Sonic Lost World

53%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,967 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • music
Sonic Lost World Game Cover
It's probably the weakest Sonic game in a while, but Sonic: Lost Worlds ultimately overcomes its transgressions and provides a largely fun platforming experience.
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Sonic Lost World is a platformer game where Sonic and his friends must stop the Deadly Six, a group of mischievous and power-hungry creatures. The game features both classic 2D and 3D gameplay, with Sonic using various parkour moves to traverse unique and colorful levels. Players can also collect different kinds of power-ups and abilities to enhance Sonic's speed and abilities.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Nintendo 3ds
  • Wii
  • Wii U
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

53%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,967 reviews
gameplay272 positive mentions
story234 negative mentions
  • Unique gameplay mechanics that differentiate it from other Sonic titles
  • Colorful graphics and a vibrant art style
  • Fun parkour system once mastered
  • Clunky controls and inconsistent physics
  • Bland and forgettable level design
  • Weak story and poorly developed characters
  • gameplay1,113 mentions

    The gameplay of "Sonic Lost World" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant departure from traditional Sonic mechanics, particularly the introduction of a parkour system and a run button that alters the flow of gameplay. While some appreciate the unique mechanics and level design, others criticize the lack of clear tutorials, inconsistent controls, and frustrating level design that can lead to confusion and trial-and-error gameplay. Overall, the game is seen as ambitious but flawed, with potential that remains largely unfulfilled due to its execution.

    • “But all in all, it was an ambitious game with new movement mechanics that could sometimes flow like water given the right circumstances.”
    • “The gameplay is genuinely so much fun, it's insane.”
    • “The visuals are stunning, the gameplay is diverse and engaging, and the soundtrack adds an extra layer of excitement.”
    • “The game design is pretty bad in areas, does a poor job at teaching the player its mechanics. I mean, I didn't even know how to activate the hints on my first run.”
    • “The gameplay is a hodgepodge of undercooked ideas that, if properly fleshed out in a better game, would be really fun.”
    • “The biggest issue is the unresponsive controls and frustratingly slow gameplay.”
  • story945 mentions

    The story of "Sonic Lost World" has been widely criticized for being bland, poorly written, and lacking depth, with many reviewers describing it as forgettable or akin to a bad children's cartoon. Characters are often seen as one-dimensional, and the plot fails to engage, leading to a disjointed experience where cutscenes do not effectively connect with gameplay. While some players appreciate the comedic elements and character interactions, the overall consensus is that the story detracts significantly from the game's potential.

    • “I'd also argue the story has compelling villains, clear stakes, and even some neat character moments.”
    • “The story ideas genuinely could've been interesting: Eggman teaming up with Sonic and gaining his trust, Tails turning on Sonic and Sonic being left alone without any support.”
    • “The story itself was entertaining (much more in-depth than the average Sonic game), and the voice cast performed their parts well.”
    • “The story is so bad that it is essential that you skip over all cutscenes and turn the voices off in the audio settings.”
    • “Every single character in this game is one note and lacks any depth that previous games had, which makes when they go for any serious moments in the story laughable.”
    • “The story is garbage, one-note characters, unreasonable character reactions, as well as trying to make things serious.”
  • music613 mentions

    The music in "Sonic Lost World" is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting it as the standout feature of the game. While some tracks are considered exceptional and fitting for the game's vibrant atmosphere, others are viewed as less memorable compared to previous Sonic titles. Overall, the soundtrack is described as eclectic and enjoyable, though opinions vary on its originality and impact within the Sonic franchise.

    • “The music is great, I love Windy Hill, the main theme, the Deadly Six theme, and the underwater rail level music is bliss.”
    • “The soundtrack is fantastic, with quite a bit of variation between each track.”
    • “The music is hands down amazing, my favorite track is Frozen Factory Zone 1.”
    • “Very boring and unfun… music was mediocre for Sonic standards and the story was poorly executed with terrible writing.”
    • “Even the music doesn't win me over outside of a few tracks, and that is really disappointing for the high standards Sonic usually sets.”
    • “The only saving grace is the soundtrack.”
  • graphics444 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their vibrant and colorful aesthetic, with many reviewers noting that they are visually appealing and reminiscent of classic Sonic titles. However, some criticisms arise regarding the design choices, with comments about the graphics being bland or generic, particularly in level themes, and issues with performance on PC, including a lack of graphical options and noticeable downgrades from the original Wii U version. Overall, while the visuals are considered a highlight, they are marred by technical shortcomings and design inconsistencies.

    • “The graphics are beautiful and arguably the best in the entire series.”
    • “The visuals are stunning, the gameplay is diverse and engaging, and the soundtrack adds an extra layer of excitement.”
    • “The graphics and art style are really beautiful, you can see an obvious Mario Galaxy influence, but also some root of what would have been Sonic Xtreme for the Sega Saturn back in the day, all that beauty is well complemented with a nice soundtrack.”
    • “Somehow the graphics are 10x worse on PC than on Wii U, though how is that even possible?”
    • “Not only that, but this port is poorly made, has poor graphics, audio, and cutscenes are heavily and obviously compressed.. and for some reason there are some pretty major lag spikes throughout.”
    • “The lack of graphics options for a port of a Wii U game is actually insulting; tell me if there's mods that fix this, because I just can't recommend this version of the game if it's going to be like this.”
  • humor96 mentions

    The humor in the game is polarizing, with some players finding it genuinely funny and reminiscent of previous titles like Sonic Colors, while others criticize it as cringeworthy and poorly executed. Characters like Eggman receive praise for their comedic moments, but many feel that the writing lacks depth and relies on childish jokes that fail to resonate. Overall, the humor can be hit or miss, appealing to younger audiences but often falling flat for those seeking more sophisticated storytelling.

    • “Zonom hitting Sonic with a sandwich is hilarious.”
    • “This game made me laugh like crazy more times than I can count.”
    • “Eggman is not an intimidating villain, but he actually is kind of funny in this game.”
    • “It tries to go for a comedic tone similar to that of 'Colors'; however, it fails by being painfully unfunny, with character writing clearly done by people who have no affinity for the characters they’re writing for and a lack of ideas.”
    • “The humor falls flat and feels forced, making it difficult to connect with the characters or enjoy the story.”
    • “Attempts at humor often miss the mark, leaving moments that should be funny feeling awkward and uncomfortable.”
  • grinding80 mentions

    The grinding mechanics in the game are criticized for being tedious and poorly integrated, with many levels feeling disjointed and lacking momentum. While some rail grinding sections are enjoyable due to their physics and design, the overall experience is marred by excessive grinding for achievements and a lack of engaging gameplay. Players express frustration with the inconsistent level design and the forced inclusion of gimmicky mechanics that detract from the core Sonic experience.

    • “The achievements are also a real tedious slog in this game and I cannot be bothered with them.”
    • “They're not really challenging, there's just a lot of grinding.”
    • “It ranges from boring but otherwise inoffensive gimmicks like sticking you into a snowball which limits your movement ability, to auto-scrolling stages where Sonic drifts to the top of the screen and you have to press and hold the jump button to move towards the bottom of the screen (which isn't explained at all and you only figure out after smashing into a wall and dying a few times as you try all the buttons to figure out how to move up and down), to incredibly dull stages that are nothing but grinding on a rail the entire time, to stages that change the rules and mechanics from screen to screen.”
  • stability68 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent bugs and glitches that can hinder gameplay and even prevent progression in some levels. While some users experienced smooth performance with minimal issues, others described the game as a "buggy mess" reminiscent of earlier titles in the franchise, indicating that it may not feel fully polished. Overall, players should be prepared for a potentially inconsistent experience, with varying degrees of stability depending on their system and playstyle.

    • “The game runs great throughout the entire experience; I only had 2 very minor frame rate hiccups occur during my playtime.”
    • “I encountered no glitches, visual or mechanical, and the game ran at a smooth 60 fps for the entire experience.”
    • “Runs great on Intel graphics 5500.”
    • “This on top of the wonky hitboxes and pretty frequent glitches made me feel as if this game wasn't even finished.”
    • “There are entire levels that can't be passed because of persistent glitches.”
    • “Even though it's beautiful, it's too buggy to the point you may get 'game over' 3 times before you can end an act.”
  • optimization56 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including frame drops and slowdowns, particularly on PC. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly after tweaking settings, others experienced unplayable performance even on high-end systems, suggesting that the port from the Wii U was poorly optimized. Overall, while there are glimpses of a well-designed game, the optimization flaws detract from the experience for a substantial number of players.

    • “The game is very well optimized and level design is for the most part great.”
    • “This is a very well optimized port performance-wise, even though there aren't that many graphical options, the art style and easy to hit 60fps makes it a good port.”
    • “The port is really good, I have had no problems with the performance issues at all.”
    • “Idk if it's poor optimization from Sega or what, but this game is absolutely horrendously slow. Generations runs perfectly fast, but this one does not.”
    • “The game is good so far, but the main problem is that it is poorly optimized. Even with a good, strong chipset, the game will frame drop and become unplayable at 30fps, and there is a lack of texture settings and co-op like the Wii U version.”
    • “Before I even begin talking about this game, the optimization is awful. Even when optimized, the game still lags if you don't have a gaming computer, and sometimes you can fall through walls.”
  • replayability48 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some levels are enjoyable and offer decent replay value through collectibles and missions, many players feel it lacks the depth and variety expected from a Sonic title. The absence of alternate paths and the grind for achievements contribute to a perception of limited replayability, especially after reaching 100% completion. Despite these drawbacks, fans of the platformer genre may still find some enjoyment in revisiting levels.

    • “I would recommend this game to fans of the platformer genre, for it has nice visuals, fun gameplay, nice music, and decent replayability.”
    • “There's the added replayability of completing all 100 of the missions (each one is an achievement) and collecting all the red star rings to unlock Super Sonic.”
    • “Most of the levels are really good with great replayability.”
    • “It is very short and has very little replay value for a game that is $30.”
    • “There is no real replay value… red ring collectibles, bonus levels, and your standard stuff like most modern Sonic games.”
    • “No replayability, go play the classics or the other good 3D games, it'll be worth your money and time.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    The emotional responses to the game are mixed, with some players expressing frustration over technical issues and lackluster design, leading to a feeling of disappointment and abandonment. Conversely, others found a sense of nostalgia and satisfaction in completing the game, despite its flaws, indicating a complex emotional experience that varies widely among players.

    • “Playing this after playing Sonic Generations has made me feel like I'm back in the original Sonic generation.”
    • “I completed this game in a brisk 13 hours (without touching the bonus levels) and I'm very happy I gave it a chance.”
  • character development12 mentions

    Character development in the game has been widely criticized, particularly regarding the Deadly Six, whose designs are deemed poor and unoriginal, detracting from the overall experience. Reviewers express frustration over the lack of engaging plot points and character depth, feeling that the potential of the character designs is wasted in a disjointed gameplay experience. Overall, the character development is seen as a significant flaw, overshadowing any positive aspects of the game.

    • “Bought the game, was super excited, the character designs are awesome, and it feels like they went to waste being used in this game.”
    • “Sonic is a character designed to be played fast that it becomes disorienting and unresponsive the more speed he obtains, and it’s that core problem that Lost World attempts to solve in many ways that ultimately do not mesh well.”
    • “The Deadly Six are possibly the worst character designs to come out for Sonic; let's just throw it out there and ignore that.”
    • “The story has no interesting plot points in Lost World, and the Deadly Six are just obnoxious and obvious in their character design. The characters also seem to have amnesia at points.”
    • “This game was really aggravating me with the gameplay, and then they came along and messed up the whole character development.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is visually stunning, featuring unique weather-themed environments that enhance the overall experience. However, some players find the atmosphere undermined by repetitive level design and frustrating mechanics, leading to mixed feelings about its engagement. Overall, while the visuals and soundtrack contribute positively, the gameplay elements detract from the immersive experience.

    • “A pretty cool 3D platformer (with an occasional 2D level) adventure game with beautiful, weather-themed maps that create a great atmosphere, including winter, tropical, and desert.”
    • “Forming a great atmosphere and making the levels really enjoyable to play.”
    • “Visually, it's gorgeous and the soundtrack is pretty good as well; every level has its own unique atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is incredibly boring.”
    • “The atmosphere lacks any excitement or engagement.”
    • “Overall, the atmosphere feels dull and uninspired.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

53% average critic score

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Play time

7hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
3-19hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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