Sonic Riders

 Xbox
Metascore
56

Mixed or average reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 33
  3. Negative: 6 out of 33
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  1. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    49
    Overall, though, with its fundamentally flawed handling, glitchy physics and a tendency for the game to just play itself, Sonic Riders is a huge disappointment. [April 2006, p.84]
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  2. The A.V. Club
    42
    As part of the Sonic universe, the game offers tons of fun unlockables like movies and new racing environments, and the rings buy you more Extreme Gear... which makes no discernible impact on the game.
  3. Edge Magazine
    40
    It's just not accurate or tangible enough to be rewarding, handling with the same kind of wool as Sonic's 3D platformers. [Apr 2006, p.93]
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  5. Pro-G
    30
    How and why the company continues to churn out such rubbish is a mystery, and even the biggest Sonic fans must be starting to lose their patience.
  6. Digital Entertainment News
    30
    For absolute diehard Sonic fans only (and even then it shouldn't be played)
  7. Computer Games Magazine
    20
    But this isn't so much a racing game as a slapdash splash of smeared color that never quite captures the feeling of hurtling down a track. [Jun 2006, p.92]
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Awards & Rankings

67
#67 Best Xbox Game of 2006
52
#52 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2006

User Reviews

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User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 2 out of 16
  1. ROTSA2
    Sep 13, 2022
    9
    90%

    A fast-paced and unique racing game that is one of the best of the Sonic series. This was one of the last uses of Sonic's true creativity.
  2. HetAlbertkanaal
    Oct 20, 2019
    10
    Sonic riders is an innovative racing game with an awesome soundtrack. At first glance, it might look complicated, but you’ll quickly learn theSonic riders is an innovative racing game with an awesome soundtrack. At first glance, it might look complicated, but you’ll quickly learn the mechanics. It’s a good alternative to Mario kart with the same level of quality.… Full Review »
  3. reviewbuddy
    Mar 27, 2017
    4
    Long story short, this game was the bane of my childhood, though this should come as a surprise to no one. Why would Sonic ever want to use aLong story short, this game was the bane of my childhood, though this should come as a surprise to no one. Why would Sonic ever want to use a skateboard? He could probably be way faster by just running. Why are there so many stupid characters that I don't want to care about? Why do they care about racing on skateboards when Sonic, being the fastest thing around, could do something better suited for the time of the Sonic crew? My child self was hoping for an expansive adventure game that I could zoom through, finding treasure and beating up bad guys, but what did we get? Sonic Riders. The game, although being another decent racing game in a vast sea of decent racing games, seemed at the time of my childhood to be a huge disappointment to my expectations for a Sonic game. This sentiment hasn't changed, but I now look at it as an example of the textbook problem with Sega; they, by trying to look hip and cool to a new audience, have only further alienated the new audience they want and betrayed their old fans for not something that would guarantee higher profits, but the mere potential of their existence.… Full Review »
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