Sonic Runners

Sonic Runners (ソニックランナーズ) is a video game for the Android and iOS in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, announced by publisher Sega on 28 December 2014. It was initially released as a test launch in Japan and Canada on 25 February 2015.

Development
In February 2014, a poster hosted at a German toy fair announced a 2015 Sonic game for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Wii U, as well as the Sonic Boom games, a feature film, and Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. This information circulated on the Internet, especially concerning the unannounced Sonic game, but Sega quickly asserted that the information on the supposed new title was false. Later in 2014, however, rumors of a smartphone game titled Sonic Runners began to circulate online; Sega had registered the domain name sonicrunners.com in July of that year. On 28 December 2014, Sonic Runners was eventually announced by Sega during the annual “Sonic Fan Thanksgiving” event at one of their Joypolis amusement parks. At the event, Takashi Iizuka personally revealed that Sonic Team’s next project was “Sonic Runners“ on the mobile. He promised that more information about the game would be revealed sequentially, starting in January 2015, but nothing was released during that month. Its gameplay style was quickly speculated by fan to be an endless runner, like Sonic Dash, which is also a smartphone game.

A small teaser and more details about the game were revealed on 3 February 2015. According to Takashi Iizuka, the game will be a "2D side-scrolling runner with stages that can be played in a minute or two." Set to be released in 2015 in Japan, it will be available for recent iPhone, iPad and Android devices. It is also free, but supported by in-app purchases.

Music
On 3 February 2015, Tomoya Ohtani announced on Twitter that he will be composing the musical score for the game.

Gameplay
Sonic Runners is a 2D side-scrolling runner with stages that can be played in a minute or two. The player can tap to perform jumps and move the characters. Using Chao, companions, items and radio controlled toys, the player's objective is to get the highest score for a level. Sometimes, the player also has to engage in boss battles.

Progressing the game's episode as Sonic will eventually unlock more playable Sonic series characters, such as Miles "Tails" Prower and Knuckles the Echidna. Additionally, the game will be updated to include more characters as well. Each character has their own different action and their levels can be raised using rings collected in the stages.

Companions
Companions are buddies which player characters can take along during a level. Some help raise the player's score while others can enhance item effects. Just like the playable characters, the Companions have a certain attribute, meaning that their effects will be amplified when paired up with the "right" player character. Currently, there are twenty different types of them, but more are expected to be added. Like the playable character, the Companions can be leveled up.

Items
Items will players achieve better performance when equipping them. Up to three Items are available for use at a time.

Non-Playable

 * Dr. Eggman
 * Orbot
 * Cubot
 * Animal friends
 * Flicky
 * Pocky
 * Pecky
 * Cucky
 * Ricky
 * Picky
 * Rocky
 * Chao
 * Hero Chao
 * Dark Chao

Enemies

 * Egg Pawn
 * Moto Bug
 * Buzz Bomber
 * Crabmeat
 * Caterkiller
 * Balkiry
 * Nebula
 * Snail Blaster
 * Spinner

Levels

 * Episode 1: It's Doctor Eggman, the evil scientist! The evil genius Dr. Eggman is back to sow chaos in Sonic and the Animals' peaceful world.
 * Episode 2: Save the Animals! Sonic and friends drove Dr. Eggman away, but he won't give up, and is kidnapping Animals again!
 * Episode 3: Dr. Eggman's Dirty Tricks Sonic and friends foiled Eggman's plan to turn Animals into robots, but just what WAS he planning?
 * Episode 4: Little Chao Lost Sonic and friends come across a lost chao, and decide to help it get home safely!
 * Episode 5: A Not-So-Heavy-Load Dr. Eggman had ordered Cubot to collect items [to get] ready for his big comeback. But can Cubot deliver...?
 * Episode 6: Evening Patrol Sonic and friends hear some Animals calling out in fright. Better find out what's up...
 * Episode 6: Evening Patrol 2 Sonic and friends are on their way to fetch a translation unit so they can talk to the White Wisp.

Trivia

 * Not counting their co-production credits in Sonic the Hedgehog 4, this game marks the first time Sonic Team themselves have ever published a mobile game.
 * This is the second game to feature every main character aside from Eggman Nega and the Babylon Rogues, the first was Sonic Generations.
 * However, in Sonic Generations, Big the Cat and E-123 Omega only appeared as statues, and Metal Sonic appeared in his Classic form.

Videos
Official trailer = Gameplay trailer =