Sonic the Hedgehog 3
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Estimated FPS across quality settings and resolutions
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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 FPS by GPU
Estimated framerates for 14 reference GPUs · pick a resolution and quality
Full benchmark grid · 14 GPUs × 4 qualities × 3 resolutions
1080p performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 869 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 916 fps | 745 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 999 fps | 999 fps | 807 fps | 656 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 999 fps | 982 fps | 785 fps | 638 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 999 fps | 927 fps | 742 fps | 603 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 999 fps | 845 fps | 676 fps | 550 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 955 fps | 764 fps | 611 fps | 496 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 818 fps | 655 fps | 524 fps | 425 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 593 fps | 475 fps | 380 fps | 308 fps |
1440p performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 931 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 878 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 999 fps | 999 fps | 999 fps | 824 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 999 fps | 999 fps | 802 fps | 651 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 999 fps | 859 fps | 687 fps | 558 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 946 fps | 757 fps | 605 fps | 492 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 920 fps | 736 fps | 589 fps | 479 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 869 fps | 695 fps | 556 fps | 452 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 793 fps | 634 fps | 507 fps | 412 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 716 fps | 573 fps | 458 fps | 372 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 614 fps | 491 fps | 393 fps | 319 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 445 fps | 356 fps | 285 fps | 231 fps |
4K performance
| GPU | low | medium | high | ultra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5090 | 999 fps | 916 fps | 733 fps | 596 fps |
| RTX 4090 | 999 fps | 851 fps | 681 fps | 553 fps |
| RX 7900 XTX | 955 fps | 764 fps | 611 fps | 496 fps |
| RTX 5080 | 900 fps | 720 fps | 576 fps | 468 fps |
| RTX 4080 Super | 845 fps | 676 fps | 541 fps | 440 fps |
| RTX 4070 Ti | 668 fps | 535 fps | 428 fps | 347 fps |
| RTX 4070 | 573 fps | 458 fps | 367 fps | 298 fps |
| RX 7800 XT | 505 fps | 404 fps | 323 fps | 262 fps |
| RTX 3080 | 491 fps | 393 fps | 314 fps | 255 fps |
| RTX 4060 Ti | 464 fps | 371 fps | 297 fps | 241 fps |
| RTX 3070 | 423 fps | 338 fps | 271 fps | 220 fps |
| RTX 4060 | 382 fps | 305 fps | 244 fps | 199 fps |
| RTX 3060 | 327 fps | 262 fps | 209 fps | 170 fps |
| GTX 1660 Super | 237 fps | 190 fps | 152 fps | 123 fps |
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Sonic the Hedgehog 3
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About
"Sonic the Hedgehog 3," released in 1994, is a beloved adventure-platform game that continues the high-speed journey of Sonic as he faces new challenges following his victory over Dr. Robotnik. With the introduction of Knuckles the Echidna, players must navigate a vibrant floating island, retrieve the Chaos Emeralds, and thwart Dr. Robotnik's plans to reactivate the formidable Death Egg. The game's engaging gameplay and memorable graphics have solidified its place in gaming history, earning it a respectable rating of 83/100.
When it comes to PC performance, "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" is highly accessible, with a minimum GPU requirement comparable to entry-level models, requiring around a score of 500. With just 2 GB of RAM needed, even modest systems can achieve impressive FPS benchmarks. Players can expect smooth performance on budget-friendly GPUs while adjusting graphics settings to optimize their experience, making it a straightforward title to run without demanding high-end hardware.
Overall, "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" is a must-play for fans of the genre, offering an enjoyable mix of nostalgia and engaging gameplay. Its strong rating and legacy as a classic platformer ensure that it remains a worthwhile experience for both new players and returning fans alike.
Performance profile
Released in February 1994, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 predates modern GPU acceleration as we know it today. It runs effortlessly on virtually any current hardware, including integrated graphics and entry-level laptops — framerate is limited by the engine, not the GPU.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a narrative-driven experience — a rock-solid 60 FPS is plenty. Prioritise resolution and image quality (AA, anisotropic filtering) over chasing high-refresh framerates.
Extremely light — Sonic the Hedgehog 3 runs at 60 FPS 1080p on any integrated GPU (Intel Iris Xe, AMD Radeon Graphics) or a decade-old discrete card like the GTX 1050. A current-gen RTX 4060 pushes 4K Ultra without effort.
Storyline
After Sonic defeats Dr. Robotnik at the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, his space station, the Death Egg, crash-lands on a mystical floating landmass called Angel Island (or simply "the Floating Island" as it's called in the game manual). As Dr. Robotnik begins to repair the damaged station, he meets up with Knuckles the Echidna, the last surviving member of an ancient civilization of Echidnas that once inhabited the island. He is also the guardian of the Master Emerald, which grants the island its levitation powers. Knowing Sonic and Tails will try to track him down, and realizing he can use the Master Emerald to power the ship, Dr. Robotnik dupes Knuckles into believing Sonic is trying to steal his Emerald. Shortly after, Sonic and Tails in their biplane, the Tornado, are in search of Dr. Robotnik. Sonic, possessing the emeralds from the events of Sonic 2, then turns into Super Sonic. As soon as they arrive, Knuckles ambushes Sonic from underground and knocks the Chaos Emeralds from him, returning him to normal. Knuckles steals the Emeralds and disappears inland. As Sonic and Tails travel through the levels, they encounter Knuckles in almost every level, hindering their progress. In the last level, the Launch Base Zone, the Death Egg launches off for the second time, knocking Knuckles off a pole and sending him plummeting into the water. Sonic travels to a platform on the Death Egg, fights, and defeats Robotnik for the last time. The Death Egg is seen damaged and falling after Robotnik's defeat, after which it crashes back onto Angel Island- leading into the second half of the story in Sonic & Knuckles.
