2021’s Sonic Hacking Contest has officially come to a close. For those who’ve been playing, or even those just watching others, its clear there’s been some great games this year. Sonic 1 Definitive, Hellfire Saga, Shivery Mountainside, and Sonic 2 Mania SHC2021 Demo have shone out as the overall favorites of the competition, but they’re certainly not the only games worthy of praise (or worthy of an award!)

Continue on after the jump to check out the overall top three’s plus the winners of every award handed out this year.

TOP THREE RETRO (JUDGED)
1st – Sonic 1 Definitive by RadiantNexus Team
2nd – Hellfire Saga by Hardline Team
3rd – Sonic The Hedgehog: Ancient Isles by Catswell

TOP THREE RETRO (COMMUNITY)
1st – Hellfire Saga by Hardline Team
2nd – Sonic 1 Definitive by RadiantNexus Team
3rd – Sonic 3 & Knuckles: Epilogue by Hardline Team

TOP THREE 3D (JUDGED)
1st – Shivery Mountainsides by Goalringmod27
2nd – Sonic ’06 – Emerald Coast by Nonami
3rd – Sonic Forces Re-imagined – SHC 2021 Demo by brandonj

TOP THREE 3D (COMMUNITY)
1st – Shivery Mountainsides by Goalringmod27
2nd – Sonic Forces Overclocked – Freight Frenzy DEMO – SHC2021 Edition by TheDuckDealer
3rd – Sonic Forces Re-imagined – SHC 2021 Demo by brandonj

TOP THREE 2DPC (JUDGED)
1st – Sonic 2 Mania SHC2021 Demo by AChickMcNuggie
2nd – Mystic Cave Zone Mania-fied by campbellsonic
3rd – Sonic the Hedgehog Forever by Team Forever

TOP THREE 2DPC (COMMUNITY)
1st – Sonic 2 Mania SHC2021 Demo by AChickMcNuggie
2nd – Sonic the Hedgehog Forever by Team Forever
3rd – Mystic Cave Zone Mania-fied by campbellsonic

 

RETRO CATEGORY

Going back to the roots.

Best Visual – Judged
Sonic the Hedgehog: Ancient Isles by Catswell
Honourable Mention – Hellfire Saga by Hardline Team

Best Visual – Community
Hellfire Saga by Hardline Team
Honourable Mention – Sonic 1 Definitive by RadiantNexus Team

Best Audio – Judged
Sonic the Hedgehog: Ancient Isles by Catswell
Honourable Mention – Sonic 1 Definitive by RadiantNexus Team

Best Audio – Community
Hellfire Saga by Hardline Team
Honourable Mention – Sonic 1 Definitive by RadiantNexus Team

Best Technical – Judged
Sonic 1 Blastless DX by vladikcomper

Best Technical – Community
Sonic 1 Blastless DX by vladikcomper

Best Level Design – Judged
Sonic 1 Definitive by RadiantNexus Team
Honourable Mention – Hellfire Saga by Hardline Team

Best Level Design – Community
Sonic 1 Definitive by RadiantNexus Team
Honourable Mention – Hellfire Saga by Hardline Team

Most Entertaining – Judged
Sonic 1 Definitive by RadiantNexus Team
Honourable Mention – Hellfire Saga by Hardline Team

Most Entertaining – Community
Hellfire Saga by Hardline Team
Honourable Mention – SNOLF: Tournament Edition by drmelon

Most “WTF?!” – Judged
VTuber in Sonic 1 by ProjectFM
Honourable Mention – SNOLF: Tournament Edition by drmelon

Most “WTF?!” – Community
SNOLF: Tournament Edition by drmelon
Honourable Mention – VTuber in Sonic 1 by ProjectFM

Best Team Entry – Judged
Hellfire Saga by Hardline Team
Honourable Mention – Sonic 1 Definitive by RadiantNexus Team

Best Team Entry – Community
Hellfire Saga by Hardline Team
Honourable Mention – Sonic 1 Definitive by RadiantNexus Team

Best Multiplayer Entry – Judged
SNOLF: Tournament Edition by drmelon

Best Multiplayer Entry – Community
SNOLF: Tournament Edition by drmelon

Best Character Implementation – Judged
Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Pink Edition by E-122-Psi

Best Character Implementation – Community
Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Pink Edition by E-122-Psi
Honourable Mention – Big the Cat in Sonic the Hedgehog by E-122-Psi

Best Boss Design – Judged
Sonic 3 & Knuckles: Epilogue by Hardline Team
Honourable Mention – Hellfire Saga by Hardline Team

Best Boss Design – Community
Sonic 3 & Knuckles: Epilogue by Hardline Team
Honourable Mention – Hellfire Saga by Hardline Team

Best Fresh Concept Using Existing Concepts As A Backbone – Judged
Sonic 1 Definitive by RadiantNexus Team
Honourable Mention – SNOLF: Tournament Edition by drmelon

Best Fresh Concept Using Existing Concepts As A Backbone – Community
Sonic 1 Definitive by RadiantNexus Team
Honourable Mention – SNOLF: Tournament Edition by drmelon

Most Potential – Judged
Sonic 1 Definitive by RadiantNexus Team

Most Potential – Community
Sonic 1 Definitive by RadiantNexus Team
Honourable Mention – Sonic the Hackable – Splash Hill Demo by CHRdutch

Most Improved – Judged
Hellfire Saga by Hardline Team
Honourable Mention – Sonic the Hackable – Splash Hill Demo by CHRdutch

Most Improved – Community
Hellfire Saga by Hardline Team
Honourable Mention – Sonic the Hackable – Splash Hill Demo by CHRdutch

Best Voted by Media Panel
Hellfire Saga by Hardline Team and Sonic 3 & Knuckles: Epilogue by Hardline Team

 

3D CATEGORY

Adventure, Boost, and everything in between.

Best Visual – Judged
Shivery Mountainsides by Goalringmod27
Honourable Mention – Sonic ’06 – Emerald Coast by Nonami

Best Visual – Community
Shivery Mountainsides by Goalringmod27
Honourable Mention – Dash Adventure 2 by Revenir

Best Audio – Judged
Sonic Forces Overclocked – Freight Frenzy DEMO – SHC2021 Edition by TheDuckDealer

Best Audio – Community
Sonic Forces Overclocked – Freight Frenzy DEMO – SHC2021 Edition by TheDuckDealer

Best Technical – Judged
Yoshi’s Island Zone DLC Restoration by DeaTh
Honourable Mention – Sonic 06 Definitive Experience by brianuuu

Best Technical – Community
Yoshi’s Island Zone DLC Restoration by DeaTh
Honourable Mention – Sonic 06 Definitive Experience by brianuuu

Best Level Design – Judged
Shivery Mountainsides by Goalringmod27

Best Level Design – Community
Shivery Mountainsides by Goalringmod27
Honourable Mention – Sonic Forces Overclocked – Freight Frenzy DEMO – SHC2021 Edition by TheDuckDealer

Most Entertaining – Judged
Shivery Mountainsides by Goalringmod27
Honourable Mention – Sonic Forces Overclocked – Freight Frenzy DEMO – SHC2021 Edition by TheDuckDealer

Most Entertaining – Community
Sonic Forces Overclocked – Freight Frenzy DEMO – SHC2021 Edition by TheDuckDealer
Honourable Mention – Shivery Mountainsides by Goalringmod27

Most “WTF?!” – Judged
Sonic 06 Definitive Experience by brianuuu
Honourable Mention – Dash Adventure 2 by Revenir

Most “WTF?!” – Community
Sonic 06 Definitive Experience by brianuuu

Best Team Entry – Judged
Sonic Forces Overclocked – Freight Frenzy DEMO – SHC2021 Edition by TheDuckDealer
Honourable Mention – Sonic Riders DX by Extreme Gear Labs

Best Team Entry – Community
Sonic Forces Overclocked – Freight Frenzy DEMO – SHC2021 Edition by TheDuckDealer
Honourable Mention – Dash Adventure 2 by Revenir

Best Multiplayer Entry – Judged
Sonic Riders DX by Extreme Gear Labs

Best Multiplayer Entry – Community
Sonic Riders DX by Extreme Gear Labs

Best Character Implementation – Judged
Sonic 06 Definitive Experience by brianuuu

Best Character Implementation – Community
Dash Adventure 2 by Revenir
Honourable Mention – Sonic 06 Definitive Experience by brianuuu

Best Boss Design – Not Awarded in Judged or Community

Best Fresh Concept Using Existing Concepts As A Backbone – Judged
MISSION REPLACEMENT: SA1 Gamma-Timer Variant over Kill X Many Missions by Twilord
Honourable Mention – Sonic Forces Overclocked – Freight Frenzy DEMO – SHC2021 Edition by TheDuckDealer

Best Fresh Concept Using Existing Concepts As A Backbone – Community
MISSION REPLACEMENT: SA1 Gamma-Timer Variant over Kill X Many Missions by Twilord
Honourable Mention – Sonic Forces Overclocked – Freight Frenzy DEMO – SHC2021 Edition by TheDuckDealer

Most Potential – Judged
Sonic Forces Re-imagined – SHC 2021 Demo by brandonj
Honourable Mention – Shivery Mountainsides by Goalringmod27

Most Potential – Community
Sonic Forces Overclocked – Freight Frenzy DEMO – SHC2021 Edition by TheDuckDealer
Honourable Mention – Sonic Forces Re-imagined – SHC 2021 Demo by brandonj

Most Improved – Judged
Sonic Forces Overclocked – Freight Frenzy DEMO – SHC2021 Edition by TheDuckDealer
Honourable Mention – Sonic Forces Re-imagined – SHC 2021 Demo by brandonj

Most Improved – Community
Sonic Forces Overclocked – Freight Frenzy DEMO – SHC2021 Edition by TheDuckDealer
Honourable Mention – Dash Adventure 2 by Revenir

Best Voted by Media Panel
Sonic Forces Overclocked – Freight Frenzy DEMO – SHC2021 Edition by TheDuckDealer
Honourable Mention – Shivery Mountainsides by Goalringmod27

 

2DPC CATEGORY

The Retro Engine continues to inspire.

Best Visual – Judged
Sonic 2 Mania SHC2021 Demo by AChickMcnuggie

Best Visual – Community
Sonic 2 Mania SHC2021 Demo by AChickMcnuggie
Honourable Mention – Mystic Cave Zone Mania-fied by campbellsonic

Best Audio – Judged
Sonic 2 Mania SHC2021 Demo by AChickMcnuggie

Best Audio – Community
Sonic 2 Mania SHC2021 Demo by AChickMcnuggie
Honourable Mention – Mystic Cave Zone Mania-fied by campbellsonic

Best Technical – Judged
Sonic the Hedgehog Forever by Team Forever

Best Technical – Community
Sonic the Hedgehog Forever by Team Forever
Honourable Mention – SONIC CD: EPISODE METAL by jackelzxa

Best Level Design – Judged
Mystic Cave Zone Mania-fied by campbellsonic
Honourable Mention – Sonic The Hedgehog: Lost Island Demo by CartoonsAnimate22

Best Level Design – Community
Mystic Cave Zone Mania-fied by campbellsonic
Honourable Mention – Sonic The Hedgehog: Lost Island Demo by CartoonsAnimate22

Most Entertaining – Judged
Sonic 2 Mania SHC2021 Demo by AChickMcnuggie
Honourable Mention – Sonic the Hedgehog Forever by Team Forever

Most Entertaining – Community
Sonic 2 Mania SHC2021 Demo by AChickMcnuggie
Honourable Mention – Sonic the Hedgehog Forever by Team Forever

Most “WTF?!” – Not Awarded in Judged or Community

Best Team Entry – Judged
Sonic 2 Mania SHC2021 Demo by AChickMcnuggie

Best Team Entry – Community
Sonic 2 Mania SHC2021 Demo by AChickMcnuggie
Honourable Mention – Sonic the Hedgehog Forever by Team Forever

Best Multiplayer Entry – Not Awarded in Judged or Community

Best Character Implementation – Judged
SONIC CD: EPISODE METAL by jackelzxa

Best Character Implementation – Community
SONIC CD: EPISODE METAL by jackelzxa

Best Boss Design – Judged – Not Awarded

Best Boss Design – Community
Mystic Cave Zone Mania-fied by campbellsonic

Best Fresh Concept Using Existing Concepts As A Backbone – Judged
Mystic Cave Zone Mania-fied by campbellsonic

Best Fresh Concept Using Existing Concepts As A Backbone – Community
Mystic Cave Zone Mania-fied by campbellsonic

Most Potential – Judged
Sonic 2 Mania SHC2021 Demo by AChickMcnuggie
Honourable Mention – Sonic The Hedgehog: Lost Island Demo by CartoonsAnimate22

Most Potential – Community
Sonic 2 Mania SHC2021 Demo by AChickMcnuggie
Honourable Mention – Sonic The Hedgehog: Lost Island Demo by CartoonsAnimate22

Most Improved – Judged
Sonic 2 Mania SHC2021 Demo by AChickMcnuggie

Best Voted by Media Panel
Sonic 2 Mania SHC2021 Demo by AChickMcnuggie
Honourable Mention – Sonic the Hedgehog Forever by Team Forever

 

Congratulations to the all the winners! Even though the contest is over, you can still check out the games by heading to the official Sonic Hacking Contest site. Until next year!

[Source: Sonic Hacking Contest – 2021 RESULTS AND EVALUATIONS RELEASED!]