About
Sonic Mania came out on August 15, 2017 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, then for PC on August 29, 2017. On Steam, 94% of 24,504 player reviews are positive (Very Positive). 115 people are playing it on Steam right now, with a peak of 174 in the last 30 days. It is Verified on Steam Deck. The main story takes about 2 hours. It was nominated for 2 awards.
Sonic Mania is a side-scrolling platformer that pays homage to the original Sega Genesis Sonic the Hedgehog games. Players choose from Sonic, Tails, or Knuckles, each with unique abilities, and speed through 13 zones that include redesigned stages from past games alongside original levels. The game features special stages for collecting Chaos Emeralds, time attack with online leaderboards, and split-screen competitive multiplayer.
Story
After the events of a previous adventure, Sonic and Tails detect a powerful energy signal on Angel Island and fly out to investigate. Dr. Eggman's elite robots, the EggRobos, reach the source first, a magical gemstone called the Phantom Ruby, and are transformed by its power into the Hard-Boiled Heavies. The gem warps Sonic, Tails, and the island's guardian Knuckles across familiar territories as they race to stop Eggman from harnessing the ruby's reality-bending abilities. With the Hard-Boiled Heavies pursuing their own ambitions and Eggman scheming to use the Phantom Ruby to retake control of Little Planet, the trio must chase the doctor through zone after zone before his plans can be realized.
What is happening now
Sonic Mania is a 2D platformer that arrived in 2017 as a love letter to the series' Genesis-era roots, blending classic zones with new content across PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. The game has maintained a dedicated following in the years since its release. With the game approaching its tenth anniversary, interest in a sequel has naturally surfaced among fans. Sonic Team head Takazhi Iizuka has acknowledged that Sonic Mania 2 remains a possibility, though SEGA has clarified the project isn't currently in active development. The studio has left room for the idea without committing to concrete plans, keeping the franchise's future direction uncertain for now.
How long to beat Sonic Mania
from 1 playerMore in the Sonic Mania series
1 other titleGames like Sonic Mania
same kind of game, other series
Cast and crew
1 creditsCrew
Awards
0 won, 2 more nominationsMedia
Releases
Earliest full release on each platform; regional dates can differ.
PC and Steam Deck
Steam store pageSteam Deck: Verified works great out of the box
Requirements and Deck status as listed on Steam, checked Oct 28, 2026.
Sonic Mania player count
concurrent players on SteamPlayers counted on Steam every one to six hours; the daily peak is the highest count of the day.
Sonic Mania achievements
18 achievements on SteamRarest
All 18 achievements by how many players unlocked them
Share of Steam players who unlocked each achievement.