Sonic the Hedgehog 2

50 Games like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 that you should try

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Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is hard to replace: few games combine precision platforming, melee combat and setting scifi in quite the same way. We analyzed over 2,000 titles across 10 gameplay attributes and found 50 genuine alternatives — not generic genre suggestions. Sonic Mania, New Super Mario Bros. and Move or Die lead the list, with Sonic Mania reaching a 97/100 similarity score. Every game here is ranked by how closely it replicates what makes Sonic the Hedgehog 2 special.

iRank87/ 100

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GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

Tags

OfflineSolo

Year 1992Dev Sega Technical Institute

Stores

Steam ↗Nintendo ↗

Quick answer

The closest game to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is Sonic Mania — scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. New Super Mario Bros. and Move or Die follow close behind.

#1Sonic Mania97 #2New Super Mario Bros.93 #3Move or Die95 #4SpeedRunners95 #5Rayman Origins92

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Games like Sonic the Hedgehog 2

50 similar games found

97

iRank90

Sonic Mania

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMelee2DPixel Art

Steam👍 94%· 28KIGDB85· 16OC87· 126

Year 2017Dev Headcannon · SegaOn PS4 · PC · Xbox

✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, adventure storytelling and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: vibe casual and visual third person, while skipping setting scifi

Steam Epic Xbox

#2New Super Mario Bros.

93

iRank95

New Super Mario Bros.

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMelee2D

IGDB95· 2

Year 2006Dev Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development · Nintendo

✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and melee combat

≠ Stands apart with dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping setting scifi

95

iRank86

Move or Die

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

MultiplayerOfflineCo-opSoloMelee2D

Steam👍 89%· 23KIGDB80· 1

Year 2016Dev Those Awesome GuysOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, melee combat and multiplayer gameplay

≠ Its own twist: vibe casual, competitive edge and online features, while skipping adventure storytelling

Steam PS Nintendo

95

iRank85

SpeedRunners

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

MultiplayerSoloCo-opOfflineMelee2D

Steam👍 94%· 37KRAWG👍 76%· 525MC84OC80· 20

Year 2016Dev tinyBuildPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, melee combat and multiplayer gameplay

≠ Stands apart with racing gameplay, sports simulation and vibe casual, while skipping adventure storytelling

#5Rayman Origins

92

iRank93

Rayman Origins

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opOfflineMelee2D

Steam👍 94%· 5.9KIGDB89· 8

Year 2011Dev Ubisoft Montpellier · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PC · Mac

✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, adventure storytelling and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: fantasy world, while skipping setting scifi

92

iRank89

Metal Slug 2

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

MultiplayerCo-opSoloOfflineMelee2DPixel Art

Steam👍 89%· 1.4K

Year 1998Dev DotEmu · SNK PlaymoreOn PlayStation 3 · Android · PC

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and melee combat

≠ Its own twist: shooter, first-person shooting and fantasy world, while skipping setting scifi

#7Gunstar Heroes

93

iRank83

Gunstar Heroes

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

Co-opSoloMultiplayerOfflineMeleeSci-Fi2DPixel Art

Steam👍 94%· 16IGDB60· 1

Year 1993Dev Treasure · Tec ToyOn PlayStation 3 · Linux · Android

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, melee combat and setting scifi

≠ Where it differs: brings shooter and combat tactical, while skipping adventure storytelling

93

iRank82

Metal Slug 3

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-opMeleeSci-Fi2DPixel Art

IGDB82· 6

Year 2000Dev SNK · D4 EnterpriseOn Xbox

✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, melee combat and setting scifi

≠ Where it differs: brings shooter and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping adventure storytelling

91

iRank91

Spiritfarer

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

Co-opSoloMultiplayerOffline2D

Steam👍 95%· 52KIGDB88· 7OC87· 76

Year 2020Dev Thunder LotusOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and co op

≠ Where it differs: brings deep simulation, strong narrative focus and vibe relaxing, while skipping melee combat

#10Kirby's Return to Dream Land

92

iRank87

Kirby's Return to Dream Land

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

OfflineSoloMultiplayerCo-op2D

IGDB87· 4

Year 2011Dev HAL Laboratory · Nintendo

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and offline.

≠ Missing: melee combat.

#11LittleBigPlanet

86

iRank96

LittleBigPlanet

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

SoloMultiplayerCo-op2DSandbox World

IGDB96· 9

Year 2008Dev Media Molecule · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

✓ Same family of 2D platformers: precision platforming, single-player focus and multiplayer gameplay

≠ Stands apart with sandbox freedom, sandbox world and fantasy world, while skipping adventure storytelling

#12Kirby: Squeak Squad

94

iRank65

Kirby: Squeak Squad

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

OfflineSoloMultiplayerMelee2D

IGDB65· 2

Year 2006Dev HAL Laboratory · Nintendo

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and melee combat.

≠ Missing: setting scifi.

#13TowerFall Ascension

88

iRank86

TowerFall Ascension

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

OfflineMultiplayerCo-opSoloMelee2DPixel Art

Steam👍 95%· 3.6KRAWG👍 74%· 291MC87IGDB87· 6OC84· 42

Year 2013Dev Matt Makes GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Both are 2D platformers — sharing precision platforming, adventure storytelling and melee combat

≠ Where it differs: brings fighting mechanics, ranged combat and fantasy world, while skipping setting scifi

#14Sackboy: A Big Adventure

89

iRank83

Sackboy: A Big Adventure

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

MultiplayerSoloCo-opOffline2D

Steam👍 84%· 4.3KIGDB85· 10OC80· 129

Year 2020Dev Sumo Digital · Sony Interactive EntertainmentOn PS4 · PC · PS5

✓ Fits the 2D platformers cluster, with precision platforming, adventure storytelling and multiplayer gameplay

≠ Its own twist: sandbox freedom, cozy, relaxing feel and sandbox world, while skipping melee combat

#15Kirby's Dream Land 3

97

Kirby's Dream Land 3

GenrePlatformerSubgenre2D Platformer

OfflineSoloMultiplayerCo-opMelee2D

Year 1997Dev HAL Laboratory · Nintendo

✓ Nearly identical: precision platforming, adventure storytelling and melee combat.

≠ Missing: setting scifi.

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Kirby's Epic Yarn

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New Super Mario Bros. Wii

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best game similar to Sonic the Hedgehog 2?: The closest game to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is Sonic Mania, scoring 97/100 on our similarity scale. They share 9 gameplay attributes, including precision platforming, adventure storytelling and single-player focus. It's the most faithful alternative currently available.
What are the top games like Sonic the Hedgehog 2?: The three closest games to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 are: 1. Sonic Mania (97/100, 9 shared attributes) 2. New Super Mario Bros. (93/100, 7 shared attributes) 3. Move or Die (95/100, 7 shared attributes). All share Sonic the Hedgehog 2's most important gameplay attributes, ranked out of 50 candidates across 10 dimensions.
Is New Super Mario Bros. similar to Sonic the Hedgehog 2?: Yes, very much so — New Super Mario Bros. scores 93/100 similarity to Sonic the Hedgehog 2. They share 7 attributes, including precision platforming and adventure storytelling. It's one of the most direct alternatives available.
What Platformer games are similar to Sonic the Hedgehog 2?: The best Platformer games similar to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 are Sonic Mania, New Super Mario Bros., Move or Die and SpeedRunners. All share the Platformer genre alongside other key Sonic the Hedgehog 2 attributes like precision platforming, adventure storytelling and single-player focus.
How is similarity to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 calculated?: We compare Sonic the Hedgehog 2 against every game in our catalog using 10 gameplay attributes: genre, atmosphere, world structure, play modes, combat style, and more. Each category is weighted differently — genre matters more than visual style, for instance. The result is a 0-100 score reflecting how closely a game replicates the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 experience, not just whether it shares the same genre label.