Sonic Mania Reviews

Sonic Mania is ranked in the 96th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8.5 / 10.0
Aug 14, 2017

A fantastic entry and a long awaited proper comeback for Sonic. The new levels are fresh and full of ideas and the tuning in the "old" levels is nothing short of amazing. A must for all the 2D Sonic fans.

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8.5 / 10.0
Aug 14, 2017

Sonic Mania succeeds in paying homage to the classic '90s entries that so many fans remember fondly, and in the process delivers the best Sonic game in decades

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86 / 100
Aug 14, 2017

Every stage is a carefully-crafted explosion of looping paths and intricate patterns.

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Geeks Under Grace
Gareth Tucker
8.7 / 10.0
Aug 28, 2017

Sonic Mania is a thoroughly enjoyable throwback to the original games and a must have game in anyone's collection. Christian Whitehead and his team at Headcannon and Pagodawest have definitely set themselves apart as the team to hopefully take 2D sonic games forward.

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IGN
Top Critic
8.7 / 10.0
Aug 14, 2017

Sonic Mania is the classic throwback longtime series fans have been clamoring for.

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90 / 100
Aug 18, 2017

What was old has become new, showing that Sonic can deliver a thrilling adventure without gimmicks such as werewolves and fishing mini-games. Instead, Sonic Mania is a revival of this retro star at this best, and I hope SEGA makes more.

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9 / 10
Aug 24, 2017

This game’s critical success should be a wake-up call for Sega to rethink their approach to Sonic in general. Although I can’t speak from the perspective of someone who didn’t grow up on Sonic, I truly believe this game boasts cross-generational appeal. Anyone who appreciates challenging, well-designed 2D platforming should find a lot to love here.

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9 / 10.0
Aug 23, 2017
Sonic Mania Review | The Best 2D Sonic Game video thumbnail
9 / 10.0
Aug 18, 2017

The fantastic stage design, gorgeous visuals and inspiring music of the early Sonic games have been brilliantly translated, with all the new additions seamlessly gelling with the old. Mania is an absolute must for any self-proclaimed Sonic fan and ranks high even just as a platformer in this generations of consoles. The blue blur has truly returned to his former glory.

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9 / 10.0
Aug 21, 2017

Sonic fans have been waiting for a game that finally built on the legacy of the Genesis era Sonic games and Sonic Mania has finally captured that magic that has been missing. Bringing in a true Sonic fan to take the reigns of the series was very much the right decision and you can tell the level of loving detail put into every aspect of the game. It may have taken a long time, but everybody’s favorite Blue Blur is finally back in Sonic Mania and it feels so good.

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4.5 / 5.0
Sep 5, 2017

If you’ve been waiting for Sonic’s grand return to the spotlight, your wish has finally been granted. Sonic Mania is as good as it gets, proving that sometimes a franchise needs to rediscover its roots to move forward.

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Aug 27, 2017

The nostalgia felt when playing Sonic Mania means that SEGA have done a fantastic job. It looks the part, sounds the part and most importantly plays the part. It’s more challenging than I remember, but this is quite possibly due to there being a lot of new elements to the levels to learn, and my muscle memory from the old games counts for nothing here. There is plenty of replayability here though, so maybe one day those memories will return.

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9 / 10.0
Aug 19, 2017

Sonic Mania is quite possibly the best blue blur experience in over twenty years. What Christian Whitehead, Headcannon, and Pagoda West Games have accomplished is nothing short of breathtaking, and it most certainly steers the Sonic franchise back on course. Now, we can only cross our fingers that both the flawless quality and overwhelming success of Sonic Mania will result in a series of future franchise entries within this style.

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Aug 24, 2017

It’s clear that Sonic Mania was made with a lot of tender loving care, and with all the fans this game is set to please in addition to finding new ones, it would be a shame if Sega doesn’t name Christian Whitehead and company the new Sonic Team.

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9 / 10
Aug 13, 2017

Sonic Mania is a true love letter to the blue hedgehog's 16-bit days, developed by a team that you can tell have put everything they have into making sure that it not only lives up to fan expectations but gamers in general. And, while there is certainly plenty to be gained here if you're a Sonic enthusiast, Sonic Mania is an excellent standalone platformer in its own right, too, and one that will hopefully open the door to more retro-inspired ventures for some of SEGA's older IPs.

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9 / 10.0
Sep 6, 2017

Sonic Mania is not only one of the best titles in the series, but is also one of the best platformer games in recent years. It's clear that this game is made by people who really love the series and definitely knew what they were doing; because it's full of nostalgia, color, passion and personality. If you're a fan of sonic series or platformer games, you should not miss Sonic Mania

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Digitally Downloaded
Clark A.
Top Critic
Sep 6, 2017

While I disagree, Sonic Mania is a liberating experience that needs no asterisks to qualify it. Sonic sequels have so often been rushed or subjected to gimmicks that compromise what works, but Mania finally stops to acknowledge past successes, adds logical improvements, and enhances it all tenfold with personality. It even proves that Sonic can be more nuanced than the cursed phrase "gotta go fast" implies.

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9 / 10.0
Aug 30, 2017

Sonic Mania is a must-have title for platforming fans, retro enthusiasts, and Sonic fans of all types. It captures the essence of what made the series memorable, with a balance of high speed and thoughtful level design that guides you to secrets but always takes you to the end. Boss fights are inventive, and the title's replay value is immense, given the unlockables and various available pathways based on your chosen character. All we can hope for now is an official sequel, spiritual or otherwise, from these same fans-turned-programmers.

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Cubed3
Top Critic
9 / 10
Aug 21, 2017

Sonic Mania doesn't just stand shoulder to shoulder with the classics of yesteryear; it surpasses them. The level design is absolutely incredible. Each zone features a wealth of obstacles and secrets, and they're all superbly implemented. Players are given ample opportunity to explore, though there's also incentive in speeding to the end.

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9 / 10
Aug 18, 2017

Sonic Mania has everything you could ever want from a Sonic game. The levels are carefully crafted, the bosses are unique, and the fanservice is off the charts. Those looking for the second coming of SEGA's mascot have found it here.

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