The theatrical release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has significantly impacted the resale market for several Sonic video games, causing prices to surge. Movies often influence the value of related media, such as comics and video games. While this trend was observed with the first two Sonic films, the third installment has exerted the most substantial impact on the prices of older Sonic games, particularly those featuring characters appearing in the new movie.
Data from Price Charting reveals that Sonic games featuring Shadow the Hedgehog have experienced the most dramatic price increases. Sonic Adventure 2, Shadow’s debut game, has seen a particularly notable surge. Before Sonic 3‘s release, complete copies of Sonic Adventure 2 on Sega Dreamcast averaged around $140. That average has now climbed to over $210, with some copies even selling for upwards of $300.
The GameCube port, Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, has also witnessed a substantial price jump. Prior to Sonic 3, it sold for approximately $60. Post-release, the average sale price has more than doubled to around $130, with Player’s Choice versions selling for slightly less.
shadow-the-hedgehog-gun.jpg, the character’s eponymous game, has naturally also seen a considerable price increase across all platforms, with values roughly doubling. The PS2 version now averages around $65, the Xbox version around $90, and the GameCube edition commands a premium, reaching approximately $145.
As is typical with such sudden price spikes, it’s anticipated that the resale values of these Sonic games will gradually decline in the coming weeks and months. As time passes since the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, prices are expected to regress towards pre-release levels. If the film inspired you to start collecting physical copies of these classic Sonic titles, the timing might have been less than ideal.
