Extra stage

Extra stages, also referred to as EX Stages or Advanced Stages, are seven additional, optional stages in Sonic Forces. Being unavailable at the beginning of the game, extra stages can be unlocked by collecting Red Star Rings. Finishing an extra stage will reward the player with extra Avatar items and bonus experience for the Avatar.

Overview
Extra stages operate according to the same gameplay mechanics used by regular stages in Sonic Forces. They also follow the same objectives (reaching the goal within a time limit). Akin to secret stages however, each extra stages is much shorter than a regular stage. They are also always played from a 2.5D perspective and each of them puts an uncommon emphasis on a particular gimmick or obstacle during their playthroughs, such as Sprinklers or cannons that shoot hazardous projectiles. The majority of the routes the player travels along in a extra stage are likewise different from those in regular stages, having been constructed from the ground up with additional plaforms and basic building blocks, such as unbreakable Containers.