New 2D co-op Sonic the Hedgehog game announced

Featuring four playable characters, a new art style, and couch co-op

Sega has announced a new Sonic the Hedgehog game with a brand-new art style, titled Sonic Superstars. It’s the first new 2D Sonic game from Sonic Team in over a decade, and features multiple playable characters, couch co-op multiplayer, and cute 3D art style.

Sonic Superstars is a traditional 2D Sonic game, much like the original Genesis games and the much more recent Sonic Mania. Unlike those games, however, it’s got a slick new art style using 3D models that look very similar to the models used for classic Sonic in Sonic Generations, rather than a retro pixel art style.

Sega says the gameplay has been “reimagined for current-generation platforms,” and promises new zones, music, gameplay, and visuals. The company also says that controls for the characters will “feel familiar,” suggesting this won’t be a massive departure from previous 2D Sonic games, at least on that front.

Where it will differ, though, is with couch co-op, as you’ll be able to play with up to four players, with each playing as one of the four different characters — Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy. Each character has their own skill sets and abilities, and you’ll be able to play as those characters regardless of if you’re playing solo or with friends. Unfortunately there’s no online multiplayer, so you’ll have to have real friends in-person if you want to team up.

There’s no firm release date for Sonic Superstars, but we have been given a release window for the game, which is Fall 2023 for those in the northern hemisphere. It’ll be available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, and will cost $60.

Here’s how Sega describes the game:

Sonic and his friends’ journey starts on the beautiful North Star Islands, a mystical place offering never-before-seen environments, as well as a mysterious story waiting to unfold. Enormous creatures, exhilarating adventures, and evil plans from Dr. Eggman await Sonic and his friends, who can now obtain brand-new abilities known as the Emerald Powers when Chaos Emeralds are collected.

You can watch the announcement trailer below:

For more from Summer Game Fest 2023, check out videogames.si.com.