"Fan-Made Sonic Game Echoes Sonic Mania"

Summary

• Sonic Galactic is a fan game reminiscent of Sonic Mania, appealing to fans of pixel art and classic Sonic gameplay.
• The game features new playable characters Fang the Sniper and Tunnel the Mole, with unique paths for each.
• Sonic Galactic's second demo offers roughly an hour of Sonic's stages and a couple of hours of total gameplay.

Sonic Galactic by Starteam is a Sonic the Hedgehog fan game that captures the same spirit and excitement as the beloved 2017 release, Sonic Mania. The Sonic the Hedgehog fan community remains vibrant and active, continuously creating new sequels and extensions to the franchise. Sonic Mania stands out as one of the most celebrated games in the series, marking the 25th anniversary of the franchise. It was crafted by Headcannon, Christian Whitehead, and PagodaWest Games, a group of dedicated Sonic enthusiasts who had previously developed fan favorites like Sonic: Before the Sequel.

Despite the anticipation for a sequel to Sonic Mania, it never came to fruition. This was due to Sonic Team's shift away from pixel art graphics and Christian Whitehead's studio, Evening Star, pursuing other projects. Instead, 2023 saw the launch of Sonic Superstars, which maintained the 2D gameplay of the Genesis era but introduced 3D graphics and cooperative multiplayer. Nonetheless, many fans continue to cherish Sonic Mania's timeless pixel art style, leading to the creation of numerous fan games like Sonic and the Fallen Star. Sonic Galactic by Starteam aims to revive this cherished aesthetic.

Sonic Galactic has been in development for at least four years, with its initial reveal at the Sonic Amateur Games Expo in 2020. The game reimagines the Sonic series as if it were a 32-bit title released on 5th generation hardware, specifically envisioning a "what-if" scenario where Sonic was developed for the Sega Saturn. This fan game strives to authentically replicate the retro 2D platforming experience of the Genesis games while infusing its own unique elements.

What is Sonic Galactic?

The second demo of Sonic Galactic, released at the beginning of 2025, allows players to experience new zones with the classic trio of Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. Additionally, Fang the Sniper, previously seen in Sonic Triple Trouble, steps into the spotlight as a playable character, joining forces with Sonic and friends to seek vengeance against Dr. Eggman. The game also introduces Tunnel the Mole, a new character originating from Illusion Island.

Sonic Galactic evokes the essence of a Sonic Mania sequel, where each playable character has distinct paths to explore within each zone. The special stages are reminiscent of those in Sonic Mania, challenging players to gather a specific number of rings within a time limit in a 3D setting. The second demo provides approximately an hour of gameplay for Sonic's stages, with the other characters each having around one stage. Overall, players can expect a couple of hours of engaging playtime.