Sonic the Hedgehog Game Gear box art

Sega Game Gear · Platformer

Sonic the Hedgehog

Certified classic

SystemSega Game Gear
GenrePlatformer
DeveloperAncient
PublisherSEGA
Players1 player
CommitmentAn evening or two (Roughly 1–6 hours to see it through)
SeriesSonic
LegacyCertified classic · legacy score 24

Developed by Ancient and published by SEGA, Sonic the Hedgehog arrived on the Sega Game Gear as a platformer.

Among the 87 Game Gear platformers in our database, it ranks #1 by legacy score.

It is part of the Sonic series; on the Game Gear you can also try Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic Chaos and Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble. The series also appears on other systems with Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis) and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis). Ancient also made Streets of Rage for the Game Gear.

Sonic the Hedgehog is a single-player game, so it's one to enjoy at your own pace.

Pick it if…

  • you want to run, jump and explore
  • you have time for an evening or two (roughly 1–6 hours to see it through)
  • you want to experience one of the Game Gear's defining games

Maybe skip it if…

  • you get frustrated by precise jumps and limited lives
  • you are looking for something to play with friends

What playing Sonic the Hedgehog is like

Platformers are all about movement: running, jumping and timing your way across levels full of gaps, enemies and secrets. The best ones feel great to control within seconds and then slowly teach you to master every leap.

Tip for newcomers: Retro platformers often have limited lives and few checkpoints. Learn one level at a time, look for hidden 1-ups, and don't be shy about using a save feature when it is available.

Sonic the Hedgehog gameplay screenshot on Game Gear
In-game screenshot (Game Gear)

Sonic the Hedgehog cheats & codes

50 codes on file (Action Replay, Other codes). Here are a few Action Replay codes to start with:

Infinite Lives00D2-4609
Infinite Rings00D2-AA99
Low Timer00D2-CF00

See all Sonic the Hedgehog cheats

Sonic the Hedgehog walkthroughs & guides

Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Sonic the Hedgehog.

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Playing Game Gear games today

Game Gear games are compact, colorful and closely related to the Master System library, so they are quick to dive into.

Sonic the Hedgehog FAQ

Who made Sonic the Hedgehog?

It was developed by Ancient and published by SEGA.

Is Sonic the Hedgehog multiplayer?

No. Sonic the Hedgehog is a single-player game.

How long does Sonic the Hedgehog take to play?

As a platformer, Sonic the Hedgehog typically falls into the "An evening or two" category: roughly 1–6 hours to see it through. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.

Read more about Sonic the Hedgehog on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.

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