A remastered double bill: Sonic Generations alongside a brand-new adventure centered on Shadow. The levels blending 2D and 3D race along at full tilt, and the Shadow segment adds fresh powers that energize an already solid formula.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer1 player7+
Description
Two campaigns in one bring together the blue hedgehog and his rival Shadow in high-speed dashes. Published by Sega, released in 2024 across Europe and North America. A remaster of Sonic's classic and modern adventures, plus a new campaign devoted to Shadow and his powers.
Sonic x Shadow Generations review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
The double bill offers a striking contrast: on one side the luminous re-orchestrations of Sonic classics, on the other the jittery electronic-rock cut for Shadow's darker, tenser stages. Tomoya Ohtani and his team link the two with a shared sense of melodic speed. Tearing through the levels on these punchy layers stays a pure kinetic pleasure, perfect on headphones.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Racing at full speed while alternating classic 2.5D stages and modern levels proves this Generations remains one of the best 3D Sonics, its nervy feel faithfully restored by the remaster. The real novelty is Shadow's campaign, whose powers deliver fresh, tense sequences that energise an already solid formula. The whole thing is short but cleanly executed, ideal for fans and newcomers alike. Recent and polished, it stands as one of the finest gateways into modern Sonic.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Tearing along at full pelt across two distinct styles offers double the fun: one hero's sunny speed, the other's furious boost. The sense of gliding is superb, the action stays razor-sharp, and chains of drift, jump and acceleration flow naturally. Chasing the top rank or simply savoring the smoothness is enough to fire up run after run.
Two eras, two shades of speed, and bosses that test reflexes and motion reading. On Sonic's side, momentum and timing dictate the dodge; on Shadow's, Chaos Control freezes time and opens new offensive options. Powerful re-orchestrations and spectacular staging elevate fights built for the edge-of-the-seat thrill of high-speed action.
An underrated gem
Most people latch onto the blue hedgehog's nostalgia, but the real surprise is Shadow's campaign: a sharp, inventive platformer where his powers reshape the flow level by level. Sold as a straightforward remaster, the new half got underrated. It's that fresh content that deserves attention, ideal for anyone who'd written off the modern series.
Is Sonic x Shadow Generations still worth playing in 2026?
Sonic x Shadow Generations bundles two campaigns into one generous package. The Generations remaster faithfully restores one of the best 3D Sonics, where alternating 2.5D classic stages and full-speed modern levels still works beautifully. The new addition is the Shadow campaign, which leverages his powers for fresh, snappy sequences. The whole thing is short but cleanly executed, ideal for fans and newcomers alike. Recent and polished, it has obviously not aged, and stands as one of the best gateways into modern Sonic.
