Side Quests & Activities

While Sonic the Hedgehog is primarily a linear experience, there are significant optional activities that enhance replayability and unlock the true ending: collecting the Chaos Emeralds. This section will detail how to access and succeed in the Special Stages, which are the only way to obtain these powerful gems. Mastering these stages is crucial for achieving 100% completion and witnessing the game's best ending.

Beyond the Chaos Emeralds, we'll also touch upon maximizing your score, which can be a rewarding challenge for speedrunners and perfectionists. While there aren't traditional 'side quests' in the modern sense, the pursuit of these optional goals adds considerable depth to the game and provides a different kind of challenge compared to the main story.