Sonic Forces

Sonic Forces is an action-oriented single-player platformer from Sonic Team and publisher SEGA. Dr. Eggman and the new enemy Infinite have brought Sonic's world almost completely under control. A resistance tries to end Eggman's rule. Alongside Sonic himself, the player takes on a self-designed character who joins the resistance.

The campaign combines three play styles: Modern Sonic speeds through three-dimensional sections, Classic Sonic handles side-scrolling platform passages, and the avatar fights with special gadgets. Some missions link Sonic and the avatar in shared tag-team sequences.

Sonic Forces was released on Nov 7, 2017 in Europe and North America. The Nintendo version carries this date in the official European and US store listings. SEGA gives Nov 9, 2017 for the Japanese market. These differing regional release dates describe the same game, not a later re-release.

The original releases were for Windows PC (Steam), PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. The PC version is listed on Steam under app ID 637100. The Digital Bonus Edition released in 2017 bundles the base game with Episode Shadow and cosmetic extras and should be distinguished from a standalone expansion.

Native versions exist for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. On Steam, Sonic Forces is available for Windows. The PlayStation and Xbox versions come from the PS4 and Xbox One generation respectively; the Nintendo version was developed specifically for the original Switch.

On newer consoles, older versions may be playable under the respective backward compatibility. However, this does not make them standalone native versions for PS5, Xbox Series or Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo also lists the Switch software in the store for Switch 2 under the original system name.

The levels alternate between fast running sections, jumping passages, enemy encounters and boss fights. Modern Sonic uses his speed and a forward-facing boost control, while Classic Sonic relies more on precise jumps in two-dimensional sections. The self-created character uses equippable Wisps that can attack enemies and open new paths.

In tag-team missions, Modern Sonic and the avatar work together. Despite this cooperation within the story, Sonic Forces is a single-player game, not a co-op title for two people. Replaying stages and mission objectives lets you try the individual routes and gear options again.

The free bonus chapter Episode Shadow expands on the backstory of the antagonist Infinite. It contains three standalone sections and makes it possible to play as Shadow in selected Modern Sonic levels. The episodes are not part of the main campaign and are available as separate downloads depending on the store or edition.

Also released were the playable Super Sonic and several cosmetic packs for the avatar. These include clothing and designs from other SEGA brands. The Digital Bonus Edition on Steam combines the base game with Episode Shadow and the SEGA Pack. Such packs are add-ons, not new native platform versions or standalone main games.

Steam's minimum requirements list Windows 7 SP1, an Intel Core i5 of the fifth generation at 2.7 GHz or AMD A10 of the seventh generation at 3.0 GHz, 4 GB RAM, a GeForce GTX 750 Ti or Radeon R7 265, DirectX 11 and 18 GB storage. These are historical requirements from the game's release, not a guarantee for the current Steam client.

Steam explicitly points out that its client has not supported Windows versions below Windows 10 since January 2024. If you want to install Sonic Forces on PC today, you should therefore consider the game's technical requirements and the client's minimum requirements separately. The officially listed values are not performance figures measured by Gameforest.

Players design their own avatar for the resistance and change its animal type, appearance and clothing. Unlike Modern Sonic, the avatar fights with equippable Wisps that hit enemy robots and make access to certain paths easier.

SEGA also documents a borrowed avatar for missions: another player's character can be borrowed via network features. However, this does not create a shared online campaign. In team levels, Modern Sonic and your own created avatar work together within the single-player game.

Dr. Eggman launches a campaign with a powerful new weapon and the mysterious Infinite. After Sonic is defeated, Eggman's army takes over much of the world. Sonic's friends then organise a resistance and recruit the character created by the player to win back the occupied areas.

The story brings Modern Sonic and Classic Sonic together with familiar enemies such as Metal Sonic. It serves as the connecting framework for the different mission types and the avatar's missions.

Sonic Forces is a single-player title. The Nintendo Switch version offers TV, tabletop and handheld modes. Tag-team sequences with Sonic and the avatar are part of the solo campaign and not local co-op.

Nintendo lists German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian and Japanese for the European Switch version. Steam lists eleven supported languages for PC, and several of them also come with full voice-over.