How to Play Sonic Gems Collection on PC

With the recently released collection of remastered classic 2D Sonic games in Sonic Origins, interest in the classics has grown. Many fans of the blue blur also discover previous retro collections released many generations ago and wonder how to play them on PC. Keep reading to find out how to run Sonic Gems Collection on PC, as well as what this fantastic compilation from 2005 has to offer.

Related: Sonic Origins Review | Gotta Go Whatever Pace Feels Best for You

How to Play Sonic Gems Collection on PC?

Sonic Gems Collection was originally released back in 2005 for PlayStation 2 and GameCube. Since there was no PC version, the only way to play Sonic Gems Collection on PC today is through emulation. The best emulator for PlayStation 2 is PCSX2 and for GameCube emulation, use Dolphin Emulator.

As for the game itself, due to legal reasons, we cannot help you there. Technically, if you own the physical version of Sonic Gems Collection for either PlayStation 2 or GameCube that you have paid for, you can legally download the backup ISO from wherever you can find it yourself and use it with the mentioned emulators.

Games included in Sonic Gems Collection

Main games in Sonic Gems Collection:

• Sonic CD from Sega CD (an old port of the PC version)
• Sonic the Fighters arcade game
• Sonic R from SEGA Saturn (port of PC version)

Sonic Collection also contains all of the Game Gear Sonic games:

• Tails’ Adventure
• Tails’ Sky Patrol
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2
• Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble
• Sonic Drift 2
• Sonic Spinball

And aside from all of those classic Sonic games, the Sonic Gems collection comes with a few landmark Mega Drive / Genesis titles (that you need to unlock):

• Vectorman
• Vectorman 2
• Bonanza Bros. (Japanese version only)
• Streets of Rage (Japanese version only)
• Streets of Rage 2 (Japanese version only)
• Streets of Rage 3 (Japanese version only)

This collection was certainly exciting in its time as this was the first time Sonic CD was re-released and also the very first port of Sonic the Fighters. And all those Game Gear titles were rarely been featured anywhere, both before or after.

Today, honestly, this compilation is not such an essential edition because Sonic CD exists as a much better version in Sonic Origins, Sonic the Fighters can be played in Yakuza/Judgment titles as a mini-game, and all other Mega Drive and Genesis and Game Gear have also been in several compilations. If you want to be a true Sonic historian, it’s not a bad idea to add the Sonic Gems Collection to your, well… collection.

For more classic Sonic games, check out our Sonic Origins coverage on Prima Games: All Sonic Origins Cutscenes in Order – Sonic Origins Movie, How to Unlock the Hidden Palace Zone in Sonic Origins, and Is the Sonic CD Sound Test Menu in Sonic Origins? – Answered