The best Sonic the Hedgehog video games of all-time

Sonic Rush – 2005 – Nintendo DS

Sonic the Hedgehog appearing on a Nintendo console? Back in the 90s, that idea was nothing more than a daydream. However, once Sega transitioned into a third-party developer, it officially brought Sonic over to Nintendo consoles, beginning with Sonic Advance for the Game Boy Advance. At the time, it blew my mind to see a Sonic game on any Nintendo system. Sonic Advance was an OK game that went back to Sonic’s 2D gameplay roots, but it mostly relied on nostalgia as a selling point.

In 2004 Nintendo released its next handheld console, the innovative DS (Dual Screen), which featured two LCD screens that operated cohesively. Sega capitalized on this with the fantastic Sonic Rush. It still retained the classic 2D side-scrolling gameplay while utilizing both screens to display the larger-than-life levels with some of the best level design in the entire series.

Sonic Rush also introduced a “grading system” that rated players based on how quick players finished the level (hence the “Rush” in Sonic Rush). The game also included a new playable character, Blaze the Cat, which added more value to its replayability. It’s easily Sonic’s best handheld outing, complimented by the game’s unique presentation.