sole playable character is Sonic after he is transported to the world of the Arabian Nights, and the game is also somewhat grungier than it is colorful. Regardless, if you enjoy seeing Sonic out of his element, then it might be worth at least one playthrough.
What if Sonic turned into a werewolf? If that’s your number one fanfic, then Sonic Unleashed makes it canon, as the game splits the experience into two separate categories. The more traditional speed-based Sonic during the day, and a more combat-focused experience during the night.
As a werewolf (or werehog), Sonic must fight against waves of enemies in slower, combat-focused levels. Werehog levels also feature elements of puzzle-solving to shake up the gameplay a little. It’s an underrated title, but if you want to see Sonic fighting instead of running, it can be a nice change of pace.
Sonic 06 has a rather shaky history; at the time of release, it pushed Sonic towards a whole new generation of gamers. Cutscenes were beautifully rendered, making it seem like something out of Final Fantasy; despite this, it was received with a lukewarm response.
Loading screens are too slow when players just want to go fast. Characters like Elise and Silver were initially hated, but Sonic 06 is still a piece of Sonic history that can’t be ignored and a unique experience if you want to see a major turning point in the franchise.
