Educational games in the Sonic series facts for kids

The Sonic the Hedgehog games are super popular platform games. Because of this, their creator, Sega, made many different types of games in the series. Some of these are educational video games, made to help younger kids learn while they play.

The very first idea for an educational Sonic game was Sonic's Edusoft. It was made by Tiertex Design Studios for the Master System in 1991. Even though it was almost done, it was never released. Later, when Sega launched the Sega Pico console in 1994, they released Sonic the Hedgehog's Gameworld and Tails and the Music Maker. In 1996, Orion Interactive also made Sonic's Schoolhouse for PC. This game used cool 3D and had a big advertising budget. In the mid-2000s, LeapFrog Enterprises also released educational Sonic games for their Leapster and LeapFrog Didj handhelds.

Educational Sonic Games

Sonic's Edusoft

• Release date: Never released (developed in 1991)
• Developer: Tiertex Design Studios
• Planned publishers:
  • Sega
  • US Gold
• Platform: Master System

Sonic's Edusoft was planned to be the first educational Sonic game. It was also the first Sonic game not made in Japan. This game was for five-year-olds. It had many minigames that taught math and spelling. You could reach these minigames from a special 3D-like main area. After you beat enough learning games, you could unlock other fun games.

For a long time, almost no one knew about Edusoft. Then, one of the game's programmers shared screenshots. Later, the game's files were found, which proved it was real!

Sonic the Hedgehog's Gameworld

• Release date:
  • JP: August 1994
  • NA: October 29, 1996
• Developer: Aspect Co.
• Publisher: Sega
• Platform: Sega Pico

Sonic the Hedgehog's Gameworld was the first Sonic game for the Sega Pico. The game looks like a picture book. When you turn a page, new tasks appear. It was made for kids aged four to seven. Sonic, Tails, and Amy are in the game. It has 13 minigames that help kids learn how to solve problems.

Tails and the Music Maker

• Release date:
  • NA: September 1994
• Developer: Appaloosa Interactive
• Publisher: Sega
• Platform: Sega Pico

Tails and the Music Maker was the second Sonic game for the Sega Pico. It stars Tails and teaches kids aged three to seven about making music. Like Gameworld, it uses a picture book style. The game has several minigames. In "Travels with Tails," you guide Tails through levels. In "Percussion Pinball," Tails plays in a pinball game.

Sonic's Schoolhouse

• Release date:
  • NA: October 1996
• Developer: Orion Interactive
• Publisher: Sega
• Platform: Microsoft Windows

Sonic's Schoolhouse is for children aged five to nine. You play in a 3D world, seeing things from a first-person view. The game is a bit like Doom, but instead of fighting, you solve spelling, math, and reading questions. These questions have different difficulty levels based on age. Sonic is not a character you play as; he helps guide you through the game.

Sonic X (Leapster)

• Release date:
  • NA: 2005
  • EU: 2007
• Developer: Torus Games
• Publisher: LeapFrog Enterprises
• Platform: Leapster

This Sonic X game is based on the anime show of the same name. It was made by LeapFrog Enterprises for their Leapster handheld console. Sonic and Chris Thorndyke (a character from the anime) must save Tails, Amy, and Knuckles from Doctor Eggman. You guide Sonic through three levels. Along the way, you stop to answer math questions. The levels are Station Square, Angel Island, and Eggman's base. They teach about sequencing, addition, and subtraction.

Sonic the Hedgehog (Didj)

• Release date:
  • NA: 2008
• Developer: Realtime Associates
• Publisher: LeapFrog Enterprises
• Platform: LeapFrog Didj

The Didj version of Sonic the Hedgehog is a side-scrolling game, much like the first Sonic games on the Genesis. However, it includes many minigames that teach spelling. This game was made for children aged seven to ten.

See also

In Spanish: Juegos educativos de la serie Sonic para niños