Sonic Mania

 Xbox One
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 183 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 150 out of 183
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 183
  3. Negative: 25 out of 183
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  1. GenXY
    Aug 17, 2017
    10
    This may end up being the best Sonic game ever created. I can really tell the care and effort put into this project, Sega did the right thing here....well done! Hopefully Sonic Forces will continue the path of keeping the franchise going in a positive direction! 2017 truly seems to be the year of the classic gaming icon, between this, Zelda, Crash, and the upcoming Mario Odyssey. Thumbs up!
  2. RexSol
    Aug 16, 2017
    10
    Sonic was always good. Ok maybe not. But it was a big part of my childhood. The last Sonic game i loved was Sonic 3 & Knuckles. And Sonic Mania is exactly the Sonic game i've always wanted. Perfect level design, perfect soundtrack, the perfect Sonic game, 10/10.
  3. Insertc0in
    Aug 15, 2017
    10
    Sonic Mania should be praised not only for how awesome this game is but the context this project came out to existence. Sonic Mania is a product of love, a collaboration of long time sonic fans and SEGA. From Tyson Hesse animation to Tee Lopes soundtrack passing by Hyper Potion music for the trailers we can feel the passion this game tries to convey. Pagodawest, Headcanon and ChristianSonic Mania should be praised not only for how awesome this game is but the context this project came out to existence. Sonic Mania is a product of love, a collaboration of long time sonic fans and SEGA. From Tyson Hesse animation to Tee Lopes soundtrack passing by Hyper Potion music for the trailers we can feel the passion this game tries to convey. Pagodawest, Headcanon and Christian whitehead did an amazing job of balancing the gameplay and gathering the memorable stages, bosses, gimmicks that we all loved in the 16 bit sonic era and put their own signature names on it.

    Sonic Mania is not only a celebration for Sonic fans but also to SEGA fans. This game is filled with Easter eggs and homages to what made SEGA beloved. Sonic Mania should be celebrated by all gamers not only because it's a very good game but also because it opens a new chapter in the gaming industry that companies like Valve used to practice and companies like Nintendo should be more lenient about (AM2R).    … Expand
  4. SanicStudios
    Sep 6, 2017
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is the best Sonic game I've seen since Generations. The little details in the graphics, although reminiscent of the Genesis games, are stunning and the option to add the scan line CRT filter makes it that little more nostalgic. The amount of returning zones can be a little annoying, only having a few new zones. The list of zones is well picked however. Green Hill (for the 60 millionth time), Chemical Plant (for the 3rd time), Flying Battery (new! woo!), Stardust Speedway, Hyrdocity and many more. It's amazing that for once, we got a Sonic game without game breaking glitches.… Expand
  5. EpicLadySponge
    Aug 15, 2017
    8
    The light of day for this franchise has finally came after all these years being treated by two failures, many mixed bags, and a few goods this far. With Sonic Mania, newcomers and veterans alike are now to experience the classic days where it was just Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles as playable characters and those three plus Eggman/Robotnik as the only main characters after more than twentyThe light of day for this franchise has finally came after all these years being treated by two failures, many mixed bags, and a few goods this far. With Sonic Mania, newcomers and veterans alike are now to experience the classic days where it was just Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles as playable characters and those three plus Eggman/Robotnik as the only main characters after more than twenty years of never receiving a classical 2D installment. This game combines elements seen in Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles to give us the ultimate surprise no one was expecting to see since the release of Sonic & Knuckles. It's always great to see a franchise go back to their roots rather than trying a new way to impress their fans.… Expand
  6. orkinen
    Aug 17, 2017
    10
    Es uno de los mejores juegos de Sonic sin duda alguna, me ha hecho recordar las grandes partidas de la megadrive, con escenarios clásicos y a la vez unos totalmente nuevos.. jugabilidad perfecta, digno de ser el "verdadero" Sonic 4. Tiene mezcla de todos los Sonic clasicos, incluido el Sonic CD. el punto negativo pueden ser las bases de bonús que para mi son bastante complicadas. la BandaEs uno de los mejores juegos de Sonic sin duda alguna, me ha hecho recordar las grandes partidas de la megadrive, con escenarios clásicos y a la vez unos totalmente nuevos.. jugabilidad perfecta, digno de ser el "verdadero" Sonic 4. Tiene mezcla de todos los Sonic clasicos, incluido el Sonic CD. el punto negativo pueden ser las bases de bonús que para mi son bastante complicadas. la Banda sonora es de 10!… Expand
  7. AllToasters
    Nov 19, 2017
    10
    Sonic Mania does Sonic's 25th anniversary justice! If only more games were made like this - gorgeous pixels, great and enjoyable level designs, no sleazy-dressed characters (ahem, Rouge), and glitch-free! Old school Sonic done right!
  8. Y0n5
    Sep 11, 2017
    9
    As former gamer of Megadrive SONIC. This is a great iteration in the franchise and superior in every way to games like Sonic 4. The best of Sonic 1 to 3 and Sonic CD together in a game, with addition of very inspirated phases. GREAT GAME and GREAT BUY.
  9. SuperkenGaming
    Aug 19, 2017
    7
    Sonic Mania
    Even the best 2D sonic game is still a 2d Sonic game
    I’ve dipped my toe in all of the original 2d sonic games and none of them ever grabbed me, they felt like they were lacking any sense of direction After hearing the praise about Sonic Mania and people saying things like if you’re a platforming fan play this but if you’re a sonic fan definitely play this I thought this was    Sonic Mania
    Even the best 2D sonic game is still a 2d Sonic game
    I’ve dipped my toe in all of the original 2d sonic games and none of them ever grabbed me, they felt like they were lacking any sense of direction
    After hearing the praise about Sonic Mania and people saying things like if you’re a platforming fan play this but if you’re a sonic fan definitely play this
    I thought this was it.. This would be the one…
    I’m actually a fan of a few 3d sonic games so I was excited to finally become a 2d sonic fan... and well…
    It never Happened
    Sonic Mania is a platformer where you play as either sonic, tails, sonic and tails, or knuckles, all with their won perks and unique play styles…
    and you make it through all 13 zones that are split into 2 acts, almost doubling the levels as the 2nd act can look and feel completely different from the first..
    They all have their own unique feel and sound, and while at the end of the day I may not like the gameplay, the look and feel of these levels were my favorite part...
    sonic mania is all about gaining momentum and collecting rings…
    rings act as your life and if you lose them all you have to die and restart from a checkpoint…
    which if you’re a sonic noob like me, will happen a lot
    you know what it’s like to play ice levels in a platforming game, where you’re sliding all over the place?
    This is what playing sonic mania feels like…
    I know this is what sonic is. But just because something is the way it’s supposed to be doesn’t make it good...
    Platforming feels frustrating because this hedgehog slides off platforms extremely easy forcing you to restart an entire section and it happens way too frequently
    speaking of restarting some moments unless I missed something don’t have a fail save, for example I got a fire pick up which caught a platform on fire and I couldn’t figure out how to progress the level, I had to die and restart from a checkpoint losing one of my precious lives
    … if there was one somewhere, that’s on the game for me not being able to find it.. Not me...
    this was only the first level of the game I shouldn’t already be getting hit with things like this
    It shows a lack of direction in the level design which I feel this entire series of 2d games suffers from...
    I’m zipping through levels going in all kinds of directions...
    I never feel a sense of direction or have any sense how deep I am into a level aside from a few more linear feeling levels…
    These levels are short but feel endless because everything inside of its act looks the same and feels like a jumbled mess
    once you make It through act 1 you take on a miniboss and act 2 you take on the main boss
    these bosses being my 2nd favorite part of the game, but do require a little bit of trial and error... Thankfully are right next to checkpoints, but rarely have rings in them to save you...
    And this is where my ultimate frustration comes in with this game…
    There is a game over like it’s the 80s and 90s all over again...
    sure if you clear an entire zone and beat both bosses you have nothing to worry about…
    But no matter what... no matter how deep you get into a level... if you lose all of your lives… you have to play the entire level all over again…
    that means if you’re on the final boss and you’re on your last life.. which again these bosses are very trial and error with no rings to give you the opportunity to get your trialing on…
    and you die… you not only have to redo act 2 and get to the boss again,.. You also have to go back and beat act 1 and its mini boss again...
    an act that you’ve already proven yourself in…
    for what? Just to be annoying?
    Just to waste your time and drain your lives so it happens again?
    Acts themselves feel like full-fledged levels, it’s ridiculous to not give the player a campaign checkpoint at the end of a mini boss or at least a difficulty setting for this, especially to make the game more accessible to people that aren’t sonic vets
    it will never be fun for me to have to replay levels ive beat ever..
    I’ve already proved I can clear that section, let me move on
    there are some cool nods to the entire series here like sonic 3d and a few others that I don’t want to spoil that genuinely made me happy to run into…
    But still sonic mania just couldn’t turn me into a 2D sonic fan,
    This may without a doubt be a masterpiece for a sonic game…
    just don’t ignore that for a sonic game part…
    Overall this 2d sonic game is solid, buts it’s still a 2d sonic game
    slippery gameplay, frustratingly cheap moments, game overs with trial and error bosses, and levels that while beautiful - lack a sense of direction
    I give Sonic Mania
    A 7/10    … Expand
  10. edgerunner1
    Oct 31, 2018
    3
    The game runs smooth but the image looks like 16 bit aliased characters. Don't believe the reviews that speak glowingly about the beauty of the game. On current televisions and consoles, this game is completely unacceptable. I am sorry that I wasted my money on it. Should have given it a 1 but thought I might find something in the gameplay further in.
    If graphics are important to you,    The game runs smooth but the image looks like 16 bit aliased characters. Don't believe the reviews that speak glowingly about the beauty of the game. On current televisions and consoles, this game is completely unacceptable. I am sorry that I wasted my money on it. Should have given it a 1 but thought I might find something in the gameplay further in.
    If graphics are important to you, then look elsewhere for a good game. For Information, I am playing the game on Xbox one x and a 2018 model 4k sony television    … Expand
  11. musicmaniac1965
    Aug 15, 2017
    10
    After all those 3D attempts in varying degrea of success Sega finaly desided to go back to 2D and sprite based Sonic. This still is (For me) the best way to play a Sonic game. I love the improved graphics compared to the other 2D Sonic games, and enough settings to give this game eighter a old school feel by adding scanlines, or make it shine by removing all extra blur effects, witch givesAfter all those 3D attempts in varying degrea of success Sega finaly desided to go back to 2D and sprite based Sonic. This still is (For me) the best way to play a Sonic game. I love the improved graphics compared to the other 2D Sonic games, and enough settings to give this game eighter a old school feel by adding scanlines, or make it shine by removing all extra blur effects, witch gives a pristine sharp image. Thanks for this fan service Sega, now i will also get this for my Nintendo Switch!

    Graphics: Sure, it's no 4K 3D game with millions of polygons, but for me the sprite design, stage design, and awesome 2D animations still serves up a great looking game. Only if they made it a little bit less blocky, as it does show it's age on a 65 inch tv, this is why i will also get this on the Switch, brilliant on the small screen.

    Sound: So far i have yet to find a Sonic game with music that does not fit the game (I'm talking about the Megadrive/MegaCD Sonic games) and this game also does not dissapoint. Catchy tunes with a nice selection of deliberately oldschool chosen sounds. Has enough punch too! Get your feet tapping while playing.

    Playabillity. A Sonic game needs responsive control and proper acceleration ballance. A game like this lives or dies by this, but rest assured, this game takes the Sonic frenchise seriously, and you just can feel they have been tweaking the controlls untill it felt just right. At least, that is how i felt even after playing trough just 2 acts, i just knew it handles how i wanted it to be.

    Lastabillity: I remember playing those Megadrive/Genesis Sonic games every time i had the chance. With a good save function, and enough stages to keep me occupied for a while, i just know that this game is right for a play trough every once in a time. All this for just 20€. I hope they will keep going in this direction with the Sonic frenchise. Good one Sega!    … Expand
  12. DanMaximo
    Sep 6, 2017
    8
    Es un sonic de mega drive pero a la enesima potencia. Tiene todo lo que hacia grande a los sonic clasicos. Pero...
    Hay cosas que no estan muy bien...tiene facilidad para buguearse e incluso para quedarse el juego bloqueado. Y luego el juego en el ultimo tercio de los niveles se echa mucho a perder con una seleccion de niveles no muy acertada como Oil ocean. Ademas de que el juego abusa    Es un sonic de mega drive pero a la enesima potencia. Tiene todo lo que hacia grande a los sonic clasicos. Pero...
    Hay cosas que no estan muy bien...tiene facilidad para buguearse e incluso para quedarse el juego bloqueado. Y luego el juego en el ultimo tercio de los niveles se echa mucho a perder con una seleccion de niveles no muy acertada como Oil ocean. Ademas de que el juego abusa demasiado de niveles clasicos y apenas tiene nuevos.    … Expand
  13. CHIDO
    Nov 30, 2017
    9
    Sonic Mania contém: gráficos ótimos (dentro de sua proposta, que é ser um jogo 2D pixelizado), trilha sonóra incrivel, que nunca enjoa e nenhuma deixa a desejar! Uma quantidade incrivel de modos de gameplay! Sendo eles: Sonic, Sonic & Tails, Sonic & Knuckles, Tails, Tails & Sonic, Knuckles, Knuckles & Tails, Knuckles e Sonic! São 9 modos de gameplay! Também tem várias fases (todasSonic Mania contém: gráficos ótimos (dentro de sua proposta, que é ser um jogo 2D pixelizado), trilha sonóra incrivel, que nunca enjoa e nenhuma deixa a desejar! Uma quantidade incrivel de modos de gameplay! Sendo eles: Sonic, Sonic & Tails, Sonic & Knuckles, Tails, Tails & Sonic, Knuckles, Knuckles & Tails, Knuckles e Sonic! São 9 modos de gameplay! Também tem várias fases (todas incriveis pra variar), cada uma de certa forma "original" do seu próprio jeito, e com um ótimo Level Design, e o fator replay é incrivel... tem varios caminhos alternativos... e por ai vai. Sonic Mania é o melhor jogo 2D do Sonic. Eu não gosto de comparar 2Ds com 3Ds, mas dentro dos 2Ds, Sonic Mania é o melhor!
    Resumo:
    Ótimos gráficos, ótima trilha sonora, ótimo fator replay, ótimo level design, ótima variedade no gameplay, ótima exploração, ótima quantidade de sprites, ótima duração= Melhor jogo 2D do jogo!    … Expand
  14. Seta
    Nov 11, 2017
    9
    it's fun however Sonic 3&Knuckles was better in my opinion. i'm kind of bias because Knuckles is my favorite character and they made it so he just wasn't as fun to play in my opinion.
  15. MarvelJoe
    Apr 13, 2018
    8
    It's not the Sonic we deserve, but the one we needed. Really prefer Mania over Force.
  16. tjspells
    Apr 13, 2018
    10
    This is one of the best games I've played. It has 3 playable all with fun move sets. There are unfair moments but over all it's a great game
  17. SonicFan25
    May 19, 2018
    7
    I would have a joy playing this if either it was on 7th generation consoles or it was on mobile. The soundtrack is really, REALLY good, which gives me a score of 7. Good thing: soundtrack and how fun it looks. Bad thing: incompatible with what I have: Xbox 360 and iPhone 8
  18. MortonDude
    Jun 4, 2018
    10
    SEGA decided to give us something new... A GOOD SONIC GAME!!!
    Ok first off, most Sonic Games are actually alright but not as well remembered like SA2 or Generations so after a long 5-6 year wait, we got something really good and well made. The game was made Christian Whitehead who helped port classics like Sonic CD to portable systems, but were also known for making really good fan games    SEGA decided to give us something new... A GOOD SONIC GAME!!!
    Ok first off, most Sonic Games are actually alright but not as well remembered like SA2 or Generations so after a long 5-6 year wait, we got something really good and well made. The game was made Christian Whitehead who helped port classics like Sonic CD to portable systems, but were also known for making really good fan games about the blue blur. I'm glad they didn't ruin their chance as this game is now my favourite Sonic Game, and I didn't enjoy the classics as much as the Modern games!
    Sonic Mania is a 2D platformer that plays like the classics, so everyone should know how this game works. Sonic Mania also improves a lot of issues from the originals and makes the game very fun to master.
    Also, this game is cheap to buy compared to many games right now and always should be played over Sonic Forces any day as it's longer, enjoyable and not boring! Sorry Sonic Team but this is embarrassing as you made the blue b****** in the first place.    … Expand
  19. BiggTony
    Dec 6, 2018
    7
    Sonic is back baby! This is the first time I thoroughly enjoyed a Sonic game since Colors. They finally decided that it would be a good idea to bring back the old style of Sonic instead of all this 3D nonsense. The graphics are immersive and completely bring back that vibe you get when playing the original games. The only real problem I had with this game was the boss battle in theSonic is back baby! This is the first time I thoroughly enjoyed a Sonic game since Colors. They finally decided that it would be a good idea to bring back the old style of Sonic instead of all this 3D nonsense. The graphics are immersive and completely bring back that vibe you get when playing the original games. The only real problem I had with this game was the boss battle in the Studiopolis zone which took me so long to even figure out how to beat never-less actually beat the battle, but when you jump over that last hurdle. Sonic is back and better than ever.… Expand
  20. ZXSth
    Apr 2, 2019
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Sonic Mania is such an authentic, beautiful and nostalgic trip through the life and times of Sonic the Hedgehog. This is absolutely a game that is on par with its predecessors, and is a great time. And while it is not enough to be a pretty-looking game that emulates its ancestors a little too closely, I had the biggest grin on my face the whole time I was playing this.

    The design team who made this game made some solid design choices. The special stages are fun, fast-paces and serve as a fresh take on an old concept. Likewise, the blue sphere game is not a mandatory part of the game, allowing those who are annoyed by it (like myself) to skip it entirely. Furthermore, the new drop dash is a fantastic and ingenious mechanic that speeds up a fast game even more. All these new toys to play with, combined with excellent level design that combine just the right amounts of both speed and platforming, make for what might be the best two-dimensional Sonic game ever.

    That being said, this game doesn't do enough to differentiate itself from the other games in the franchise. While not changing what works too much is probably a good thing, the complexity of this game leaves something to be desired in my mind. Whereas Sonic 3 and Knuckles offered more levels and the super emeralds, Sonic Mania offers merely some new mechanics and a few new levels. The fact that half the levels in this game are merely re-imaginings of ones that came before seem to indicate that Sonic's legacy is more important than whether or not he does anything new at all. While there has been extreme backlash in the past to Sonic doing anything besides running really fast on a 2D plane, such positive critical responses to a game that does so many things exactly the way its older brothers did feels cheap. Make no mistake - this is a great Sonic game. But it is short by today's standards, and would have been revolutionary in 1996, whereas in the present day, it is a game that is more reliant on its legacy than anything else. If this were not a Sonic game, I doubt it would have had half the success and praise it's gotten.

    Regardless of its status as a Sonic game, however, this game's music is out of this world. As a rule, Sonic games have excellent soundtracks, and Sonic Mania is no exception - standouts include Studiopolis Act 1, the outstanding remix of Stardust Speedway (used for that level's first act in this game), Press Garden Act 2 and the theme of the true final boss. Tee Lopes, the composer for this game, did a bang-up job, and is comparable to Jun Senoue himself in terms of his ability to craft an amazing Sonic soundtrack.

    Overall, despite this game's reliance on the series' legacy as a whole, this is a fantastic game that has undeniably had so much love put into it. In the future, I am hoping more is done to innovate the series in a positive way, and bring 2D Sonic into the modern age.    … Expand
  21. tom974
    Jan 13, 2020
    9
    Assuming you've known the Megadrive Sonic opuses, this is the very best 2D one since that golden era of 2D platformer. If you swear only by modern 4K 3D graphics, you should look elsewhere though.
    Great work of the developping team here, playing it I had the feeling to play on a Megadrive once again.
  22. Pato_Chucrut
    Nov 10, 2019
    9
    Juegazo para todo fan de Sonic, una pena que haya tenido que ser un estudio indie que tenga que rescatar lo mejor del erizo azul mientras el Sonic Team destroza a su icono.
  23. RealMarioTDM
    Nov 29, 2020
    10
    This game is REALLY GOOD! There should be no reason for anyone to bash on this game.
  24. MegamanZeroX19
    Aug 20, 2020
    8
    Es un buen juego,altamente recomendado,pero tiene sus defectos:
    1.-Abusa mucho de la nostalgia.
    2.-Algunas partes de los niveles son exactamente iguales a las versiones originales.
    3.-Tiene bastantes niveles reciclados.
    Si hubiera tenido más niveles nuevos hubiera quedado mejor.
  25. Reinbou23
    Sep 7, 2020
    10
    Very good game and just perfect for the 25th Anniversary of the World´s Favourite Hedgehog only weakes in the level selection that depends of the Genesis Olds and Seems like a Sonic Generations but in 2D 16 BIt Graphics
  26. BeniBoo
    Sep 16, 2021
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This was a Sonic game I will forever cherish throughout my years. It was my first sonic game that I ever got, I honestly don’t regret it. This is a great choice if you want an introductory to the Sonic Series. Gameplay was fun, and exciting, although I wish this game had a LITTLE more originality, either way, this is a great game, got every Chaos Emerald, and still haven’t gotten all the medals, but, you should consider this game if you’re looking for a good 2D experience, it’s worth it!… Expand
  27. kidechev
    Oct 23, 2021
    10
    Omg this game brought me back to my early teens. I almost cried. I love it so much! Best sonic release EVER!
  28. OmxgaAwesome
    Apr 8, 2022
    8
    Sonic Mania is a CLASSIC Sonic The Hedgehog game for old fans and new fans as well.

Awards & Rankings

29
#29 Best Xbox One Game of 2017
29
#29 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2017
51
#51 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Oct 21, 2017
    70
    A simple hit of pure nostalgia, pulled off with aplomb. Welcome back, hedgehog. [Nov 2017, p.83]
  2. MondoXbox
    Oct 16, 2017
    85
    Creating a remix of old levels with a new story and level design tweaks proved to be a really brilliant idea, making Sonic Mania both a new and a classic game. Sonic fans will definitely love it.
    Read full review
  3. TheXboxHub
    Aug 29, 2017
    90
    This is how you do a Sonic game.
    Read full review
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