There are two things most video game fans associate with the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise: speed and music. Since the video game series' first installments on Sega Genesis in the early '90s, the soundtrack has been an important part of conveying the momentum that the now-iconic Blue Blur is capable of throughout the mainline games.
As the series has evolved, so have the music selections, with more recent installments including memorable tracks that bring video game fans back to their earliest memories of playing Sonic games. Of all the music included in the franchise, from adaptations to classic retro titles, these are the best ones that take fans right back to their childhoods.
10 Gotta Go Fast – Sonic X
Younger Sonic the Hedgehog fans may not remember this animated series, which ran on 4Kids in the early 2000s. It wasn't the first TV series based on the Sonic franchise, but more than most it conveyed the action-packed stakes of a Sonic video game on screen. As a bonus, it has a theme song that perfectly captures the early 2000s Sonic vibe.
Composed by the president of 4Kids himself, Norman Grossfeld, along with fellow composer Russell Velazquez, the song's high tempo does justice to the speedy nature of Sonic's tempo. It also coined the phrase "Gotta go fast," which has remained a catchphrase of Sonic's character throughout the series' future games and TV adaptations.
9 Reach For The Stars – Sonic Colors
Sonic Colors was initially released for the Nintendo Wii in 2010. After entries like Sonic '06 and Sonic Unleashed, the title was a colorful return to form for the franchise. This was a change welcomed by longtime Sonic the Hedgehog fans, who had long felt the series was struggling to find a consistent tone and appeal to younger audiences.
The theme song, recorded by Jean Paul Makhlouf of Cash Cash, therefore returns the series' music to a more electronic, upbeat tone. The optimistic lyrics also feel in line with Sonic Team's goal for Sonic Colors, which was to create a more positive Sonic experience. It even features some pretty fast-paced drums that make players want to run incredibly fast.
8 His World – Sonic '06
Sonic the Hedgehog, also known as Sonic '06, is an infamous title in the franchise's history. Due to an abnormally short development time, the game received criticism for its ridiculous story, gameplay, and most notably its glitches. Although there aren't many positives to the title as a whole, it does have one memorable theme song.
"His World" was performed for the game by the band Zebrahead, mixing nu metal rock sounds with a full orchestra. Although it's quite the clash, it fits the tone Sega was trying to convey with Sonic '06. The lyrics also totally describe the game's titular protagonist, who more than any other game faces fatal adversity as he tries to save the planet.
7 Infinite – Sonic Forces
"Infinite" appears as the theme song for the character of the same name, who is the antagonist in Sonic Forces. Although most fans agree that the character's potential was squandered by a mediocre game, his theme song lives up to the hype. Like "Reach For The Stars," it combines elements of industrial pop and nu metal for outstanding results.
Although the dynamic between the two singers of Dangerkids comes off like a lower-budget LINKIN PARK, it makes for a catchy yet sinister addition to the Sonic the Hedgehog music library. While some of these songs work best within the context of the games, "Infinite" is one of the few that remain great even when removed from its connection to Sonic.
6 Green Hill Zone – Sonic The Hedgehog
Few Sonic the Hedgehog tunes are as evergreen as "Green Hill Zone," which originates in the original Sega Genesis title from 1991. Its theme was composed by Masato Nakamura, who worked on the music for the first two games. From the opening chimes, players immediately feel like they're in the very first level of Sonic's introductory game.
The song has continued to be reused in almost every single Sonic the Hedgehog game, often when the series brings the titular character back to his home turf. Its modern reinterpretation in Sonic Generations not only makes it sound new and improved, but it adds flourishes like guitar solos and a horn section, giving it more big band energy.
5 Sonic Heroes – Sonic Heroes
Sonic Heroes was released in 2003 for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube. The game follows four teams of three characters with intersecting storylines, including some unfamiliar faces from the lesser-known Knuckles Chaotix. Given the team-up aspect, the game's main theme, "Sonic Heroes," is incredibly upbeat and includes a stellar chorus gang vocal.
This song was also released at the high point of Sonic the Hedgehog in the 3D world, making it a worthy addition to the franchise's collection of the affectionately-named "butt rock." It's also one of the few tracks in the franchise to simply repeat the title of the game in its chorus, but it gets away with it due to how catchy and fun it is to listen to.
4 Rooftop Run – Sonic Unleashed
"Rooftop Run" originates in Sonic Unleashed, one of the darker entries in the Sonic franchise. The game consists of two types of levels: regular Sonic levels that encourage speed, and werewolf Sonic levels that act as a hack-n-slash. The music differentiates between these levels, with werewolf Sonic stages containing jazzy tunes.
"Rooftop Run," however, is exclusive to the first regular Sonic levels, and makes an argument for being one of the most energetic tracks in the entire franchise. Its speedy drum pattern and electric guitars give it a rock-and-roll flair, though the main riff is played on string instruments, which really emphasizes the level's daytime themes compared to the night.
3 Open Your Heart – Sonic Adventure
Many of the most iconic Sonic the Hedgehog songs were performed by Crush 40, consisting of Jun Senoue and Johnny Gioeli. Senoue worked as a composer for Sega since the early '90s, forming Crush 40 with Gioeli to record "Open Your Heart" for Sonic Adventure. It was not only a turning point in their music career but in Sonic's own video game legacy.
As if hearing the song every time the game starts up isn't enough, "Open Your Heart" also appears as the battle music for the final boss of Sonic Adventure, Perfect Chaos. It makes for an epic soundtrack to the city-wide battle, especially with its more muted, darker rendition compared to the looser, brighter version that plays throughout the rest of the game.
2 Live And Learn – Sonic Adventure 2
Crush 40 reprised their role as theme song scribes for Sonic Adventure 2, which was released in 2001. This is a beloved game by Sonic the Hedgehog fans, as it introduced the series to Shadow the Hedgehog, the ultimate lifeform who opposes Sonic for most of the game. Crush 40's theme is also one of the most iconic in the series: "Live and Learn."
The song has been reused throughout the series due to how recognizable it is for Sonic fans, including appearances in Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic Generations, and the Super Smash Bros. Series on related Sonic stages. Just from the opening phased guitar riff, players can already feel the excitement they had when playing this game for the first time.
1 Escape From The City – Sonic Adventure 2
While Crush 40's "Live and Learn" is the main theme of Sonic Adventure 2, one song stands above it as way more iconic and thrilling. That song is "Escape From The City," performed by Ted Poley and Tony Harnell for the first level of the game, "City Escape." Its iconic bass riff and drum pattern feel like the first day of summer break.
In the City Escape level, Sonic rides down a San Francisco-like street incline, dodging cars and giant trucks as he collects rings. It's an energetic, iconic start to one of the best Sonic the Hedgehog titles, but it would be nothing without this memorable theme playing in the background. As for Sonic songs, "Escape From The City" is easily the best of the best.