Sega has many franchises under its name, with its mascot Sonic the Hedgehog the most well-known. Players of the Sonic series, especially of its 3D games, will know how especially experimental many titles have been. Indeed, certain Sonic games have broken many traditional norms since the franchise entered the 3D realm, whether to do with the character lineup, plot points, or certain gameplay styles.

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These home console releases have at least one element about them which stands out as particularly unique. It's fair to say some have been controversial among fans, but others are generally well-received. These experimental Sonic games offer players a more varied game experience with the Blue Blur, and sometimes along with his many friends, too.

11 Sonic R

An Experimental Take On A Racing Game, With Music to Match

• Players must explore their surroundings
• Famous for its soundtrack

Sonic R is the franchise’s most unconventional racing game, including a large focus on not just beating other racers, but exploring the areas simultaneously. Unlocking extra racers, such as Metal Sonic or the creepy Tails Doll, requires players to search around for collectibles as well as come first in the races. The controls can be hard to learn, setting this title apart from simpler racing games in the series.

The most notable aspect is this game’s experimental yet divisive soundtrack. Being a CD-ROM Sonic game allowed for organic and vocal music to be used. Sonic R’s music is a collection of upbeat pop tracks, performed by T.J. Davis and composed by Richard Jacques. This duo also worked on the Sega Dreamcast gameMetropolis Street Racer. Sonic R is home to some of the franchise's most well-known songs, such as "Can You Feel The Sunshine?" though this radical musical style divided fans upon release.

10 Sonic Adventure

Took Sonic In A Bold New Direction

• Six playable characters
• Introduced the Chao

The first 3D Sonic title had massive expectations, and carrying Sonic’s signature gameplay style into the 3D realm was no easy feat. Yet all things considered, this landmark game was a smooth transition from 2D to 3D. It introduced a unique gameplay style that has become a fan favorite, and even enough to warrant a direct sequel in Sonic Adventure 2. Featuring various play styles, from Treasure Hunting to Time Attack platforming, Sonic Adventure tells one large story from six different perspectives.

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As well as the Hub Worlds, Chao Gardens offered a unique side experience, encouraging players to care for and raise these infant-like beings. The game’s soundtrack is worth a mention for its experimentation in diverse musical genres. It carries a signature 90s flair, yet sound director Jun Senoue brought a strong emphasis on hard rock. Together with Fumie Kumatani and Kenichi Tokoi, the trio added jazz, synth, and even vocal themes for each character.

9 Sonic and the Secret Rings

Set In The Storybook World

• Uses motion controls
• Unique art style and cutscenes

This exclusive title for the Wii attempted many experimental features, from the ‘on rails’ gameplay to relying on the console’s motion controls. The story itself, set in Arabian Nights, offers a unique gameplay setting, and soundtrack and even sees Sonic’s friends receive doppelgangers. Tails appears as the character Ali Baba, Knuckles as Sinbad, and Dr. Eggman as the King of Persia.

Sonic himself has some unique traits. In the final battle against the evil genie Erazor Djinn, Sonic turns into the mysterious Darkspine Sonic due to the power of the negative World Rings. Uniquely, he doesn’t rely on the usual Rings to maintain this power-up, unlike his most common transformation into Super Sonic. There are also over 100 skills players can unlock for Sonic, meaning they can witness the hedgehog perform some unique abilities.

8 Shadow the Hedgehog

Shadow Created A Darker Game As The Protagonist

• Experimental non-linear storyline
• Gun and weapon usage

The series’ darkest entry focuses on Sonic’s mysterious rival and his quest for answers about his past. The fact that Shadow is the main character makes this game very different, and even though the levels play similarly to previous 3D games, there are some stark variations. The most well-known is Shadow’s use of guns, which wasn’t a well-received feature at the time. Certain levels require players to shoot down either Black Doom’s minions or GUN’s soldiers.

Another experimental feature gives players a choice over what levels they play in which order. Though unlocking the final story requires reaching the ten possible endings, there are over 300 possible routes for players to take.

7 Knuckles' Chaotix

A Niche Yet Interesting Title

• Platform: 32X
• Released: 1995-04-21
• Developer: Sega
• Genre: Platform
• Features unique characters
• Momentum-based gameplay with Ring cords

This title suffers from falling largely under the radar since it was never ported off the Sega 32X. However, Knuckles' Chaotix features exclusive mechanics and unique character selection. Knuckles, Mighty, Charmy, Espio, and Vector tackle Dr. Eggman and Metal Sonic Kai, a one-off transformation of Eggman's deadly robot.

This game revolves around a team of two, who traverse five psychedelic stages, each with five levels. The duo is always bound by a cord between their Ring, meaning they can propel and throw each other across the stage and reach higher areas. There’s also a small hub world, where players can choose their partner character and even what stage they'll go to. Another experimental move means players can go below zero Rings into 'negative Rings'. This spin-off wasn’t afraid to play with the standard Sonic formula set out in the classic trilogy.

6 Sonic Free Riders

Has Experimental Controls With The Kinect Software

• Platform: Xbox 360
• Released: 2010-11-4
• Developer: Sonic Team
• Genre: Racing
• The player becomes the controller
• Unique race modes

Sonic Free Riders was released for the Xbox 360’s Kinect software. This allowed players to control games with full-body motion controls. As such, if players want to pull off powerful stunts and increase their chances of winning, they are required to jump, kick, and even pretend to swing a golf club.

Story Mode cutscenes are made up of various interviews with Omochao, who’s hosting the racing event with the four competing teams. This was the first game marking a new era of voice actors, with Roger Craig Smith taking the helm from Jason Griffith as the voice of Sonic the Hedgehog. There are also multiple race modes, including a particularly experimental Tag Race and Relay Mode. This required two to four players to work together to control their team of riders by performing actions simultaneously.

5 Sonic Lost World

Rewrote The Sonic Formula

• No 'Boost' Mechanic
• New stunts and course layout

Sonic Lost World has quite a different gameplay style compared to its immediate predecessors, Sonic Colors and Sonic Generations. With no Boost mechanic, this game offers more exploration as players cross typically cylinder-shaped planetoids. Sonic’s moveset has some unique new features in the absence of his iconic Boosting. Players can run up walls, and perform parkour stunts and certain kicks to defeat enemies.

This game borrowed much from the Super Mario series, from the familiar biome order to the new foes, the Deadly Six, sharing some similarities with the Koopalings. The Wii U version had Nintendo-themed bonus levels inspired by the Zelda and Yoshi’s Island series, as well as a NiGHTS into Dreams-themed stage inspired by the beloved yet underrated Sega franchise.

4 Sonic the Hedgehog 2006

Featured Radical Elements And A Complex Narrative

• Sonic is killed by Mephiles
• Sonic has a human love interest

Sonic 06 shares some similarities with Sonic Adventure, such as the three hub worlds and many playable characters. However, this fifteenth-anniversary game went even bolder, and darker, than its predecessor. Players go through one large story told from three perspectives: Sonic, Shadow, and Silver. Sonic 06 introduced 9 playable characters, as the three hedgehogs are supported by six ‘Amigo’ characters. Each character has a unique trait all their own. The much slower, puzzle-based gameplay in Silver’s story would be revisited in Sonic Unleashed with the Werehog’s levels.

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The story itself took some bold moves, seeing Sonic himself fall victim to Mephiles' evil plot, resulting in his death. Yet the biggest experiment was reviving a previously rejected plot idea, that Sonic would have a human girlfriend. Princess Elise, though a tragic character and central to the game’s story, was not well received by most players. The game’s enthralling soundtrack was also a new experiment. After the previous hard-rock focus of the Dreamcast-era games, new Sound Director Tomoya Ohtani used much more orchestral sounds fused with rock music. This succeeded in creating an equally thrilling, emotional, and refreshing soundtrack all in one, which, unlike Elise, most fans love.

3 Sonic Shuffle

The Forgotten Dreamcast Game

• Platform: Sega Dreamcast
• Released: 2000-11-14
• Developer: Sega
• Genre: Party
• Sonic's only party game outing
• Strong storytelling emphasis

A largely forgotten game, Sonic Shuffle is a stand-alone party game in the series. Set in the dream-realm “Maginaryworld”, players traverse five different boards in an attempt to collect the most Precioustone shards. Items called Forcejewels grant special abilities on a player’s turn, of which there are many different types. There’s also a generous amount of mini-games as well as three different game modes, and even a final boss battle at the end of the Story Mode.

Though it is a party game, an experimental twist is its great emphasis on a running narrative. Sonic and Co. seek to help Lumina restore Maginaryworld’s power source, the Precioustone, after its guardian, Illumina, suddenly disappears. They discover that Lumina, along with the tragic Void, are Illumina’s two halves, and thus help restore her. Sonic Shuffle is almost two game genres in one, making it experimental.

2 Sonic Boom: Rise Of Lyric

Centered On Working As A Team

• Slower, combat-focused gameplay
• New lore and characters

Being the first of a spin-off series, Sonic Boom brought an overhaul to many classic Sonic elements. From the characters’ revised personalities and appearances to a completely original setting and art style, Rise of Lyric offered a new gameplay format. Though players could roam around Hub Worlds in selected previous games, this time around there are no human characters. The gameplay itself focuses greatly on exploring and frequent combat, using the Enerbeam to disarm enemies and brawling to defeat them. There are also more familiar-looking high-speed segments requiring quick-stepping.

Mostly, the gameplay is slower but players have a choice of characters since Sonic works with his loyal friends Tails, Knuckles, and Amy throughout the game. There’s also a different lore, requiring players to collect the Chaos Crystals, as well as numerous other items that can be used to buy upgrades. Aside from the main story, there are multiple two-player modes, from a non-stop brawling challenge to surviving an electric gauntlet full of enemies.

1 Sonic Frontiers

Sonic Explores An Open World

• The first open-world Sonic title
• Shows characters' personal growth

Sonic’s recent outing represented a sharp turn in the series' traditional gameplay style and instead went fully open world. Set across five bleak islands, the last remnants of the Ancients, Sonic must traverse the Cyber realm in an effort to release his friends from Cyber captivity. Players enter Portals to access the levels, requiring they have enough Portal Gears. These are obtained through battling Guardians or found hidden across the islands. There are many important things to collect across the open world, from Memory Tokens to Chaos Emerald Vault Keys.

The characters themselves also underwent some revision, appearing older, and even Eggman himself is looked at from a drastically different perspective. Players can read portions of Eggman’s diary, which highlights a lot of his character growth. Sonic also has some new moves, which are unlocked when players reach the right amount of Skill Points. Though Sonic Frontiers included big changes, it met with success and became the highest-selling 3D Sonic title.

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