The official results of the Sonic Hacking Contest have been announced, highlighting the best fan-made hacks and mods of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise.

Why it matters: This annual event celebrates creativity in the fan hacking and modding community, where entries are judged and awarded in various categories by both a panel of judges and the community vote.

  • In the ROM Hack category, Sonic ERaZor 7 was judged the best, while the community chose Sonic 1: South Island Expedition.
  • For Modern 2D, Sonic Origins Ultrafix and SONIC 3 & TENNA led in the judged and community picks, respectively.
  • In the 3D category, both the judges and the community agreed on Sonic Forces Overclocked as the top entry.

Below are the final results from the Contest Period that ran between 28 September to 6 October 2024, as relayed by contest officials late Sunday.

Podium

First Place

ROM Hack

Judged: Sonic ERaZor 7

Community: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition

Modern 2D

Judged: Sonic Origins Ultrafix

Community: SONIC 3 & TENNA

3D

Judged: Sonic Forces Overclocked

Community: Sonic Forces Overclocked

Second Place

ROM Hack

Judged: Sonic 2 VS; Sonic 1: South Island Expedition

Community: Sonic ERaZor 7

Modern 2D

Judged: Sonic 2: Westside Renovation; Cold Peaks Zone

Community: Amy Galore

3D

Judged: Project Re-Rainbow; Westopolis Level Pack

Community: Project Re-Rainbow

Third Place

ROM Hack

Community: Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Archives

Modern 2D

Community: Origins Ultrafix

3D

Community: SM64 Adventure

ROM Hack

Quartz Quadrant

(Best Visual)

Judged: Sonic Sundown – Early Teaser (Honourable Mention: Sonic the Hedgehog: Save The Moon)

Community: Sonic the Hedgehog: Save the Moon (Honourable Mentions: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition; Sonic Sundown)

D.A. Garden

(Best Audio)

Judged: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition, Sonic Sundown – Early Teaser (Honourable Mentions: Sonic ERaZor 7, Martlet’s Fun Adventure! Demo)

Community: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition

Hexadecimal

(Best Technical)

Judged: MD-SONIC (Honourable Mentions: Sonic 2 VS; Sonic the Hedgehog 2 CE)

Community: Sonic 2 VS (Honourable Mentions: MD-SONIC; GameTap, Cup Noodles, and Bitter Tears)

Chemical Plant

(Best Level Design)

Judged: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition

Community: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition (Honourable Mention: Giovanni’s Level Pack 2)

Radiant Emerald

(Best Special Stages)

Judged: Sonic 2 VS (Honourable Mention: Sonic 3 Extended World Demo)

Community: Sonic 2 VS

Professor Pickle

(Most Entertaining)

Judged: Sonic 2 VS

Community: GameTap, Cup Noodles, and Bitter Tears (Honourable Mention: Sonic ERaZor 7)

Polygon Jim

(Most “WTF!?”)

Judged: GameTap, Cup Noodles, and Bitter Tears (Honourable Mention: The worst Sonic the Hedgehog romhack (featuring mario) 2)

Community: GameTap, Cup Noodles, and Bitter Tears

Chaotix

(Best Team Entry)

Judged: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition (Honourable Mention: Sonic 2 VS)

Community: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition (Honourable Mention: Sonic 2 VS)

Rivals

(Best Multiplayer)

Judged: Sonic 2 VS

Community: Sonic 2 VS

Storybook

(Best Custcenes)

Judged: Sonic ERaZor 7

Community: Sonic ERaZor 7 (Honourable Mention: GameTap, Cup Noodles, and Bitter Tears)

Emerl

(Best Character Implementation)

Judged: Sonic Sundown – Early Teaser

Community: Martlet’s Fun Adventure Demo

EggRobo

(Best Bosses)

Judged: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition

Community: Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Archives (Honourable Mentions: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition; Sonic ERaZor 7; GameTap, Cup Noodles, and Bitter Tears)

Motobug

(Best Enemies)

Judged: Sonic The Hedgehog 2: Archives

Community: Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Archives

Mania

(Best Fresh Concept using Existing Concepts as a Backbone)

Judged: Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Archives

Community: Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Archives (Honourable Mentions: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition; Sonic 2 VS)

Spinball

(Best Based on a game not commonly modified)

Judged: Sonic Sundown

Community: Sonic Sundown

Blaze

(Most Potential)

Judged: Sonic the Hedgehog: Save The Moon

Community: Sonic Sundown

Silver

(Most Improved from a previous SHC)

Judged: Sonic ERaZor 7

Community: Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Archives

Green Hill

(Plays Most like a Sonic Game)

Judged: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition

Community: Sonic 1: South Island Expedition

Chao Garden

(Most Replayable)

Judged: Sonic 2 VS; Giovanni’s Level Pack 2

Community: Sonic 2 VS

Eosian Sphere

(Best New Level Object or Gimmick)

Judged: Sonic ERaZor 7

Community: Sonic ERaZor 7

Studiopolis

(Best According to the Media Panel)

Media Panel: Sonic Erazor 7

Modern 2D

Quartz Quadrant

(Best Visual)

Judged: SONIC 3 & TENNA (Honourable Mention: Cold Peaks Zone)

Community: SONIC 3 & TENNA

D.A. Garden

(Best Audio)

Judged: Sonic Origins Ultrafix

Community: SONIC 3 & TENNA

Hexadecimal

(Best Technical)

Judged: Sonic Origins Ultrafix

Community: Sonic Origins Ultrafix

Chemical Plant

(Best Level Design)

Judged: Cold Peaks Zone; Sonic 1 Proto-Mix

Community: Cold Peaks Zone

Radiant Emerald

(Best Special Stages)

Judged: Not Awarded

Community: Not Awarded

Professor Pickle

(Most Entertaining)

Judged: Sonic 3: Goodliest Edition

Community: Sonic 3: Goodliest Edition

Polygon Jim

(Most “WTF!?”)

Judged: Sonic 3: Goodliest Edition

Community: Sonic 3: Goodliest Edition

Chaotix

(Best Team Entry)

Judged: Sonic Origins Ultrafix

Community: Sonic Origins Ultrafix

Rivals

(Best Multiplayer)

Judged: Not Awarded

Community: Not Awarded

Storybook

(Best Custcenes)

Judged: SONIC 3 & TENNA

Community: SONIC 3 & TENNA

Emerl

(Best Character Implementation)

Judged: Amy Galore; Pac-Man in S3AIR

Community: Amy Galore

EggRobo

(Best Bosses)

Judged: SONIC 3 & TENNA

Community: SONIC 3 & TENNA

Motobug

(Best Enemies)

Judged: Sonic 3 Goodliest Edition

Community: SONIC 3 & TENNA (Honourable Mention: Sonic 3 Goodliest Edition)

Mania

(Best Fresh Concept using Existing Concepts as a Backbone)

Judged: Sonic Origins Ultrafix

Community: Chili Island

Spinball

(Best Based on a game not commonly modified)

Judged: Sonic Origins Ultrafix

Community: Not Awarded

Blaze

(Most Potential)

Judged: Cold Peaks Zone

Community: Chili Island

Silver

(Most Improved from a previous SHC)

Judged: Sonic 2: Westside Renovation

Community: Not Awarded

Green Hill

(Plays Most like a Sonic Game)

Judged: Sonic Origins Ultrafix

Community: Not Awarded

Chao Garden

(Most Replayable)

Judged: Sonic Origins Ultrafix

Community: Amy Galore

Eosian Sphere

(Best New Level Object or Gimmick)

Judged: Sonic 2: Westside Renovation

Community: Chili Island

Studiopolis

(Best According to the Media Panel)

Media Panel: Sonic Origins Ultrafix

3D

Quartz Quadrant

(Best Visual)

Judged: Westopolis Level Pack

Community: Project Re-Rainbow

D.A. Garden

(Best Audio)

Judged: Sonic Forces Overclocked

Community: Sonic Forces Overclocked

Hexadecimal

(Best Technical)

Judged: SM64 Adventure

Community: SM64 Adventure (Honourable Mention: Project Re-Rainbow)

Chemical Plant

(Best Level Design)

Judged: Cyberspace Remakes: Green Hill Pack

Community: Sonic Forces Overclocked

Radiant Emerald

(Best Special Stages)

Judged: Not Awarded

Community: Not Awarded

Professor Pickle

(Most Entertaining)

Judged: ShadowRando: A Shadow the Hedgehog Randomizer

Community: SM64 Adventure (Honourable Mention: ShadowRando: A Shadow the Hedgehog Randomizer)

Polygon Jim

(Most “WTF!?”)

Judged: SM64 Adventure

Community: SM64 Adventure

Chaotix

(Best Team Entry)

Judged: Sonic Forces Overclocked

Community: Sonic Forces Overclocked

Rivals

(Best Multiplayer)

Judged: Not Awarded

Community: Not Awarded

Storybook

(Best Custcenes)

Judged: Sonic Forces Overclocked

Community: Sonic Forces Overclocked

Emerl

(Best Character Implementation)

Judged: SM64 Adventure

Community: SM64 Adventure

EggRobo

(Best Bosses)

Judged: Not Awarded

Community: Sonic Forces Overclocked

Motobug

(Best Enemies)

Judged: Sonic Forces Overclocked

Community: Not Awarded

Mania

(Best Fresh Concept using Existing Concepts as a Backbone)

Judged: Like a Werehog: Extreme Fury (Honourable Mention: SADX – Ring Rush)

Community: SADX – Ring Rush (v1.0.0) (Honourable Mention: Sonic Forces Overclocked)

Spinball

(Best Based on a game not commonly modified)

Judged: Sonic the Fighters: Remix

Community: Sonic the Fighters: Remix

Blaze

(Most Potential)

Judged: Project Re-Rainbow

Community: Project Re-Rainbow (Honourable Mention: Like a Werehog: Extreme Fury)

Silver

(Most Improved from a previous SHC)

Judged: Sonic Forces Overclocked

Community: Sonic Forces Overclocked

Green Hill

(Plays Most like a Sonic Game)

Judged: Sonic Forces Overclocked

Community: Sonic Forces Overclocked

Chao Garden

(Most Replayable)

Judged: ShadowRando: A Shadow the Hedgehog Randomizer

Community: SADX – Ring Rush (v1.0.0)

Eosian Sphere

(Best New Level Object or Gimmick)

Judged: SADX – Ring Rush (v1.0.0)

Community: SADX – Ring Rush (v1.0.0) (Honourable Mention: Sonic Forces Overclocked (Honourable Mention)

Studiopolis

(Best According to the Media Panel)

Media Panel: Sonic Forces Overclocked