Play Sonic in Paynt Online

Sonic in Paynt was a Sega Genesis release, though it never saw an official launch. It exists as a prototype, a glimpse into an alternate take on the series that feels distinctly of its era. The game was developed by Sega Technical Institute, the same team behind Sonic the Hedgehog 2, but it carries a different, more experimental energy than the polished titles that defined the platform.

You control Sonic through a series of abstract, painterly levels where the ground shifts and platforms materialize from brush strokes. The main objective remains collecting rings and reaching the goal, but the core mechanics are warped. Sonic's spin dash is replaced with a burst of speed that splatters color across the monochrome backgrounds, temporarily altering the stage geometry to create new paths. The levels are non-linear, demanding careful observation to spot which surfaces can be painted into existence. The difficulty is unforgiving, with precision jumps required across these unstable environments. It feels like solving a puzzle at a hundred miles an hour, a frantic and unique twist on the formula.