Choose Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II
Choose Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II if it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 72.6% positive across 925 reviews.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II vs Sonic Forces
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II and Sonic Forces both land in Adventure on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Adventure games on Steam. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II (2012) is 5 years older than Sonic Forces (2017). Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II scores higher on Steam reviews (72.6% positive) than Sonic Forces (56.1% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Sonic Forces
Choose Sonic Forces if you want an Action experience. On Steam, it's the newer release (2017) and ships with the modern feature baseline. 3,909 Steam reviews back the pick.
Both Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II and Sonic Forces sit in Adventure on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II |  Sonic Forces | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2012 | 2017 |
| Genres | Adventure | Action, Adventure |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Verified |
| Price | 4.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 72.6% positive (925 reviews) | 56.1% positive (3,909 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | SEGA | Sonic Team, Hardlight |
Side by side
- Both are Adventure games on Steam.
- Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II (2012) is 5 years older than Sonic Forces (2017).
- Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II scores higher on Steam reviews (72.6% positive) than Sonic Forces (56.1% positive).
- Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than Sonic Forces (4.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II is Deck Playable, Sonic Forces is Deck Verified.
Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II vs Sonic Forces — FAQ
- Which is better, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II or Sonic Forces?
- On Steam reviews Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II scores higher (72.6% positive) than Sonic Forces (56.1% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II or Sonic Forces first?
- If you want chronology, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II (2012) came out before Sonic Forces (2017). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Sonic the Hedgehog 4 - Episode II and Sonic Forces similar?
- They overlap on Adventure on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.