Sonic the Hedgehog is a video game series and media property from Japan.¹⁾

Sega created and owns it.²⁾

Sonic, an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog, confronts the nefarious Doctor Eggman, a mad scientist, in the franchise.³⁾

Sonic the Hedgehog games are generally platformers created by Sonic Team. Other studio-created games include spin-offs in the racing, combat, party, and sports genres.⁴⁾

Print media, cartoons, feature films, and merchandising are also part of the series.⁵⁾

Sega created the first Sonic game for the Sega Genesis in 1991 to compete with Nintendo's mascot Mario.⁶⁾

Its popularity aided Sega's rise to prominence throughout the fourth generation of video game systems in the early 1990s.⁷⁾

Sega Technical Institute created the following three Sonic games, as well as the spin-off Sonic Spinball (1993).⁸⁾

Sonic Adventure, the first major 3D Sonic game, was published in 1998 for the Dreamcast after a gap during the failed Saturn period.⁹⁾

In 2001, Sega departed the console market and turned to third-party production, with the series continuing on Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation consoles.¹⁰⁾

While Sonic games frequently include distinct game mechanics and narrative, repeating features like as the ring-based health system, level settings, and fast-paced action are present.¹¹⁾

Sonic usually sets out to foil Eggman's plans for world dominance in the games.¹²⁾

Levels contain springs, slopes, bottomless pits, and vertical loops that the player must cross.¹³⁾

Later games included a vast cast of characters, including Miles “Tails” Prower, Knuckles the Echidna, and Shadow the Hedgehog, who have appeared in spin-offs.¹⁴⁾

In titles such as Mario & Sonic, Sega All-Stars, and Super Smash Bros., the series has crossed over with other video game franchises.¹⁵⁾

Sonic the Hedgehog is Sega's flagship property and one of the most successful video game series, with over 140 million units sold by 2016. As of 2020, it has earned more than $6 billion.¹⁶⁾

As of 2020, series sales and free-to-play mobile game downloads reached 1.14 billion.¹⁷⁾

The Genesis Sonic games have been considered as being indicative of 1990s culture.¹⁸⁾

It is regarded as one of the best games of all time, while subsequent titles, most notably the 2006 series relaunch, have been chastised for a perceived fall in quality.¹⁹⁾