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 essence and excitement of 2017's Sonic Mania. The Sonic the Hedgehog fan community remains vibrant, continually creating sequels and follow-ups to various titles within the franchise. Sonic Mania stands out as one of the most cherished games in the series, celebrating the franchise's 25th anniversary. It was crafted by a team of dedicated Sonic enthusiasts at Headcannon, Christian Whitehead, and PagodaWest Games, who had previously contributed to acclaimed fan games such as 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, choosing to explore new projects. Consequently, 2023 saw the launch of Sonic Superstars, which continued the 2D gameplay tradition of the Genesis era while incorporating 3D graphics and cooperative multiplayer features. However, many fans believe that Sonic Mania's pixel art and graphics remain timeless, leading to the creation of fan games like Sonic and the Fallen Star that embrace this style. Sonic Galactic by Starteam is another such project that seeks to revive the beloved pixel art aesthetic.

Sonic Galactic has been in development for at least four years, initially unveiled at the Sonic Amateur Games Expo in 2020. This fan-made game imagines a 32-bit Sonic title that could have been released on the 5th Generation of video game consoles, specifically the Sega Saturn. As a result, Sonic Galactic strives to be an authentic retro 2D platformer reminiscent of the Genesis games, while also incorporating 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 from Sonic Triple Trouble joins the roster as a playable character, seeking vengeance against Dr. Eggman alongside Sonic and his friends. A new character, Tunnel the Mole, native to Illusion Island, is also introduced.

Sonic Galactic echoes the spirit of a Sonic Mania sequel, with each playable character offering distinct paths within each zone. The special stages draw inspiration from Sonic Mania, challenging players to collect a specific number of rings within a time limit in a 3D environment. The second demo provides about an hour of gameplay for Sonic's stages, with other characters having approximately one stage each, culminating in a total playtime of a couple of hours.