Sonic the Hedgehog 2

ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ2Genesis, Xbox 360, Windows, iOS +91992

  1. JP1992
  2. NA1992
  3. EU1992
  4. RU—

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 kept its name in every region (ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ2 in Japan). The original Genesis/Mega Drive version is easiest to play legally in the Nintendo Switch Online Sega Genesis library, while Sonic Origins on Steam and consoles offers a remastered version.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 came out for the Mega Drive in Japan on 21 November 1992 and in North America and Europe on Tuesday 24 November 1992, a launch Sega promoted as 'Sonic 2sday'. It was developed by Sega Technical Institute in California, with programming by Yuji Naka and music by Masato Nakamura of Dreams Come True.

The game introduced Tails, who follows Sonic and can be taken over by a second player at any time, plus a split-screen mode in which two players race through three levels. The 8-bit Master System and Game Gear game with the same title is a separate game with different levels and story.

It sold 750,000 copies in the UK in its first week, then the fastest-selling game there, and six million by August 2006, second among Genesis games only to the original Sonic. Later versions include a 2013 Retro Engine remake for mobile, a 3D Classics release for 3DS, a Sega Ages edition for Switch and the 2022 compilation Sonic Origins.1

Names and releases

RegionTitle on the boxPlatformDatePublisherSrc
NA Sonic the Hedgehog 2Marketed as 'Sonic 2sday' Genesis Nov 24, 1992 Sega 1
JP ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ2 Genesis Nov 21, 1992 Sega 1
EU Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Genesis Nov 24, 1992 Sega 1
BR Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Genesis 1992 Tec Toy 2
WW Sonic the Hedgehog 2Xbox Live Arcade, emulated Xbox 360 Sep 12, 2007 Sega 1
WW Sonic the Hedgehog 2Steam, emulated; no longer sold Windows Jan 26, 2011 Sega 1
WW Sonic the Hedgehog 2Remake by Christian Whitehead and Simon Thomley on the Retro Engine, also on Android; sources give 12 or 13 December 2013 iOS December 2013 Sega 1
JP 3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2Sega 3D Classics, developed by M2 Nintendo 3DS Jul 22, 2015 Sega 1
WW 3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2Sega 3D Classics, developed by M2 Nintendo 3DS Oct 8, 2015 Sega 1
JP SEGA AGES Sonic the Hedgehog 2Sega Ages, developed by M2 Switch Feb 13, 2020 Sega 1
WW SEGA AGES Sonic the Hedgehog 2Sega Ages, developed by M2 Switch Feb 20, 2020 Sega 1
WW Sonic the Hedgehog 2Nintendo Switch Online (Sega Genesis library) Switch Oct 25, 2021 Nintendo 3
WW Sonic OriginsRemastered version in a compilation; also on Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Series X|S. Sources give 22 or 23 June 2022 Windows June 2022 Sega 1

Also known as: ソニック・ザ・ヘッジホッグ2 JP4ソニック2 JP43D Sonic the Hedgehog 2 WW1SEGA AGES Sonic the Hedgehog 2 WW4

Box art by region

  • Sonic the Hedgehog 2 box art, North America release
    NA Sonic the Hedgehog 2
  • Sonic the Hedgehog 2 box art, Europe release
    EU Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Box art © its publishers, shown to identify each release. Scans: libretro-thumbnails.

Version differences

  • Bug fixRev. 00Rev. 01Rev. 02

    The cartridge was revised during production: early copies had bugs that later ones fixed, and at least three ROM revisions exist.2

  • GameplaySonic Jam (Saturn)

    The Sega Saturn compilation Sonic Jam adds an easier alternative mode.1

  • Content2013 mobile remake

    The 2013 Retro Engine remake adds widescreen, Knuckles as a playable character, time and boss attack modes, online multiplayer and a restored Hidden Palace Zone.1

All differences (5)

Translations

  • Spanish Official

    Sega2022Windows · Sonic OriginsReleased

    Sonic Origins lists Spanish (Spain) among its supported languages on Steam.5

  • Russian Official

    Sega2022Windows · Sonic OriginsReleased

    Sonic Origins (2022), which includes a remastered Sonic 2, lists Russian among its supported languages on Steam.5

Where to play legally today

  • Nintendo Switch Online Subscription

    Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (SEGA Mega Drive - Nintendo Switch Online)

    Mega Drive/Genesis version

    Checked: 2026-10-136nintendo.com

  • Steam Purchase

    Sonic Origins

    Retro Engine remaster of the Genesis game

    Checked: 2026-10-135store.steampowered.com

Reception

Sonic 2 sold six million copies by 2006 and is the second best-selling Genesis game; it sold 400,000 copies in its first week in the US and 750,000 in the UK. Critics praised its graphics, level design, music and multiplayer, though some found it easy.1

Sources

  1. 1en.wikipedia.org
  2. 2tcrf.net
  3. 3en.wikipedia.org
  4. 4ja.wikipedia.org
  5. 5store.steampowered.com
  6. 6gameinformer.com
  7. 7ja.wikipedia.org

Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13

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