Sonic Boom is a 1987 arcade platformer developed and published by Sega, arriving during a period when Sega was aggressively competing in the coin-operated market alongside rivals such as Taito and Capcom. The mid-to-late 1980s arcade scene was defined by fast-paced action games demanding quick reflexes and repeat play, and Sonic Boom fits squarely into that tradition. Released before Sega's home console ambitions fully crystallized with the Mega Drive, the game represents the company's continued investment in arcade hardware as a proving ground for gameplay ideas. Players control a character navigating a series of vertically and horizontally scrolling platform stages, jumping across gaps, avoiding hazards, and defeating enemies through direct contact or projectile-based attacks depending on the stage configuration. The controls are straightforward by arcade standards — a joystick for directional movement and one or two action buttons handling jumps and attacks — keeping the barrier to entry low while demanding precision at higher difficulty levels. Level structure follows the classic arcade loop of escalating challenge: early stages introduce basic enemy types and platform arrangements, while later stages layer in faster enemies, tighter gaps, and environmental hazards that punish mistimed jumps. The cabinet's design encouraged short, intense sessions calibrated to consume credits, meaning lives are limited and continues come at a cost. Scoring is tied to enemy defeats and stage completion speed, rewarding aggressive play over cautious navigation. In its era, Sonic Boom occupied a niche alongside other Sega arcade platformers of the period, appealing to players who wanted a kinetic, visually colorful experience on the arcade floor. The game's sprite work reflected the capabilities of Sega's mid-generation arcade boards, delivering smooth character animation and vibrant backgrounds that stood out on the cabinet screen. Reception among arcade-goers was generally positive in the context of its release window, with the game finding placement in arcades across Japan and select international markets. It did not achieve the landmark cultural status of some contemporaries, but it served as a competent and enjoyable entry in Sega's arcade catalog, demonstrating the company's consistent ability to produce polished platforming experiences for the coin-op format before the genre's center of gravity shifted decisively to home consoles in the early 1990s.
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Sonic Boom
索尼克：Boom
Sonic Boom is a platformer arcade game developed by Sega and released in 1987. The player controls a character navigating through side-scrolling levels filled with obstacles and enemies. The game features jump-based platforming mechanics where timing and precision are essential for progression. Players move left and right across the screen, jumping over hazards and defeating adversaries to advance through sequential stages. The difficulty increases across multiple levels with varying terrain layouts and enemy placements. The arcade release showcases Sega's approach to the platformer genre during the mid-1980s.
- Developer
- Sega
- Released
- 1987
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genre
- Platformer
- Rating
- 4.4 / 5 (2.1K)
- Last updated
About Sonic Boom
Pro tips
- Learn enemy patrol patterns in early stages before attempting aggressive play — most enemies follow fixed routes that can be exploited once memorized.
- Prioritize clearing enemies before crossing platforms; leaving active enemies behind you can create dangerous situations when retreating.
- Conserve your credits for the later stages where hazard density spikes sharply — the opening stages can be cleared without losing a life once you know the layouts.
- Focus on speed through stages you have mastered to maximize your score multiplier, as time-based bonuses contribute meaningfully to the high-score table.
- When approaching gap sequences, wait for your character's jump arc to feel natural before committing — mistimed jumps over wide gaps are the most common credit drain.
Sonic Boom Controls — Arcade Keyboard Keys
Default keyboard bindings for Sonic Boom on our in-browser Arcade emulator. Plug in a USB or Bluetooth gamepad to auto-detect mappings, or rebind any key from the emulator settings menu.
| Keyboard | Console button | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ | Joystick Up | Move up |
| ↓ | Joystick Down | Move down |
| ← | Joystick Left | Move left |
| → | Joystick Right | Move right |
| X | Button 1 | Primary action (jump / confirm) |
| Z | Button 2 | Secondary action (attack / cancel) |
| S | Button 3 | Tertiary action |
| A | Button 4 | Quaternary action |
| Q | Button 5 | Fifth button |
| W | Button 6 | Sixth button |
| 5 | Insert Coin | Insert coin |
| 1 | 1P Start | Start / Pause |
Coin and Start are convention "Insert Coin: 5" and "1P Start: 1". Some arcade boards expect specific button mappings — check the in-game prompts on coin-up.
Rebind any key from the EmulatorJS in-game settings menu (gear icon → Controls). A connected gamepad auto-maps to the same buttons.
Sonic Boom Longplay & Gameplay Videos
Watch a full playthrough of Sonic Boom on Arcade before you dive in — recommended for getting a feel for the game's pacing, story beats, and difficulty curve.
Watch longplay on YouTube
"Sonic Boom" Arcade longplay 1987
External references
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Sonic Boom released?
Sonic Boom was released in 1987 for the Arcade.
Who developed Sonic Boom?
Sonic Boom was developed by Sega, available to play in your browser on RetroGameSpace.
What type of game is Sonic Boom?
Sonic Boom is a Platformer game for the Arcade, playable instantly in your browser — no downloads, no installs.
How can I play Sonic Boom for free?
Open this page and click "Play Now" — Sonic Boom runs free in your browser via WebAssembly emulation. No account, no payment, no installer.
Do I need to download anything to play Sonic Boom in the browser?
No. Sonic Boom streams from a public archive into a browser-side Arcade emulator. Nothing is installed on your computer.
Can I save my progress in Sonic Boom?
Yes. Save states are stored in your browser (IndexedDB) per game, and you can also use any in-game save the original Arcade cartridge supported.
Does Sonic Boom work on mobile devices?
Yes — the Arcade emulator runs on iOS Safari and Android Chrome. Touch controls overlay the game; landscape mode is recommended.
Is it legal to play Sonic Boom this way?
RetroGameSpace is a transient caching reverse-proxy and does not host first-party copies of Sonic Boom. Game files are fetched on demand from publicly-accessible archives. You are responsible for compliance with your local laws and the bring-your-own-ROM principle.
How long does a typical run of Sonic Boom take to complete?
A full run through all stages on a single credit attempt lasts roughly 20 to 40 minutes depending on player skill and how many lives are lost. Experienced players who have memorized stage layouts can push through more quickly, while newcomers should expect multiple credit insertions before seeing the later stages.
Is Sonic Boom particularly difficult compared to other 1987 arcade platformers?
The game sits at a moderate-to-hard difficulty level typical of Sega arcade titles of the era. Early stages are forgiving enough to learn the mechanics, but the difficulty curve steepens noticeably in the mid-game, and the later stages demand precise timing and enemy knowledge that takes repeated play to develop.
What is the best starting strategy for a first-time player?
Spend your first credit purely on observation — note enemy spawn points, platform layouts, and hazard timing rather than chasing a high score. This investment pays off quickly, as the game's stage designs are consistent across playthroughs, making pattern recognition the single most valuable skill to develop.
Is Sonic Boom worth seeking out and playing today?
For fans of late-1980s Sega arcade history and classic platformers, Sonic Boom offers a genuine snapshot of the coin-op era's design philosophy. It is not the most technically ambitious game of its year, but its tight controls and escalating challenge hold up as an honest arcade experience worth exploring through original hardware or preservation efforts.
