You run and jump through fast side-scrolling levels built by longtime fans of the original games, full of loops, springs, and secret paths that reward replaying a stage to find shortcuts. The controls are tuned to feel exactly like the earliest Sonic games, right down to the pixel art and music style. It is a good pick for anyone who wants classic Sonic without any of the newer three-dimensional games' problems.
Gameplay video
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Screenshots & review notes
The short version
Made by people who clearly grew up loving these games, it captures 16-bit Sonic's spirit better than Sega's own attempts have in decades.
In the hands
Levels are lightning-fast but generous with secrets, rewarding both speedrunning and careful exploration depending on your mood. Boss fights show real creativity too.
Look and sound
Pixel art and remixed chiptune music nail the Genesis era's aesthetic while looking crisper than ever on Switch's screen.
The long haul
Time attack modes and hidden Chaos Emeralds give it staying power well beyond a single playthrough. A no-brainer for any Sonic fan.
Frames captured from the gameplay video above; notes are our own take on the game.
What it's like to play
You run and jump through 2D stages as Sonic, Tails, or Knuckles, holding the direction stick to build up speed and tapping the jump button to spin through loops, launch off springs, and stomp enemies, and the controls respond instantly to every input the way the original Genesis games did. Each zone is split into two acts with a boss at the end of the second, and most of these zones are remixed versions of classic Sonic stages redesigned with new sections, secrets, and shortcuts layered into the familiar layouts. A new move called the drop dash lets you hold jump while airborne then release it to rocket forward the instant you land, which becomes second nature after a level or two.
Your goal in each act is simply to reach the end, but the real draw is exploring branching paths, some high and fast, some low and cautious, since the stages are built with multiple routes through the same space and hidden bonus stages tucked behind rings or secret paths. Later zones ramp up with tighter platforming, trickier enemy placement, and inventive boss fights that riff on Sonic's history in surprising ways. A full act takes a few minutes if you know it, much longer the first time through as you get lost finding secrets.
Session to session this plays fast and light, easy to pick up for fifteen minutes or lose an hour to chasing a better time. What might frustrate you is that a large portion of the zones are remixes of older stages rather than entirely new ones, so longtime fans may want more new material, and the bonus stages for finding chaos emeralds are fiddly and can trip up newcomers. It is a great fit for anyone who wants classic side-scrolling platforming that still feels sharp today.