Sonic Rumble launched worldwide last month, packed with more than 160 character skins that are a total love letter to Sonic’s history. We’ve played with every single launch skin so we can give you the full breakdown on which ones are the best.
The Pricing Controversy
First, we have to talk about the big issue: the cost. Legendary skins here will run you $40, and Epic skins are $20.
Honestly, that’s steep for one skin item, and a lot of players think it’s just too much.
The good news is you’re not stuck with those prices. There are way more affordable choices, like battle passes and smaller packs that cost between 99 cents and five dollars.
S-Tier Legends: The Best of the Best
The very best skins in Sonic Rumble either bring back iconic looks or introduce something amazing and new. Our top pick is Excalibur Sonic from Sonic and the Black Knight, specifically his “Knight of the Wind” style. This legendary skin is one of Sonic’s coolest forms ever, and it has us hoping for more Black Knight love in future games.
Another instant classic is Sonic with the Soap Shoes. For just 99 cents, you get a major piece of nostalgia straight from Sonic Adventure 2, and every fan of that game needs to grab these. The whole Knights of the Round Table set is also S-Tier for us, including Sir Lancelot (Shadow) and Sir Percival (Blaze) alongside Excalibur Sonic.
Both Movie Shadow and the original base Shadow are top-tier, and you can actually earn Movie Shadow for free just by playing.
The new Neon Suit designs are fantastic original creations, and Silver’ version is a real standout with its slick green style. And of course, the core looks for Sonic, Shadow, and Silver absolutely deserve their spots in the best tier, too.
A-Tier: Outstanding Designs
The A-tier is for skins that are incredibly well-made and just feel right for the character. Movie Sonic lands here—it’s a free unlock, and they did a great job fitting his big-screen look into the game.
Our favorites from The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog event are here, too, like Amy’s conductor outfit and Sonic’s own conductor uniform with that perfectly crooked hat.
DJ Vector absolutely earns his spot with a cool, stylish look that matches his vibe. The Extreme Rider outfits for Amy, Sonic, and Tails are a deep cut—they’re based on unused Sonic Riders concept art, and it’s fantastic to finally see them in a game.
Treasure Hunter Knuckles, from the old OVA, has gotten popular again for a reason, and his A-tier placement is well-deserved. Even AiAi from the Monkey Ball crossover fits right in here—he just works. This tier is rounded out by other premium picks, like the sleek Idle Shadow based on official artwork.
B-Tier: Strong, Reliable Picks
B-tier skins are all solid, reliable choices that fit their characters perfectly. A big part of this tier is the full set of classic Sonic Riders gear for Sonic, Shadow, and Tails. They’re iconic looks that fans of the racing games will love to see.
From The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog event, Detective Tails is an adorable and perfectly themed pick. Then you have occupation-themed skins like Firefighter Silver—they’re random, but they somehow work really well. The knitted “woolly” versions of Sonic, Tails, and Shadow are also here; they give off a cute, Yoshi’s Woolly World vibe that’s especially charming up close.
Maid Blaze, who you might know from official artwork or Sonic Speed Simulator, makes the jump to Rumble nicely. This tier is filled out by other dependable designs like Prime Eggman—they’re all good quality, even if they aren’t quite the star attractions.
C-Tier: The Middle of the Pack
C-tier skins are fine—they’re competent and look okay, but they just don’t wow you or feel essential. You’ll find a lot of the seasonal outfits here, like Festival Big and Festival Knuckles. Other sports-themed skins, such as All-Star Amy’s baseball uniform, also land in this safe middle ground.
Some picks work a bit better than others here. For example, Camper Knuckles (with his good yellow and green colors) feels more put-together than Camper Big. Gothic Amy is a detailed and unique break from Amy’s usual style, and Mechanic Tails is a no-brainer fit for Sonic’s genius buddy.
This tier also holds solid, simple alternatives, like Cyber Ninja Espio or the different colored Metal Sonic variants—they’re good, but they don’t change the game. Consistent career-themed skins, including Pop Star Amy, round out this dependable but unspectacular group.
D-Tier: The Letdowns
D-tier is where we put the skins that just don’t hit right for us. The shiny golden variants for a bunch of characters fall here—they’re not for everyone, especially if you prefer silver. Golden Shadow and Golden Sonic, with their gold-trimmed gloves and glasses, feel kind of bland overall.
Some skins are just outshone by better options. Camper Big’s colors aren’t as good as his classic Fisherman look, and Server Silver is probably the least impressive skin for that character—it’s missing the cool factor. Spring Cream is also here as the weakest version of Cream.
This tier also has those seasonal skins that feel a bit half-hearted. Some of the Halloween and Christmas outfits land here because they don’t fully capture the fun or spirit of their holidays.
F-Tier Failures: The Bottom of the Barrel
We’re putting skins in F-tier when they just don’t work at all. Most of this space is taken up by the “gem” variants—those crystal and metal recolors. They just look like dull, gray copies of the characters and feel completely lifeless and uninspired.
Some choices are just confusing. Zavok’s design looks really awkward in Sonic Rumble’s style, so he’s an easy pick for the bottom tier. Then there’s the leopard print Shadow skin, which is a fashion mistake nobody wanted.
Finally, a few obscure Sega crossover characters ended up here, mostly because if you don’t know who they are, they just feel completely out of place.
A Few Standout Characters
Some characters just keep winning. Amy Rose has a fantastic lineup—almost all her skins are C-tier or higher, from her top-rated conductor outfit to her unique Gothic look. Tails is another one; he’s super consistent, with most of his looks sitting comfortably in B-tier or above.
Surprisingly, Eggman might be the secret star. They’ve given him a bunch of charming alternate careers—like Doctor, Chef, and his Prime look—that really work with his round shape. They’re unexpectedly great.
Nostalgia and References
For us, the best part of Sonic Rumble is how it digs deep into Sonic’s history. Sure, you get the big hits from games like Sonic Riders and Black Knight, but it also pulls from official artwork, Sonic Prime, the old OVA, and even the Murder of Sonic visual novel. It’s a real treat for long-time fans and a fun history lesson for new players.
A special shout-out has to go to the Sonic Riders concept art skins. It’s incredible to see these unused designs from decades ago finally come to life in a game.
The Verdict
So, what’s the verdict? Sonic Rumble starts with a huge and varied closet of skins. Yes, the $40 price tag for Legendary ones is a tough sell, but you’re not stuck. You can earn great free skins like Movie Shadow, or snag iconic ones like the Soap Shoes for less than a dollar.
In the end, your favorite skin is a personal choice. But for us, the undisputed peaks are the legendary looks from Sonic and the Black Knight, the classic Riders gear, and the fresh, original style of the Neon Suit collection. They show off the very best this game’s skin have to offer.
