This is the third racing game starring Sonic, after Sonic Drift (1994) and Sonic Drift 2 (1995). However, only this one is considered a true Sonic game; whereas kart racers are pretty much the same no matter which franchise is being used, Sonic R has elements you could only expect to see in a Sonic title.
The identities of the secret racers are:
- Metal Sonic
- Tails Doll (making his only appearance thus far)
- Metal Knuckles (also making his only appearance thus far)
- EggRobo (from the Sky Sanctuary Zone in Sonic & Knuckles (1994))
- Super Sonic.
This is the first released Sonic game where Sonic can double jump. The cancelled Sonic Xtreme also had the titular hedgehog do that and Sonic Unleashed gave it back, after a decade.