How many Sonic the Hedgehog games are there?

In 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog hit the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis. The game – about a super-fast, cool blue hedgehog – proved to be a huge hit with gamers and became an instant classic.

Since the release of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic and his ever-expanding cast of characters have appeared in a succession of games – probably more than you recall. But what are all the Sonic the Hedgehog games?

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The Sonic the Hedgehog games in order

To date, there has been an exhaustive list of games featuring Sonic or Sonic-related characters (Robotnik, Tails, Knuckles etc). Games have appeared across all of the major consoles, as well in arcades, on mobile devices, and educational systems.

The Sonic the Hedgehog games which have been published since 1991 include:

• Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) – Console & Handheld editions
• Waku Waku Sonic Patrol Car (1991) – Arcade game
• Sonic Eraser (1991)
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) – Console & Handheld editions
• Sonic the Hedgehog CD (1993)
• Sonic Chaos (1993)
• Sonic the Hedgehog (1993) – The arcade game
• Sonic Spinball (1993)
• Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine (1993)
• SegaSonic Popcorn Shop (1993) – Arcade game
• Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994)
• Sonic & Knuckles (1994)
• Sonic: Triple Trouble (1994)
• Sonic Drift (1994)
• Sonic the Hedgehog’s Gameworld (1994)
• Tails and the Music Maker (1994)
• Sonic Drift 2 (aka Sonic Drift Racing) (1995)
• Knuckles’ Chaotix (1995)
• Tails Adventure (1995)
• Tails’ Skypatrol (1995)
• Sonic Labyrinth (1995)
• Sonic Blast (1996)
• Sonic 3D Blast (1996)
• Sonic the Fighters (aka Sonic Championship) (1996)
• Sonic’s Schoolhouse (1996)
• Sonic R (1997)
• Sonic Adventure (1998)
• Sonic Pocket Adventure (1999)
• Sonic Shuffle (2000)
• Sonic Adventure 2 (2001)
• Sonic Advance (2001)
• Sonic Tennis (2001)
• Sonic Advance 2 (2002)
• Sonic Golf (2002)
• Sonic Fishing (2002)
• Sonic Billiards (2002)
• Good Friend Chao! (2002)
• Sonic Bowling (2002)
• Sonic Heroes (2003)
• Sonic Pinball Party (2003)
• Sonic Battle (2003)
• Sonic Advance 3 (2004)
• Sega Superstars (2004)
• Sonic Rush (2005)
• Shadow the Hedgehog (2005)
• Sonic Jump (2005)
• Sonic X (2005)
• Sonic Riders (2006)
• Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
• Sonic Rivals (2006)
• Sonic Speed DX (2006)
• Sonic Rush Adventure (2007)
• Sonic and the Secret Rings (2007)
• Sonic Rivals 2 (2007)
• Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (2007)
• Sonic’s Casino Poker (2007)
• Sonic Unleashed (2008)
• Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity (2008)
• Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (2008)
• Sega Superstars Tennis (2008)
• Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)
• Sonic Jump 2 (2008)
• Sonic the Hedgehog (2008)
• Sonic and the Black Knight (2009)
• Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games (2009)
• Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I (2010)
• Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing (2010)
• Sonic Free Riders (2010)
• Sonic Colors (2010)
• Sonic Generations (2011)
• Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (2011)
• Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II (2012)
• Sonic All-Stars Racing Transformed (2012)
• Sonic Lost World (2013)
• Sonic Dash (2013)
• Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games (2013)
• Sonic Athletics (2013) – Arcade game
• Sonic Boom: Riser of Lyric (2014)
• Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal (2014)
• Sonic Jump Fever (2014)
• Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U (2014)
• Sonic Dash 2: Sonic Boom (2015)
• Sonic Runners (2015)
• Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice (2016)
• Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (2016)
• Sonic Mania (2017)
• Sonic Forces (2017)
• Sonic Runners Adventure (2017)
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018)
• Team Sonic Racing (2019)
• Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (2019)
• Sonic Origins (2022)
• Sonic Frontiers (2022)
• Sonic Speed Simulator (2022)
• The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog (2023)
• Sonic Superstars (2023)

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Pretty crazy, right? Sonic and his friends have appeared in new games continuously since 1991.

Some of the Sonic games have also been re-released via compilation titles which collect together multiple games on one disc (Sonic Mega Collection, Sonic PC Collection etc).

One of these compilations is the Sega Mega Drive Classics collection for PS4, which includes five Sonic games (Sonic, Sonic 2, Sonic Spinball, Sonic 3D Blast and Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine).

Sega Mega Drive Classics is available from all good gaming stores, including Amazon UK.

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Disclaimer: I earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

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I hope this information about the Sonic the Hedgehog game series has proved useful. Should you wish to know more about other gaming characters, please check out one of the recommended reads below.