Sonic The Hedgehogis a beloved figure, lending his name to an abundance of games in the Sonic franchise, including crossover games such asSuper Smash Bros.andMario and Sonic.As such, it is no surprise that he has found his way into the realm of horror. Since the creepypasta “SONIC.EXE” was posted in 2011 by JC-the-Hyena — revolving around a cursed Sonic game in which Sonic is some kind of evil entity — Sonic horror games have steadily increased in popularity.
Despite still being a relatively niche corner of the gaming world, many platforms are saturated withSonic and Sonic.exe fan-games, and it can be difficult to distinguish which ones are trustworthy or even worth playing. The following are among thehighest rated Sonic horror gamesthat can be found onitch.io.
7Sonic Shock
Itch.io Score: 3
Sonic Shockis a role-playing horror-adventure game. Waking at “Space Colony M0B1” after being cryogenically frozen, the player must find mayhem rubies to find and defeat “Doctor Roboton,” who has turned everyone into robots.
Quite unlike the games in theSonicfranchise, this one takes certain elements and remodels them into something entirely new. Considering it is made entirely from stock photos,Sonic Shockhas a surprisingly retro feel and its own unique atmosphere. Withshooter and stealth mechanics, and the option to upgrade abilities, this game is great for all kinds of gamers — not just horror fans.
6Felix And Friends
Itch.io Score: 4
InFelix and Friends,the player takes on the role of Felix the Cat, another familiar character from the cartoon world. After his home is broken into by “The Copywriters,” who have sent other famous figures after him for breaking copyright law, he flees. While not overtly gory or jump-scary, the familiar yet different character and environment designs are extremely uncanny.
Traversing different levels of aSonic-inspired platform world, players will come across a range of bosses, each modeled after familiar game and TV characters. After defeating these bosses (“Soniku” being the first they come across), the player can play as them. Overall,Felix and Friendsis both comical and very self-aware, offering a well put-together experience that comments on the fan-game industry.
5Sonic’s School Day
Sonic’s School Dayis a first-person survival horror game. Harking back to the original SEGA educational game,Sonic’s Schoolhouse, the player must navigate a maze of classrooms and hallways and escape a variety of different characters.
Withsurreal environments, multiplayer mode, and math and spelling elements, this game is extremely unsettling. Players will never know what to expect when they turn a corner.Sonic’s School Dayalso supports mods for gamers who enjoy customizing their games.
4Sonic 1 Prototype
Sonic 1 Prototypebegins relatively normally inthe Green Hill Zoneof the originalSonic the Hedgehog(1991). With familiar loops and ring collection, this game could be mistaken for any otherSonicgame. However, there are some hints that all is not as it seems.
As the player progresses through the acts, they may notice dead animals scattered about the landscape. During Act 3, the sky turns black, and the landscape becomes obscured by a static hue. Once the error pops up and the player is told to “Leave Now,” they can heed the warning or continue — at their own risk.
3Executable Education
Itch.io Score: 4.2
Executable Educationis a first-person horror game with three different levels. First, the player must find functional computers in their office to type words and remove the sonic.exe virus, while being stalked by adisturbingly dark version of Sonic. Once completed, they clip to a school where they must complete math tasks as a ruler-wielding Sonic hunts them down. Finally, they must monitor and fend off hostile Sonic robots via security cameras.
Overall,Executable Educationhas diverse gameplay that draws on other familiar mechanics and environments while maintaining its own unique and horrific universe.
2Five Nights At Sonic’s Reimagined
Itch.io Score: 5
As its title suggests,Five Nights at Sonic’s Reimaginedis aSonicandFive Night’s at Freddy’s-inspired crossover. Taking on the night shift at SEGA Inc., the player must survive for five nights from 12am to 6am. It is not that simple, however, as the malfunctioning character performers that had been scrapped and locked away have now escaped.
Five Nights at Sonic’s Reimaginedmaintains a lot of the tension that thebest Five Nights at Freddy’s gamesare known for, but at the same time, this game deviates to take on its own aesthetic and lore. With a bonus 6th night, unlockable extras, and a custom nights mode,Five Nights at Sonic’s Reimaginedis both entertaining and immersive.
1Another Sonic.exe Fan Game (2.0)
An upgraded sequel to the developer’s previous game of the same name,Another Sonic.exe Fan Game (2.0)is worth checking out. Eachplayable character(Tails, Knuckles, and Doctor Robotnik) has their own level, with different objectives tailored to their lore in the original game series.
Similarly, the characters have their own abilities that can help with the tasks; Tails can fly, Knuckles can punch, etc. They must complete the objectives in time or face the wrath of Sonic, who has his own evil agenda. This game is both challenging and fun, and it has a very dark atmosphere. It also has multiple endings, depending on the outcome of the different levels.
