SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS

Sonic X Shadow Generations takes an already excellent game and spring jumps it to new heights with a creative Shadow campaign and an appreciable graphical upgrade.

87%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

stability, grinding

97% User Score Based on 10,524 reviews

Critic Score 77%Based on 19 reviews

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About

SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS is a single player platformer game. It was developed by Sonic Team and was released on June 3, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS is a game where players can experience the return of Shadow the Hedgehog, playable in Classic and Modern styles. The Digital Deluxe Edition offers early access, additional music tracks, iconic skins, art, a level, and a Shadow Skin. An additional character skin and level for Shadow will be released in Holiday 2024." NO RELEASE DATE, DEVELOPER, OR PUBLISHER WAS MENTIONED.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 10,524 reviews

story843 positive mentions

stability92 negative mentions

The music in 'Shadow Generations' is widely praised for its energetic remixes of classic Sonic tracks, enhancing the gameplay experience and evoking nostalgia.
The gameplay is highly regarded for its blend of classic and modern mechanics, with Shadow's unique abilities adding depth and variety, making it a standout experience in the franchise.
The story is emotionally impactful, showcasing significant character development for Shadow and effectively tying into the original 'Sonic Generations,' providing a more cohesive narrative.

The remastered Sonic Generations portion suffers from performance issues, including stuttering and frame drops, particularly on lower-end systems, leading to a generally unstable gameplay experience.
Some players find the soundtrack forgettable, with certain remixes falling flat compared to the originals, and there are concerns about the accessibility of the music in the deluxe edition.
The monetization strategy has drawn criticism, with many labeling it a cash grab that relies heavily on nostalgia without offering substantial content, leading to disappointment among players.

story
2,391 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
62%
3%
The story aspect of "Shadow Generations" has received widespread acclaim for its emotional depth and character development, particularly in relation to Shadow's past and his relationships with Maria and Gerald. Many reviewers noted that the narrative effectively ties into the original "Sonic Generations," providing a more cohesive and engaging experience than its predecessor, which was criticized for its lack of depth. While some found the story short, they appreciated the heartfelt moments and the overall improvement in writing, largely attributed to Ian Flynn's involvement, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The story is fantastic, and Ian Flynn is respectful at maintaining continuity and canonicity, while also maintaining a heartfelt emotional core story for Shadow dealing with his memories, Maria, Gerald, and Black Doom.”
- “Shadow's story is a more story-heavy take on the white space event where you get to see Shadow confront his past one last time, facing old threats and making peace with those he lost in what feels like a proper conclusion to his arc.”
- “The story is great too; I always hated Shadow's characterization in recent Sonic games due to how one-dimensional it is.”
- “The story is a giant nothing burger.”
- “The story is mediocre at best and the boss fights are nothing special, but this game has an excellent soundtrack with most of the remixes sounding better than the originals.”
- “The story is short and sweet, with its length being the only real negative.”
gameplay
1,619 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
The gameplay in "Sonic x Shadow Generations" has received widespread acclaim for its blend of classic and modern mechanics, particularly highlighting Shadow's unique abilities that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the fluid controls, engaging level design, and the introduction of new gameplay elements like chaos powers, which add depth and variety to the gameplay. While Sonic's portion remains largely unchanged from the original "Sonic Generations," Shadow's campaign is praised for its polished execution and innovative mechanics, making it a standout experience in the franchise.
- “The gameplay is phenomenal, the writing is amazing, and the cutscenes?”
- “Shadow generations is peak sonic gameplay, almost peak sonic story.”
- “The gameplay takes a very creative turn, letting you use shadow's chaos powers in unique ways to get around obstacles.”
- “The gameplay is clunky and frustrating.”
- “The gameplay makes you feel like Shadow, which is to say, the coolest guy alive.”
- “The gameplay is fine, but there's a lack of an interesting story and the hub areas make the game feel less like a game and more like a collection of levels.”
music
854 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
51%
2%
The music in "Shadow Generations" has received widespread acclaim, with many praising its energetic remixes of classic Sonic tracks and the overall quality of the soundtrack. Players appreciate the nostalgic elements and the ability to customize background music for levels, enhancing the gameplay experience. However, some critiques mention that certain remixes fall flat or feel less memorable compared to the original compositions, and there are concerns about the accessibility of the soundtrack in the deluxe edition, which limits how players can enjoy the music outside the game. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “Combined with energetic music, stylish presentation, and consistently fun gameplay, Sonic x Shadow Generations stands out as one of the strongest Sonic releases in years, appealing to longtime fans and newcomers alike by honoring the past while still pushing the series forward.”
- “The music matched each stage's feel and made the world alive.”
- “The soundtrack complements the action with energetic tracks that mix upbeat electronic music with rock influences, keeping the momentum high throughout the gameplay.”
- “If you buy this, do not buy the deluxe version; they lock the music and artbook in an executable.”
- “Unfortunately, the music is one of the biggest letdowns—it’s all pretty forgettable.”
- “The soundtrack for Shadow Generations is also really good, as to be expected from a Sonic title.”
graphics
621 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
56%
3%
The graphics in "Sonic x Shadow Generations" have received widespread praise for their impressive visuals and vibrant environments, particularly in the new Shadow campaign, which showcases modern graphical enhancements and smooth animations. While the remastered Sonic Generations retains much of its original aesthetic with only minor updates, it still holds up well visually, though some players noted a lack of significant improvements compared to the original. Overall, the game is celebrated for its stunning graphics, engaging level design, and the successful integration of nostalgic elements with modern polish.
- “The graphics for Shadow Generations are beyond amazing, and the new abilities for Shadow are interesting. I love to see a game where Shadow is at the center.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the physics are excellent, and I found it easy to learn.”
- “The remastered Sonic Generations looks better than ever, running at a smooth 60 fps with improved visuals that bring classic Sonic levels to life in stunning detail.”
- “The graphics for Sonic Generations are barely improved; you literally have to squint your eyes to see the difference. They added new features that weren't in the original game, like the drop dash and collectible Chaos, but visually, it's still the same.”
- “The Sonic side of the game is incredibly lazy, with no graphical improvements or new levels. It feels like a simple port rather than a remaster, and the graphics are locked at 60fps with almost no options for customization.”
- “I was expecting a bit more from this game than what we have at the moment. Actual updated models, textures, and visuals would have been nice, but it feels like a remaster that didn't really change much.”
emotional
204 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Shadow Generations" has been widely praised, with many players noting its heartfelt storytelling and character development, particularly regarding Shadow's past and relationships with Maria and Gerald. Reviewers frequently mention being moved to tears by the narrative, which is described as both touching and impactful, successfully blending nostalgia with new emotional depth. Overall, the game is seen as a significant improvement in emotional storytelling within the Sonic franchise, resonating deeply with long-time fans.
- “The story is awesome, no spoilers, but Shadow finally overcoming his past and moving on after like 30 years was amazing to see, and absolutely heartbreaking at the end.”
- “Shadow generations is visually beautiful with its environments and animation, the boost levels are some of the best this series has to offer and is a massive improvement over the boost levels in forces and frontiers, the story and writing is also great and even emotional towards the end.”
- “The story in this game is amazing, very emotional, and very cinematic!”
replayability
182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with engaging level design that features multiple branching paths, collectibles, and challenges that encourage players to revisit stages for better times and completion. Players appreciate the addition of new collectibles, such as chao, which further enhance the replay value, while the fast-paced gameplay and speedrunning potential keep the experience fresh and exciting. Despite some critiques regarding the game's length, the overall consensus is that both Sonic and Shadow's campaigns offer a wealth of content that invites repeated playthroughs.
- “To me, Sonic Generations is a 10/10 as it excels in every aspect of a platforming video game. Although you can beat the game in a minimal sense in about 3.5 hours, its replayability is near endless in my experience with the 360 version.”
- “The level design is incredible, even better than in Sonic Generations, full of branching paths that make the levels very replayable; the writing is some of the best in the series and Shadow feels great to control.”
- “The game is pretty short, but what's there is very solid, which is good because while the story might not take a ton of time, the replayability factor is through the roof.”
- “The soundtrack for Shadow Generations is just so forgettable, the level design can feel a little empty and Mario Maker-ish sometimes, and I feel like the replay value is nowhere near as high as the original Generations.”
- “Mainly due to the mid-level cutscenes, which while a cool novelty the first time around, they do hinder the replay value on all Act 1s, since they're basically just 30 seconds of staring at the screen.”
- “Imo a total ripoff with no replayability except for leaderboard competition.”
optimization
173 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
57%
15%
The optimization of the remastered Sonic Generations has received mixed feedback from users. While many praise the improved performance and stability, particularly in the Shadow Generations segment, others report persistent issues such as stuttering and frame drops in the Sonic portion, especially on lower-end systems. Overall, the remaster is seen as a significant upgrade over the original, but it still has room for improvement in terms of performance consistency.
- “The game is so well optimized, I have not had a single frame dip below 120Hz (except during cutscenes or pre-rendered action).”
- “Running smoothly at high frame rates, even on mid-range PCs, the game shows marked improvements in performance over recent Sonic titles.”
- “The remaster has re-recorded dialogue, more collectibles, and is more optimized, but it’s mostly the same game, especially because it was already available.”
- “Extremely good gameplay on Shadow Generations, however extremely disappointed with the Sonic Generations remaster due to it being unoptimized.”
- “While I do generally like the remaster, the performance is very shoddy and not optimal, to the point where I doubt I'll even touch the Sonic portion of this package seeing as how I have the original already, with all my mods loaded and ready to go.”
- “The game suffers from frequent stuttering and lag spikes, even on a high-end PC.”
stability
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
81%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches, particularly in the Sonic Generations portion, which some feel is more problematic than the original. While some users have experienced smooth performance on platforms like the Steam Deck, others have encountered frequent crashes, control issues, and visual glitches that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the remaster appears to retain many of the original's flaws while introducing new ones, leading to a generally unstable gameplay experience.
- “For the first time, I have played a 3D Sonic game with little to no glitches, fluid gameplay, great level design, and of course, an amazing soundtrack.”
- “It runs great, it has very few bugs, and it still evokes the feeling that Generations did when I played it as a kid.”
- “For the performance, Sonic Generations plays smooth like butter on Steam Deck, a solid 60 fps while it gets a bit lower for Shadow Generations in the open world, which is understandable. You can get a stable fps by lowering the settings a bit, but it runs great on the stages.”
- “The game is still super buggy.”
- “This game is a buggy mess; I got softlocked in the 1st stage of the 2nd act, and after multiple tries, I finally got past it only for the character to get stuck in the next level.”
- “I really wanted to like this game, but I just can't play it in this state; I shouldn't have to replay each stage multiple times because the game glitches out and won't let me progress.”
humor
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mix of self-aware jokes and absurdity, with players finding amusement in the character dynamics, particularly the contrast between Sonic's lightheartedness and Shadow's edginess. Many reviews highlight the game's quirky moments, such as the rewriting of dialogue that sometimes leads to unintentionally funny scenarios, and the nostalgic callbacks that evoke laughter. Overall, the humor is described as both intentional and unintentional, contributing to a lighthearted experience despite the game's darker themes.
- “Witch is ironically funny, because Charmy Bee is present on this level (well, not in the level itself, but we save him after completing the level), since he is considered to be one of, if not the most annoying character in the franchise.”
- “Funny enough, even as a loyal Sonic fan, I hadn't quite been as excited to play a game in the franchise since the original Sonic Generations.”
- “It's funny, actually, that the callbacks to Generations in this game are as nostalgia-inducing as the callbacks to older games.”
grinding
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
14%
84%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly when it comes to collecting items and completing filler missions. While some enjoy the challenge and the sense of triumph from overcoming difficult tasks, many express frustration with the extensive time required for 100% completion and the lack of engaging content in certain areas. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the unique mechanics and fun elements that occasionally break the monotony.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The 100% process for this game is honestly really tedious, mainly because of the 80 bolts you collect and the chests.”
- “Doing a playthrough of the story is made incredibly tedious because of how you are forced to complete all of the mundane filler missions.”
- “With a tedious, large hub world, thoughtless and shallow story, and an array of unnecessary and awkward game mechanics that push Shadow into an even sillier canon, Shadow Generations is just an inferior side-story of Sonic Generations in every aspect.”
character development
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
55%
15%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the significant growth of Shadow as a character, highlighting a well-written narrative that respects his past while addressing his impulsiveness and temper. However, others feel that the overall story remains relatively light and serves primarily as a backdrop for action, which may disappoint players seeking deeper lore and character exploration. Despite these critiques, many agree that the game successfully revitalizes beloved characters and offers a nostalgic yet fresh experience for fans.
- “The story is also really well written in this, showing a lot of respect for Shadow's character that had been missing from the series for a long time, without shying away at all from acknowledging his character development from less than ideal games in the series, which is such a beautiful thing to see.”
- “The best thing about Shadow Generations is that this is the first game since Sonic Adventure 2 that we have seen character development in the Sonic cast, and I'm talking about Shadow.”
- “The character development is top-notch, bringing Shadow and other beloved Sonic characters to life like never before.”
- “Additionally, the narrative is relatively light, serving mainly as a backdrop for the action rather than a deeply engaging story, which might disappoint those seeking more lore or character development.”
- “The only renovations this port received include an added drop dash for classic Sonic, alterations to the control scheme, and inconsequential changes to character designs and cutscenes.”
- “The story is simple, yet it still manages to say something new with its characters and character development.”
monetization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
The monetization of "Sonic X: Shadow Generations" has drawn mixed reactions, with many users labeling it a cash grab that relies heavily on nostalgia without offering substantial content. While some appreciate the game's complete experience in contrast to the prevalent microtransaction model, others criticize its marketing focus on Shadow, suggesting that the game could have been a simple DLC rather than a full-priced release. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to prioritize profit over innovation, leading to disappointment among players.
- “Sonic x Shadow Generations is a lovely game that stands out as a complete experience in an age full of microtransactions and games designed to soak up hundreds of hours of your life.”
- “Just a paywalled advertisement.”
- “All in all, Sonic X: Shadow Generations feels like a lazy cash grab, appealing to nostalgia without delivering anything of substance.”
- “This feels like a cash grab when it could have been a DLC/upgrade to the original game.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its superb quality, effectively enhancing the overall experience with strong vibes and top-tier music that captivates players. Many reviewers highlight the impressive level design and storytelling, particularly in "Shadow Generations," where the atmosphere is noted as a standout feature that elevates the gameplay. Overall, the combination of audio and visual elements creates an immersive environment that resonates deeply with players.
- “The atmosphere of the game is superb and invokes strong vibes.”
- “Sega out of complete nowhere eclipsed the entire franchise in terms of level design, storytelling, animation, atmosphere, and controls in Shadow Generations.”
- “They got the atmosphere right and did a good job re-telling the story of Shadow.”
- “I do like Act 2's remix, but I disagree that it fits the feeling of Radical Highway itself, both as a level and as an atmosphere in Sonic's universe.”
- “Sega, out of complete nowhere, eclipsed the entire franchise in terms of level design, storytelling, animation, atmosphere, and controls in Shadow Generations.”

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77%Critics’ scoreBased on 19 critic reviews

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6h Median play time

11h Average play time

4-20h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 38 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS is a platformer game.

SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 11 hours playing SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS.

SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS was released on June 3, 2024.

SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS was developed by Sonic Team.

SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS is a single player game.

Similar games include Sonic Frontiers, Sonic Generations, Sonic Forces, Spark the Electric Jester 3, Sonic Lost World and others.

SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS

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