Who Makes the Best Sonic the Hedgehog Games?

More than a dozen different developers have tried their hand at creating Sonic's adventures, but all Sonic games are definitely not created equal. Whose are best? Consider the facts and weigh in!

Video by Jeremy Parish Contributor

Updated on June 5, 2014

This article first appeared on USgamer, a partner publication of VG247. Some content, such as this article, has been migrated to VG247 for posterity after USgamer's closure - but it has not been edited or further vetted by the VG247 team.

Sega has lifted the veil on Sonic Boom, the next entry in the ever-growing Sonic the Hedgehog saga, and it's full of brawling, athletic tape, wild jungle badgers, and rampant steroid abuse.

But the most important change that Sonic Boom brings to the table is the arrival of another developer to the expansive stable of game companies who have worked on Sonic. The Wii U version of Sonic Boom comes to us courtesy of Big Red Button (not to be mistaken for the GameCube controller, which had a little red button), while Sanzaru (of recent Sly Cooper adventures fame) has taken the honors on the 3DS release.

Watch: An in-depth summary of Sonic's complex parentage.

Through the years, more than a dozen different studios have created Sonic games — some internally at Sega, but many, like Big Red Button and Sanzaru, are outside contractors. All told, more different developers have had their hands on Sonic than on Mario and Zelda combined. That's a lot!

So who makes the best Sonic games? Not all developers are created equal, and neither are the games they create. We've dug through the entire history of the Sonic series to highlight more a dozen developers who have worked on the "blue blur's" adventures over the years. Check out our video analysis and weigh in with your opinion. Who takes top honors? We've presented the facts; you provide the opinion.

For reference, here's a quick rundown of all the studios and games covered in the video above.

Sonic Team (1st Party era)

Sonic the Hedgehog [Genesis], Sonic Eraser [Meganet], Sonic the Hedgehog 2 [Genesis, codeveloped with STI], Sonic CD [Sega CD], Sonic 3 [Genesis, codeveloped with STI], Sonic & Knuckles [Genesis, codeveloped with STI], Knuckles' Chaotix [32X], Sonic Jam [Saturn], Sonic Adventure [Dreamcast], Sonic Shuffle [Dreamcast, codeveloped with Hudson], Sonic Adventure 2 [Dreamcast]

Sega's other internal studios

SegaSonic the Hedgehog [Arcade, Sega AM3 Division], SegaSonic Cosmo Fighter [Arcade], Sonic the Fighters [Arcade, Sega AM2 Division], Sonic Drift [Game Gear], Tails Sky Patrol [Game Gear, SIMS], Sonic Drift 2 [Game Gear], Sonic Labyrinth [Game Gear, Minato Giken], Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games, Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, Sonic Jump [Mobile, Hardlight], Sonic Dash [Mobile, Hardlight], Sonic Jump Fever [Mobile, Hardlight]

Ancient

Sonic the Hedgehog [Master System]

Aspect

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 [Master System], Sonic Chaos [Master System], Sonic Triple Trouble [Game Gear], Tails Adventure [Game Gear], Sonic Blast [Game Gear]

Sonic Team (3rd Party era)

Sonic Pinball Party [GBA], Sonic Battle [GBA], Sonic Heroes [Multi], Sega Superstars [PS2], Shadow the Hedgehog [Multi], Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) [Multi], Sonic Riders [Multi], Sonic and the Secret Rings [Wii], Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity [Wii/PS2], Sonic Unleashed [Multi], Sonic and the Black Knight [Wii], Sonic Colors [Wii], Sonic Free Riders [Multi], Sonic Generations [Multi], Sonic Lost World [Wii]

Sega Technical Institute

Sonic 2 [Genesis, codeveloped with Sonic Team], Sonic 3 [Genesis, codeveloped with Sonic Team], Sonic & Knuckles [Genesis, codeveloped with Sonic Team], Sonic Spinball [Genesis]

Dimps

Sonic Pocket Adventure [NGPC], Sonic Advance [GBA], Sonic Advance 2 [GBA], Sonic Advance 3 [GBA], Sonic Rush [DS], Sonic Rush Adventure [DS], Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I [Multi, codeveloped with Sonic Team], Sonic Colors [DS], Sonic Generations [3DS], Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II [Multi, codeveloped with Sonic Team], Sonic Lost World [3DS]