Sonic Frontiers

Sonic Frontiers marks a significant departure for the series from traditional linear levels toward an open world, developed by the internal Sonic Team studio. Sonic the Hedgehog finds himself on the mysterious Starfall Islands, where he must explore vast open areas, collect keys to unlock ancient temples, and face mysterious mechanical adversaries while uncovering the fate of his lost friends. The open world is divided into several islands, each with its own visual identity and increasing difficulty, with progress between them conditioned on unlocking the abilities and keys needed for the gates to each temple. The open world is interspersed with classic high-speed platforming sections hidden within temples that recall traditional Sonic tracks full of loops and speed ramps.

On PlayStation 5, the game runs smoothly even at high speeds, which is essential for a series built on instant, momentum-driven movement — frame rate drops would undermine the very core of the gameplay. The open world is visually contrasting, featuring sprawling meadows alongside futuristic mechanical structures, and offers a combination of exploration, light puzzles, and a combat system significantly expanded compared to previous entries in the series with combinations of dodges and special attacks. The musical score combines the series' classic orchestral motifs with more modern electronic tracks that dynamically respond to the intensity of battles against massive mechanical bosses.

The game provoked mixed but predominantly positive reactions — many players praised the courage to try a new direction and the quality of the speed sections, while part of the open world was seen as less polished. Nevertheless, it became one of the highest-rated entries in the series in a long time and hinted at a possible direction future installments could take. Today it is regarded as an important experiment that helped the series find a new voice after years of uncertainty and set a direction for future sequels.

Why play it: For Sonic fans looking for a bold, not entirely perfect experiment with an open world and phenomenal speed sections that hint at where the series could head next.