What platforms is Sonic the Hedgehog on?

Sonic the Hedgehog was released on Wii, Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear.

When did Sonic the Hedgehog release?

Sonic the Hedgehog was first released on October 8, 1991.

Sonic the Hedgehog

Oct 8, 1991PlatformAdventureWii Sega Master System/Mark III Sega Master System Sega Game Gear

Sonic the Hedgehog — frequently asked questions

What platforms is Sonic the Hedgehog on?: Sonic the Hedgehog was released on Wii, Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear.
When did Sonic the Hedgehog release?: Sonic the Hedgehog was first released on October 8, 1991.

About Sonic the Hedgehog

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. To stop the evil Dr. Robotnik, Sonic must traverse six zones consisting of three levels each. Most of the zones are based on those in the original game, but some are entirely new, including a jungle environment and a huge airship. Other unique differences are one level that scrolls automatically and one that is aligned vertically instead of horizontally. Most of the enemies (mechanized animals, defeated by Sonic's spikes when jumping or rolling) and power-ups (speed-ups, shields, extra lives) are the same as in the Genesis version as well. Sonic can pick up golden rings for protection (when hit, he simply loses all of his rings instead of a life) and bonuses: 100 rings gain Sonic an extra life, and 50 remaining rings at the end of a level allow access to pinball-themed special stages full of bumpers and springs. The final level of a zone is always a boss fight against Robotnik. Some of the boss fights differ in the Master System and Game Gear versions of the game, with special designs for the handheld version due to the smaller visible screen area. Sonic should also collect the six Chaos Emeralds to keep them from falling into Robotnik's hands. In a departure from the original game, these are not hidden in the special stages but somewhere in the regular levels.

Summary via IGDB.

Game details

Platforms: Wii, Sega Master System/Mark III, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Developer: Ancient
Publisher: Sega
Game modes: Single player
Themes: Action
Series: Sonic The Hedgehog

Details via IGDB.

Reception

IGDB rating

82/100

from 56 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	1991	$35	$70	$243	16 reviews	Low (look-alike)

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

Collector value & authenticity

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

Loose

$35

Complete

$70

Sealed

$243

Other releases and variants

Release	Loose	Complete	Sealed
European (PAL) release	$14	$39	$173

How often it sells

Loose: about once a month
Complete: about once a week
Sealed: about 3 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 $7.00 in Oct 2009, $543 five years ago, and $35 as of Oct 2026.

Show as table

Month	Loose	Complete
Jan 2010	$26	—
Jan 2011	$6.54	—
Jan 2012	$26	—
Jan 2013	$30	—
Jan 2014	$66	$35
Jan 2015	$30	$40
Jan 2016	$3.00	$39
Jan 2017	$25	$44
Jan 2018	$30	$53
Jan 2019	$560	$620
Jan 2020	$560	$900
Jan 2021	$487	$513
Jan 2022	$560	$728
Jan 2023	$25	$574
Jan 2024	$19.94	$633
Jan 2025	$30	$633
Jan 2026	$40	$45
Oct 2026	$35	$70

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

Release record

Territory	Date
North America	November 1991
Europe / PAL	8 November 1991

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: NA+EU
Released: 1991
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

A separate 8-bit Sonic built for Master System hardware, slower and more exploratory than the Genesis game, and a solid pick.

The Master System version of Sonic the Hedgehog is its own game, developed by Ancient for Sega and released in November 1991 in both North America and Europe. It is a companion to the 16-bit Genesis Sonic with the same premise: Sonic races through levels to rescue animals that Doctor Robotnik plans to turn into robots. The pace is slower, with more emphasis on exploration, and while some level themes such as Green Hill Zone are borrowed, others are original. Yuzo Koshiro's soundtrack mixes new material with rearrangements of the 16-bit game's music.

Mean Machines Sega called it a state-of-the-art 8-bit game with very swift scrolling and a must-have. In Europe the game was built into later Master System consoles.

How it was made

Developed by Ancient, a studio founded by composer Yuzo Koshiro, and published by Sega. Shinobu Hayashi is credited as programmer.

What the press said at the time

Mean Machines Issue 15	December 1991	PRESENTATION 71% PLAYABILITY 94% LASTABILITY 85% OVERALL 90%
Sega Pro Issue 19	May 1993	92%
Sega Pro Issue 20	June 1993	92%
Sega Pro Issue 21	July 1993	92%
Sega Pro Issue 22	August 1993	92%
Sega Master Force Issue 2	September 1993	94%
Sega Pro Issue 23	September 1993	92%
Sega Pro Issue 24	October 1993	92%
Sega Master Force Issue 5	November 1993	94%
Sega Pro Issue 25	November 1993	92%
Sega Pro Issue 27	December 1993	92%
Sega Pro Issue 26	December 1993	92%
Sega Pro Issue 28	February 1994	92%
Sega Pro Issue 34	July 1994	92%
Sega Pro Issue 36	September 1994	92%
Sega Pro Issue 43	April 1995	83%

“A superb platform game for the Master System, that’s just as much fun as its Megadrive counterpart.”
— Mean Machines, December 1991

“Take control of the legendary blue hedgehog us he runs around scrolling platforms dusting the minions of Dr Robotnik. Sonic the Hedgehog is a state of the art 8-bit game, combining incredibly swift scrolling with gob-smacking graphics and interesting game¬ play. A must-have.”
— Mean Machines Sega, December 1992

“Totally excellent conversion proving that the MS can retain some originality. Sharing many of the characteristics of the MD version, this mini-arcade adventure is super-fast and instantly compelling.”
— Sega Pro, May 1993

“Totally excellent conversion proving that the MS can retain some originality. Sharing many of the characteristics of the MD version, this mini-arcade adventure is super-fast and instantly compelling.”
— Sega Pro, June 1993

In the sales charts

In 2 sales charts, December 1992 to April 1993; highest position #7.

Show all 2 placings

#7 in the Master System chart — Mean Machines Sega, Issue 3, December 1992
#10 in the HMV Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 18, April 1993

Sales charts as printed in the magazines of the time.

Also on other platforms

Game Gear

Before you buy

Sega sold the US copy in a European box with a UPC sticker covering the European barcode, so look for the sticker before paying the US price. The European cart is much cheaper both loose and complete. The US cart sits well above the middle of the US carts when loose, and the look-alike risk is low.