Summary
- Classic Sonic game prices are rising due to Sonic’s recent popularity, especially those featuring Shadow.
- Copies of the original Sonic Adventure 2 and the 2002 Nintendo GameCube port are seeing massive price increases.
- The infamous 2005 Shadow the Hedgehog spin-off is also rising in price.
The price of classic Sonic the Hedgehog games is rising in light of the blue blur’s newfound popularity, especially ones featuring his edgy rival Shadow. The past few years have been an exciting time for the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise thanks to several well-received games and other media projects. For example, Sonic Frontiers offered a promising new direction for the speedy hedgehog’s 3D offerings in 2022, while 2024’s Sonic X Shadow Generations revised the 2011 anniversary platformer with a new side campaign centered around what Shadow was doing while Sonic celebrated his 20th birthday.
Speaking of Shadow, 2024 was a yearlong celebration of the dark and brooding hedgehog rival, complete with special promotions and new content. In addition to his starring role in Sonic X Shadow Generations, Shadow made his big-screen debut in December’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3, where he was voiced by Hollywood megastar and Cyberpunk 2077 alumni Keanu Reeves. The success of both these projects has arguably boosted the character to new heights, and the value of some of his older gaming appearances might be rising as a result.
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According to Price Charting (via Comicbook), the retail price of several classic Sonic the Hedgehog titles has risen in the wake of Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Many of them are ones starring Shadow, as copies of the original Sonic Adventure 2 on the Sega Dreamcast (Shadow’s first appearance and the game that inspired the Sonic 3 movie’s story) climbed in value from an average of $140 to roughly $210. Some copies are even being priced at over $300. The 2002 Nintendo GameCube port, Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, has jumped from an average of $60 to about $130, though the “Player’s Choice” is reportedly selling for slightly less.
Shadow-Centric Games Are Getting Pricier After Sonic 3 Movie
Shadow’s debut game isn’t the only classic Sonic title being impacted by his newfound popularity either. Copies of the infamous 2005 Shadow the Hedgehog spin-off have risen in price across different platforms, with the PS2 version selling for $65, the Xbox port pricing in at about $90, and the GameCube version being tagged at a hefty $145.
Such price increases are most likely the result of Shadow’s debut in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which was met with positive reviews and chart-topping box office numbers upon release. Due to this, the prices of the affected Sonic the Hedgehog games will likely go back down as time passes, but the recent spike seems to be a testament to how the success of the live-action film series is drumming up interest in the classic video games that they are inspired by.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog is a prolific game franchise that started life on the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. Covering both 2D and 3D iterations through the generations, Sonic is known for speedy movements and interesting platforming mechanics.