One notable feature of the Sonic franchise is the amount of diverse and colorful locations players get to explore. The classic Sega Genesis titles were upheld by critics for their vivid and unique locations. This legacy has continued throughout the 3D games also, from metropolitan towns to lonely windswept islands.

Related

Best Sega Genesis Games, Ranked

The Sega Genesis featured numerous video games that are still considered shining examples of the medium.

However, Sonic and his pals haven't just traversed pleasant, hospitable locations in their pursuit of Dr. Eggman. The hedgehog is no stranger to setting foot in some extremely hostile, dangerous, and even scary locations. These places stand out as particularly hostile and undesirable to set up home in, whether due to thick pollution or frightening aliens.

8 Space Colony ARK

An Eerie And Lonely Location

• First appearance: Sonic Adventure 2

Though it was an advanced research facility, by the time of Sonic Adventure 2, this Space Colony was vastly uninhabitable. This was the result of a tragedy fifty years prior, when GUN decimated it, killing most of its inhabitants. The space station fell into decay, and when Sonic and Co. arrive, its perils await them.

From the dangerous and wild Artificial Chaos to old GUN robots still patrolling the decaying colony, there are also powerful air vacuums and anti-gravity switches. Lurking in the depths was the humongous Biolizard, awakened by the Chaos Emeralds, which Shadow has to tackle in a tense boss fight. Apart from the enemies, the rest of the colony is vast, empty, and eerie. There’s definitely no room for fun and leisure aboard this abandoned space station.

7 Oil Ocean Zone

A Vast Industrial And Polluted Environment

• First Appearance: Sonic the Hedgehog 2

This zone is where Dr. Eggman’s vast oil refinery sits, spilling large quantities of crude oil into the ocean below. With the sky a deadly orange, this is one of the most heavily polluted locations Sonic’s ever been to. Void of nature, there’s nothing attractive about living in this industrial zone.

It makes an even deadlier reappearance in the 2D titleSonic Mania. In Act 2, the zone erupts in flames, and the air becomes extremely smoggy, blocking any view of the many hazards that dot the surroundings. Sonic is forced to find pulleys that clear the air under a strict time limit, otherwise the sheer thick smog will slowly rob him of Rings.

6 Eggmanland

A Psychedelic Place Full Of Hazards

• First Appearance: Sonic Unleashed

The villainous doctor finally realized his dream of building Eggmanland in Sonic Unleashed. It may look like a glitzy theme park, but this is the center of the "Eggman Empire" and should be avoided at all costs. The “utopia” is full of Eggman's robots and laser grids, is rife with pollution, and has no trace of natural beauty.

Right outside lies a giant golden statue of the doctor himself. The sky is a rusty dark color, making the vivid theme park lights intense and dizzying. This prompts Chip to exclaim how his “eyes feel like they’re gonna explode.” This wacky and deadly mechanical nightmare isn’t a hospitable place for anyone except Eggman himself to inhabit safely.

5 Prison Island

Spoiled By Toxic Waste

• First Appearance: Sonic Adventure 2

Once used by GUN, as the name implies, to imprison criminals, the island also doubled up as a research base. Here, Shadow the Hedgehog, Professor Gerald, and even Sonic himself are held for a time, the latter two in dark, cold cells. After Dr. Eggman blows up the island in Sonic Adventure 2, the surrounding landscape becomes an even more unpleasant place.

Related

All Main Vocal Themes From The Sonic The Hedgehog Games, Ranked

Sonic’s had vocal songs for 30 years, representing a wide range of musical genres.

His actions caused the island to become polluted by toxic waste, which spilled over into the surrounding ocean. When Shadow ventures there in his eponymous game, he’s forced to cross perilous pools of luminescent toxic sludge. Adding to the danger, Black Doom’s minions inhabit the once-pristine island’s jungles.

4 Labyrinth Zone

A Suffocating Nightmare

• First Appearance: Sonic the Hedgehog

This inhospitable location is one of Sonic's most notorious zones. It's known for its intense difficulty and the debut of the terrifying drowning theme. The zone consists of many narrow claustrophobic tunnels, made all the worse for being flooded. The life-saving air bubbles can only be found in certain areas, hence why it's so easy for poor Sonic to drown here.

Adding to this zone's horror, there are many traps littered both above and underwater. From surprise-attacking spears and spikes to gargoyles that spit fire, there's nothing friendly to be found here. It's almost impossible to be in this location and not hear the panic-inducing music. As well as being unable to swim, an experience in this zone could've given the hedgehog his well-known fear of drowning. What could be a nice aspect of living in this horrendous stage?

3 Crisis City

A World Wrecked By Fire

• First Appearance: Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)

It would be terrible to live in Silver the Hedgehog’s world. In his timeline, the once beautiful coastal city of Soleanna was completely decimated by Iblis, the “Flames of Disaster.” The result is one of the most dangerous places ever visited in a Sonic game. As Sonic reiterates as he travels through: "The whole city's on fire!"

With the sky perpetually dark, the city is engulfed in an ocean of deadly lava. Ruined buildings loom dangerously, on the brink of collapse. Iblis’ monsters inhabit the city and do not hesitate to attack anyone who passes them by. This bleak world shouldn’t appeal to anyone as a place to live. As Silver himself says: “Life is a struggle, and people live without hope.”

2 Creeper Gorge

Extremely Dangerous And Gloomy

• First Appearance: Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric

This scary location is one to be avoided by any living thing. With the constant threat of earthquakes, this area also has numerous rock slides and bottomless pits. The thick fog makes all the dangers ten times worse; one wrong step will most likely be fatal. The "entrance" to the Gorge should warn anyone of its dangers. The geology just happens to have formed a menacing face with glowing eyes.

Related

10 Unluckiest Sonic The Hedgehog Characters

These characters in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise have endured some rough times, physically and emotionally.

The sky is an acidic green, and the area is covered with both animal skeletons and ancient abandoned construction sites. The most notorious things, however, are giant vines that seek to ambush anyone passing through. These sentient plants are covered in thorns and can swing back and forth to attack. Surely this is one of the most hostile places Sonic and Co. have ever visited.

1 Black Comet

A Deadly World Inhabited By Aliens

• First Appearance: Shadow the Hedgehog

The homeworld of the villain Black Doom and his army, the Black Comet consists of a network of gloomy caves and open spaces surrounded by a lethal liquid. The only major light source that can be found in the tunnels is purple. The main areas, however, are eerie and poorly lit, with Doom’s villainous minions surrounding the entire space. The only way to cross the toxic pools that flood the Comet is to use an alien hover transport.

Adding to the overall sense of eeriness are the many alien tentacles that rise out of both the toxic sludge and the walls themselves, presenting much danger to passers-by. Doom’s visage can be seen on the Comet’s walls. This lethal environment would be a horrendous place to end up in, with no escape, being a comet traversing outer space.

More

Sonic The Hedgehog: Most Iconic Themes From Every Mainline Game

Sonic the Hedgehog is renowned for having consistently good soundtracks. These songs represent the best from every entry in the long-running series.