Summary
The price of classicSonic the Hedgehoggames 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 theSonic the Hedgehogfranchise thanks to several well-received games and other media projects. For example,Sonic Frontiersoffered a promising new direction for the speedy hedgehog’s 3D offerings in 2022, while 2024’sSonic X Shadow Generationsrevised 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 hisstarring role inSonic X Shadow Generations, Shadow made his big-screen debut in December’sSonic the Hedgehog 3, where he was voiced by Hollywood megastar andCyberpunk 2077alumni 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.
According toPrice Charting(viaComicbook), the retail price of several classicSonic the Hedgehogtitles has risen in the wake ofSonic the Hedgehog 3. Many of them are ones starring Shadow, as copies ofthe originalSonic Adventure 2on the Sega Dreamcast (Shadow’s first appearance and the game that inspired theSonic 3movie’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 classicSonictitle being impacted by his newfound popularity either. Copies of theinfamous 2005Shadow the Hedgehogspin-offhave 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 ofShadow’s debut inSonic the Hedgehog 3, which was met with positive reviews and chart-topping box office numbers upon release. Due to this, the prices of the affectedSonic the Hedgehoggames 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.
