On June 23, 1991, Sega’s superfast mascot ran onto the Genesis console. And from that point forward, gamers fell in love with the “Blue Blur” as he transcended the realm of gaming and became a mainstream cultural icon.
Sonic the Hedgehog entered the scene as a clear rival to Nintendo’s Mario and gained a massive fanbase of his own due to his spunky attitude, fast-paced gameplay focus, and instantly recognizable design. Sonic has gone from moving from left to right on a 2D plane to exploring wide-open environments within evolutionary 3D experiences.
While everyone’s favorite hedgehog has dipped his toes into activities other than platforming adventures, he’s most known for running, jumping, and making every attempt to foil Dr. Eggman’s evil plans. The highs have definitely been high for Sonic and the lows have most certainly been low. But through it all, the Sonic the Hedgehog brand has continued to stay strong and produce batches of new content and merchandise for new & old fans alike.
We’d like to commemorate our guy Sonic by taking a look at the very best platforming games he’s been featured in. The following 16 titles are the very best of Sonic’s long-lasting career.