Sonic Fan-Made Game Has Serious Sonic Mania Vibes

Summary

• Sonic Galactic, a fan-made game reminiscent of Sonic Mania, delights fans of pixel art and classic Sonic gameplay.
• Featuring new playable characters, Fang the Sniper and Tunnel the Mole, each offers unique gameplay paths.
• The second demo provides approximately one hour of Sonic's stages and a total playtime of around two hours.

Sonic Galactic, created by Starteam, captures the spirit and style of 2017's acclaimed Sonic Mania. The dedicated Sonic the Hedgehog fan community consistently produces sequels and spin-offs, and Sonic Mania, a 25th-anniversary celebration, stands out as a fan favorite. Developed by Headcannon, Christian Whitehead, and PagodaWest Games—a team known for their work on beloved fan games like Sonic: Before the Sequel—Sonic Mania set a high bar.

While a Sonic Mania sequel never materialized due to Sonic Team's shift away from pixel art and Whitehead's studio, Evening Star, pursuing other projects, 2023 saw the release of Sonic Superstars. This title retained the classic Genesis-style gameplay but incorporated 3D graphics and cooperative multiplayer. However, the enduring appeal of Sonic Mania's pixel art style remains strong, inspiring numerous fan games, including Sonic and the Fallen Star. Sonic Galactic continues this tradition.

In development for at least four years, Sonic Galactic—first showcased at the Sonic Amateur Games Expo in 2020—imagines a 32-bit Sonic game for 5th-generation consoles, akin to a hypothetical Sega Saturn release. Drawing inspiration from various sources, it aims to be an authentic retro 2D platformer reminiscent of the Genesis era, while adding its own unique elements.

What is Sonic Galactic?

The second demo, released in early 2025, lets players experience brand-new zones as the classic trio—Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles. Joining them are Fang the Sniper from Sonic Triple Trouble, seeking revenge against Dr. Eggman, and Tunnel the Mole, a new character from Illusion Island.

Mirroring Sonic Mania, each playable character has unique paths within each zone. The special stages, heavily inspired by Mania, challenge players to collect rings within a time limit in a 3D environment. Given it's a second demo, completing Sonic's stages takes roughly an hour, while other characters have about one stage each, resulting in a total playtime of approximately two hours.