Ranking Every 2D Sonic Game From Worst To Best
5. Sonic & Knuckles
While it didn't quite live up to Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (its predecessor) in terms of overall quality, Sonic & Knuckles is still an all-around fantastic platformer and one of the franchise's best installments.
It's not only exceptionally difficult (but not overly so), but also brought some new ideas to the table as far as the Sonic formula goes. Take for instance, having to outsmart certain bosses as opposed to the usual routine of "hit them until you win."
The level design was also fantastic in this game. Sure, the Knuckles stages weren't quite as fun as the Sonic ones, but they definitely definitely enjoyable and it's clear that Sega did their best when it came to making good use of this new character
Along with Sonic 3, Sonic & Knuckles represents the franchise at its highest to many lifelong fans, and it's not hard to see why. It has all the fast, melodious action Sonic is known for, as well as a few new mechanics and tricks up its sleeve that add to the experience, rather than feel superfluous. Plus, the final sequence is undeniably awesome.