Sonic Frontiers is the first open-world sonic game and it also features plenty of exploration and quests. It also consists of longer playtime than usual Sonic games. 

Depending on how much you plan to explore, the game can vary greatly in duration as follows: 

• Rushing toward the end of the campaign will take players almost 10 to 15 hours. 

• An average player would take 20 to 30 hours in order to finish the game. 

• Players thinking of completing the game in its entirety, by exploring the entire map and leveling up Sonic will require around 40 to 50 hours in order to achieve it. 

As a result of its focus on open-world exploration, players can finish the game at their leisure. 

This title features the return of the beloved Hedgehog for his 30th anniversary. Developed by the Sonic team, players should guide Sonic through the mysterious Starfall Islands in order to gain the Chaos Emeralds. 

The game also features a vast open world for players to explore, while also incorporating classic Sonic puzzles as well as platforming elements into the gameplay. Combat has also been improved to take benefit of the open world, and Sonic’s speed and abilities are the sources to tackle these challenges. 

The world of the game has been classified into five main ‘open-zone’ islands along with various challenges spread across the map, marked by several ‘?’ symbols. Once the quests are completed, a few parts of the map will be unlocked and a rail network too in order to travel on. 

The names of the islands are: 

• Ares Island 

• Chaos Island 

• Rhea Island 

• Ouranos Island 

• Kronos Island 

Each and every island consist of various portals that teleport players to mini-levels featuring gameplay same as the old-school Sonic titles. Gear is needed to unlock these portals. There are 30 missions in total that need to be completed on the islands of Sonic Frontiers. 

The game also features a revamped combat system. The world of Sonic Frontiers is full of dangerous enemies and bosses to challenge drop collectibles once defeated. The rivals need players to strategize with the use of various combat abilities of Sonic, which can be upgraded through a skill tree. 

Sonic Frontiers can be called the series’ most ambitious title to date. It features the titular protagonist Sonic’s foray into the open-world format of video games, with a unique spin on the formula. 

3D Sonic games have always been a mixture of results, but this title aims to change that. Fans have been expecting a lot this time and it can be said that the game could meet the expectations of its fans with its beautiful, lush environments and wonderful traversal. In fact, the sandboxed gameplay has met with good reviews from critics, who have appreciated the gameplay, exploration as well as sound design. 

Sonic Frontiers was released for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch on 8th November 2022.