Developed by Arzest in collaboration with Sonic Team and published by Sega, Sonic Superstars launched in October 2023 on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. This title is the next traditional 2D high-speed action game in the classic Sonic series following Sonic Mania, and it marks the first time the series has supported up to four-player local co-op. The game contains 12 zones comprising 26 stages, and players can control four distinct characters: Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy Rose, each with their own unique gameplay traits. Between 2024 and 2025, the game received the “Summer Holiday” costume pack and several free stage updates. This guide breaks down Emerald Powers, multiplayer coordination, and full collectible completion.
Chaos Emeralds and Emerald Powers
The core collectible system in Sonic Superstars revolves around the Chaos Emeralds. Hidden within each zone is a giant golden ring — passing through this ring transports you to a bonus stage, where completing a specific chase or collection objective rewards you with a Chaos Emerald. Each Emerald unlocks an Emerald Power, which can be activated at any time during stages, replacing the conditional-use limitations of previous titles.
There are seven Chaos Emeralds in total. Below are the most worthwhile Emeralds and Powers to prioritize obtaining:
The first Emerald unlocks Avatar, which summons multiple clones that simultaneously attack all enemies on screen. This is the most practical burst-damage tool in the entire game for boss fights. The second Emerald unlocks Bullet, which allows you to perform an extreme-speed dash in any direction, passing through enemies and obstacles, and can be used consecutively in mid-air. The third Emerald unlocks Slow, which slows down all surrounding objects for several seconds. When precise jumps on narrow platforms are required, this ability can save you countless times.
The entrances to Chaos Emerald bonus stages are typically located along the upper routes of a stage. If you consistently take the lowest path, you are highly likely to miss every Emerald entrance. Develop a habit: at the start of each stage, prioritize exploring all springs and slopes that lead upward, as these paths usually point toward hidden Emerald entrances.
Distinctive Gameplay for Four Characters
The four playable characters in Sonic Superstars are more than just cosmetic changes — each possesses unique gameplay traits suited to different stage styles.
Sonic is the standard character, with balanced speed and jump height. His exclusive ability is the “Drop Dash” — pressing the jump button in mid-air allows him to rocket toward the ground, smashing through enemies and breakable terrain below. The Drop Dash is the strongest tool for exploring vertical stages and finding hidden entrances — any suspicious-looking floor surface can be tested with a Drop Dash to see if it can be smashed through.
Tails possesses the ability to fly. By pressing the jump button repeatedly in mid-air, he can sustain flight for a short distance. Tail flight is not only a safety net for crossing wide gaps, but also a universal key for exploring hidden high-up areas. If you repeatedly fail to find an Emerald entrance in a stage, switch to Tails and fly through every high corner.
Knuckles can glide and climb walls. His glide distance is remarkably long, capable of crossing over half the screen. His wall-climbing ability allows him to cling to any vertical surface. In certain vertical stages, Knuckles can simply climb the walls to bypass entire platforming sections — a maneuver much beloved by speedrunners.
Amy Rose uses her Piko Piko Hammer for attacks and can perform a double jump in mid-air. Her hammer is not only an attack weapon, but can also strike bounce mushrooms found in stages, triggering a higher bounce than a normal jump would provide. In multiplayer co-op, let Amy handle enemy clearing and activating mechanisms, Sonic cover high-speed breakthroughs, Tails take charge of aerial exploration, and Knuckles carve open vertical shortcuts — the four characters can complement each other effectively.
Co-op Survival Rules
Four-player co-op is a major selling point of Sonic Superstars, but it is also the environment where the most chaos can erupt. In co-op mode, all players share the same screen. If a player falls off the screen’s edge, they will automatically respawn beside a teammate who is still on screen after a few seconds. This mechanic means that one player’s mistake does not drag down the entire team, but it also means the screen edge is the most dangerous zone — if you are fighting near the screen edge and get knocked off, upon respawning you will find yourself in an entirely different location, completely disrupting your rhythm.
In boss fights, the optimal co-op strategy is to divide roles clearly: one player focuses on drawing the boss’s attention and dodging attacks, while another player waits for the boss’s recovery window after an attack and unleashes an Emerald Power for burst damage. If all four players independently attack the boss in a scattered manner, the boss’s movement direction becomes unpredictable, paradoxically increasing the risk of everyone getting hit.
Full Collectible Checklist and Stage Tips
The collectibles in the game include Chaos Emeralds, Rings, Red Star Rings, and hidden Medals. Red Star Rings are placed at specific locations in each stage; collecting a certain number of them unlocks special costumes and extra modes. Hidden Medals require completing specific challenges — such as defeating a boss within a time limit, clearing a stage without collecting any Rings, or traversing an entire zone without touching the ground.
For players aiming for full completion, it is recommended to focus purely on clearing the main story during the first playthrough, familiarizing yourself with the basic layout of each stage and boss patterns. Then, return on a second playthrough to collect the Emeralds, Red Star Rings, and Medals. The reason is that many collectibles require specific Emerald Powers to reach — entering a stage without the corresponding power unlocked means that even if you find the hidden entrance, you cannot complete the collection.
One final easily overlooked technique is that the direction of stage springs can be controlled by holding a direction on the control stick. When landing on an upward-launching spring, holding left or right can influence the launch trajectory, allowing you to land on a platform that would otherwise be out of reach. This maneuver is not explicitly taught in the game’s tutorial, but in multiple boss fight scenarios and hidden collectible routes, it is the sole means of reaching certain special locations.
