Sonic's 2D Games

The Genesis Trilogy

Sega Genesis

The Sega Genesis, known as the Mega Drive outside North America, is a 16-bit fourth generation home video game console developed and sold by Sega. It was Sega's third console and the successor to the Master System. Sega released it in October 1988 in Japan as the Mega Drive, and in August 1989 in North America as the Genesis. In 1990, it was distributed as the Mega Drive by Virgin Mastertronic in Europe, Ozisoft in Australasia, and Tectoy in Brazil. In South Korea, it was distributed by Samsung Electronics as the Super Gam*Boy and later the Super Aladdin Boy.

Sonic 1 Boxart Image

Sonic the Hedgehog 1

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991), the launch title of the Sonic series, is a 2D platformer set on South Island, where the player controls Sonic, an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog known for his supersonic speed. The game’s antagonist, Dr. Robotnik (also known as Doctor Eggman), seeks to harness the power of the Chaos Emeralds — six mystical gems that grant immense energy. To obtain them, he traps the island’s animal inhabitants inside robots. This is both a threat to the island’s ecosystem and a personal goal for Robotnik. Sonic, who is fast, courageous, and loyal to his friends, decides to stop Robotnik’s plans to save the animals and the emeralds.

Sonic 2 Boxart Image

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is the sequel to the original 1991 Sonic game, developed by Sega Technical Institute and released in November 1992 for the Sega Genesis. It continues the high-speed platforming formula but expands the story and introduces new characters and mechanics. The plot follows Sonic the Hedgehog as he once again faces Dr. Ivo Robotnik (Dr. Eggman), who has built a massive space station called the Death Egg. This time, Robotnik’s plan is to collect the seven Chaos Emeralds to power the Death Egg and take over the world. Sonic teams up with his best friend, the two-tailed fox Miles “Tails” Prower, who becomes a recurring character in the series. Together, they travel across West Side Island, a series of themed zones, to stop Robotnik’s scheme.

Sonic 3 Boxart Image

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Knuckles

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 takes place immediately after Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Dr. Robotnik’s Death Egg crashes onto Angel Island, a mysterious floating island home to the Master Emerald — a gem that can counteract the Chaos Emeralds. Robotnik plans to use the Master Emerald to re-launch the Death Egg and resume his world domination. Knuckles the Echidna gets tricked by Robotnik into thinking that Sonic and Tails are invaders trying to steal the Master Emerald. He ambushes them repeatedly throughout the game. Eventually Knuckles finds out that Robotnik was the one that stole the Master Emerald, so he joins Sonic and Tails in the end to stop him using the power of the Chaos Emeralds and Master Emerald. When Robotnik is defeated the story continues as Knuckles gets woken by an Egg Robo that plans to fulfill Robotnik’s dream of world domination. Knuckles defeat the Egg Robo and Mecha Sonic to conclude the story of this ambitious game.