Sonic Mania

A Amazing sonic game, Its what all fans have been waiting for many years. best classic 2d sonic game, great music, fun speedy gameplay. This game brings me back 20 years the nostalgia! 10/10

Give me 4 hours to beat sonic mania, and I will spend the first 3 masturbating to knuckles. 10/10 game (best 2d sonic game)

If you like sonic, then this game is for you. Sonic mania combines all four classic sonic games and makes it something amazing. They even add some custom levels to the game that appear nowhere else. if you like sonic and you have the money, GET THIS GAME.

I adore this game. The sprites are wonderful,the music is catchy and stylish to the point you just want to sit and listen,the levels (most of them) are so well thought out and are very very fun. There is just a few problems that make this game a headache despite it possibly being the best 2D sonic game.

The bosses are terrible. Mostly all of them. On top of that if you run out of lives at ACT 2 you have to go ALL the way back through ACT 1 and do EVERYTHING again. Its so infuriating. Losing all your progress because of one missed jump,or no rings,or wonky physics that killed you even tho you know what you are doing. The special stages are also horrendous. Every blue sphere stage is hell,and my only problem with the chaos Emerald stages is that if you fail that gate is closed. Permanently.

The cons while being minor in scope compared to the onslaught of pros,are just too jarring and un-fun for me to brush aside. As much as i would recommend this game whole heartedly,at the same time I cant. The game is fun,the game and DLC are worth the price. But finishing the game is way to hard and unforgiving. It may be a skill issue I will admit. I just do not want to feel that I am being majorly punished for one mistake.

TLDR: The game is super fun until it is not.

Funny how one of the best Sonic games made recently was by fans but it pretty damm amazing!

For one time in his existence, Sonic did something right. Is it an amazing game? Not really. But it does the most right of any Sonic game. This is the only Sonic game I'd recommend to people. There is gorgeous spritework with fluid animations everywhere. The colors are beautiful, and the new stages look the best fantastic. Most of this plays like a greatest hits album, and that does get annoying. But the stages are mostly well designed and the music remixes are incredible. This is the best Sonic and his crew have played. The drop dash is simple, but very effective. There are still annoying things in the gameplay. Sonic by nature is always going to be awful. He slams into walls you can't react to in time. Crushers kill you instantly, and make up for the majority of unfair deaths. This happens in the classic Sonic games too, it just happens the least here.

This is the best execution of a broken formula. If you love the classic games, this is a must by. For everyone else, stay cautiously optimistic.

This game is really fun with really good pixel art. You can play as Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles and tackle old and new stages.

[h1]If I had to describe Sonic Mania in one word, it would be POLISHED.[h1]

Sonic games often struggle with consistency and refinement, but Sonic Mania stands apart, delivering an experience free of such issues. Perhaps this is because Sonic Team only published the game instead of developing it—but one thing is certain: the low price tag is no cause for concern. At just £15, you get a beautifully polished, several-hour adventure that feels like an absolute steal.
Replayability is another huge win for Sonic Mania. With five playable characters (including DLC), the game offers countless ways to enjoy its diverse levels. Each character has its own distinct playstyle, adding layers of variety to the gameplay. Sonic’s iconic speed and ability to use the Drop Dash make him perfect for blitzing through stages. Tails brings a more exploration-focused approach, allowing players to reach hidden areas and alternate routes by flying. Knuckles excels at traversing the environment with his climbing abilities and gliding, opening up entirely new paths that other characters can’t access. Mighty the Armadillo’s ground-pound ability makes him ideal for breaking barriers and taking shortcuts, while Ray the Flying Squirrel’s gliding mechanics add a unique touch to navigation, making him rewarding for skilled players.
The temptation of the DLC, priced at just £5, feels almost impossible to resist. It expands the roster with Mighty and Ray, bringing fresh ways to replay the levels. In addition, it introduces the Encore Mode, which remixes the existing levels with new colors and layouts for a fresh experience. It’s a cheap add-on that significantly enhances the game’s replayability and makes an already affordable game feel even more generous.
That said, Sonic Mania isn’t without its drawbacks. While the level design shines, only four zones are entirely new—Studiopolis, Mirage Saloon, Press Garden, and Titanic Monarch—while the rest are reimagined classics from previous games. For players seeking a completely fresh experience, this heavy reliance on nostalgia might feel limiting. Additionally, some might argue that the game could have benefitted from more original stages to balance out the recycled ones.
Another downside is tied to achievement hunting. If you’re aiming to complete achievements, especially the ones tied to Blue Spheres stages, you might find it slow and frustrating. Blue Spheres isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, with its repetitive mechanics and high precision demands. For players who only got the game for achievement hunting and aren’t particularly fond of Blue Spheres, this aspect might feel more like a chore than a joy.
Taking everything into account, Sonic Mania earns an 8/10. Its high points, like the polished gameplay, distinct character playstyles, replayability, and affordable DLC, more than outweigh the negatives. However, it’s fair to say that the recycled stages and tedious achievement system hold it back from being a perfect experience. It’s a fantastic homage to classic Sonic fans while leaving room for improvement in future titles.

this may be the peak of 2d sonic witch allows you to go fast and stay fast. the visuals are amazing the bosses especialy (metal) and not to mention the music is fire. btw if you want debug mode when sonic appears on the tital screen press up arrow twice, down arrow twice, up arrow 4 times before it says press to start. but overall a geniuly amazing game to this day

This brought back a lot of nostalgia for me. I remember playing the Sonic games on the Gamegear during the 1990s. The maze-like layout of the zones took a while to navigate but that's half the fun of the Sonic games. The boss fights were largely fun also, though some of them were tricky to defeat. The music is on par with the original games. Sonic games have always been about impeccable timing when it comes to jumping at fast speeds but this game is forgiving as there is usually multiple ways to keep progressing. I don't play these games to set records but if you do, there is a lot of game here to master.

great its like sonic 1 2 and sonic 3 and knuckles mashed together and remastered

Classic sonic with new sprited flare, what's not to love? However, I wish they would release a sequel. Or just more 2D classic Sonic content, I love it, and always will.

amazing game but to whoever made that eggman spider boss on the airship level i hope you fall down a flight of stairs like i talking Stairway To Heaven on Tianmen Mountain type of stairs

Good Game, Too bad that the game hates Dualshock 4s and DualSenses (and Steam Input wont help) as if the games sees anything other then an Xbox controller it will crash. Programs like DS4Windows wont help either.

check your epic account you might already have it, as it was free that one time.

Fun but very hard, But I love all the nods to the older games and the game is really fucking fun! I would 100% say you should buy this game!

Why does it look like Mario and Luigi are holding up the game's logo?

And now you can't unsee it.

Its a great re-visit to the sonic era on sega mega drive, nicely restored to modern age. great vibes, great music. good replay value with 2 different modes and 5 different characters.

A faithful imitation of classic Sonic. Although some people exaggerate how much of a masterpiece, it is still a very good game.

Sonic Mania, what a great game. Everyone that is a Sonic fan will tell you how great it is, and it has always been seen right along side with the OG 4 (Or 5 however you look at it) and I think it does in deed need to be right along side with the originals, this game has such great gameplay, music, levels, even the one thing I once did not like doing in ANY Sonic game, is one the best part of Sonic games, getting those Chaos Emeralds, but was overall fun to get. You could tell this was made with love. The art itself is so amazing, going from 16 to 32-bit was most certainly the right move for this game.

This game isnt the greatest of course, the Super Sonic fight wasnt the greatest, just too little going on and how there isnt that much rings spawning, but it is probably right alongside with the best Sonic games. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone if I could, so please if you feel like you may enjoy this game. You will.
But if you want me to give my personal rating: 9/10.

Have a great day and or night and enjoy!

An amazing homage to classic sonic in its finest 16-bit entries, with a modern twist and quality of life improvements. Truly one of many masterpieces by Christian Whitehead, recommended 100% for anyone who enjoyed classic sonic on the mega drive/genesis.

game green hill zone music old school fun game Sonic the hedgehog 1 2 3 k Cd metal sonic i in have fun game + good

What's not to love about this game?

The music, the visuals, the gameplay. Great game!

If you want the definitive way to sonic mania, go with sonic mania addendum with RSDKv5 1.0.0 (Because the later version of RSDKv5 Breaks the game when sonic mania addendum mod is on/Sonic mania addendum game.dll is inserted)

good simple sonic game with some fun segments and fun bosses and levels

I've loved Sonic Mania since the day of release, it was very fun to play on console and now I've been getting back to it since of how simple and fun it is!

Its SOO fun! So many levels and paths, the variety of characters is just amazing! Not only that, but if you get board you can even download MODS, which is really crazy; oh and theres super sonic? Which the special stages are AMAZING, i love the game options and extras, their so cool! And i could speak so much more! But i am way to lazy no matter how good the game lol, but last thing is i love the music! You need to buy it! And get the DLC.

It's fun. Idk y everyones dogging on it its a fun game. Idc if the levels aren't entirely true to the original games, its still fun.

Could replay this game a bazillion times and always find something new. It's an absolute blast, and has amazing soundtrack and gorgeous visuals!

6 hours isn't a lot, and i've had this game for years upon years for some reason. sonic mania has good music, a nice art style and the controls are simple enough for a baby to play, but yet i can't recommend because it's so frustrating. this was the first 2d sonic game i've ever played and every time i launch it to play i just immediately close it again because this game is ridiculously unfair for new players. not recommended if you're new

*SEGA Proudly Presents..*

This is what stuck out to me from the announcement trailer for Sonic Mania, you really don't see them make statements like this anymore. So how did the game turn out? If you're still asking that after all this time then I have to wonder what you're on but I'll bite.

Sonic Mania is AMAZING! It is a game SEGA and the wonderful team that brought to life should definitely be proud of. The pixel art presentation and soundtracks are sublime, the levels are vibrant, varied and well designed, the gamplay is impeccable and flows incredibly well with some neat additions sprinkled in between. Frankly speaking if you love classic 2D sonic games you will love this.

My only complaints are that there's a lot of classic levels from older games and a lot of brand new originals, I wish there were more of the latter cause they were great to traverse through that doesn't mean that the classics were bad by any means just that we've already played through Green Hills and Chemical Plants and what not, let us get more new stuff. And another complaint is how SEGA had the perfect blue print for a Sonic game and has been sitting on it for the past 7 YEARS! Truly baffling.

But yeah, give this game a go. Definitely recommended & Knuckles.

A fun take on the sonic 2d games. This game was made with passion and love and it really shows by the gameplay and quality standards which can lead to serious addiction ( i have 110+ hrs in this game)
while for this time of year games are expensive this game is for 20$ and for that money you get co-op,
4 characters, 3 add ons to sonic, 12 butefily made levels some good extra challanges and a bunch of secrets.
There is also a plus version for extra 5$ but gives 2 new character and a whole new gamemode so yeah buy the game 9.5 out of then wish they added 1 more original level because they are incredible.

I don't understand why it has become so hard for SEGA and Sonic Team to make a good 2D sonic game. Sonic Mania shows how it can be done, offering the company a perfect blueprint. The controls are responsive, the game worlds are vibrant and beautiful to look at, the level design offers so many different routes that boos replayability. And the pixel art aesthethic is a thousand times more pleasant to look at than all the 3D models that they usually use for 2D games nowadays.

If you loved the 2D Sonic games as a kid, you are going to love this game as well, simple as that. Now let's hope that SEGA understands this as well and we will eventually get more Sonic games like this one.

I don't give a shit what anyone has to say. Sonic Mania is clearly the real Sonic 4, unlike that said game when it made a mockery of the classics. This game, however, effectively revitalized the classics. Not only did they balance nostalgia with innovation, but they also incorporated creative mechanics.

The graphics are outstanding, the soundtrack straight-up slaps, and the level designs were done correctly. Although 2/3 of the stages returned, they were rather innovative with their respective gimmicks. However, the other 1/3 of the stages, as well as the special stages are original. The bosses took a creative turn, so did Blue Spheres, as optional bonus stages.

This game is the personification of how fans do it better than Sega and Sonic Team. Also, this game is much cheaper and better than Sonic Superstars.

Peak Sonic game, great level design, and amazing range of characters with different play styles.

This game is amazing. First off, the graphics are stunning but the animations take it from being gorgeous to looking like a straight up masterpiece. Every movement, every action, is so meticulously thought out. There are animations for things and interactions that you wouldn't even be looking at on your screen. Every time I play this game it's like a little game within the game to see if I can notice all the tiny details happening around me. The way the sun rises in mirage saloon zone, and it changes all the colors of the enemies. The way the enemies get more sad as you progressively knock off more of their defences in studiopolis zone and the boss has these cartoony eyes when you hit the rockets back at him.

Tails' fur will move with the wind, Sonic's shoes make a little "err" sound when you turn suddenly, the sign will wink at you at the end of a level. The clouds in the background of green hill zone scroll and move naturally like the waterfalls the way they did in Japanese Sonic 1. All these little interactions in aren't unique to this game at all but it's the culmination of them and their specifici intentional utility that makes the game SO effective at pulling you in. I beat this game four times now. Once on switch, once on Xbox, and then twice on the steam deck as of making this review. The game only got better the more I played it, and then one day I realized I'm actually an IDIOT and I was playing the game wrong my whole life. Maybe I was even playing games in general wrong.

I put my headphones in, booted up the game, and suddenly I was transported to the fourth dimension. The music in this game keeps one-upping itself. It's as if the musicians that made it were best friends having a contest with each other. First the menu music is awesome and you don't even want to go to the save select because you want to keep hearing it for the rest of your life. But whoops look who's feeling stupid now, the save screen has even better jams, then eventually after fifteen minutes you start playing the actual game and you're like "damn, it can't get better than this" until act 2 happens and then you're like "damn how could I be so wrong" and that just KEEPS happening, back to back to back to back. Every time I was playing I thought "well maybe I don't wanna do the special stage cause it interrupts the flow of the level and also the music in this level was great" and then I go into the special stage and when it's over I'm like "that's it? I wanted to live there!".

It's a game that acts like it INVENTED fun. The only thing that could possibly be more charming than this is if sonic himself came to real life and told me he was proud of me. Everything has a reason in this game, the way the little worm guy becomes a sand worm in mirage saloon zone, the way you see sonic run so fast he makes it onto the news at the end of garden print zone. Sonic does that little thing like in Super Mario Bros. when he looks at the screen with his arms up after he dies. This game is so good it almost tricks me into liking chemical plant zone.

You could tell the developers loved what they were making and more importantly you could tell they love video games as a whole. I haven't even told you about encore mode. Or the mode where you play as knuckles WITH knuckles. Or the debug menu just letting you spawn in wherever the heck you want. You can fly! This game is fun even when you're bad at it. Please play this game if you haven't already.

Amazing Classic Sonic game. Tee Lopes knocked it out of the park with the music. Sega should hire fans more often! Just really wish it was all new Zones instead of mostly just reusing old ones.

INCRÍVEL, é a palavra que define esse jogo, Gameplay incrível, história simples e fácil de entender, Art Style M A R A V I L H O S O, músicas excelentes, facilmente um dos melhores jogos da franquia.

Gameplay:10

Músicas:10

Level Design:9/10

História:9/10

Fator Replay:7/10

Polimento a Bugs:10/10

Literally the best sonic game. Not just the best 2D one, but all of them. I hate the blue sphere stages though.

sonic mania is one of the best 2d games i've played. but the special level medals wont save

A Triumphant Return to Form

Sonic Mania is a vibrant, nostalgic blast from the past that expertly blends classic 2D platforming with modern design sensibilities. The game is a true love letter to longtime fans, delivering polished pixel art, impeccably responsive controls, and an infectious soundtrack that makes every level pulse with energy. From its fast-paced, fluid gameplay to the cleverly designed secret routes and bonus stages, Sonic Mania is a masterclass in level design that manages to capture the spirit of the original Sonic titles while adding fresh challenges for new players.

Every zone is brimming with character—from the dazzling visuals to the dynamic environments that keep you constantly on your toes. The return of fan-favorite characters and the introduction of new ones only heighten the experience, proving that Sonic’s legacy is as powerful as ever. Sonic Mania isn’t just a game—it’s an exhilarating journey that revitalizes the magic of classic Sonic adventures, reminding us why this franchise has been beloved for decades.

Overall: Sonic Mania is an absolute must-play that expertly combines nostalgia with innovative gameplay, delivering a joyous and timeless experience for both veterans and newcomers alike.

How good is this game? I pirated it and came back to purchase it. I am also planning to get all the achievements.

It's very fun and moddable, plus I have wayyyy too many hours in this game on my ps4

A good game for classic Sonic enjoyers, amazing game and would recommend.

Objectively good if you enjoy classic 2D sonic

personally I would have liked some more modern QoL but I guess that wasn't really the intention

generally just a fun classic time

Even tho the game is 8 years old, Sonic Mania is still one of the best 2D sonic game tbh, the ost is great, the level design for the new zones is like it was made in the genesis/megadrive games and dear god the sprites are amazing!.

The best Classic Sonic experience hands-down, especially when it comes to the modding scene.

It's probably one of the best classic games, it adds the dropdash, and it's just downright incredible.

Sonic Mania is a platformer that I find absolutely bursting with personality and life (duh). The levels allow a sense of speed if you're able to keep up (except for Mirage Saloon), which really adds to the feel of "this is a Sonic game." Even for its age it still holds up nearly 9 years later. The Encore DLC adds a notable amount of twist onto the base game, with Mighty and Ray both adding a nice addition to the base movement. 9/10.

Its fun small game if you like classic sonic games, when you get bored of it, remember, there are good mods to play!