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Sonic Mania
Critics Consensus (Play It)
Review consensus coming soon. VSG issues recommendations for games with 15 critic reviews or greater.
Game Info
It’s the ultimate Sonic celebration! Sonic returns in a new 2D platforming high speed adventure, and he’s not alone! Developed in collaboration between SEGA, Christian Whitehead, Headcannon, and PagodaWest Games, experience new zones and remixed classic levels with Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles!
0%
Recommended
0%
Average Score
Total Reviews: 96
Nom: Best Platformer (2017), Editors' Choice
Gold TIER
44% of scored reviews fell within the range of 86 to 92 / 100
RELEASE DATES:
GENRES:
- Action, Platformer
DEVELOPER(S):
- PagodaWest Games
- Headcannon
PUBLISHER(S):
- Sega
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- Sonic
GAME MODES:
- Co-operative, Multiplayer, Single player
Where to Play
WHERE TO PLAY
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RATING & REVIEWS
Ratings & Reviews
96
Critic Reviews
88
Average Critic Score
Where to Play
CRITIC REVIEWS
All reviews are from professional critics. Learn more about the critics VSG aggregates.
High Score
100%
Median Score
90%
Low Score
70%
Heidi Kemps (IGN)
[Date Unavailable]
8.7/10
“Sonic Mania is the classic throwback longtime series fans have been clamoring for.”
Andy Kelly (PC Gamer)
[Date Unavailable]
82/100
“A breakneck platformer that uses classic Sonic as a foundation for something fresh and exciting.”
Matt Espineli (GameSpot)
[Date Unavailable]
9/10
“Sonic Mania is both an evolution of the series’ iconic formula and the best Sonic game ever made.”
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Score Ranges
Read the Reviews (96 total)
| Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ars Technica | Sam Machkovech | Recommended | 08-14-2017 | Sonic fans should buy. Curious onlookers should try. | Read review |
| Atomix | Manuel García | 95 / 100 | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania is easily the best game of the speedy blue hedgehog in years. Not only that bit it is also one hell of a game that pays tributo to all of the franchise history itself. If you are a Sonic fan don’t even doubt about it, go and get it as fast as you can. | Read review |
| Attack of the Fanboy | Jelani James | 4.5 / 5 stars | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania doesn’t necessarily mark Sonic’s return to his glory days, but there is still much to love about this game and it can easily serve as a foundation for the future of the series if the Sonic Team chooses to continue in this direction. | Read review |
| CGMagazine | Remington Joseph | 8.5 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania earns its spot next to the titles released during Sonic’s golden era | Read review |
| Cheat Code Central | Jenni Lada | 4.5 / 5 stars | 08-16-2017 | Everyone will find something to love about the hedgehog’s latest outing. | Read review |
| COGconnected | James Paley | 86 / 100 | 08-14-2017 | Every stage is a carefully-crafted explosion of looping paths and intricate patterns. | Read review |
| Cubed3 | Az Elias | 9 / 10 | 08-20-2017 | Sonic Mania doesn’t just stand shoulder to shoulder with the classics of yesteryear; it surpasses them. The level design is absolutely incredible. Each zone features a wealth of obstacles and secrets, and they’re all superbly implemented. Players are given ample opportunity to explore, though there’s also incentive in speeding to the end. | Read review |
| Destructoid | Chris Carter | 8 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania is short but sweet. It even functions as a proper Sonic 4 if you don’t count the episodic Sonic 4 (remember that one?). As long as the same team is in charge I can easily deal with one of these every few years or so while Sega tries to strike Sonic Adventure gold again and again with their 3D iterations. | Read review |
| Digiato | Shayan Karami | 85 / 100 | 11-19-2017 | Sonic Mania has Successfully stayed true to its roots and delivers a memorable and rapturous experience that satisfies every Sonic fan out there. | Read review |
| Digital Chumps | Steven McGehee | 9.2 / 10 | 01-19-2017 | It’s awesome, masterfully blending the old with the new and reminding us all what a true Sonic game is about. | Read review |
| Digitally Downloaded | Clark A. | 4.5 / 5 stars | 09-06-2017 | While I disagree, Sonic Mania is a liberating experience that needs no asterisks to qualify it. Sonic sequels have so often been rushed or subjected to gimmicks that compromise what works, but Mania finally stops to acknowledge past successes, adds logical improvements, and enhances it all tenfold with personality. It even proves that Sonic can be more nuanced than the cursed phrase “gotta go fast” implies. | Read review |
| DualShockers | Azario Lopez | 9 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | From the beginning to the end, I couldn’t seem to put Sonic Mania down. One playthrough, without collecting all the Chaos Emeralds took me about six hours, I never said I was the fastest Sonic player. Sonic Mania has helped me rediscover what it was I loved about Sonic when growing up and it took me back to a time where I could just pick up a game and have fun. This if for Sonic fans everywhere and it will not disappoint. | Read review |
| Easy Allies | Ben Moore | 4.5 / 5 stars | 08-15-2017 | Video Review | Read review |
| EGM | Mollie L Patterson | 9 / 10 | 08-15-2017 | Sega took a chance in letting a longtime Sonic fan and a few smaller dev teams bring the original 16-bit iteration of their mascot back into the modern era, and the result is Sonic Mania, one of the purest and most enjoyable Sonic games we’ve ever been given. The question isn’t if this experiment in reviving classic Sonic was successful or not—the question is what happens next. | Read review |
| Eurogamer | Edwin Evans-Thirlwell | Recommended | 08-14-2017 | 1992 is alive and well. Christian Whitehead and team turn in a beautiful rewrite of the 16-bit Sonic games with all-new stages. | Read review |
| FingerGuns | Rossko Keniston | 10 / 10 | 08-15-2017 | The blue blur returns in Sonic Mania, the hedgehog’s crowning achievement | Read review |
| FNintendo | Henrique Pereira | 9 / 10 | 08-19-2017 | It was so simple, yet so difficult. Sonic Mania succeeds where others did not: it delivers the gameplay experience of the original games with a format made possible by today’s technology and an immense wealth of creativity that when put together make this an exquisite Sonic game, a fitting follow up to the 16-bit originals and one to leave a legacy for the future. | Read review |
| Forbes | Ollie Barder | 9 / 10 | 08-23-2017 | Overall, Sonic Mania is probably one of the best Sonic games ever made and is a very carefully and thoughtfully crafted game. | Read review |
| Game Informer | Brian Shea | 8.5 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania succeeds in paying homage to the classic ’90s entries that so many fans remember fondly, and in the process delivers the best Sonic game in decades | Read review |
| Game Revolution | Matt Utley | 4 / 5 stars | 08-14-2017 | Like the Kevin Smith version of A New Hope I imagine almost daily, Sonic Mania is a game made by fans, for fans. And that’s not a bad thing. Newcomers may be turned off by the intermittent difficulty spikes, but others may finally understand why many childhoods were spent looking for a kid who had a Sega Genesis. | Read review |
| Gameblog | Angel Davila | 9 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania is a solid game that reminds us how amazing in terms of design were 16-bit episodes. We can say this game is unarguably a new classic for the blue hedgehog and that it has to become a reference for the future titles of the franchise. | Read review |
| GameCrate | Nicholas Scibetta | 8.5 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania is a wonderful blend of classic Sonic and new ideas, and should serve as an example of the great things that can happen when game companies embrace fan creators. There’s no reason Sonic Mania shouldn’t be followed by multiple sequels that continue its remixing magic. | Read review |
| GameGrin | Gary Sheppard | 10 / 10 | 09-10-2017 | Finally, we have the return to form that Sonic fans have been waiting for all these years. This isn’t just one of the best Sonic games of recent years, but one of the best Sonic games full stop. You owe it to yourself to get a copy of this masterpiece. | Read review |
| GamePro | Sascha Penzhorn | 80 / 100 | 08-14-2017 | Fast-paced best-of all the classic Sonic Games with Megadrive flair, some new levels and boss battles. | Read review |
| Gamers Heroes | Casey Scheld | 9 / 10 | 08-18-2017 | Sonic Mania has everything you could ever want from a Sonic game. The levels are carefully crafted, the bosses are unique, and the fanservice is off the charts. Those looking for the second coming of SEGA’s mascot have found it here. | Read review |
| GamesBeat | Mike Minotti | 93 / 100 | 08-14-2017 | Sonic’s best game in over two decades | Read review |
| GameSkinny | David Fisher | 9 / 10 | 08-15-2017 | Sonic Mania provides everything that players could possibly expect from a classic Sonic the Hedgehog title – for the best. | Read review |
| GameSpew | Richard Seagrave | 9 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | This is Sonic just as you remember, but bigger and undoubtedly better. Is it the best Sonic game? That’s hard to say as it comes down to personal preference with regards to stages etc., but one thing is for sure, Sonic Mania is likely to be at the top of many Sonic fans’ lists. | Read review |
| GameSpot | Matt Espineli | 9 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania is both an evolution of the series’ iconic formula and the best Sonic game ever made. | Read review |
| GameWatcher | Chris Jecks | 9 / 10 | 09-04-2017 | In the nearly 20 years since Sonic Adventure, it turns out all Sonic needed was a developer who actually understood what made a good Sonic game. Mania is a joyous non-stop celebration of everything you ever loved about Sonic The Hedgehog, with perfectly designed levels, and controls that feel just right.. | Read review |
| GameXplain | Ash Paulsen, Derrick Bitner | Recommended | 08-15-2017 | Video Review | Read review |
| Gaming Nexus | Nicholas Leon | 9 / 10 | 09-06-2017 | Sonic Mania is a franchise’s identity found. It’s simple, it’s straightforward, it’s what Sonic should be. The developers have gone back to the drawing board and have given new life to a franchise hat was on its last legs just a few years ago. This may be new life into the series, and here’s hoping that it continues to be so. | Read review |
| GamingBolt | Will Borger | 8 / 10 | 08-21-2017 | Incredible levels, beautiful art, a fantastic soundtrack and classic gameplay make Sonic Mania the best Sonic game in years. | Read review |
| GamingTrend | Kyle Movius, Elisha Deogracias | 90 / 100 | 09-07-2017 | Whether you like the old Sonic games or the new ones, or even if you’ve never played one before, Sonic Mania holds plenty of fun for everyone. | Read review |
| GBAtemp | Jordan Ryan | 9 / 10 | 08-17-2017 | In the end, I really enjoyed Sonic Mania. The 16-bit adventure is a true return to form for the series, and an installment that many fans have been waiting for since Sonic 3 and Knuckles. The gripes are minor, but the fun is major. And at a modest $20 price tag, you really can’t go wrong picking the game up. | Read review |
| GearNuke | Khurram Imtiaz | 8.5 / 10 | 08-19-2017 | Sonia Mania is a refreshing attempt to bring the spotlight back on 2D Sonic games. It easily rivals the original Sonic trilogy in term of the level design and boss fights. | Read review |
| Geeks Under Grace | Gareth Tucker | 8.7 / 10 | 08-28-2017 | Sonic Mania is a thoroughly enjoyable throwback to the original games and a must have game in anyone’s collection. Christian Whitehead and his team at Headcannon and Pagodawest have definitely set themselves apart as the team to hopefully take 2D sonic games forward. | Read review |
| God is a Geek | Gary Bailey | 8 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania is both fluid and fun, and reminds us all of what a Sonic game should be. This is a game by Sonic fans, for Sonic fans. | Read review |
| Guardian | Joe Merrick | 4 / 5 stars | 08-18-2017 | It has taken a fan game to bring Sonic back to where he belongs – a two-dimensional platformer full of thrills, spills and 90s gaming nostalgia | Read review |
| Hardcore Gamer | Kyle LeClair | 4.5 / 5 stars | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania is one of those games that your childhood has always dreamed of. | Read review |
| Hey Poor Player | Francis DiPersio | 4.5 / 5 stars | 09-05-2017 | If you’ve been waiting for Sonic’s grand return to the spotlight, your wish has finally been granted. Sonic Mania is as good as it gets, proving that sometimes a franchise needs to rediscover its roots to move forward. | Read review |
| Hobby Consolas | Rafael Aznar | 93 / 100 | 08-14-2017 | Christian Whitehead deserves an ovation for bringing back a fast hedgehog who had been injuried for a long time. Sonic Mania is a worthy heir to the amazing five 2D platformers the porcupine starred on Mega Drive. | Read review |
| IGN | Heidi Kemps | 8.7 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania is the classic throwback longtime series fans have been clamoring for. | Read review |
| IGN Italy | Fabio Bortolotti | 8.5 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | A fantastic entry and a long awaited proper comeback for Sonic. The new levels are fresh and full of ideas and the tuning in the “old” levels is nothing short of amazing. A must for all the 2D Sonic fans. | Read review |
| IGN Spain | Miguel Ángel Escudero | 8.5 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | A great return to the 2D platformer’s roots. | Read review |
| Kinglink Reviews | Kinglink Reviews | 5 / 5 stars | 01-12-2019 | Sonic Mania is simply one of the best sonic games in the last 25 years. It’s highly polished, well designed and brilliantly fun. It’s everything the sonic fan in me wanted making a must play. | Read review |
| Kotaku | Heather Alexandra | Recommended | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania clearly articulates Sonic’s true appeal: Sonic is pure joy, a spinning ball of fun blazing a trail towards the next adventure. | Read review |
| LevelUp | Luis Sánchez | 8.5 / 10 | 08-16-2017 | Hell has frozen over, Sega managed to release the best entry in the Sonic franchise in years. To achieve this, the developers effectively captured what made Sonic the best console mascot in the 90s, resulting in a nostalgia fueled trip to the past. | Read review |
| M3 | Percy Oropeza | 8 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania is an almost perfect mix between new ideas and the same gameplay from the Sonic games on Mega Drive. A must have for any Sonic fan. | Read review |
| Metro GameCentral | GameCentral | 9 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | A touching, and highly playable, labour of love by fans that understand Sonic The Hedgehog better than Sega ever has in the last 20+ years. | Read review |
| MonsterVine | Spencer Legacy | 5 / 5 stars | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania is nothing short of a triumphant return to the spectacular roots of the Sonic franchise | Read review |
| Niche Gamer | Brandon Orselli | 9 / 10 | 08-27-2017 | It truly made me feel like I was playing Sonic the Hedgehog again for the very first time. I legitimately got choked up at how perfectly this game captures the magic of the originals, yet expands upon it. Let’s hope that Sonic Forces is able to capture the same magic that Sonic Mania has. | Read review |
| Nintendo Life | Thomas Whitehead | 9 / 10 | 08-16-2017 | Sonic Mania is a true return to form for the mascot, in his 2D ‘Classic’ guise at least. It celebrates the glory days of the original games while also enhancing their qualities and taking on new ideas. From new areas, imaginative second acts and some delightful boss encounters, the development team has poured a lot of passion and talent into the project. The occasional bug and a couple of brief and cheap areas deprive it of Sonic-style perfection, but it’s pretty darn close.Is it the best Sonic game ever? It’s in the conversation, though the classics it’s honouring may stake a claim for slightly greater ‘flow’ in the campaigns. Frankly, it’s better just to call it a dead heat and skip the argument | Read review |
| NintendoWorldReport | Jared Rosenberg | 9 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania is a delightful return to the 2D platforming style that first made the hedgehog a star. The love from the development team for 16-bit Sonic is evident in every moment of the game. Fans of classic Sonic must buy this game, but the excellent level design, music, and graphics will please all people who enjoy a well-thought-out sidescroller. | Read review |
| NZGamer | Angus Deacon | 8.2 / 10 | 08-23-2017 | A nostalgic platforming remix-o-rama made with love. | Read review |
| Pardis Game | Parham Aghakhani | 9 / 10 | 09-06-2017 | Sonic Mania is not only one of the best titles in the series, but is also one of the best platformer games in recent years. It’s clear that this game is made by people who really love the series and definitely knew what they were doing; because it’s full of nostalgia, color, passion and personality. If you’re a fan of sonic series or platformer games, you should not miss Sonic Mania | Read review |
| Paste Magazine | Terence Wiggins | 9 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | From the beautiful and lively opening animation to the start screen, it immediately felt both comforting and fresh like putting on a pair of brand new pajama pants. I’m glad they took a chance on getting developers who originally started work on Sonic ROM hacks because they really nailed the feeling. This is what nostalgia should feel like and hopefully this leads to more excellent reboots of Sega properties. | Read review |
| PC Gamer | Andy Kelly | 82 / 100 | 09-01-2017 | A breakneck platformer that uses classic Sonic as a foundation for something fresh and exciting. | Read review |
| PCMag | Jeffrey L. Wilson | 3.5 / 5 stars | 09-28-2017 | Sonic Mania distills Sonic down to its basic elements, resulting in a wonderfully lean Hedgehog throwback. Unfortunately, DRM issues prevent Sonic Mania from blazing a truly excellent trail. | Read review |
| Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | Max Parker | 9.5 / 10 | 08-15-2017 | Anyone who was Team Sega in the 90s remembers the “Sonic” series fondly. “Sonic Mania” is tailor made for this audience. Sonic’s first spin dash through a loop of rings brings a wave of nostalgia that Sonic hasn’t been able to muster in decades. This game makes up for lost time and reminds gamers why the Blue Blur is one of the most beloved game characters in the medium. | Read review |
| Player.One | Steven Asarch | Recommended | 08-19-2017 | If you liked classic Sonic, you’ll love Sonic Mania. If you’ve never played a platformer and don’t understand why people are so excited for a game with graphics that your electric toothbrush can render, you might want to skip it. | Read review |
| PlayStation Universe | Neil Bolt | 8.5 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania successfully takes Sonic back to the formula that saw him become a big deal to begin with. That means it does bring along the flaws in that design as well, but there’s no denying this is as good as the Blue Blur has been for a long time. | Read review |
| Polygon | Arthur Gies | 7 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | If more of what Sonic is what you want, then this is very much that, but more, and bigger, and faster. But for me, as someone with fond memories but key criticisms, Sonic Mania seems content to paint over some of the series’ problems rather than fix them, making for a game that falls a little short of what might have been. | Read review |
| Press Start | Matthew Zimmari | 9 / 10 | 08-23-2017 | Despite its flaws, Sonic Mania is the type of game that players can keep going back to over and over. It has the replayability of the classic Sonic games with minor modernisations for current day gamers, and is sure to appeal to old and new players alike. For a franchise that for a while seemed to flounder and suffer from subpar titles, it offers hope to fans that there will be more to return the series to its former glory. | Read review |
| PSX Brasil | Ivan Nikolai Barkow Castilho | 100 / 100 | 08-21-2017 | Sonic Mania has the essence of the classic Genesis games offering a variety of stages with new and nostalgic features. It is possible to see the passion of the developers in creating a game with what the fans wanted when it comes to graphics, soundtrack and above all the gameplay. | Read review |
| Push Square | Stephen Tailby | 8 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania is the best Sonic game in years, and stands proudly alongside its ancestors as a great 2D platformer. The levels, both remixed classics and brand new stages, are broad and a lot of fun to speed through, while more cautious exploration is also rewarding and just as viable. The feeling of playing an old-school Sonic title is spot on and it’s filled to bursting with secrets, Easter eggs, and surprises that will delight fans. If you’ve never enjoyed Sonic games, this certainly won’t change your mind, but anyone with an affinity for the Blue Blur’s seminal Mega Drive series can rest assured that this is more than worth your time. | Read review |
| Reno Gazette-Journal | Jason Hidalgo | 8 / 10 | 08-18-2017 | Sonic Mania is a love letter thoughtfully crafted for fans of the series’ early romp in 2D, which the game follows to perfection. Admittedly, some of the game’s mechanics have not aged well and might be cumbersome for some. If you love the classic gameplay, however, and want to experience it through larger areas littered with multiple paths and secret nooks and crannies, you’ll want to spin dash your way to this one. | Read review |
| Rice Digital | Oscar Taylor-Kent | 5 / 5 stars | 08-14-2017 | Every new cog in Sonic Mania looks right at home next to the old ones. | Read review |
| Saudi Gamer | نواف النغموش | 7 / 10 | 08-31-2017 | Sonic Mania never managed to find solutions for the series’ problems. However, it returned what attracted many players after 24 years with a new layer, sending a message that the series still has an opportunity of improvement. | Read review |
| Saving Content | Ed Acosta | 4 / 5 stars | 08-24-2017 | Even with the small issues, Sonic Mania is a love letter to Sonic fans. As it should be though, it was designed by fans for the fans. Sonic Mania is right up there with the best Sonic titles and an excellent throwback that longtime fans have been hoping and waiting for – myself included. | Read review |
| Shacknews | David Craddock | 8 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | Retro fever has been burning brightly for years, resulting in a glut of shameless nostalgia grabs. As someone who was ambivalent toward Sonic the Hedgehog, I can safely say Sonic Mania isn’t one of those. Rather than being the game’s centerpiece, nostalgia is a foundation built to support the character, visual, audio, and design tropes that made Sonic great instead of forcing the franchise to be something it wasn’t and never should have been. | Read review |
| Slant Magazine | Jed Pressgrove | 4 / 5 stars | 08-14-2017 | At its best, Sonic Mania makes classic zones from past Sonic the Hedgehog games feel unpredictable again. | Read review |
| SpazioGames | Francesco Corica | 9 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania is the return to the 2D gameplay style that the community has been waiting for a long time, and it’s one of the revelations of this year. A game made by fans, for the fans. | Read review |
| TechnoBuffalo | Ron Duwell | 5 / 5 stars | 09-03-2017 | Sonic Mania is for everyone, and everyone should buy it. It succeeds at being a love letter to SEGA’s classic days just as much as it succeeds at being a smartly designed video game with all of the reasons in the world to return to it over and over again. Older fans will love it, newer fans will love it, parents can play it with their kids. | Read review |
| TechRaptor | Alex Santa Maria | 9 / 10 | 08-19-2017 | Sonic Mania is one of those games that many thought would never happen. A true sequel to Sonic and Knuckles that takes the series to new heights, this is the 2D arcade platformer that everyone who owned a Genesis has been waiting for. | Read review |
| The Game Fanatics | O’Dell Harmon Jr. | 8.4 / 10 | 09-01-2017 | I’m glad I lived long enough to see another great Sonic game; one that doesn’t need the rose-tinted glasses of nostalgia. It has learned from the past and forged its own identity. It’s not perfect, but it is a new standard that series needed. Believe the Mania because the Blue Blur is back. | Read review |
| The Jimquisition | Jim Sterling | 9.5 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania is a brilliantly staged celebration of the past that acts as a true sequel to the Genesis line of games. | Read review |
| The Outerhaven Productions | Clinton Bowman-Christie | 4.5 / 5 stars | 08-17-2017 | Even though it’s not the Genesis version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 or Sonic Advance 2, Sonic Mania does a lot of good things right. Christian Whitehead and Simon Thomley put out a beautiful love letter to Sonic fans from the Genesis and Advance eras of Sonic 2D platformers. The nods to all of SEGA’s classic titles, the innovative boss fights, the merging of several classic levels, all of it proves that to capture the pure essence of Sonic the Hedgehog, sometimes it is good to simply go back to the basics… | Read review |
| TheSixthAxis | Dave Irwin | 10 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania surpasses the Mega Drive/Genesis originals. It not only incorporates what made Sonic great, but has the inventiveness to shatter what was possible in a 2D platformer. As a nostalgia trip, it sets the bar for what comes next for the modding community. For those unexposed to what made 2D Sonic great, this is still a solid game in its own right and may create new fans in the process. If being this good took ages, it’s about damn time. | Read review |
| TheXboxHub | Richard Dobson | 4.5 / 5 stars | 08-27-2017 | The nostalgia felt when playing Sonic Mania means that SEGA have done a fantastic job. It looks the part, sounds the part and most importantly plays the part. It’s more challenging than I remember, but this is quite possibly due to there being a lot of new elements to the levels to learn, and my muscle memory from the old games counts for nothing here. There is plenty of replayability here though, so maybe one day those memories will return. | Read review |
| ThisGenGaming | ThisGenGaming Reviews | 9.5 / 10 | 09-04-2017 | Like I said at the start of this review, Sonic is back! And he is back in a big way with Sonic Mania. If you have given up on Sonic in the past then now is the perfect time to jump back in to give your friendly blue hedgehog another chance. Sonic Mania smashed through all expectations, and could be one of the best Sonic games ever made. Go buy this right now, whether it’s PC, Switch, PS4 or Xbox One, everyone must play this incredible game. | Read review |
| Too Much Gaming | Joseph Choi | 9 / 10 | 08-24-2017 | This game’s critical success should be a wake-up call for Sega to rethink their approach to Sonic in general. Although I can’t speak from the perspective of someone who didn’t grow up on Sonic, I truly believe this game boasts cross-generational appeal. Anyone who appreciates challenging, well-designed 2D platforming should find a lot to love here. | Read review |
| TrueGaming | حسين الموسى | 8 / 10 | 08-16-2017 | Sonic Mania is more than a love letter for the loyal fans, it makes the series magical again, it is full of love and care, but we wish it didn’t focus this much on boss fights. | Read review |
| Twinfinite | Ed McGlone | 5 / 5 stars | 08-16-2017 | Sonic 3 & Knuckles left the 2D series at such a high point, that it would be difficult to find a way to top it. Yet Whitehead and PagodaWest Games, found a way to do it. | Read review |
| Use a Potion | Daryl Leach | 9.4 / 10 | 08-16-2017 | If you’re a fan of the classic games you’re going to be in platforming heaven with Sonic Mania. On the flipside, if you’ve been living under a rock for the last twenty five years and haven’t played a single Sonic the Hedgehog game, Sonic Mania is an absolutely fantastic place to start. You might not appreciate the nostalgic elements as much as a long-time fan, but you’ll certainly appreciate the incredibly fun gameplay that’s on offer from start to end. | Read review |
| USgamer | Caty McCarthy | 4 / 5 stars | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania is a brilliant return to form for the series’ long-time away from traditional 2D games. Even if a few less remixed stages and more new zones would have been a nice change of pace, Sonic Mania’s joyful level of ingenuity even in reimagining familiar sights is a testament to some of the franchise’s best days. | Read review |
| VG247 | Alex Donaldson | Recommended | 08-14-2017 | They actually did it. They nailed it. Sonic is back. | Read review |
| VGChartz | Daniel Carreras | Recommended | 08-18-2017 | The bugs and glitches betray its modern gaming background, but otherwise Sonic Mania is an absolute masterclass in how to rejuvenate an iconic series without either straying too far from its roots or essentially repeating a stale and tired formula. | Read review |
| VideoGamer | Colm Ahern | 7 / 10 | 08-14-2017 | It took two decades and change, but a team of developers has shown they understand what made the old Sonic games great with Sonic Mania, even if nostalgia is sometimes too much of a driving force. | Read review |
| Wccftech | Dave Aubrey | 9 / 10 | 08-16-2017 | It’s hard to write a bad word about Sonic Mania. It’s a complete, classic package, at a great price. Each character you play as feels just as you remember it, but sharper. Each classic stage starts as you remember it, and then transforms into something completely new. Sonic Mania is a love letter to fans and a testament to the Blue Blur himself | Read review |
| We Got This Covered | Ken Barnes | 4.5 / 5 stars | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania is a fantastically well-worked continuation of an iconic franchise and a great reminder of why the Genesis games were so well loved. Everybody who has waited patiently for 20-odd years for Sega to get it right again is in for a treat. Top notch. | Read review |
| WellPlayed | Dylan Blereau | 8 / 10 | 08-16-2017 | The best Sonic game in more than a decade has arrived, packing brilliant levels both new and old | Read review |
| Windows Central | Paul Acevedo | 4.5 / 5 stars | 08-14-2017 | Sonic Mania is still a long, wonderful return to form for the series that fans and newcomers alike should enjoy. Hopefully the upcoming Sonic Forces can maintain this level of quality, like Sonic deserves. | Read review |
Awards & Recognition
RECOGNITION
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