On March 31, Sega released a brand-new Sonic the Hedgehog game to the public on Steam, completely for free. In The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog, the titular character has been killed, and it's up to Miles "Tails" Prower and the player to find the culprit before Amy Rose gets to cut into her birthday cake.
It sounds like a strange premise to a Sonic game, especially one that's rated E by the ESRB, but this is the exact premise of The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog. When the game begins, it's the player's first day working on the Mirage Express. The Mirage Express offers event packages filled with plenty of options for entertainment, from escape rooms to murder mystery games. It's Amy Rose's birthday, and the pink hedgehog has invited a number of Sonic's friends as they're put into the roles for Amy's perfect party. Sonic's role is made apparent as a captain, and also the victim.
The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog was Too Quick on the Draw
The launch trailer for The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog did a great job at setting up its reveal. Fans are told that Sega has listened to feedback to change the series for the better, only to cut to Sonic's unmoving body with the bold statement that "he's dead." It's bound to earn laughs from plenty of gamers before the surprising fact that Sega is just a bit serious and a Sonic murder mystery visual novel game fully exists is made clear with real gameplay footage. Once the reality sets in, the trailer announces that the game is free on Steam.
As great as a new Sonic game being put on Steam for no extra cost is, it appears that the franchise's mantra of "gotta go fast" has sadly taken the wind out of its sails in this case. The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog was likely meant to be a game for April Fools' Day, and yet it came out a day earlier. It seems that Sega's intentions were to have the title released on the proper date, as when the credits roll, players are greeted with a message saying "Happy April Fools' Day (observed)."
This also reveals the reason the point-and-click adventure came out early is that the company is sticking to its own values. With April Fools' Day being "observed" in this case, it means that The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog was released a day earlier so the Sega staff who produced the game could have a well-deserved day off on Saturday, April 1.
The Lack of a Punchline With The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog
While being released early may have taken some of the fun out of The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog existing, its release date is a perfect paradox. It's an April Fools' joke, but it wasn't shared on April Fools' Day. It's fitting for how a title combining Murder on the Orient Express and Sonic the Hedgehog seems like it's best seen in a fake, joke trailer, but The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog is a legitimate murder mystery Sonic game.
Downloading The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog on Steam might seem like a good way to kill some time, but it's a full-fledged interactive adventure with plenty of heart. As the victim, Sonic takes a back seat, and characters such as Tails, Amy, Shadow, and Blaze guide the story. For a simple April Fools' joke, there are tons of different conversation choices to go through, objects to interact with, and even dedicated running sections designed to challenge experienced Sonic fans. However, there are also accessibility options, so players can experience the game with little frustration.
For Sonic fanatics, it's a thrilling tale that thrives from the cast they adore which may lead them to explore the mystery genre more closely. For point-and-click visual novel mystery fans, this free game may be a charming change of pace from the usual expectations of the genre with the core principles intact. As this title was made out of a labor of love, the Sonic social media team deserves a Saturday off as The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog has taken the cake for April Fools' Day before it had even begun.
The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog is available now on PC.