2. Sonic Adventure 2

Sonic Adventure 2 is arguably the best story in the franchise, introducing Shadow the Hedgehog as a malevolent foil to Sonic’s whimsy, and structuring the game around the shifting perspectives of its leads. The sequel brings back multiple playable characters, with Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles facing off against Shadow, Dr. Eggman, and Rouge in distinct playstyles. Sonic and Shadow keep the fast-moving platformer side of the series alive, while the other rivals use mechs or hunt for treasure. Sonic Adventure 2 hits a sweet spot in using its ensemble cast to give players variety without overwhelming the experience.

All of this works to make Sonic Adventure 2 one of the most memorable games in the series (albeit with some frustrating camera nonsense and finicky controls), but the best part is still the elaborate story full of twists and turns that elevated Sonic and Knuckles’ new rivals to series mainstays, set a standard for Sonic final acts. From the sound of it, this will be at the heart of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 when it premieres in December. Sonic Adventure 2 is peak, but there’s one game we have to give the crown to…