Sonic Forces - Running Game | Game Brain

Sonic Forces - Running Game is a platformer with a good plot, offering wonderful gameplay, spectacular visuals, and phenomenal music. However, it features heavy grinding, excessive advertisements, and bugs. According to the game, Sonic is back in this fast and cool multiplayer racing battle & 3D Run game, providing a fun and engaging experience for players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 20,000 reviews

graphics701 positive mentions

monetization2,912 negative mentions

monetization
3,132 mentions
3 % positive mentions
4 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has received significant criticism from users, primarily due to the overwhelming number of ads that appear after nearly every race, often lasting 30 seconds or more. Many players express frustration over the intrusive nature of these ads, which disrupt gameplay and lead to a perception of the game as a cash grab. While some users appreciate the option to watch ads for rewards, the mandatory ads and aggressive push for in-app purchases detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “Although the game has in-app purchases that help you in-game, you can do perfectly fine without dropping a single penny into the game.”
- “The optional microtransactions are admittedly a little in your face, but the game itself is very well balanced and fun to grind!”
- “Microtransactions don't get in your face too much, which is very appreciated.”
- “It constantly pushes microtransactions in your face.”
- “If you pay for one thing in the store, mandatory ads go away, but optional ads double what you get in chests, and those are required to make any sort of progress with rare characters.”
- “The game rewards folks who pay cash to power up their characters and is literally built around watching ridiculous advertisements (some not appropriate for kids).”
graphics
900 mentions
78 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive a generally positive reception, with many users praising their quality and vibrant aesthetics, particularly for a mobile title. While some players note occasional performance issues like lag and frame drops, the overall consensus highlights the graphics as a standout feature that enhances the gameplay experience. However, there are also calls for further improvements and optimizations to fully realize the game's visual potential.
- “The graphics are amazing and it plays different than the console versions.”
- “The graphics are fantastic with the realistic and original Sonic color scheme.”
- “The graphics are great, the gameplay and the controls too, but could you add the Knuckles alien please Sega.”
- “Unfortunately, the game has its fair share of issues, notably in performance (lots of frame drops and input lag, even on the lowest graphics settings) and overpowered characters, such as infinite and some of the other event characters.”
- “I hate this game so much it always lags when you're winning if you put your graphics settings medium or high.”
- “This game has very poor graphics and uses internet; if there was a way of putting a negative 1 star I would have done it. Please try and look through this problem.”
gameplay
831 mentions
57 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game is generally praised for being fun, addictive, and engaging, with smooth mechanics and a variety of characters. However, many players express frustration over the excessive number of ads, which disrupt the experience, as well as issues with character balance and progression systems that feel pay-to-win. While the core gameplay is enjoyable, the overall experience is often marred by intrusive monetization tactics and connectivity problems.
- “The gameplay is fantastic, and the controls are good.”
- “The gameplay is smooth, the multiplayer feature makes the experience more fun, and the mechanics are good.”
- “The gameplay is surprisingly fun for mobile but it's hugely unbalanced, has the most bizarre and unpredictable scoring system (lose 20 points for 3rd but very rarely get more than 20 for 1st. why?) I've seen in a game and is really, really brought down by the incessant adverts which constantly bring you out of the game.”
- “Effectively two minutes of gameplay for ten seconds ads that do not need to be so long and intrusive.”
- “The gameplay is fine and all but there's forced ads every end race.”
- “The gameplay is very solid albeit somewhat random, sometimes you can get really unlucky.”
story
470 mentions
16 % positive mentions
79 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many players expressing a desire for a dedicated story mode or narrative elements to enhance engagement. While the gameplay is enjoyable and features various missions and characters, the lack of an overarching plot or storyline leaves players feeling disconnected and wanting more depth. Overall, the consensus is that adding a story component could significantly improve the game's appeal and player experience.
- “I would like to see more emphasis on the characters' story background.”
- “This is a cool concept; it just needs a story!!”
- “Kind of wish there was a story mode or something more substantial than simply racing against random people, but hey.... I'll take what I can get.”
- “There is no overall story or plot.”
- “There's certainly no story whatsoever.”
- “But it desperately needs a story mode to keep it afloat.”
stability
468 mentions
3 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is frequently criticized, with numerous users reporting issues such as freezing, crashing, and disconnections during matches. Many players express frustration over losing trophies due to these glitches, which often occur at critical moments in gameplay. While some enjoy the game overall, the persistent bugs and performance problems significantly detract from the experience, leading to a common sentiment that the game requires urgent fixes to improve stability.
- “It's a good game, no glitches. I wish I could give it 100 stars.”
- “No lags, no glitches, no bad things. I love this game so much! I am good at this game but also challenging. Whoever's reading this, download this game!”
- “No glitches or problems with this game.”
- “The game itself is fun, but it has a lot of bugs and glitches that make you lose trophies unfairly.”
- “It is extremely difficult to enjoy a game that freezes every single time in the middle of a run.”
- “Disconnects/freezes frequently when I try to launch a match, on wifi or not.”
music
260 mentions
36 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the catchy soundtracks and nostalgic elements from the Sonic franchise, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking variety. Users express a desire for more diverse tracks, the inclusion of classic songs from previous Sonic games, and the ability to customize music choices. Additionally, some report technical issues where music cuts out or lags during gameplay, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The music is likewise 5/5.”
- “The soundtrack is also fire too!”
- “Very fun experience and the music choice really adds the extra enjoyment.”
- “The music is very basic and could benefit from digging into the vast Sonic catalog.”
- “The music is so generic like it was ordered to some cheap freelancer.”
- “I still only hate how there's only 1 song from the game that plays for all stages.”
grinding
117 mentions
2 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, with many players expressing frustration over the slow progression and the need for significant effort to unlock characters and level up. While some enjoy the challenge and find the grinding enjoyable, others feel it becomes repetitive and unfair, especially when compounded by issues like disconnections and unbalanced trophy systems. Overall, the game is seen as fun but heavily reliant on grinding, often leading to a pay-to-win sentiment among players.
- “This game is super fun and the missions aren't too grindy.”
- “Game can be very grindy for character duplicates and gold.”
- “The amount of grinding you have to do to level up your characters is horrendous, even if you max out a character, you can still get them in chests which can be a big waste of time and money.”
- “Trying to unlock a character without paying a cent feels extremely tedious and the tails' vault just seems like an easy cash grab.”
humor
53 mentions
94 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with many players finding it entertaining and fun, especially when playing with friends. Users highlight the amusing character interactions and situations, such as the disparity between character levels and quirky in-game events. Overall, the game is described as a lighthearted experience that effectively distracts from stress, though some players express frustration with gameplay mechanics that detract from the humor.
- “The difference between a level 10 and level 15 is hilarious.”
- “You can even play as movie Sonic, which is just hilarious to me.”
- “This game is amazing and it's fun to play with friends. It's funny and I would rate it 100/100.”
- “These characters are so overpowered, it's not funny.”
- “Honestly, just trash 😒 I hate this game. Wanna know why? Because I keep losing races. It's not funny; I'm tired of you running around, Sonic.”
optimization
50 mentions
36 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
22 % negative mentions
The game's optimization for Android devices has received significant criticism, with many users reporting frequent freezing, lag, and frame drops even on low graphics settings. Despite some players experiencing smooth performance on high-end devices, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, leading to a frustrating experience for those on older or less powerful phones. Users are calling for improvements to address these performance issues, as they detract from an otherwise enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “Good performance on many devices, great graphics, fluid gameplay.”
- “Besides that, the game runs smoothly.”
- “Optimization is also perfect.”
- “This game is not optimized for Android at all. The game freezes and lags so much that I lose many trophies, which is unfair. I even set it to low quality to see if it would make a difference, but that didn't solve the problem. I have a good cellular connection and Wi-Fi, and I even uninstalled and reinstalled the game, but that didn't fix the issue. It's not my phone; my phone is new. It's the game's fault. The developers don't care about the people who play on Android, and this issue has gone on long enough.”
- “The game is not optimized. A few updates ago, the game ran amazingly well. It felt like they imitated Sonic Dash's graphics, which are more lightweight, and I loved it. Now, it's just annoying with so many frame drops and even disconnections during loading to the race.”
- “Unfortunately, the game has its fair share of issues, notably in performance, with lots of frame drops and input lag, even on the lowest graphics settings. The performance needs to be optimized for low-end devices.”
replayability
14 mentions
43 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, driven by competitive elements like battling and racing against players worldwide, as well as strategic character customization. Many players find it addictive and engaging, with a variety of characters and events that keep the gameplay fresh. However, some users express a desire for more playable characters and events to enhance the experience further.
- “Plus the replay value is very high because you are both battling and racing others worldwide.”
- “I had a lot of fun playing this game. It's one of those games that make me play on mobile instead of my PlayStation. It's strategic with different stats and power-ups. I can spend an hour thinking of the perfect character for me, and I won't get bored. It's really addicting; once you start playing, you can't stop. The game doesn't get old; it has too much replayability with season trophy reset events. Overall, great game! You really should give it a try; best endless runner game.”
- “Highly enjoyable, with high replay value.”
- “Not enough replayability.”
- “Not enough replayability.”
- “The game doesn't get old; it has too much replayability with season trophy reset events.”
emotional
12 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of emotional responses to the game, ranging from feelings of vulnerability and heartbreak due to gameplay frustrations to moments of inspiration and nostalgia. While some find the experience unplayable and disappointing at higher ranks, others appreciate its wholesome elements and the motivation it provides to create their own games. Overall, the emotional impact is significant, with players feeling both connected and let down by the game's mechanics.
- “This game constantly made me feel vulnerable.”
- “This game made me feel small.”
- “This game is wholesome!”
character development
5 mentions
80 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Overall, players appreciate the character designs and graphics, highlighting their quality and appeal. The ability to engage in party matches with friends adds to the enjoyment, though some users express a desire for a greater variety of characters. The combination of good design and challenging gameplay contributes to a positive reception of character development in the game.
- “This game is worth downloading; I only wish there were more characters. (Update: my request has been delivered, and I'm very happy about the character designs. Keep it up!)”
- “It had good character design, and it was pretty challenging; that's why I liked it so much!”
- “The character designs and graphics are quite good, and I like the feature where you can do a party match to play with your friends.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its competitive intensity, complemented by smooth controls that enhance the overall experience without any lag.
- “Phenomenal game, amazing competitive atmosphere with smooth controls and no lag.”