Sonic & Knuckles

Sonic & Knuckles is the 1994 Sega Mega Drive adventure where you choose between Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles the Echidna and race through some of the most colourful zones of the series. Spin through loops, bounce off springs, collect rings to stay alive and stop Dr. Robotnik before his Death Egg takes off again. It plays right here in your browser with no download.

How to play

1. Press Play. When the title screen appears, press Start (Enter on a keyboard).
2. Choose Sonic or Knuckles with the arrow keys and press Start.
3. Run right with the arrow keys and jump with Z, X or C. Jumping on enemies destroys them.
4. Collect rings. As long as you hold at least one ring, a hit only makes you drop them; with no rings, a hit costs a life.
5. Reach the end of each act and beat Dr. Robotnik’s machine at the end of the zone.

Sonic or Knuckles?

• Sonic is the fastest. Press jump again in the air for a quick shield flash that protects him for a moment, and with a fire, water or lightning shield the second jump gives him that shield’s special move.
• Knuckles jumps a little lower but can glide: hold the jump button in the air. Glide into a wall and he grabs it and climbs. He also breaks some walls that Sonic cannot, so his route through the zones is different.

Controls

Computer: arrow keys move, Z, X or C jump, Enter is Start and pauses the game. Hold down and press jump repeatedly to charge a spin dash, then let go of down to shoot off. Press down while running to roll into a ball. Move the mouse over the game to show the bar with pause, restart, sound, save state, load state and full screen buttons.

Phone and tablet: an on-screen pad appears under the game. The cross on the left moves, A, B and C all jump and Start starts or pauses the game.

A USB or Bluetooth gamepad also works.

Tips

• Use the spin dash to get up steep slopes and through tight tunnels from a standing start.
• Touch the star posts on the way. If you lose a life, you start again from the last one you touched.
• Look for giant rings hidden off the main path. They lead to the special stage, where you turn blue spheres into red ones to win a Chaos Emerald.
• Monitors hold rings, shields and extra lives. Break every one you pass.
• The game has no save slots of its own, so use save state before a hard boss and load it if things go wrong.

About Sonic & Knuckles

Sega released Sonic & Knuckles in 1994 as the second half of the story begun in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. It was the first game in which Knuckles, introduced as a rival in Sonic 3, became a playable hero. On the original cartridge another game could be plugged into the top, which is how Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles were joined into one long adventure. The version on this page is Sonic & Knuckles on its own, with its zones from Mushroom Hill to the Death Egg.

Frequently asked questions

Is Sonic & Knuckles free to play here?

Yes. You can play it free in your browser on Yes This Game, with no download and no sign-up.

Can I play it on my phone?

Yes. On a phone or tablet an on-screen pad with a cross, A, B, C and Start buttons appears under the game.

Is this Sonic 3?

No. This is Sonic & Knuckles, the 1994 follow-up to Sonic the Hedgehog 3. It continues the same story with new zones, and Knuckles can be played as well as Sonic.

Can I save my progress?

Yes. The bar under the game has a save state button that stores the game exactly where you are, in your browser on this device. The load state button brings it back.

How do I do a spin dash?

Hold down, press the jump button a few times to rev up, then let go of down.