Highlights

  • Tails' unwavering commitment to Sonic has made him well-loved by fans, and he has appeared in almost every game for over 30 years.
  • Tails is consistently portrayed as gentle and caring, and he showcases bravery in the face of danger, even taking on Dr. Eggman without Sonic.
  • Tails has had the opportunity to shine in various games, including Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Mania, where he has his own levels and showcases his abilities.

Miles "Tails" Prower is perhaps Sonic's most loyal and well-known friend. Ever since his first appearance in 1992, Tails has been a reliable sidekick, and quickly established his place in the franchise. He's been appearing at Sonic's side in almost every game and spin-off for over thirty years, and his unwavering commitment to the cause has made him well-loved by Sonic fans. Tails has been so popular that he's even starred in his spin-off titles, something very few Sonic characters achieve.

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Of all the Sonic characters, Tails is consistently portrayed to be the most gentle and caring, prompting him to be brave in the face of danger - even going up against Dr. Eggman when Sonic isn't around. Another quality players will associate with Tails is his ability to float/fly through the air by spinning his tails around rapidly, as well as his ability to swim. Thanks to his longstanding career, there's a whole host of brilliant Sonic games available for Tails fans to play.

7 Sonic Adventure

A Look At Tails' PC Potential

Tails racing Sonic in the second stage of his Sonic Adventure Level, with Tails drifting upside down from a large fan
Sonic Adventure

Platform(s)
Dreamcast , PC , PS3 , Xbox 360
Released
September 9, 1999
Genre(s)
Platformer

Sonic Adventure was the first main Sonic title to have 3D gameplay that stayed true to its platforming elements but incorporated adventure/exploration aspects too. It was met with critical acclaim and is often remembered as one of the better 3D Sonic games.

Despite receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews, Sonic Adventure doesn't provide the best of Tails' solo work. Although it was one of the first times Tails really got his own levels, his central goal is to finish different courses quicker than Sonic, which doesn't quite move him out of Sonic's shadow. Eventually, he does build enough confidence to race against Dr. Eggman to save the city - which goes to show how important he is. It's still a great choice for Tails fans, but the lovable fox has had better chances to shine since.

6 Sonic Adventure 2

Tails' First Big Solo Mission

sonic adventure 2 tails
Sonic Adventure 2

Platform(s)
Dreamcast , PC , PS3 , Xbox 360 , Xbox One
Released
June 19, 2001
Genre(s)
Platformer

Sonic Adventure 2 is a 3D action-adventure game that follows two main campaigns: Good and Evil. In the Good campaign, players follow Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, while the Evil campaign follows Shadow, Dr. Eggman, and Rouge the Bat. The game was met with generally positive reviews, marking it as a worthy successor to Sonic Adventure. It's become an iconic title in the Sonic franchise largely thanks to its opening level "City Escape," in which Sonic races down a steep hill while being chased by a large truck.

Sonic Adventure 2 is a great choice for Tails fans since he's not only a main playable character but is allotted his own section of the game. Unfortunately, Tails is confined to a mech for most of the level, since he goes up against Dr. Eggman (who is almost always in a mech of some kind). Although, Tails is often associated with technology and shooting tactics thanks to his associations with planes, so the game definitely leans into his canonical strengths.

5 Sonic Superstars

New Levels For Old-School Tails

sonic-superstars-tails-complete-cyber-station
Sonic Superstars

Released
October 17, 2023
Genre(s)
2D , Platformer

Sonic Superstars was released in October 2023 to mixed reviews from critics. It's a side-scrolling platform game that was once again supposed to breathe life into the classic-style Sonic games, so they could have a successful life outside the 3D Sonic titles that are now synonymous with the franchise.

Sonic Superstarsfeatures Miles as one of four main playable characters, which is a step up from his initial appearances in which he was mostly a player 2 character. The game produces new levels that are supposed to rejuvenate the original Sonic style with updated graphics and mechanics, but some gamers felt it didn't quite measure up to other recent iterations.

4 Sonic Mania

Revisiting Classic Tails Gameplay

Sonic and Tails running through Studiopolis Zone
Sonic Mania Plus

Platform(s)
PS4 , Xbox One , Switch , Amazon Luna
Developer(s)
PagodaWest Games , Headcannon
Genre(s)
Platformer

Sonic Mania was released in 2017 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Sonic. Unlike Sonic's most recent 3D gaming exploits, Sonic Mania returned to its side-scrolling platformer roots. The game was largely celebrated as one of the best modern Sonic releases, hailed as reinvigorating the fun that classic Sonic games had. It redesigned several past levels and featured Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles as playable characters.

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Sonic Mania is a great game for fans of Tails as well as fans of the franchise in general. It was developed by well-known Sonic fan game creators, which is thought to have largely contributed to its genuine nature. The game sees Tails' classic mechanics return in a plethora of creative and polished levels, bringing back that nostalgic feeling of playing the original Sonic games.

3 Sonic The Hedgehog 2

The Greatest Sidekick

Sonic and Tails running up a steep hill in Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Franchise
Sonic
Platform(s)
Genesis , Switch , 3DS , PC
Released
November 21, 1992
Genre(s)
Platformer

Sonic the Hedgehog2 is a side-scrolling platform game released on the Sega Genesis in 1992 and was generally agreed to be superior in every way to its original title. The graphics, level design, and music were key components of its success, contributing to the title-winning "Best Original Console Game" at the 1992 Golden Joystick Awards.

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Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was the first Sonic game to feature Tails, who was technically the first additional Sonic protagonist character. He paved the way for the plethora of Sonic characters players know and love, although many claim none have even gotten close to Tails in design or character. It's the perfect introduction to a sidekick and is an absolute must-play for any Tails lovers.

2 Sonic The Hedgehog 3

Co-Op Tails At His Best

Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Platform(s)
Genesis , PC
Released
February 2, 1994
Genre(s)
Platformer

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a side-scrolling platform game released in 1994, once again to audience and critical acclaim. It was one of the best-selling Sega Genesis titles and was generally believed to be the best installment of the original Sonic games.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 introduced Tails' flying mechanic, which further distanced him from Sonic's gameplay. A second player could join the game and play as Tails, placing him among the likes of Luigi as a player 2 champion. Although Tails is featured just as much in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, it's clear he is elevated as a character in this title. Additionally, the game is thought to be one of the best platformers ever, making it another must-play.

1 Sonic Origins Plus

The Ultimate Tails Collection

Tails' Skypatrol cover (in Sonic Origins) beside Tails using his tail to fly through a level and avoid obstacles
Sonic Origins Plus

Released
June 23, 2023
Developer(s)
Sega
Publisher(s)
Sega

Sonic Origins Plus is a compilation game released in 2023 that includes the first four original Sonic games as well as twelve that were made for the Game Gear - Sega's fourth-generation handheld console. The game was mostly met with positive reviews, but largely because it allowed modern gamers to access classic titles - particularly the Game Gear titles since Sega stopped producing consoles over twenty years ago.

Sonic Origins Plus is unbeatable in terms of Tails content. Although it's a bit of a cheat as a compilation title, not only does it include the four classic Sonic games in which Tails can be a playable character, but it also holds a lot of Tails' spin-offs. Tails Adventure and Tails' Skypatrol aren't particularly easy games to find and play, but Sonic Origins Plus makes them available on a modern console. It also has Sonic Chaos which is another classic game featuring Tails as a PC. It features playable Tails more than any other game before, making it the ultimate collection for Tails fans.

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