Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Sonic the Hedgehog 3 on?
- Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was released on Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Xbox 360, PC (Microsoft Windows).
- When did Sonic the Hedgehog 3 release?
- Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was first released on February 2, 1994.
About Sonic the Hedgehog 3
The game is a sequel to Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the same system and follows on directly from the end of the game, in which Sonic defeated his enemy, Dr. Robotnik; crash-landing on a floating island, Sonic encounters new character Knuckles the Echidna, and must once more retrieve the Chaos Emeralds while also working to stop Dr. Robotnik from relaunching his ship, the Death Egg.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Developer
- Sonic Team
- Publisher
- Tec Toy
- Game modes
- Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Split screen
- Themes
- Action
- Series
- Sonic The Hedgehog
Details via IGDB.
Reception
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Period reviews | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sega Genesis | 1994 | $30 | $55 | $209 | 6 reviews | Low |
Also released on: Wii · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · Xbox 360 · PC (Microsoft Windows). We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not for Resale copy | $30 | — | — |
| Cardboard box release | $24 | $53 | — |
| European (PAL) release | $28 | $68 | $199 |
| Japanese release | $47 | $101 | $269 |
What it needs to play
- Some modesSave battery (inside the cartridge) — saves to memory kept alive by a battery inside the cartridge; if that battery has died, saves are lost (game booklet; MAME cartridge records).
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a day
- Complete: about 2 times a day
- Sealed: about once a month
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-29.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $4.30 in Oct 2007, $31 five years ago, and $30 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | $4.78 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $8.99 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $3.89 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $6.24 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $5.49 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $8.45 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $9.63 | $16.97 |
| Jan 2015 | $12.00 | $19.95 |
| Jan 2016 | $11.50 | $25 |
| Jan 2017 | $11.03 | $27 |
| Jan 2018 | $17.28 | $28 |
| Jan 2019 | $16.62 | $26 |
| Jan 2020 | $11.69 | $24 |
| Jan 2021 | $24 | $40 |
| Jan 2022 | $23 | $50 |
| Jan 2023 | $34 | $55 |
| Jan 2024 | $27 | $50 |
| Jan 2025 | $32 | $53 |
| Jan 2026 | $31 | $60 |
| Oct 2026 | $30 | $55 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Known board |
|---|---|---|
| North America | 2 February 1994 | 171-6656A · MPR-16263 W43 |
| Europe / PAL | 24 February 1994 | 171-6658A · MPR-16342-S |
| Japan | 27 May 1994 | — |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1994
- Authenticity
- Low
A handsome, polished Genesis Sonic that sits among the pricier US carts and is built to lock onto Sonic & Knuckles.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was made by Sega Technical Institute and published by Sega. North America got it on 2 February 1994, Europe on 24 February 1994 and Japan on 27 May 1994. Sonic and Tails set out to stop Doctor Robotnik from relaunching the Death Egg, and the game introduces Knuckles the Echidna as an obstacle.
Sega Pro, reviewing it for the Mega Drive in September 1994, thought die-hard fans would love it but felt the Sonic formula was growing tired, and said it was full of excellent graphics and animation even if it would last only a day or two. The Sonic & Knuckles cartridge has a lock-on adapter that lets this cartridge attach to it.
How it was made
Work began in January 1993 at Sega Technical Institute in California, shortly after Sonic the Hedgehog 2. It was developed alongside Sonic & Knuckles, and the two were planned as a single game until time constraints and cartridge costs forced a split.
What the press said at the time
| MegaTech Issue 28 | April 1994 | 93% |
| MegaTech Issue 30 | June 1994 | 93% |
| MegaTech Issue 33 | September 1994 | 93% |
| Sega Pro Issue 36 | September 1994 | 87% |
| Sega Pro Issue 37 | October 1994 | 87% |
| MegaTech Issue 34 | October 1994 | 93% |
“Sega has managed to do it again; release yet another Sonic sequel that actually outdoes the last! Sonic 3 has more animation, longer and more expansive levels, new special spin attacks and a save feature”
“The graphics are smart, there are loads of levels and some really excellent features which are surprisingly impressive the first time you see them.”
“Surprise, surprise, it's a platform game and a darn good one at that.”
“Surprise - it's a platform game and a darn good one at that.”
How the Sega Genesis version differs
Sega Pro found it full of excellent graphics and animation but short, and thought the Sonic style was getting tired for all but die-hard fans.
Also on other platforms
Windows
Before you buy
This is one of the pricier US carts, above the middle of the group. The European loose cart usually costs about the same as the US one, while a complete European copy usually costs more. The Japanese cart usually costs more again. The cartridge saves to a battery inside it, so test that a save holds; a replaced battery is a normal repair and not a sign of a fake. A cardboard-box edition is priced separately from the plastic-case copy, and the box copy usually costs less. A Not for Resale copy also exists.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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