The 6 Best Sonic Games on PS5, Ranked

If you're a Sonic fan or want to get into the Sonic series, PlayStation 5 isn't the best platform. Due to the PS3's lack of backwards compatibility, you won't be able to play Sonic Adventure 1, 2, or Sonic Unleashed, which are all playable on Xbox Series X|S.

Thankfully, there have been a number of great Sonic games made on PS5 recently, helping Sonic fans play older titles as well as new Sonic installments. Since Sonic was a Nintendo exclusive in the early 8th generation, it still doesn't have much to offer, but there are quite a few amazing games to play.

6

sonic mania

Definitely a top 5 Sonic game

People who create fan games are often pushed out of business, but Christian Whitehead is one of those rare success stories. The creator of numerous critically acclaimed Sonic fan games, he developed the amazing iOS ports of Sonic 1 and 2 and then helmed Sonic Mania, the best Sonic game in 15 years.

Comparing the levels presented here to classic games is truly amazing and shows the evolution of the fan gaming community. It feels very similar to Doom 2 in that the community-created levels are much better than the base maps. Among the 2D Sonic games, only Sonic 2 can compete in terms of quality. That's because the levels are so well designed and smooth to play.

5

sonic origins

Classic games are back and better than ever.

It's surprising that the best ports of Sonic 1 and 2 were on the iPhone for so long. Thankfully, Sonic Origins addressed this issue, although not at first. Sonic Origin's release was a mixed bag with many issues, but the game has since been patched and it's the best way to experience this classic title.

It has most of the quality of life features you'd expect from a remaster like this, with the exception of a rewind option. There's also a pretty cool mission mode, and if you want some more traditional Sonic goodness, more of the game is available as DLC.

4

sonic frontier

An open world sonic game that breaks the mold

Open world Sonic games can be disasters, but Sonic Frontiers not only offers a fun and thrilling experience, but it also has a very unique open world design. First of all, movement feels good, which is without a doubt the most important aspect of a Sonic game. A point of contention for critics is the open world design.

Yes, it feels like a toy playset, but it's a lot of fun to progress through and the game doesn't encourage you to collect everything. You don't need items close to 100% to get the Platinum Trophy, which keeps the game progressing quickly and smoothly. Unfortunately, the actual levels are simply reused from other 3D Sonic games, which is a bit disappointing. But overall, Sonic Frontiers is a very good 3D Sonic entry.

3

Sonic Colors: Ultimate

No longer a Nintendo exclusive

Sonic Colors is arguably one of the best 3D Sonic games in existence, but it hasn't been a crime on the Wii for long. This Ultimate version was released on the latest consoles and does the job in most cases. The game is still fun due to its amazing movement and level design.

There's also some cool cosmetic DLC to play with, and like Sonic Origins, most issues have been patched out at launch. Sega has also added an original soundtrack option, a highly requested feature. There are still some minor audio and gameplay bugs that may disappoint speedrunners, but everyone else will have a great time.

2

sonic superstar

A solid multiplayer Sonic title

After Sonic Frontiers, the next Sonic game went back to its 2D roots with Sonic Superstars. What made this game special was the multiplayer. This was actually a feature dating back to Sonic 2, but Superstars enhanced it like never before.

You can play through the entire campaign with up to four players locally, making it a really fun multiplayer title. Playing as a single player can be a bit boring, so having a friend here makes the experience much better, just like Super Mario 3D World.

1

Sonic

The best Sonic games you can play on PS5

Sonic Generations is without a doubt the best 3D Sonic game and a title that would be in the top three of the best Sonic games overall. It's a little short, but it's a lot of fun, and with the help of online leaderboards, it has the best levels the series has ever had, so you can keep playing to beat your friends.

This remaster introduces an entirely new campaign centered around characters who deserve to see our screens. In addition to Sonic Generations, Shadow Generations are also available, adding six new stages to the experience. The new levels are really great, the standout being Sonic 06's best stage, Kingdom Valley.