Sonic Team is a Japanese video game development division of Sega. The initial team was composed of developers from Sega's Consumer Development division, including programmer Yuji Naka, artist Naoto Ohshima, and level designer Hirokazu Yasuhara. The team took the name Sonic Team in 1991 with the release of Sonic the Hedgehog for the Sega Genesis. The game was a major success, and started the long-running Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.
The next several games were developed by Naka and Yasuhara in America at Sega Technical Institute. In late 1994, Naka returned to Japan to become the head of CS3, later renamed R&D #8. During this time, the division was branded with the Sonic Team name but also developed games that do not feature Sonic, such as Nights into Dreams (1996) and Burning Rangers (1998). Following the release of Sonic Adventure in 1998, some Sonic Team staff moved to the United States to form Sonic Team USA and develop Sonic Adventure 2 (2001). With Sega's diversification of its studios, R&D #8 became Sonic Team in 2000, with Naka as CEO and Sonic Team USA as its subsidiary. Sega's financial troubles led to several major structural changes in the early 2000s, the United Game Artists studio was absorbed by Sonic Team in 2003, and Sonic Team USA became Sega Studios USA in 2004. After Sammy Corporation purchased Sega in 2005, Sonic Team was restructured to become Sega's GE1 research and development department, and later, CS2. As of 2019, Sonic Team is a team within CS2.
In addition to the Sonic series, the company has developed other games for Sega, such as Nights into Dreams (1996) and Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg (2003). The 1991 release of Sonic the Hedgehog is considered significant in video game history, as it increased the Sega Genesis's sales and Sega displaced Nintendo as the leading video game company. Some Sonic Team games, such as the Sonic games and Nights, are considered among the greatest of all time.
On this list, games are gathered that are either on the official Japanese Sonic Team website or titles where it is officially mentioned that Sonic Team is involved. The website of Sonic Team has not been updated since 2015.
Games
As R&D9 Game Platforms Release date Role Notes Sonic the Hedgehog Sega Genesis Developer
As CS R&D 3/R&D 8 Game Platforms Release date Role Notes Nights into Dreams Sega Saturn Developer Sonic 3D Blast Sega Genesis Co-developer with Traveller's Tales Sega Saturn Special Stages developed by Sonic Team Sonic Jam Sega Saturn Developer Sonic R Sega Saturn Co-developer with Traveller's Tales Windows Burning Rangers Sega Saturn Developer Sonic Adventure Dreamcast Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure Neo Geo Pocket Color SupervisorDeveloped by SNK ChuChu Rocket! Dreamcast DeveloperSpace Channel 5DreamcastDecember 16, 1999 Originally developed by United Game ArtistRetroactively credited, United Game Artist staff merged into Sonic Team in 2003 Samba de Amigo Arcade Developer
As Sonic Team Ltd. Game Platforms Release date Role Notes Samba de AmigoDreamcast Developer Phantasy Star Online Dreamcast Windows Enhanced version subtitled Blue Burst, which includes a new exclusive episode, released in 2004. GameCube Includes more content, titled Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II. A Plus enhanced version was later published. Xbox Includes more content, titled Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II. Sonic Adventure 2 Dreamcast Developed by Sonic Team USA GameCube Includes more content, titled Sonic Adventure 2 Battle.ChuChu Rocket!Game Boy AdvanceMarch 21, 2001 Puyo Pop Game Boy Advance Co-developer with Caret HouseFirst game developed after acquiring the Puyo Puyo IP from CompileRezPlayStation 2November 22, 2001 Originally developed by United Game ArtistRetroactively credited, United Game Artist staff merged into Sonic Team in 2003Space Channel 5: Part 2PlayStation 2February 14, 2002 Sonic Advance Game Boy Advance Co-developer with Dimps Sonic Mega Collection GameCube DeveloperGames were compiled by VR-1 Japan PlayStation 2 Includes more content, titled Sonic Mega Collection Plus. Xbox Sonic Advance 2 Game Boy Advance Co-developer with Dimps Sonic Pinball PartyGame Boy Advance Co-developer with JupiterSonic Adventure: DX Director's CutGameCube Co-developer with Now ProductionWindows Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg GameCube Developer Puyo Pop Fever Arcade Co-developer with MileStone Inc. PlayStation 2 DeveloperDreamcastFebruary 24, 2004 GameCube Xbox Mac OS X Game Boy Advance Windows Pocket PC Nintendo DS PlayStation Portable Phantasy Star Online Episode III: C.A.R.D. Revolution GameCube Sonic Heroes PlayStation 2 Developed by Sonic Team USA GameCube Xbox Sonic Battle Game Boy Advance Astro Boy PlayStation 2 Co-developer with Tezuka Productions Sonic Advance 3 Game Boy Advance Co-developer with Dimps Sega Superstars PlayStation 2 Developer
As GE R&D 1 Game Platforms Release date Role Notes Feel the Magic: XY/XX Nintendo DS Developer Sonic Gems Collection PlayStation 2 Games were compiled by VR-1 Japan GameCube The Rub Rabbits! Nintendo DS Shadow the Hedgehog PlayStation 2 Developed by Sega Studios USA GameCube Xbox Sonic Rush Nintendo DS Co-developer with Dimps Puyo Puyo Fever 2 PlayStation 2 Developer PlayStation Portable Nintendo DS Sonic Riders PlayStation 2 Co-developer with Now Production GameCube Xbox Windows Jukugon PlayStation Portable DeveloperMind Quiz: Your Brain CoachNintendo DSSeptember 14, 2006 Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) Xbox 360 PlayStation 3 Puyo Puyo! 15th Anniversary Nintendo DS PlayStation 2 PlayStation Portable Wii Mario & Sonic at the Olympic GamesWiiNovember 22, 2007 SupervisorDeveloped by Sega Sports R&DNintendo DSJanuary 17, 2008 Sonic and the Secret Rings Wii Developer Onsei Kanjou Sokuteiki: Kokoro Scan Nintendo DS Sonic Rush Adventure Nintendo DS Co-developer with Dimps Nights: Journey of Dreams Wii DeveloperDeveloped by Sega Studios USA Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity PlayStation 2 Co-developer with O-Two Wii
As GE R&D 3 GamePlatformsRelease dateJPNAPALRole Phantasy Star Universe PlayStation 2 Developer Windows Xbox 360 Phantasy Star Portable PlayStation Portable Co-developer with Alfa System
As CS2 Game Platforms Release date Role Notes Sonic Unleashed PlayStation 2 Co-developer with Dimps, O-Two Wii Co-developer with Dimps Xbox 360 Developer PlayStation 3 Nights Into DreamsPlayStation 2February 21, 2008 SupervisorDeveloped by Sega Shanghai StudioXbox 360October 5, 2012 PlayStation 3 Windows Sonic and the Black Knight Wii DeveloperMario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic GamesWiiNovember 5, 2009 SupervisorDeveloped by Sega CS2Nintendo DS Puyo Puyo 7 Nintendo DS Co-developer with h.a.n.d. PlayStation Portable Wii Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I Wii Co-developer with Dimps PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 Sonic Free Riders Xbox 360 Co-developer with O-Two Sonic Colors Wii Developer Nintendo DS Co-developer with Dimps Nintendo Switch Co-developer with Blind Squirrel Games Includes more content, titled Sonic Colors Ultimate. PlayStation 4 Xbox One Windows Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic GamesWiiNovember 15, 2011 SupervisorDeveloped by Sega CS2Nintendo 3DSFebruary 9, 2012 Puyo Puyo 20th Anniversary Nintendo DS Co-developer with h.a.n.d. PlayStation Portable Co-developer with O-Two Wii Nintendo 3DS Co-developer with h.a.n.d. Sonic Generations PlayStation 3 Developer Xbox 360 Windows Nintendo 3DS Co-developer with Dimps PlayStation 4 October 25, 2024 DeveloperIncludes more content, titled Sonic X Shadow Generations. PlayStation 5 Xbox One Xbox Series X/S Nintendo Switch Windows Nintendo Switch 2June 5, 2025 Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II PlayStation 3 Co-developer with Dimps Xbox 360 Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter GamesWii UNovember 8, 2013 SupervisorDeveloped by Sega CS2 Sonic Lost World Wii U Developer Nintendo 3DS Co-developer with Dimps WindowsNovember 2, 2015 Developer Puyo Puyo Tetris PlayStation 3 Co-developer with O-Two Nintendo 3DS PlayStation Vita Wii U Xbox One Developer PlayStation 4 Nintendo Switch WindowsFebruary 27, 2018 Sonic Boom: Rise of LyricWii UNovember 11, 2014 SupervisorDeveloped by Big Red ButtonSonic Boom: Shattered CrystalNintendo 3DS Developed by Sanzaru Games Sonic Runners Mobile DeveloperDiscontinued on July 27, 2016.Sonic ManiaWindows SupervisorDeveloped by Christian Whitehead, PadogaWest Games and HeadcanoonNintendo Switch PlayStation 4 Xbox One Sonic ForcesWindows DeveloperNintendo Switch PlayStation 4 Xbox One Sakura Wars PlayStation 4December 12, 2019 Co-developer with Sega CS2Developed the battle portion, and lent the Hedgehog Engine 2 Sonic Origins Nintendo Switch DeveloperGames ported by Headcannon and Christian Whitehead PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Xbox One Xbox Series X/S Windows Sonic FrontiersNintendo Switch PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Xbox One Xbox Series X/S Windows Nintendo Switch 2 June 23, 2026 Sonic SuperstarsNintendo Switch Co-developer with Arzest PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Xbox One Xbox Series X/S Windows Shadow GenerationsNintendo Switch Developer PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Xbox One Xbox Series X/S Windows Nintendo Switch 2June 5, 2025 Sonic Racing: CrossWorldsNintendo Switch Developed with Initial D arcade game series teamPlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Xbox One Xbox Series X/S Windows Nintendo Switch 2
See also
List of Sega video games
References