Sonic Spinoff Games That Need A Follow-Up

Highlights

• Sonic
  spinoff games have struggled to become successful franchises of their own, but they have earned cult followings and are worth revisiting.
• Sonic has the potential to excel in different genres, such as RPGs, platformers with pinball mechanics, fighting games, and on-foot racing games.
• Sonic’s supporting cast, such as Knuckles and Tails, deserve their own spinoff games, and games like
  Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
  serve as great tributes to Sega’s history.

Sega’s mascot Sonic The Hedgehog has drawn many comparisons to Nintendo’s Mario, despite their characters and core gameplay being quite different. One of the less obvious comparisons is that, like Mario, Sonic has appeared in numerous spinoffs over the years. Unlike Mario’s spinoffs, however, these Sonic games have rarely managed to evolve into successful franchises of their own.

This is a shame, as a lot of these games have earned cult followings. Even the more poorly received of these spinoffs have had good ideas that make them worth revisiting. With a proper sequel, these spinoffs could become worthy additions to the blue hedgehog’s gaming library.

10 Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood

A Sonic RPG Worth Revisiting

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood was a BioWare developed RPG that came out when both BioWare and Sonic were extremely popular. The first and only Sonic RPG, Sonic Chronicles featured turn-based combat that required timed inputs using the Nintendo DS touch screen. Being a BioWare game, it also featured branching dialogue choices.

Despite having a lot going for it, the game failed to make a splash either critically or financially. However, a new Sonic RPG is still worth trying again, especially with how popular the Mario RPG spinoffs are. With a diverse cast of characters all with their own unique abilities, Sonic is perfect for an RPG spinoff.

9 Sonic Spinball

A Fun Idea That Deserves An Encore

• Platform(s): Sega Genesis
• Released: 1993-11-23
• Developer(s): Sega Technical Institute
• Genre(s): Action, Pinball, Platform

Sonic Spinball was an interesting spinoff that combined platforming with pinball mechanics. Players would navigate Sonic through dangerous levels by using pinball flippers to hit targets and collect Chaos Emeralds. With Sonic’s signature ability to roll into a ball, the pinball mechanics were a natural fit.

While the game received a spiritual sequel in the form of 2003’s Sonic Pinball Party, that game lacked the platforming elements that made Sonic Spinball so unique. A proper follow-up with more development time and modern graphics is sure to be a hit.

8 Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine

A Cult Classic That Could Help Revive Another Franchise

• Platform(s): Sega Genesis
• Released: 1993-11-26
• Developer(s): Compile
• Genre(s): Puzzle

Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine is an interesting spinoff in that it’s actually based off of the Adventures Of Sonic The Hedgehog cartoon series. What makes it fascinating is that this puzzle game is actually the beloved Sega classic Puyo Puyo with a Sonic coat of paint. Even though it’s basically another game, Mean Bean Machine still has loyal fans.

The game has been referenced in Sonic Mania and the Sonic The Hedgehog 2 movie, proving its lasting impact on the franchise. Even Puyo Puyo fans are likely to love seeing their series come back as a crossover with Sonic. Though it will need a name change, Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine should return.

7 Sonic The Fighters

An Arcade Classic In A Perfect Genre For Sonic

Though Sonic’s arcade outings were few and far between, Sonic The Fighters remains a nostalgic favorite to this day. This 3D fighting game was famous for introducing characters like Bark the Polar Bear and Bean the Dynamite. To this day it lives on as a mini-game in the Like A Dragon series.

Though the game was essentially a Sonic version of Fighting Vipers, Sonic The Fighters could be reworked into a wholly original fighting game. Sonic’s large cast of characters with unique powers is perfect fodder for a great fighting game. With the fighting game genre going through something of a renaissance, a new Sonic fighting game is sure to please fans.

6 Shadow The Hedgehog

A Poorly Received Game That Came Out At The Wrong Time

Though the Shadow The Hedgehog game was critically panned upon release, it’s gone through a bit of a resurrection of late, with many streamers rediscovering it. It came out during a time when the market was oversaturated with dark games starring edgy characters, but audiences may be more receptive now.

Between his excellent portrayal in Sonic Prime and his upcoming appearance in the Sonic The Hedgehog 3 movie, Shadow is seeing an uptick in popularity. A Shadow game with a bit more polish that focuses on his current role as a government operative would be a nice change in pace from the average Sonic experience.

5 Sonic R

A Unique Style Of Racing Game

Vehicular racing games are incredibly common, but games about foot racing are a lot harder to come by. Such a game would be a perfect fit for a speedster like Sonic, and that’s exactly what Sonic R delivered. The game featured iconic Sonic characters racing to some of the best music in the franchise’s history.

Though the game has not aged well by today’s standards, it presented some excellent ideas that are worth revisiting. An on-foot racing game is a fresh and unique idea, especially when paired with Sonic’s characters and level design.

4 Knuckles’ Chaotix

Sonic’s Supporting Cast Deserve More Time In The Spotlight

• Platform(s): 32X
• Released: 1995-04
• Developer(s): Sega
• Genre(s): Action, Platformer

Knuckles is probably one of Sonic’s most popular characters, so it was only right he got a spinoff in the form of Knuckles’ Chaotix. The game also introduced Vector, Espio, and Charmy, who have become mainstays in the Sonic franchise. While not everyone appreciated the game’s ring-tether system, the game deserves a second chance.

Sonic has one of the most iconic casts of characters in all gaming, and they deserve time out of Sonic’s shadow. With Knuckles being such a popular character, he’s the perfect choice to lead an ensemble game with Team Chaotix as backup. By getting rid of the ring-tether and delivering a polished experience, a new Knuckles’ Chaotix will fly off the shelves.

3 Sonic Shuffle

A Poorly Executed Great Idea That Deserves Another Chance

• Platform(s): Dreamcast
• Released: 2000-11-14
• Developer(s): Sega
• Genre(s): Party, Board Game

During the height of Mario Party’s popularity, Sega released Sonic Shuffle. This was another board game party game that featured a lot of minigames. The game was largely slept on upon release, mostly due to people seeing it as one of many attempts to copy Mario Party’s success.

Despite this, the whimsical world of Sonic is a perfect fit for this style of game, and thus deserves another chance. The game also introduced some cool unique elements, such as using a deck of cards to move instead of dice. With Mario Party clones being much less prevalent now, a new Sonic Shuffle might stand a better chance.

2 Tails Adventure

A Metroidvania That Demands To Be Revisited

• Platform(s): Game Gear
• Released: 1995-09-22
• Developer(s): Aspect
• Genre(s): Platform, Metroidvania

Sonic’s faithful sidekick Tails actually had two solo spinoff games for the Game Gear in 1995, but Tails Adventure is the more interesting of the two. A Metroidvania that emphasizes exploration over speed, Tails Adventure has the titular fox collecting gadgets that help him explore Cocoa Island.

The game was a welcome change in pace from the usual Sonic gameplay, and a slower-paced game with a heavy emphasis on gadgets is perfect for Tails’ character. With Metroidvanias being extremely popular now, a modern follow-up to Tails Adventure is bound to do well.

1 Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed

A Beautiful Tribute That Sega Fans Need Now More Than Ever

Though Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is basically just a huge Sega crossover, Sonic is front-and-center in both the title and the cast. The game is technically a follow-up to 2010’s Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, Transformed is hailed as an absolutely fantastic tribute to Sega’s entire history, and the timing has never been better for it to get a sequel.

With Sega gearing up to revitalize some of its long-dormant franchises, now is the perfect time to celebrate those franchises with a massive crossover game. As Sega’s most popular character, Sonic is the best vehicle to help get gamers on board with such an idea.