Sonic Mania has officially gone where no modern Sonic has gone before: the SEGA Dreamcast. A fan-made port of the 2017 hit has been in development for some time, but the latest milestone is a big one — the game’s audio now works, making the build far closer to a playable experience.
This isn’t an official release. The Dreamcast never got Sonic Mania, and the port is the result of years of community effort, careful reverse-engineering, and a love for both modern and retro Sonic. Early builds ran the game’s levels at a smooth 60 FPS, but music and sound effects were absent.
The new build shown in a recent YouTube upload finally gets the soundtrack and effects functioning, which makes the game feel alive on the 20-year-old hardware. You’ll be able to spot what doesn’t work so well or isn’t yet finished…
The power of the Dreamcast
Fans and retro enthusiasts following the project have been tracking progress online through posts from developers and video clips. Seeing a modern Sonic game run on a console that originally launched in 1998 is a remarkable feat — especially when it actually plays and sounds like the original, and Dreamcast fans now have a chance to experience Sonic Mania in a way that nobody could have imagined back in 2017.
Here’s where you can play Sonic Mania and Sonic Mania Plus today.
Official platforms for Sonic Mania
You can buy and play Sonic Mania on:
- PC (Windows)
Available on Steam - Nintendo Switch
Available digitally and physically - PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5
Via the PlayStation Store - Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S
Via the Xbox Store
This is the original 2017 release, featuring classic-style 2D Sonic gameplay with a mix of old and new zones.
Sonic Mania Plus on mobile (Netflix Games)
The expanded version, Sonic Mania Plus, is available on mobile through Netflix Games. If you have a Netflix subscription, you can download it on:
- iOS and Android via the Netflix app
This version adds Mighty and Ray as playable characters, plus Encore Mode and extra tweaks.
For anyone who grew up with SEGA’s last great console, this is a moment worth watching — and playing, once the port is publicly available.
Keep an eye on the Dreamcast Talk forum for updates.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
