Sonic Galactic: A Sonic Mania-Inspired Fan Game
Sonic Galactic, developed by Starteam, is a Sonic the Hedgehog fan game channeling the spirit of Sonic Mania. The active Sonic fan community continually produces sequels and spin-offs, and Sonic Mania, a 25th-anniversary celebration, remains a beloved title. While a true sequel never materialized due to Sonic Team's shift away from pixel art and the developers' own pursuits, Sonic Galactic captures the essence of that classic style.
This fan game, initially showcased at the 2020 Sonic Amateur Games Expo, has been in development for at least four years. It imagines a 32-bit Sonic game, akin to a hypothetical Sega Saturn release. Drawing inspiration from the Genesis era, it delivers authentic retro 2D platforming with a unique twist.
What's in Sonic Galactic?
The second demo, released in early 2025, features the classic trio—Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles—in new zones. Joining them are Fang the Sniper (from Sonic Triple Trouble) and a new character, Tunnel the Mole (from Sonic Frontiers). Each playable character boasts unique paths within each zone.
The special stages are heavily inspired by Sonic Mania, presenting 3D ring-collecting challenges against the clock. A typical playthrough focuses on Sonic's stages, taking approximately one hour to complete. The other characters currently have limited stage availability, resulting in a total playtime of a couple of hours for the full demo. The game's pixel art style and classic Sonic gameplay will resonate strongly with fans of Sonic Mania and retro platformers.
