Once upon a time, tech-savvy kids could code their own games, sell them to publishers, and enter the computer world that way. “Bedroom coders” became all the rage, especially in places where microcomputers like the Commodore 64 were big. Today, they tend to start software development in more typical, boring ways. But they didn’t leave. When they don’t make indie games, they experiment with ROM hacks and fan games.
Not every company is happy to see their IPs tampered with, but some are silently tolerant. For example, there are some Sonic the hedgehog fan games and ROM hacking contests that have been running for years, even decades, without Sega offending them so far. In some cases, they may have helped their employees find work at Blue Blur’s company. Here are some of the best Sonic fangames that can be found on the net.
7 Sonic The Hedgehog Megamix
Making fan games is not a surefire way to become a top programmer or developer for some big company. However, it is one way to put together an interesting resume. Before Simon Compiled and Co-Created ‘Stealth’ Thomley Headcannon Studios Sonic Mania and Sonic Originshe collaborated with other notable coders on Sonic Megamix. It was an ambitious fangame that redesigned and adapted the original Sonic the hedgehog levels, throwing in new sound effects, music, movements, and characters.
Sonic had some of his Sonic Adventure moves like the Lightspeed Dash. Tails could whip his tails. Shadow of Sonic Adventure 2 and Mighty the Armadillo by Knuckles Chaotix were also playable. The project stalled when it moved to a 4.0 beta build for Sega CD hardware and emulators. But the 3.0 build is stable and works with Genesis emulators and machines. The particularly sneaky can even find cartridge versions on the black market, but it’s safer (and cheaper) to look for them online.
6 Sonic 1: The Next Level
Developed by MarkeyJester and GalliumGrant, Sonic 1: The Next Level won the 2015 Sonic Hacking Contest. It won the most trophies of all other entries in the history of the contest to date, despite being a relatively short game. It only has 3 Acts and a Boss round. But it had new level assets, new music, new badniks, and smoother animations than the original game. Not to mention some new gameplay mechanics like anti-gravity and hoverbikes.
The fangame gained attention outside the Sonic Hacking community and appeared in features in retro gamer magazine. Images of it were even used for Netflix’s High score series in its episode about the console war between the Genesis and SNES. The episode clearly showed the title, gimmicks and references (“Jester Stream Technology”), but someone at Netflix somehow mistook it for a legitimate Sonic game. If alone.
5 Sonic: For the sequel
Have you ever found it weird when a series has a part that is a sequel or prequel to just one specific game? Like how the Street Fighter Alpha series (Zero in Japan) takes place before Street Fighter 2 but after that Street Fighter 1? That’s what LakeFepard’s Sonic: For the sequel does for Sonic. It gives the hedgehog a new adventure in which he meets Tails for the first time.
It’s a very solid game, with 12 zones to go through, with all but the last one having 3 acts per zone: two gameplay acts and a boss. But if players want the happy ending to the game, they don’t have time to hang out. They have to beat the game in less than 2 hours to get it. Any longer and they get the bad ending. Sonic isn’t as full of moves as in Sonic the Hedgehog Megamixbut he has his spindash and Sonic CD‘s Super Peel Out. Tails can also fly, unlike the original Genesis sequel.
4 Sonic: After the sequel
If LakeFeperd could make a ‘Sonic 1.5’, why not a ‘Sonic 2.5’? So, Sonic: After the sequel created, with 10 new zones following the same structure as in the previous game; with the first nine having 2 levels, 1 boss each. Only now players can find a hidden ring in each zone to jump in and play a secret version of that level with different weather effects. This game does away with the time limit system for the good ending, which may be a relief to some.
Instead, players can choose a Story Mode to automatically see the happy ending, or a Classic Mode to do the usual Sonic thing and grab the Chaos Emeralds through special stages to get it. Sonic now has access to elemental shields such as Fire and Water from Sonic 3, and a new Spike. If avid Sonic fans do seek this one out, it’s best to track down the 2017 ‘DX’ version, which tweaks the physics and gives Sonic the Drop Dash of Sonic Mania.
3 Sonic 3: Angel Island Revisited
Sonic Origins is a nice collection, especially since it has the first reissue of Sonic 3 & Knuckles in times. Still, it suffers from a few issues, such as a strange bug, the remixed music not being as good as the ‘Michael Jackson music’, and generally not as polished as Headcannon Studios would have liked. Fortunately, the modding community has provided an alternative. With only a legal ROM of Sonic 3&Kplayers can paste Eukaryot and DJ Spindash’s Sonic 3: Angel Island Revisited mod on it.
It tweaks the original game to run at a smooth 60FPS and in widescreen. Players also have a ton of options to play with. They can swap the soundtrack to get back either those classic tracks, the prototype tracks, or a new DJ Spindash soundtrack. Players could also choose between keeping the Sonic 3&K level layout or use the harder Sonic 3 layout. Solo players can also have Tails lift Sonic to higher ledges without fiddling with a second controller. Or he can lift Knuckles in ‘Knuckles & Tails’ mode. There are so many features in this mod that it can even support other mods! Sonic 3 fans won’t need another version of the game after this one.
2 Sonic Robo Blast 2
All the mods on this list have been built on top of another so far Sonic game. So, how about one built on top of it? demise? Created by Sonic Team Junior, it uses the Doom Legacy version of the classic shooter to create a pseudo 3D platformer. Players can choose Sonic, Tails or Knuckles and jump through 25 levels in 8 zones, complete with all the classic power-ups and abilities. Only now the player can move up, down and around the levels instead of just left to right.
There is a large number of different multiplayer modes, both local and online. Players can help each other in co-op or beat each other in Match or Team Match. There’s even a Capture the Flag mode! Like Sonic 3: AIRit also supports its own mods such as replacing the sprites with 3D models, adding new levels or a kart racer mode.
1 The unleashed project
Today, Sonic Unleashed can be played on the Xbox One and Series X/S, where each level plays silky smooth. But for the first 10 years of its life, the game would chug on the 360, and worse on the PS3. Especially in the daytime Jungle Joyride stage with its high definition details. If only there was a way for people without new Xboxs to play unleashed with a stable frame rate…and with better controls…and without that silly Werehog business.
That’s where the Team Unleashed mod comes in. Paste them Project unleashed mod on a PC version of Sonic Generationsand players can move through all unleashedStages during the day. Well, their headliners anyway, complete with their own hub world, decorative elements and generationstighter game. The hardware requirements increase with each level, but since this mod came out in 2013, players with more modern machines should be able to get a smooth, enjoyable experience out of it.
Sonic Limits is set to release Holiday 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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