This will be the first open-world Sonic game with scenery being inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West.
This is the first Sonic game since Sonic Generations (2011) to have Super Sonic involved in the main gameplay, rather than a post-game bonus. It's also the first time since Sonic Unleashed (2008) that the super form has a major part in the story alongside the Chaos Emeralds, which have been dormant from a Sonic storyline since Sonic Lost World (2013).
The second Sonic game with Tyler Smyth from Dangerkids, who also sang Infinite's theme song in Sonic Forces, collaborating to make the song, Find Your Flame.
The game marks 30 years since Super Sonic's debut in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (1992).
This is the first Sonic game in the main series of games since Sonic Heroes (2003) where Eggman is never directly fought by the player.