Sonic Rumble has officially launched, but the response from players has been overwhelmingly negative. The game debuted on Steam to a “Mostly Negative” rating, with many criticizing what they describe as “predatory monetization” and excessive mobile-style systems.
While Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds stands as SEGA’s headline release of 2025, Sonic Rumble was positioned as its lighthearted, party-game counterpart — a Fall Guys-inspired spinoff where 32 players race, jump, and battle through colorful obstacle courses. After a closed beta last year and months of silence, fans had hoped the final version would deliver a fun, polished experience. Instead, many are accusing the game of being bogged down by paywalls and aggressive monetization.
At launch, Sonic Rumble sits at 67% negative reviews on Steam, with around 300 ratings posted within hours of release. Players have expressed frustration over what they call “a mobile game disguised as a PC title,” citing expensive in-game skins, multiple paid battle passes, gacha mechanics, and even a subscription model.
One review summarized the frustration bluntly: “It’s a $60 skin store wrapped around a free game.” Another called it “a microtransaction slop-filled nightmare.” Reports suggest some skins cost between $40 and $60, and while SEGA has marketed Rumble as a free-to-play experience, many feel the monetization pushes players too aggressively toward spending.
Some users have also accused the game of featuring “pay-to-win” elements, claiming certain costumes provide gameplay advantages. However, others argue that these bonuses only affect global score progression, not actual in-match performance. The controversy may partly stem from early misunderstandings about the game’s systems.
Even players who praise Rumble’s chaotic, fast-paced gameplay admit that the monetization overshadows its fun factor. Comparisons to Fall Guys have flooded social media and discussion threads, with many agreeing that SEGA may have leaned too heavily into mobile-style design for a PC and console release.
It’s still early days for Sonic Rumble, but its rocky launch paints a challenging picture. Unless SEGA responds to player feedback and rebalances its in-game economy, the Blue Blur’s latest multiplayer experiment could struggle to maintain momentum.
Stay tuned to Sonic City for more news and updates on Sonic Rumble and upcoming SEGA titles.
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