When did Sonic the Hedgehog 2 release?

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was first released on October 16, 1992.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Oct 16, 1992PlatformAdventureArcadeNintendo 3DS Wii Sega Game Gear Sega Master System/Mark III Sega Master System

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 — frequently asked questions

What platforms is Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on?: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was released on Nintendo 3DS, Wii, Sega Game Gear, Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Master System.
When did Sonic the Hedgehog 2 release?: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was first released on October 16, 1992.

About Sonic the Hedgehog 2

This is a completely different game than its 16-bit counterpart on the Genesis/Mega Drive, and was originally released on the Sega Game Gear and Master System. The Sonic the Hedgehog 2 game marks the debut of Miles ‘Tails’ Prower, Sonic’s best pal, who is then seen recurring in the series. Assist Sonic to rescue Tails, who has been kidnapped by Dr. Robotnik in this platform video game. In exchange of Tails’ safety in this Sega Game Gear video game, the evil scientist asks that the six Chaos Emeralds be given away to six robots, so he can dominate the entire globe. With advanced ability of Sonic to smash through walls and grab back scattered rings hit by enemy, this platform video game is made even more exciting. Join the protagonist in the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 game as he rides a mine cart, a hang glider or skims through water surface in his rescue attempt. With seven zones and three acts each, this Sega Game Gear video game is a rollercoaster ride where you get rewarded at the end of each act.

Summary via IGDB.

Game details

Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, Wii, Sega Game Gear, Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Master System
Developer: Aspect Co. Ltd
Publisher: Sega
Game modes: Single player
Themes: Action, Science fiction
Series: Sonic The Hedgehog

Details via IGDB.

Reception

IGDB rating

90/100

from 42 ratings

Every version compared

Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release

Platform	Year	Loose	Complete	Sealed	Period reviews	Fake risk
Sega Master System	1992	$7	$30	—	18 reviews	Low (look-alike)

Also released on: Nintendo 3DS · Wii · Sega Game Gear · Sega Master System/Mark III. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.

Collector value & authenticity

Sega Master System · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-28

Loose

Complete

$30

Sealed

—

How often it sells

Loose: about once a week
Complete: about 2 times a week
Sealed: about 4 times a year

Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-28.

Price over time

Loose
Complete

A loose copy sold for about $5.26 in Jul 2018, $13.65 five years ago, and $7.30 as of Oct 2026.

Show as table

Month	Loose	Complete
Jan 2019	$8.91	$11.74
Jan 2020	$6.52	$9.44
Jan 2021	$7.38	$12.40
Jan 2022	$9.99	$13.50
Jan 2023	$12.10	$18.02
Jan 2024	$5.69	$16.80
Jan 2025	$4.86	$15.37
Jan 2026	$7.89	$32
Oct 2026	$7.30	$30

Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.

Release record

Territory	Date	Product number	Known board
Europe / PAL	24 November 1992	9015	171-5507 · MPR-15159

Source: Product numbers: MAME's Master System software list and the No-Intro serial records in the libretro database, published only where both agree on the same cartridge dump; Japanese numbers also checked against Sega Japan's software list. Board and ROM numbers: MAME's software list

Region: EU
Released: 1992
Authenticity: Low

Modern re-releases, such as Sega Ages and Virtual Console, are not tracked hereLow look-alike risk

Sega Master System prices, all games & how to spot a fake

The 8-bit Sonic 2 is its own game, praised in its day and still affordable.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on the Master System is a platform game developed by Sega and Aspect, released in Europe on 24 November 1992. It is not a port of the Genesis game: the two share a title and a release window, but little else, and no levels. Unlike the first 8-bit Sonic, which Ancient developed, Aspect built this one.

Critics praised it as an improvement over the first 8-bit Sonic. Sega Power called it the best Master System game, and IGN later praised it for standing apart from the Genesis game with original stage themes and gameplay elements.

It stayed exclusive to PAL territories until the Wii Virtual Console release in Japan in November 2008, with North America and Europe following a month later.

How it was made

Developed by Sega and Aspect, with Naofumi Hataya, Masafumi Ogata and Tomonori Sawada credited as composers.

What the press said at the time

Sega Pro Issue 19	May 1993	95%
Sega Pro Issue 20	June 1993	95%
Sega Pro Issue 21	July 1993	95%
Sega Pro Issue 22	August 1993	95%
Sega Pro Issue 23	September 1993	95%
Sega Pro Issue 24	October 1993	95%
Sega Pro Issue 25	November 1993	95%
Sega Master Force Issue 6	December 1993	92%
Sega Pro Issue 27	December 1993	95%
Sega Pro Issue 26	December 1993	95%
Sega Pro Issue 28	February 1994	95%
Sega Pro Issue 42	March 1995	87%
Sega Pro Issue 43	April 1995	87%
Computer and Video Games		93%
Mean Machines Sega		95%
Sega Force		92%
Sega Power		93%
Sega Zone		90%

“So, you thought that Sonic the Hedgehog pushed back the boundaries of Master System gaming? Well, check this out! The basic gameplay is much like the original, but this sequel has loads of new levels with much more variety along with a far stiffer challenge! Pure brilliance.”
— Mean Machines Sega, December 1992

“A fantastic version of the most famous game in the worid, but iťs bugged. Sonic 2 is simply the best game on the MS, but don’t be too disappointed when Tails doesn’t appear.”
— Sega Pro, May 1993

“A fantastic version of the most famous game in the worid, but iťs bugged. Sonic 2 is simply the best game on the MS, but don’t be too disappointed when Tails doesn’t appear.”
— Sega Pro, June 1993

“Sonic 2 is simply the best game on the MS, but don’t be too disappoi when Tails doesn’t appear.”
— Sega Pro, July 1993

Undated scores are from the review table in the game's Wikipedia article, limited to reviews of the Sega Master System version.

In the sales charts

In 23 sales charts, March 1993 to November 1993; highest position #1.

Show all 23 placings

#1 in the Master System chart — Sega Force, Issue 15, March 1993
#1 in the Our Price Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 18, April 1993
#1 in the Virgin Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 18, April 1993
#1 in the HMV Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 18, April 1993
#1 in the Our Price Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 19, May 1993
#1 in the Virgin Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 19, May 1993
#1 in the HMV Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 19, May 1993
#1 in the Our Price Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 20, June 1993
#1 in the Virgin Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 20, June 1993
#1 in the HMV Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 20, June 1993
#2 in the Our Price Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 21, July 1993
#2 in the Virgin Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 21, July 1993
#2 in the HMV Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 21, July 1993
#2 in the Our Price Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 22, August 1993
#2 in the Virgin Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 22, August 1993
#1 in the HMV Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 22, August 1993
#2 in the Our Price Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 23, September 1993
#4 in the Virgin Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 23, September 1993
#8 in the HMV Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 23, September 1993
#3 in the Our Price Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 24, October 1993
#5 in the Virgin Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 24, October 1993
#2 in the Our Price Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 25, November 1993
#2 in the Virgin Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 25, November 1993

Sales charts as printed in the magazines of the time.

Also on other platforms

Game Gear

Game Gear. The Game Gear version reached Japan on November 21, 1992 and North America the following month.
Game Gear. It was the first four megabit cart for the Game Gear, the largest yet.

How the other versions reviewed

Game Gear	Computer and Video Games	92%
Game Gear	Famitsu	6/10, 6/10, 7/10, 5/10
Game Gear	Mean Machines Sega	80%
Game Gear	Sega Force	93%
Game Gear	Sega Power	97%
Game Gear	Sega Pro	95%

These are the other versions’ scores, not this one’s. Ports of this era were frequently built by different studios, so they do not transfer.

Before you buy

Buy the European cart; that is the one that was sold. The loose price sits below the middle of the European-only group, which makes it a good-value entry. Look for the manual in a complete copy.