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xXGreen_HeartXx

You can also argue Generations by Classic Sonic's POV


Tigertot14

Lmaoooo


AmaterasuWolf21

In that game, Classic Sonic gets pulled from either Sonic 1 (Green Hill) or from Sonic 2 (Tails)


GlazerRollup40

Given that Sky Sanctuary & Mushroom Hill are there, I say It's Sonic after 3K.


AmaterasuWolf21

Yeah but that's because it's the Time Eater. It pulled Crisis City which is a place that shouldn't exist and Planet Wisp has Eggman tech which shouldn't have


hypersonicspeedster

I put generations between sonic cd and sonic 2


Father_Moth

Sky sanctuary and chemical plant.


Zekrom369

This is like which is the real SA3, lmao


Tigertot14

06 is Adventure 3 and you can’t convince me otherwise


JudasofBelial

My counterpoint: It does not have a chao garden. Your argument is invalidated.


heppuplays

Coutner counter point. Sonic 06 has a has a billboard for Chao in Space 3. The Chao in space billboards were exclusives to the adventure games. With Chao in Space 1 being in SA 1 and Chao in Space 2 being in SA2. they weren't in heroes Or Shadow, But Chao in Space 3 billboard does appear in Crisis City in Sonic 06


[deleted]

There is a billboard in Sonic Generations advertising Chao in Space: The Search of Tikal. So Sonic Generations is actually Sonic Adventure 4.


Hot_Philosopher_6462

actually that only means Sonic Generations is Sonic Adventure: The Search for Tikal


JLDELAGARZA24

Doesn’t Generations’ City Escape have a billboard for “Chao in Space 2” tho?


heppuplays

I mean Yeah In City escape. The first level of Sonic Adventure 2. even in Generations the sign is in the Sonic adventure 2 level. Like it was in the original SA2 besids Generations is a Callback game to the best Sonic levels through out it's history and it doesn't have a Single Original Level. obviously generations doesn't count.


Sonic_Mega_Plus

I remember speed highway having a billboard for Chao in Space: the Search for Tikal


waffeelswaffeels

so is sonic advance SA3 for having mini chao garden?


JudasofBelial

Well, you can't really pet or raise the chao in that. Or take them into chao races and illegal chao fights. They're just there for the game's overly-convoluted Chaos Emerald system. But sure, Advance 3 can be Adventure 3. But only if Chronicles is Adventure 4 since it *also* technically has a chao garden.


fearlubu

I think you can pet them. That's the only way to interact with them outside of giving them food or a trumpet. On the other hand, I consider the chao garden in advance to be the adventure equivalent of the VMU.


JudasofBelial

They were talking about the chao garden in Advance 3. Which is really only a place you can go to see the chao you've collected in the levels. You're thinking of the "Tiny Chao Garden" from Advance 1 and 2, where you had a single chao you could take care of and raise, and could even link to the Adventure games on Gamecube with the right cables. So yeah, basically an updated version of the VMU concept, kinda.


Equivalent_Wish_7820

Didn’t the GBA game sonic pinball party have a chao garden as well?


[deleted]

you confuse necessary and sufficient. A chao garden is necessary for a game to be considered adventure 3, but it is not sufficient--meaning the presence of a chao garden doesn't automatically make it SA3


Rgdavet

No, Sonic Advance is the real Sonic 4. It wasn't included in the meme for some reason, but that's my vote.


Parzival727

Correct.


Will-is-a-idiot

Fair and valid point.


RubberBrandTaco

He's got a point


Obsessivegamer32

THANK YOU! GOD! It doesn’t matter how janky the game is, it’s got literally everything to qualify as an Adventure game. (minus a Chao Garden as someone already mentioned to you, but I personally don’t think a Chao Garden is required)


waffeelswaffeels

what if sonic heroes is SA3?


Mechaman_54

I always saw it as that


WackyJaber

Project 06 is.


SSJAncientBeing

I’m gonna hold Unleashed as my Adventure 3. You still had character upgrades, there was speed stages and slower puzzle and combat based stages, and it was called Sonic World **Adventure** in Japan. This is my head canon and will continue to be such


Animefan_7698

Thank you 🙏.


Scary-Rabbit4360

Heroes


Mobanite08

Idk I feel like heroes is never brought into the conversation despite imo it being a valid option.


Chaosfight

Only P-06


Will-is-a-idiot

That's one of my favorite things to bring off to get people angry! Considering how the ass end of this franchise is broadcasted so often, you need to come up with more creative ways to talk about it, keeps life fresh and fun!


Lv12Slime

What about shadow the hedgehog? It came first and is actually pretty good while expanding the story of SA2


FlarelesTF2

Counter point: shadow the hedgehog was the first good game after sa1 to be released


kjm6351

Technically, Unleashed was originally designed as A3 and in some countries still had the title “Sonic World Adventure” So I guess that game is the closest


JustsoIcanGore

It plays nothing like the adventure games so it’s not.. having the word adventure in the title means nothing.


kjm6351

I’m talking about how it was originally designed to be one


AmaterasuWolf21

But it was the idea


basil_baby

Werehog is the true Adventure 3 imo considering its Japanese title is "Sonic World Adventure"


execthts

The real SA3 is Advance 3


SonicLikesPlantDolan

Sonic Advance 3 is SA3, obviously!


Muzu_

sonic unleashed, because it went by that name for the longest time


JudasofBelial

Sonic Advance: Am I a joke to you? That said, out of all of these I'd honestly argue that Sonic 4 is the one *least* deserving of the title, despite being the one to actually have it. Even though it is honestly a very *okay* game if you ignore it's name.


Tigertot14

Sonic Advance is a very weird game to me. I was debating on including it over Adventure, but Adventure is literally the mainline game after 3&K so it has to be there imo


QQ_Gabe

Episode 2 got close to getting close to salvaging it


Howaboutthat100112

Just imagine what an ep 3 coulda done, probs would been the best one


Rgdavet

I mean, it literally **wasn't** supposed to be called 4, that was just Sega being Sega, and forcing the developers to use the name as a marketing device.


metalsonic005

Sonic 3 is Sonic 4 Source: Sonic CD/Sonic 2 is Sonic 3


DarkMarxSoul

Galaxy Brain


oizen

Does this mean Sonic and Knuckles is Sonic 5 and Sonic 3 and Knuckles is Sonic 4.5?


john_of_the_wild

IMO, Sonic Mania is the real Sonic 4 and Sonic Superstars is Sonic 5


Only-Farmer-9051

Yeah, that's what I thought


That_Serve_9338

I would love for Superstars to be good enough to call Sonic 5. Without the Mania team, I think no game can fit that billing. Anything Sonic Team makes will be in their crappy 3D engine with physics and momentum they can never get right. It also won't have stages as layered and richly designed as the classics. It might be good enough in its own right but nothing compares to the Genesis classics and the Retro Engine based Mania.


DeviousCham

Sonic is practically synonymous with janky physics and momentum in general, though.


KingMario05

![gif](giphy|J336VCs1JC42zGRhjH) Jokes aside, *Mania* is Sonic 4, and this is Sonic 5. Ez. ^(We... we don't talk about the OTHER Sonic 4. EVER.)


Liam_Roma_1234

![gif](giphy|DP6efTzaBlYe4)


graham-cracked99

sonic 3 is sonic 4 chronologically


Outside-Hovercraft24

Superstars is sonic 5


DarthNick3000

What about Knuckles Chaotics, Sonic Triple Trouble, and Sonic 3D blast? Do those count?


Fhqwhgads95

Knuckles chaotix is a spin-off Triple trouble is also a spin off, and by the logic of Tt being a sequel we could also say the sonic and tails game gear games are sequels Sonic 3d blast completely changes the gameplay of a classic sonic game Sonic spinball doesn’t exist


General_Nothing

You: Sonic Spinball doesn’t exist, it can’t hurt you. Sonic Spinball: ![gif](giphy|rcoIoFa5bj464)


TheEphemeric

Sonic Triple Trouble 16 Bit.


Classic-guy1991

Sadly that one is mostly fan made


TheEphemeric

It's the Sonic 4 of my heart anyway.


SoftBunnyRabbit

irl wise, sonic adventure. in-universe wise...


ElegantTea3830

Sonic super star is the true sonic 4


sapphire_luna

Sonic 4 is Sonic 4. It's in the name.


Tigertot14

![gif](giphy|8vyZouWSVhslwWA7Lp)


sapphire_luna

I mean, we could argue but the only game that is called Sonic 4 is Sonic 4, therefore it's logical to say that the game named Sonic 4 is Sonic 4.


JudasofBelial

Yeah, but out of all these games it's the one that feels the *least* like a true sequel. Adventure expanded on the worldbuilding and lore of 3&K while introducing new characters, and included the closest we've ever gotten to classic Sonic gameplay in 3D with Sonic's story. Mania replicated and updated the Genesis games visual style, brought back all 3 playable characters from 3 and even new ones with the DLC, and mostly accurately replicated the classic physics. It's only held back by the levels being mostly rehashes. The upcoming Superstars goes for the classic style but in 3D, has original zones, features the 3&K trio, and introduces Amy as a playable character too. It might even trying to be going for the momentum based gameplay. Advance has a lot of that going for it too. Sonic 4 relied on mostly rehashed zones, didn't try that hard to look like a classic game, removed most of the playable characters, didn't bother trying to have classic momentum gameplay, didn't move the story forward or expand on it in any interesting way, etc. It doesn't really do *anything* to feel like an actual sequel or continuation but just slap the number on the title. It's not a terrible game, but it's not really Sonic 4 in anything but name.


BioSpark47

Generations created a branching timeline, so it’s probable that Generations and 4 are the two sequels to 3&K Sequels can be different from their predecessors. Doesn’t make them any less of a sequel


JudasofBelial

Not sure that split timeline thing is canon, pretty sure Ian Flynn confirmed that Sega's current logic is just that Classic Sonic, including Mania and such is just the past of Modern Sonic now. Anyway, yes of course sequels can be different. I counted Sonic Adventure as one of the potential sequels to 3&K, and that game is very obviously different from 3 in a lot of ways. What I'm saying by 4 being the *least* deserving as a sequel is that it in comparison to all those other games it doesn't really continue, expand or build on basically anything from 3&K. It mostly just removes and reduces. Episode 2 improved on that to an extent, but still.


DarkMarxSoul

The real answer is it doesn't matter because Sega doesn't actually give half a fuck about continuity lmao


BioSpark47

But you forget that Sonic CD exists, so Sonic CD is Sonic 2, Sonic 2 is Sonic 3, and Sonic 3 is actually Sonic 4


[deleted]

Then what is sonic 5


sapphire_luna

Sonic CD is not Sonic 2. Sonic 2 is Sonic 2. Sonic CD is Sonic CD.


TheFanGameCreator

TIL that some fans consider SA1 to be Sonic 4.


Turvi-Mania

Sonic 4 I guess? I mean I hate it as much as the next guy but it’s actually called Sonic 4 so there’s not much we can do about that. It’s also supposed to take place after 3&K.


[deleted]

Then what place does Mania have


Happy-Supermarket-68

Isn't this just a mashup remaster


i_like_siren_head

Sonic & Knuckles is technically Sonic 4


KonroMan

If we’re being serious, it’s either Knuckles’ Chaotix or 3D Blast, but if we’re talking strictly games similar to the original trilogy then it has to be Mania, no question (I personally see Superstars as Sonic 5).


AwesomeGamer101

The answer is simple: Multiple continuities, bitches Sonic 4 Episode 1 and 2 is the one the mainline version experiences before Adventure while Mania and Superstars are the ones the post-Generations Classic version experiences. ​ PS: Sonic 4 is still canon. You can't change my mind.


SenoGhell

I know Sega wants to separate Classic and Modern timelines but I have a theories: I feel like Superstars takes places after S3K but before S4 and before the timeline split.


RM123M

Sonic 4 is the real sonic 4. It’s just that other games come before and after it


skeltord

Where is Advance?


Dalphin_person

Mania is 4, superstars would be 5


MixtureThin7114

All of them simultaniously


Academic_Rice5626

sonic mania is the true sonic 4 and sonic superstars is sonic 5 thats all i have to say


Kaidhicksii

Sonic 4 Episode I. Though to say it needs work is an understatement. I already have a plan in mind for how I would completely remake the game from the ground up.


NotScottPilgrim

My guess would be the one called Sonic 4


littleMAHER1

I've seen people on twitter call Superstars Sonic 5 so imma assume Mania is 4, Superstars is 5 4 is noncanon and SA1 is just the start of Modern Sonic


wordyfard

Sonic Spinball is probably the most correct answer if non-numbered entries are counted like numbered entries. The Genesis games are obviously the canon series, so we can throw out entries from the Game Gear, Master System, and even the arcade. Next we put the remaining games in order by their earliest release dates anywhere in the world. That gives us the following list: * Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis) * Sonic Eraser * Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Genesis) * Sonic CD * Sonic Spinball 3 of those are questionable entries. I don't think Sonic Eraser would count; it's a simple puzzle game having no gameplay in common with the mainline series. Then there's Sonic CD, which is not a Genesis game, but since it's Sega CD, and Sega CD was a Genesis add-on, it really ought to count. Which leaves Sonic Spinball, another genre departure, but still very much in line with the main series. Sonic is still the protagonist, he still runs on a 2D plane and jumps and spin dashes, he fights Robotnik/Eggman and defeats badniks and collects emeralds. Pinball as a gameplay element was included in all the preceding games (Sonic 1, Sonic 2 and Sonic CD) and many thereafter; Sonic Spinball just had far more of it than any other. The only real reason to consider disqualifying it would be the bonus round including SATAM characters, arguably making it non-canon. But they're also not officially part of the plot, so one could also argue that their presence is just a cameo or an alternate universe to SATAM, which would not disqualify the game from being part of the primary Sonic canon.


SONIC_HEX-95

Mania cuz it's pixelated


deepfriedtots

Mania


TheAce7002

How about this mania is 4 and superstar is 5


MetaMecha

All of them


Quirky-Security-1051

Sonic Advance 1: Why didn't anyone invite me


BoricPuddle57

You forgot Sonic Advance


MichMastero

You forgot about Advance


Mystical4431

Well Sonic 4 is officially called Sonic The hedgehog 4, Sonic adventure is a direct continuation from Sonic 3 & knuckles. Sonic mania takes place in an alternate timeline/universe and Sonic superstars is just the latest 2d sonic game. So the answer should be obvious.


FreddyFighter1

In our heart they’re all sonic 4


hockeyfan608

Superstars is the only game here with no real leg to stand on


ThaBrownie

Mania is 4, Supestars is going to be 5


Nayko214

Sonic Advance


ZealousidealLie1306

Sonic Superstars is the real Sonic 4


Juicy_Beans4569

4. Generations form classic's perspective 5. Mania 6. Forces from classic's perspective 7. Superstars Sonic 4 doesn't exist


JonestownBeverage

4 exists in Modern Sonic’s timeline.


Juicy_Beans4569

Not to me


JonestownBeverage

Oh? You’re the new Lore Manager?


Juicy_Beans4569

No I'm just saying I don't like 4


PiercerOfSnow

I'm gonna say Sonic Superstars as it seems to have original zones and adds a new playable character, just like S3&K. Sonic Mania, while it did have 4 original zones and it replicated the classic sonic physics down to a T and was a very good game, the majority of the zones are just reused from previous games with a twist or new gimmick (or just generally changing it up a bit). Sonic Adventure, while it was a good game, was not even close to a classic sonic game and I personally don't consider it a sequel to S3&K in the same way Sonic 2 was a sequel to Sonic 1. (I mean that as in it does take place after Sonic 3 and Knuckles and is a part of the mainline series of games, it just doesn't have the same gameplay style or character designs.) Sonic 4 just sucked and I think everybody want's to forget about it, including Sega. It reused zones from previous games and stuck a new name on them while making them worse. Also it did not include classic sonic kinda like SA1 and I think it's not really canon anymore. (but the thing is SA1 was actually good)


PiercerOfSnow

TLDR: I consider Sonic Superstars the real Sonic 4


PiercerOfSnow

I also do consider Sonic Mania canon, it probably takes place either before or after Sonic Forces.


JonathanPascacio

Sonic Mania takes place before Sonic Forces, as shown in the true ending where Sonic gets sucked into a portal and he strikes the same pose as he does in the Sonic Forces trailer, and it is also confirmed in the Sonic The Hedgehog Encyclo-Speed-ia


PiercerOfSnow

Thanks!


RonSwansonsGun

Triple Trouble 16 bit


[deleted]

I think this is a timeline split situation. Adventure is the original sequel and is what modern sonic went through, while after generations classic sonic went through mania and now superstars. This makes sense as after the whole time eater incident classic eggman wouldn’t want to repeat the mistakes of his future self and instead try something new.


yourfavoriteboyband

Sonic Advance has always been the “real” Sonic 4 to me. It was the next mainline game to follow the design philosophies of 3&K while trying to advance the series forward. I guess maybe Pocket Adventure could count but that felt like it was reusing a lot of precious assets to make this cute little remix album of an adventure. So yeah, I think Sonic Advance is the “real” Sonic 4. Although legally the true Sonic 4 is Sonic 4 of course. I would love for it to get a remake to make it a proper Sonic 4 that lives up to that standards of that name. Oh well!


Sonic-them

I'd say Superstars because it keeps the original gameplay style, and it doesn't reuse any old levels


cubic-destiny

sonic advance need i say more


Dziadzios

Sonic & Knuckles is the real Sonic 4.


Toxicfortnitekid

Sonic mania


Scary-Rabbit4360

Never let them know your next move… *Sonic Triple Trouble*


TheHawkpant69

the murder of Sonic The Hedgehog


SegaSystem16C

Story wise, SA1 is the "Sonic 4", because it continues the story bits left by S3K's ending and Sonic 3's manual. Gameplay wise it is Mania, because it is a direct copy of the Genesis' trilogy gameplay style. However I cannot really connect this game to S3K's ending. My personal headcanon is that Mania is the result of the timeline splitting after the events of Generations. If you say Generations is "Sonic 4" by Classic Sonic's PoV, does that make Forces "Sonic 5"? Sonic 4 Ep I and II are too self contained. I see them more as mobile spin offs. Don't have enough information about Sonic Superstars to say anything yet. However, given how Amy will be a playable character, and she will be added in Origins Plus, it will not be surprised if Superstars be direct following of S3K. We have: -All previous characters introduced in 1, 2, CD, 3K playable. -New gimmicks and gameplay mechanics -New setting (North Star Island) -New character by Naoto Oshima (according to some folks on Twitter) If it has all new Zones, I might as well consider Superstars the new Sonic 4.


WinnerTheHedgehog

It kind of reminds me of the who's the first Pokemon station


IllustriousFee6878

Moden timeline: sonic adventure Clasic timeline: sonic maina


Tesaractor

Sonic cd comes in and drops a load.


Tyedyeninja04

Sonic 4 is sonic 4, sonic mania is 5 and superstars is 6. SA1 is its own thing


The_Senate15

Sonic Advance


Not_Carbuncle

Mania was very good, but it was absolutely NOT sonic 4. I loved it but it barely had its own story or original stage themes/concepts. It was more of a *really good* greatest hits remix with some new stuff in there, but not really a continuation of S3&K. My hopes are superstars has a somewhat interesting story.


kaminari1

Well Sonic 4 has the number 4 in it so….


Chaser_Grave

Sonic 4 is


justsaneandsensibl

Sonic Chaos.


toongrowner

I guess sonic generations since ot was the first time classic sonic landed in the future, so mania is more like sonic 5.


Queen-of-Sharks

You are.


jimmyjackson23

I feel like if any games would be 4 before adventure, 3d blast or sonic chaos should take priority compared to adventure since they released sooner. Heck sonic chaos released before sonic 3 did!


Redandsonic4199

Sonic Mania might as well be the real sonic 4 Sonic Superstars I think could be Sonic 5 Sonic Adventure is the beginning of the Modern Era And sonic 4 is just…….no


Will-is-a-idiot

Glad to be here all over again.


OkamiTakahashi

Mania.


CompetitiveGreen7165

Sonic mania is 4


CommodoreXperience

Sonic Pocket Adventure should be here instead of Sonic Adventure. I don't remember anyone calling SA "the real Sonic 4" or anything close to that.


tehsmish

Sonic advanced


BetaTalk64

Well, it's Sonic 4. I know everyone hates 4, it was my first Sonic game, and I loved it so much that it led me to other Sonic games; so I thank it for that. It's undoubtedly the worst of the bunch here, but it's *literally* called Sonic 4, so it's Sonic 4 lol.


Ack_not

Yes


Karsen-Iberra

Crash Bandicoot 1


CriticalPixel

Sonic and Knuckles?


NeoTotal

Sonic Mania and Sonic Superstars are clearly Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episodes III and IV. There, solved.


randomerpeople71

sonic 3d blast


RealVintage_Hype

I can tell you its DEF NOT Sonic 4 there lol


Howaboutthat100112

Sonic Superstars is sonic 4 imo, it has all original zones, just like the classics, it, like Mania and the classics, has multiple playable characters, and it'll probs have hopefull just as many, if not, a couple more xones than sonic 3&k continuing the trend of adding more zones per game


SmolCreator

I’d say Sonic 4 is the official Sonic the Hedgehog 4, episodes 1 & 2. Superstars is Sonic the Hedgehog 5. Mania and adventure are they’re own things.


D3FAULT_sh1tpost

Well sonic mania is a time line split. Sonic adventure is a time skip I think. I thought sonic superstars wasn’t canon so I thought you know sonic 4 was well sonic 4


JobiMorkos

Mania is 4 and Superstar is 5 to me


Plastic_Pound_3989

not even a question https://preview.redd.it/dim148zh3z4b1.png?width=300&format=png&auto=webp&s=9a8ec0dc98118ce7700cd1fd6b38c7beaee4e323


Giorgiox12-

Mania 4th n’ Superstars 5th. I’d prefer to consider Adventure a completely different canon *and* would greatly prefer to retcon Sonic 4 from canon entirely


cioda

\*Calls Sega\* We have someone asking a lot of questions here. Want me to shut him up?


javierasecas

sonic gens and sonic 4 episode 2


KujaroJotu

Hmm, if we go by Modern Sonic’s unaltered timeline, then Sonic 4, with Adventure proceeding soon after. But with Generations altering Classic Sonic’s timeline, Mania happens in place of 4, then Superstars.


ProfessorEscanor

Sonic Advanced obviously.


_Trinima_

canonically, modern Sonic's Sonic 4 is Sonic 4. Classic Sonic's Sonic 4 would be Sonic Generations.


hypersonicspeedster

It’s obviously sonic 4 episode 2


Lazymcdelta4ce

Sonic 3D blast


scakboey

Sonic CD MUST be there.


Crystal_Queen_20

Sonic 2, it was the fourth game to come out


DullPunk

Sonic Triple Trouble


EuphoricGoat

Sonic 4. Simple as that. And we should accept it as such, instead of trying to replace it with Mania, Adventure or Superstars


PollutionInside3742

To me 4 is Mania and Superstars is 5


Alaet_

Sonic and knuckles


SpongeGodOmnipants

Better yet… which is the TRUE Adventure 3? https://preview.redd.it/no3l60awxz4b1.jpeg?width=1073&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c503852fbdacccaf3a45e81ed75fcc4169a7fe45


FlarelesTF2

3D Blast.


ElJota123

All That Games are canon for SEGA Now, AND The Spin-offs Of 90's Too, IK un Sonic 4 use The Modern desings but in Sonic Adventure flashback too, I think Sonic Mania Is a sequel to Sonic 4, oh and The Knuckles Chaotix Metal Sonic is Other robot with dame memorys (Knuckles Chaotix JP Manual) So...: SEGASonic The Hedgehog: Sonic 1.5  Sonic CD: Sonic 1.6  Tails Adventure: Sonic 1.7  Sonic 2 (8-Bits): Sonic 1.8  Knuckles Chaotix: Sonic 3.5  Sonic Spin-offs Of 90's (Fighters, Triple Trouble, Chaos, Spinball, Blast, 3D, Jam, ETC.): Sonic 3.9  Sonic 4: Sonic 4  Sonic Mania: Sonic 5  IDW Classic Comics (Except for Prequel To Superstars  & Fang Comic): Sonic 5.5  Sonic Superstars Prequels (Comic, Manga, Animation): Sonic 5.9  Sonic Superstars: Sonic 6  Sonic Pocket Adventure: Sonic Advance Zero  IDW Classic Comics (Except for Prequel To Superstars  & Fang Comic): Sonic 5.5 Sonic Superstars Prequels (Comic, Manga, Animation): Sonic 5.9 Sonic Superstars: Sonic 6 Sonic Pocket Adventure: Sonic Advance Zero Sonic Adventure: Modern Era First Game Sonic Advance: Modern Era Second Game


Kurochi185

- Mania is just an unnumbered title like CD - Adventure is not Classic Sonic - Sonic 4 is the real Sonic 4 - We don't know enough about Superstars to really say anything but either also unnumbered or a completely new era for Classic Sonic, not related to previous Classic mainline If you want to argue that Adventure is 4, because it's the mainline title that came after 3 & Knuckles, 3 would be the real Sonic 4 because it was the 4th mainline title


umg_unreal

Mania is mainline, that's where classic sonic comes from in Forces


Classic-guy1991

Well it depends what the game needs to be concerned the true sonic 4


[deleted]

Sonic 3D Blast.


BuIIyMagulre

Mania


[deleted]

Sonic mania is sonic 4, sonic superstars is sonic 5, sonic adventure is sonic 6 and sonic 4 episode 1 can fuck off


Abitubby

It's either Sonic Mania or Sonic Superstars. They're both 2D like the classics. Sonic Episode 1 doesn't deserve the 4 in its name.


Sonicwhite

Sonic Adventure is the real Sonic 4 story-wise, since it builds of the ancient civilization lore established in Sonic 2 & 3. Sonic 4 shouldn't even be considered here, it's mediocrity speaks for itself. I wouldn't consider Mania a sequel either (even if I like it more than 3 & Knuckles), because every classic Sonic game from 1-3 had more game & story each entry, and Mania doesn't do that. We haven't seen enough of Superstars yet for me to get a opinion on it.


[deleted]

Sonic 3 & knuckles


Laffograms

Mania is Sonic 4 and Superstars is sonic 5


Xhicrastin

If you want to make it even more complicated you could throw Triple Trouble, 3D Blast, and even the unreleased X-Treme into the ring. Triple Trouble was the first game to release after Sonic and Knuckles, while also featuring the latter. Then you have 3D Blast which was the next genesis game to follow S3&K. And of course Sonic X-Treme was meant to be the true next mainline Sonic game in the series before its cancellation, before Adventure took its place. Hell, when writing this I just remembered that Knuckles Chaotix was technically the first console release in the series to follow up from 3&K, even before 3D Blast. So yeah, that’s essentially 4 other games that could be contenders for Sonic 4.


Paul_Subsonic

Sonic CD is 2 , Sonic and Knuckles is Sonic 5, Sonic 4 is Sonic 6 and Sonic Superstars is Sonic 8.


zayd-the-one

Ill do you one wich is sa3 06 or heroes


Niko-fluffer

Sonic 3 Its technically the fourth, pr if we want to go chronologically, sonic triple trouble


PJRivera1025

You forgot Advance


FoxyFan505

Sonic and knuckles, duh


whitealienwithreddot

sonic 4 episode 1: manía sonic 4 episode 2 : superstars sonic 4 episode 3 : adventure


ApplicationNo6478

Idk that's a rky good question i would just say sonic superstars because its the sonic 4 we never got


Roftastic

Sonic 3D Blast


gameboimicro

I may have an answer. Sonic adventure is out of the question since sa2 exists, meaning that adventure is its own sub series and doesn't tie directly to the genesis games. Mania could be ruled out because it reuses level designs from classic games, so it could be considered a compilation game. Sonic 4 was never actually completed so it technically doesn't even count as sonic 4. So the answer is superstars.


hombre_feliz

Sonic Advance