Summary
Sonic has become one of gaming’s most recognizable and iconic mascots ever since he first debuted on the Sega Genesis in 1991. Since then, there have been a plethora of excellentSonicgames that fans have fallen in love with, alongside a few that, despite being hotly anticipated, never quite reached the same quality as some of the classics.
Somewhere in between the two are titles that, for one reason or another, have been almost completely forgotten about. In the case of theSonicseries, this has usually been due to a game releasing on the wrong system at the wrong time, but it can also be because they are overshadowed by a bigger release, or they weren’t worth remembering because of their lackluster quality. Here are theSonicgames which have seemed to have faded into obscurity over time, along with some information on how they play, and whether they are worth returning to for fans of the series.
Updated Jun 13, 2025 by Nadia Grace Mullings:Being one of the longest-running video game franchises ever,Sonic the Hedgehoghas had a large number of games in its library. From the nostalgic classic trilogy to the beloved Sonic Adventure duology and the most recent remasters, many Sonic games are beloved among fans for a variety of reasons. The franchise also has several spin-offs.
That said, many Sonic games have fallen by the wayside over the years, slowly becoming forgotten about and fading into obscurity. Whether they were a Japan-exclusive release or a mobile game, theseforgotten Sonic gamesare rarely mentioned and discussed among the fan base.
1SegaSonic Cosmo Fighter
Sonic’s Version Of Space Invaders
One of the most obscure and thus forgotten Sonic games isSegaSonic Cosmo Fighter. It was an arcade cabinet game for children, who were tasked with helping Sonic save as many animals as possible from Dr. Eggman in space!
As an early idea of the ranking system present in many Sonic games,SegaSonic Cosmo Fighterwould give players who completed the game a score from one to five stars, which depended on how many of Eggman’s targets they shot. The game did get a release in English but was very limited.
2Sonic The Hedgehog’s Gameworld
A Sonic Game For Young Children
A little-known title isSonic the Hedgehog’s Gameworld, released on the equally little-known Sega Pico. The Pico was solely designed for young children, and its games aimed at introducing children to video games but with an educational aspect.
Players could choose to play as either Sonic, Tails, or Amy and take on a series of minigames, eventually facing off against Dr. Eggman himself in a quest to obtain the Chaos Emeralds. Players could also play against one another in two-player mode. This game didn’t receive a PAL release but only in Japan and the US.
3SegaSonic Popcorn Shop
A Title Little Known, With A Tasty Twist
This highly unique Sonic game was exclusive to Japan, and as its name implied, was a novelty hybrid of a minigame with a vending machine. “Players” got to choose what topping for their popcorn and help Sonic avoid Dr. Eggman so it can be transported to the next stage.
Next, Tails helps Sonic to cook the popcorn until, when completed, players get what they ordered. This over-the-top vending machine was certainly unique, and those who experienced it got to enjoy watching Sonic and Tails “make” them popcorn.
4Sonic Dash
An Endless Runner, Which Unfortunately Ran Out Of Steam
In all honesty, it’s baffling that it took until 2013 for Sonic to get his own 3Dendless runner game, and while it did generate some buzz upon release, it ultimately failed to maintain any sense of momentum for very long after it launched. Part of the reason for this is that the game nerfs Sonic’s maximum speed quite a bit to make him easier to control, which wasn’t very appealing for longtime players of the series who were already accustomed to the Blue Blur’s high-speed antics.
There was also a lot of controversy surrounding the game’s microtransactions, which could grant players Rings and Red Stars to upgrade Sonic in specific ways, making the missions much easier as a result. By the timeSuper Mario Runwas released a few years later in 2016,Sonic Dashbecame more or less irrelevant, but it’s still a fun free game to jump into for short play sessions while on the go.
5SegaSonic The Hedgehog
A Unique Take On The Classic Sonic Formula, Which Has Never Been Re-Released
Rather than being accompanied by his familiar palsTails and Knuckles, in this unique arcade platformer, Sonic is instead joined by Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel as they desperately try to escape from one of Eggman’s mysterious islands. Each of the game’s seven levels is packed full of traps and hazards, so players must take extra care when using the trackpad controller to ensure Sonic and his pals don’t lose too much health while venturing through these unique areas.
SegaSonic The Hedgehogwas released for arcades in 1993, right in the middle of the fighting game craze, taking the arcade scene by storm. As a result, it never got a fair chance to shine despite providing a genuinely unique gameplay experience that is vastly different from anything else seen in the series. This uniqueness has also meant that the game has never been re-released, though, since it was cut from the 2005Sonic Gems Collectiondue to Sega having problems replicating the trackball onto a regular console controller.
6Sonic’s Schoolhouse
This Charming Educational Sonic Game Went Under The Radar For Many People
Sonic may have started with a “too cool for school” persona, but after realizing how popular the blue hedgehog had started to become among kids, Sega decided to also start featuring him in educational material too, with a prime example being theSonic’s Schoolhousegame. Upon booting up the game, players will assume an FPS view as they travel through Sonic’s schoolhouse, solving riddles, pairing symbols, and participating in minigames as they go.
Though he does appear in the game, Sonic isn’t actually playable as he instead takes the form of a tour guide who will direct players through each room of the house to ensure they don’t get lost. Considering the game was only released for PC, the same year as the launch ofthe Nintendo 64no-less, it ended up going under the radar for many people, to the point where these days, it’s more known for its bizarre anti-piracy scene than its actual gameplay.
7Sonic X
Never Gained Much Attention Due To Being Stuck On The Leapster
Though theSonic Xcartoon ended up doing extremely well, the same unfortunately can’t be said for its video game adaptation, which launched for the Leapster, an educational handheld device that was released in 2003 with virtually no marketing behind it.Sonic X’sgameplay harkens back to the 2D roots of the series, and even though the game is no longer than an hour or two long, the fast gameplay and complex level structures still addtons of replay valueto the overall experience.
The only real relation to theSonic Xsource material comes through the cutscenes, which include original characters such as Chris, a human who befriends Sonic and his pals at the beginning of the series. The Leapster’s lackluster interface and shockingly low catalog of games meant it never ended up going very far, and as a result,Sonic Xalso became lost to time due to the failure of its home system.
8Sonic The Hedgehog: Pocket Adventure
A Full Remix Of The Classic Title, Sonic 2
Sonic the Hedgehog 2turned out to be a huge success for Segaand is arguably the entry that cemented the Blue Blur as a household name. Seven years after its release,Sonic the Hedgehog: Pocket Adventurewas launched as a sort of mini-remake to that classic game, which featured the same controls, music, and characters while also completely changing the level structure to make the game feel fresh.
What resulted was a high-speed thrill ride of a game that was met with a lot of praise from both fans and critics, but considering it wasn’t a brand-new mainline title, the hype surrounding it ended up dissipating pretty quickly. It might often be considered to be nothing more than a dumbed-down port, butSonic: Pocket Adventurestill brings enough to the table to make it well worth a playthrough.
