If you're seeking a versatile gaming platform that you can enjoy both at home and on the go, the Nintendo Switch is your perfect companion. This is especially true if you're a Sonic enthusiast. Since the Switch's debut in 2017, Sega has been diligently releasing Sonic games for this hybrid console. Last year, fans were treated to Sonic x Shadow Generations, which coincided with the release of the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie, underscoring the ever-growing popularity of Sega's iconic speedster.
With the official announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2, it's almost certain that more Sonic titles are in the pipeline. Fortunately, the Switch 2 trailer has confirmed backward compatibility, ensuring that your current Sonic games will continue to be playable. For those eager to dive into the modern era of Sonic and his friends, here's a comprehensive list of all the Sonic the Hedgehog games currently available on the Switch, along with upcoming titles expected on the Switch 2.
A total of nine Sonic games have been released for the Nintendo Switch, ranging from the system's launch year in 2017 to the latest release, Sonic x Shadow Generations, in October 2024. Note that this list does not include games accessible through a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
Sonic x Shadow Generations
10
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Every Sonic Game Released on the Switch (in Release Order)
Sonic Mania (2017)
Sonic Mania, developed by PagodaWest Games and Sonic fan Christian Whitehead, is a heartfelt tribute to the classic Sonic titles on the Sega Genesis and Sega CD. Set after the events of Sonic 3 & Knuckles, it remixes eight iconic levels, including Green Hill Zone and Chemical Plant Zone, and introduces five new ones, such as the glamorous Studiopolis Zone and the serene Press Garden Zone. The game also introduces a new group of Eggbots called the Hard-Boiled Heavies, challenging Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. Mania is celebrated as one of the best Sonic games of the 2010s due to its fan-driven development, vibrant neon graphics, and the fresh challenges in each stage.
Sonic Forces (2017)
Sonic Forces sees Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic forming a resistance against Dr. Eggman, who has conquered much of the world with the help of Infinite, a masked jackal wielding the Phantom Ruby to create doppelgangers and warp reality. The game alternates between third-person Boost gameplay with Modern Sonic, side-scrolling with Classic Sonic, and a mode featuring a customizable avatar character that uses Wisp power-ups. While the writing and lighting may not be the series' strongest, the game remains enjoyable for many.
Sonic Forces
5
$24.88 See it at Amazon
Team Sonic Racing (2019)
Team Sonic Racing revolutionizes racing games by emphasizing teamwork over competition. Similar to Splatoon and Overwatch, it features cooperative gameplay inspired by Sonic Heroes, where players race in teams of three, closely monitoring teammates' performance and sharing Wisp power-ups to boost speed and rankings. With customizable sports cars, you can add gold rims and paint them in any color, West Coast Customs style.
2 Games Sonic Mania + Team Sonic Racing
8
$39.99 save 38%
$24.95 at Amazon
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (2019)
Released a year before the scheduled start of the Tokyo Olympic Games (which were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 reignites the friendly rivalry between Mario and Sonic with new events like surfing, skateboarding, karate, and sport climbing, along with bonus features. The game includes a story mode that transports Mario and Sonic back to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics in their 2D sprite forms, while their friends work to bring them back to the present. It offers a blend of nostalgia and modern gameplay, with educational insights into the history of the Tokyo Olympics.
Mario & Sonic at The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
18
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Sonic Colors: Ultimate (2021)
Sonic Colors: Ultimate is a remastered version of the original Sonic Colors, developed by Blind Squirrel Games to celebrate Sonic's 30th anniversary in 2021. The remaster enhances the graphics, brightening Eggman's interplanetary amusement park and character models, introduces a new Jade Ghost Wisp for phasing through walls and ceilings, replaces traditional lives with rescues by Tails, and adds mini races against Metal Sonic. Players can collect Park Tokens to customize Sonic's shoes and gloves with quirky designs.
Sonic Colors Ultimate
4
$39.99 save 27%
$29.00 at Amazon
Sonic Origins (2022)
Sonic Origins compiles and remasters the first four classic Sonic games from the Sega Genesis and Sega CD, catering to both veteran fans and newcomers. Players can choose between Classic Mode, which retains the original 4:3 aspect ratio, and Anniversary Mode, which introduces coins instead of lives and the Drop Dash ability from Sonic Mania. Each game features new animated cutscenes by Tyson Heese, connecting the four games into a cohesive narrative when played in release order.
Sonic Origins Plus
2
$39.99 save 25%
$29.99 at Amazon
Sonic Frontiers (2022)
Sonic Frontiers marks the franchise's first foray into open-world gaming, inspired by titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Sonic explores the expansive Starfall Islands, battling cybernetic foes, solving puzzles, and navigating Cyber Space levels reminiscent of past Sonic games to rescue his friends from a digital dimension. The game's soundtrack beautifully balances serenity and chaos, appealing to both new and long-time fans.
Open-World Sonic Frontiers
4
$59.99 save 33%
$39.99 at Amazon
Sonic Superstars (2023)
Sonic Superstars, a collaboration between Sega and Arzest, brings 3D graphics to a Classic Sonic game, surprising fans at the 2023 Summer Game Fest. With Classic Sonic as a CGI character and revamped levels featuring new music and designs, the game supports up to four players in local co-op across 11 levels on the Northstar Islands. Collecting Chaos Emeralds grants new powers to overcome obstacles.
Sonic X Shadow Generations (2024)
The latest addition, Sonic X Shadow Generations, is a remastered version of 2011's Sonic Generations, enhanced with graphical upgrades and quality-of-life improvements. It also includes a new campaign featuring reimagined Shadow stages from past Sonic games, offering over 150 stages and 15-20 hours of content. Our review praised it as soaring "far and above previous enhanced versions we've gotten in the Sonic franchise."
Sonic x Shadow Generations
10
See it at Amazon
More Sonic Games Available with Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack
For those with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, additional classic Sonic games are available under the SEGA catalog. You can find more information about them below:
- Sonic the Hedgehog 2
- Sonic Spinball
Upcoming Sonic Games on the Switch
2024 was a significant year for Sonic fans, with the release of Sonic X Shadow Generations and the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie. An upcoming Sonic game, Sonic Racing: Cross Worlds, was announced at the 2024 Game Awards and is set to launch on the Switch, as well as PC, PS5, and Xbox, later this year. This game follows up on 2019's Team Sonic Racing and features the full roster of Sonic characters. For more details, check out IGN's preview of the new Sonic racing game.
A Nintendo Direct scheduled for April 2 will shed more light on the Switch 2's release date and launch titles. We also have numerous predictions about what games might be released on the Switch 2.
Beyond gaming, Paramount has confirmed the development of Sonic the Hedgehog 4, targeting a Spring 2027 release.
For more Sonic the Hedgehog content, explore these guides:
- Best Sonic Toys for Kids
- Best Sonic Games of All Time
