Summary

Shadow the Hedgehog is one ofthe most famous Sonic characters, and it’s easy to see why. The Ultimate Life Form debuted on the Sega Dreamcast in 2001. Since then, fans have fallen in love with his heart-wrenching backstory, extraordinary powers, and iconic lone-wolf personality.

Shadow is playable in over two dozenSonicgames, sometimes as a hero and sometimes as a villain. Either way, each title offers a new chapter in his thrilling story of loss, self-discovery, and redemption. If you want to follow his journey from start to finish, the following titles are the ones you should play.

Sonic and Shadow leaping into the air in front of the moon from Sonic Adventure 2.

Shadow was first introduced in Sonic Adventure 2, where he’s playable in the game’s Dark Story. Grieving the murder of his friend, Maria Robotnik, Shadow teams up with Dr. Eggman and Rouge the Bat as an act of revenge against humanity.

Sonic Adventure 2 is a must-play if you’re a fan of Shadow. Not only do youlearn his backstory, but you also get his emotional character arc from a hate-filled rival to a selfless hero. Be warned that it’s hard to walk away dry-eyed when Shadow sacrifices himself to save the planet.

Shadow, Rouge, and Omega standing on the Egg Fleet from Sonic Heroes.

In Sonic Heroes, Shadow is playable as part of Team Dark - the hardest campaign in the game. Shortly after his presumed death in Sonic Adventure 2, Rouge finds him locked away in Eggman’s lair with no memory of how he survived. Eager for answers, Shadow teams up with Rouge and Omega to solve the mystery.

Sonic Heroes is another important chapter in Shadow’s story since the plot twist at the end has serious consequences for later entries. Gameplay-wise, it’s fun to switch between the characters on the fly, and you can even freeze time using Chaos Control.

Shadow telling Rouge and Gamma not to get in his way from Sonic Battle.

Here’san underrated gem for you. Sonic Battle is a fighter for the Game Boy Advance with a surprisingly good Shadow campaign. When Sonic tries to reform Eggman’s robot named Emerl, Shadow, fearing the bot is beyond redemption, does everything he can to put a stop to it.

While the combat relies a little too much on button-mashing, the story is top-notch. Shadow, in particular, has a profound plotline where he struggles with self-hatred and even wonders if he has a soul. Don’t sleep on this underappreciated part of the lore.

Shadow holding a gun in front of the moon from Shadow the Hedgehog.

Shadow’s first solo outing is a mixed bag. However, it’s a vital part of the character’s story. Still riddled with amnesia, Shadow is approached by an alien named Black Doom, who offers him answers in exchange for the Chaos Emeralds. Whether you agree or decline is up to you.

Throughout the game, you can choose to be good, evil, or neutral, with 14 possible endings depending on your actions. While the game’s use of swearing and guns is a bit much, the plot excels at recontextualizing Shadow’s backstory and providing a satisfying conclusion to the amnesia arc.

Shadow, Omega, and Rouge surrounded by Mephiles clones in Sonic ‘06.

Sonic ‘06 gives Shadow his very own campaign, for better or for worse. While rescuing Rouge from Eggman, the Ultimate Life Form accidentally frees an ancient evil called Mephiles the Dark and gets transported to an apocalyptic future - and that’s just the beginning of this very messy plot.

Sonic ‘06 is infamous for being glitchy, convoluted, and oftentimes unplayable. However,Shadow has a couple of noteworthy moments, and parts of the story are referenced in later games. Long-time fans may want to play it out of sheer curiosity. Otherwise, feel free to skip this one.

Shadow and Sonic locked in a fierce kart race from Team Sonic Racing.

7Sonic Racing Games

Get Behind The Wheel As The Ultimate Life Form

The Sonic series has many racing games, and Shadow is playable in almost all of them. He first appeared as an unlockable character in Sonic Riders. If you’re looking for a storyline from him, however, your best bet is the Sonic Rivals series, which involves Shadow forming an unlikely alliance with Dr. Eggman.

Shadow’s most notable racing appearance is arguably the Sonic & Sega All-Stars racing series, where he rides the iconic motorcycle from his solo game. He’s also playable in Team Sonic Racing, which is a pretty decent spiritual successor.

Knuckles, Shadow, and Blaze wearing knight armor on a cloudy evening from Sonic and the Black Knight.

We’ve compiled a list of every Sonic racing game where you’re able to play as Shadow!

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing

June 25, 2025

PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed

Jun 05, 2025

PlayStation 3, Wii U, Xbox 360, Windows, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS, iOS, Android

6Sonic Storybook Series

The Time Shadow Became A Medieval Knight

One of Shadow’s most bizarre appearances is in the Sonic Storybook series. In Sonic and the Secret Rings, he’s an unlockable character in Party Mode, which is a series of minigames akin to Mario Party.

In the sequel, Sonic and the Black Knight, you can play as an alternate universe version of Shadow named Sir Lancelot. He’s basically the same character, except with expert knowledge of sword fighting. You can also play as Shadow’s regular form in the game’s Battle Mode.

Shadow telling Sonic that he’s too slow from Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood.

Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood is the Blue Blur’s first and only RPG. In it,Sonic and Shadow set aside their rivalryto stop an evil interdimensional army of echidnas called the Nocturnus Clan. As silly as the plot sounds, it has some interesting bits of lore that tie into other games.

Gameplay-wise, Sonic Chronicles is a pretty standard RPG featuring a mix of exploration, turn-based combat, and puzzle-solving. While it’s largely forgotten about today, it’s an interesting piece of Shadow’s story and a fascinating experiment for the series.

Sonic, Shadow, Mario, and Luigi waving to the crowd in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games.

4Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games

Who Knew Shadow Was Good At Gymnastics?

Did you know that Shadow can figure skate? Well, he can in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. The series has eight installments: six console entries and two Japanese-exclusive arcade games. Luckily, Shadow is playable in all of them.

The premise of each entry is pretty much the same. You play a series of sport-themed minigames, including everything from fencing to surfing. If nothing else, it’s fun to see the Ultimate Life Form play table tennis with Donkey Kong.

Shadow running through Green Hill Zone from Sonic Dash.

3Sonic Mobile Games

Play As Shadow On Your Phone

If you want something to play in short bursts, the Sonic mobile games are the best way to go. iOS and Android users can play several titles with Shadow the Hedgehog, including the endless runner Sonic Dash and the 2D platformer Sonic Runners Adventure.

Shadow even stars in a few multiplayer mobile games, including Sonic Forces: Speed Battle and Sonic Racing. Each of these titles offers short and simple gameplay to keep you entertained while waiting in line or on a lunch break. Check them out if you need something to pass the time.

Below is a list of every mobile game where Shadow is playable!

iOS, Android

iOS