Sonic Rumble review – chaotic fun, but a bit repetitive

I’m a big fan of the blue blur, eagerly anticipating every new adventure that features him, and I’m especially happy when I get to play a game for free. So, it’s no surprise that Sonic Rumble is one of my most anticipated mobile games, with me honestly kind of losing hope that I’d ever see it after several pushbacks. In a fortunate turn of events, my fears were unfounded, as I got early access to the new title.

It’s a bit different from what you typically expect in Sonic games, though the fundamentals remain the same. Instead of speeding through levels solo in a high-octane rush, you get to compete against other players over several rounds. If you like Mario Party games and enjoy Sonic, you may get a kick out of Sonic Rumble, though I’ll say it’s not as plentiful as the Mario games in terms of content – but, in all fairness, this is a mobile game, not a huge triple-A console title.

Sonic Rumble represents a bit of a first for Sonic, as it’s the first time you can engage in 32-player gameplay in the series, and, with that many players in the fray, it’s great to see that there’s a wide variety of Sonic characters to choose from, including the titular blue hedgehog, along with Shadow, Knuckles, Tails, Amy-Rose, Rouge, Vector, Big the Cat, Dr. Eggman, and more. I’m a Shadow and Knuckles girlie; those two can do no wrong in my eyes. I watch the Knuckles TV show at least once a month on average.

The matches are good, encompassing everything that makes a Sonic game. However, it’s actually more chaotic, as you can play with up to 31 other players – there’s grinding, spinning, jumping, attacking, and, of course, collecting rings across fun locations that may seem familiar to longtime fans – is it even a Sonic game if it doesn’t feature Green Hill Zone? The stages are colorful and vibrant, which I’ve come to expect from Sonic the Hedgehog games over his 24-year existence.

Matches in Sonic Rumble feature three stages, each posing a different challenge. In my experience with the game, they always appear in the same order, though the stage you get for each one can differ. In Ring Survival Game, you have the Run, Hunt, and Ring Battle stages, in that order. The first involves you speeding through a level in typical Sonic the Hedgehog fashion, evading obstacles, and picking up the odd power-up to hinder the opposition.

The second stage, Hunt, typically involves defeating enemies or hitting things like flowers. Honestly, I find that button-mashing the attack button is very effective, and I’ve yet to lose during this round (actually, I’ve yet to go out before the final round). Finally, Ring Battle throws you into an arena-like stage where you need to rush about and collect as many rings as possible.

Throughout all three rounds, you should be collecting as many rings as you can, as your final tally (assuming you reach the end) across all three rounds represents your overall score. Half of you won’t make it to the next stage, with 32 becoming 16, then eight by the time you reach round three. It reminds me a bit of Knockout Tour from Mario Kart World.

The controls are nice and simple, featuring a touch-screen analog stick and three primary buttons: one for jumping, another for attacking, and the final for using a power-up. However, at times, movement can feel stiff, a common problem with touch controls in my experience. It doesn’t hinder my fun too much, though, and connectivity isn’t an issue, with games being quick to join.

All in all, Sonic Rumble is a fun, free mobile game, even if it gets a little bit repetitive after a while – it’s certainly a fun way to pass the time when you have a spare five minutes throughout the day. If the new Sonic game doesn’t sound like the right fit for you, you should check out our list of the best mobile games. There’s something on there for everyone.