Comparison

Sonic Boom Dash vs Sonic Surfer

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Sonic Boom Dash

Experience a thrilling 3D endless runner with iconic characters from the Sonic Boom TV series. Race through vibrant worlds, utilize unique character abilities, and overcome new obstacles. Collect magical sprites and compete on global leaderboards.

Highlights
  • Team Play mode with character swapping
  • Unique character special powers
  • New obstacles and Badniks
  • Swing & Tilt gameplay with Enerbeam
  • Collect and evolve magical Sprites
  • Daily SEGA Challenges and Events
  • Leveling system to unlock challenges
Read full description

The world’s fastest hedgehog returns in a high-octane sequel built for the next generation of mobile gaming. Sonic Boom Dash fuses the legendary speed of SEGA’s classic runners with the tactical depth of the hit Sonic Boom universe. This isn't just a race; it’s a fully immersive, multi-layered dash through 3D worlds that push your reflexes to the limit. Explore Immersive 3D Worlds Embark on a high-speed journey through breathtaking 3D landscapes and exhilarating new challenges. Whether you're navigating lush jungles or futuristic ruins, the gameplay is truly endless. Take control of your destiny by choosing the ultimate runner from the iconic Sonic the Hedgehog roster. Will you dash as the legendary Sonic, or master the track with Shadow, Tails, Amy, Knuckles, Vector, or the fearless newcomer, Sticks the Badger? Epic Graphics, Elite Precision Experience the "Boom" with stunning, console-quality graphics that bring every loop and jump to life. Race through meticulously designed courses filled with high-stakes hazards and intricate obstacles. It’s not just about running—it’s about precision. Dodge, jump, and weave your way through epic levels as you fight for the top of the leaderboard and claim your victory. Endless Action for Every Generation Built for fans of all ages, Sonic Boom offers a deep, rewarding gameplay experience that kids and adults alike can’t put down. The more you run, the more you achieve! Unlock an entire stable of classic characters and customize your experience by selecting the runner that fits your style. Sonic and his team are at the starting line—are you ready to join the race? GAME FEATURES -ICONIC ROSTER: Play as Sonic, Shadow, Tails, Amy, Knuckles, Vector, or the wild and unpredictable Sticks the Badger. -STUNNING 3D ENVIRONMENTS: Race through lush jungles and futuristic landscapes in the beautiful Sonic Boom world, featuring graphics optimized for high-speed thrills. -EVOLVE YOUR GAMEPLAY: Collect and evolve magical Sprites. These tiny companions provide instant boosts, reviving you from crashes or extending your dash power. -LIVE EVENTS & CHALLENGES: Don't just run for a high score—run for glory. Compete in Daily SEGA Challenges and special events to unlock exclusive rewards and rare prizes. Dash into the next generation of endless runners. The world of Sonic Boom is waiting—are you fast enough to handle it? - - - - - Privacy Policy: http://www.sega.com/mprivacy/ Terms of Use: https://games.sega.com/eula SEGA’s Sonic Boom Dash is ad-supported and in-app purchases are not required to progress. Ad-free play is available with an in-app purchase. Other than for users known to be under 13, this game may include "Interest Based Ads" (please see http://www.sega.com/mprivacy#3IBADiscolure for more information) and may collect "Precise Location Data" (please see http://www.sega.com/mprivacy#5LocationDataDisclosure for more information). © SEGA. All rights reserved. SEGA, the SEGA logo, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, SONIC DASH and SONIC BOOM are registered trademarks or trademarks of SEGA Holdings Co., Ltd. or its affiliates.

About

Sonic Surfer

This unique game uses your ambient noise to control gameplay. Ride sound waves, collect suns, and avoid falling off your board. It adapts to any environment, turning everyday sounds into exciting gameplay.

Highlights
  • Reacts to ambient noise
  • Generates waves based on sound level
  • Collect suns to stop moonrise
  • Unlock 22 characters
  • Play with music
  • Adaptive gameplay
Features
Read full description

This game reacts to your ambient noise! Play ‚Sonic Surfer‘ when you ride the bus, at the park, in a waiting line or at other places where noise in different soundlevels occurs. Surf the waves and don't fall off your board! Can you collect enough suns to stop the moonrise? Loud sounds will create big waves while quiet sound will create small waves. No matter where you play, this game will always match your surroundings. For example, if you play ‚Sonic Surfer on the Bus loud noises will no longer bother you. If a baby is crying, the bus driver is honking or people are talking very loud your game will create bigger waves - you will jump higher and collect more suns. Keep in mind that we need access to your microphone! ACTION PACKED Play Sonic Surfer while you are listening to your favorite music!! DIVERSE Unlock 22 characters! Surf with Jade, Melissa, Eugene and Rainbow the Pony! WINNER - BW Goes Mobil Award 2016 ‚Sonic Surfer‘ won the first price at the category „Waiting line - never bored again“.

Screenshots

Sonic Boom Dash4 screens
Sonic Surfer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sonic Surfer at 5.0 against Sonic Boom Dash's 4.5. Sonic Surfer also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (91% vs 73%). Sonic Boom Dash's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 16 months) and ratings volume (31K vs 3). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Sonic Boom Dash sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Sonic Surfer sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sonic Surfer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sonic Boom Dash has 31K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of Sonic Boom Dash's written reviews are positive against 91% of Sonic Surfer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sonic Boom Dash ships an update every 6 weeks, Sonic Surfer every 16 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and June 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Sonic Boom Dash versus Sonic Surfer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSonic Boom DashSonic Surfer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (31K ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews73.3% of reviews91.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings31K — better3
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 16 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.08.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size324 MB155 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperSEGAPatrick Ferling

Customer experience

Sonic Boom Dash

All ratings31,246 ratings
Positive86.3%
Neutral5.3%
Negative8.4%
Written reviews693 reviews
Positive73.3%
Neutral11.4%
Negative15.3%

Sonic Surfer

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews135 reviews
Positive91.1%
Neutral5.2%
Negative3.7%

Bugs and requests

Sonic Boom Dash

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Game crashes frequently
  • Progress gets reset unexpectedly
  • Freezing and connectivity issues
  • Glitches with the enerbeam and obstacles
  • Ads cause sound issues

Requested features

7 requests
  • Add more characters like Metal Sonic, Silver, Blaze, Espio, Charmy, etc.
  • Introduce boss battles and more varied levels
  • Reduce the cost of characters and make it easier to unlock them
  • Allow customization of characters and sprites
  • Add more events and challenges
Show 2 more
  • Improve the event system and make it less frustrating
  • Fix the sound issues and bugs

Sonic Surfer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Sonic Boom Dash

One-time10
  • Quick Bundle$1.99
  • Boom Boost Discount$1.99
  • Extreme Offer$1.99
Show 7 more
  • Boom Boost$2.99
  • Taster Bundle$4.99
  • Apprentice Bundle$9.99
  • Expert Bundle$19.99
  • Master Bundle$49.99
  • Ultra Offer$49.99
  • Hero Bundle$99.99
10 purchases

Sonic Surfer

One-time10
  • Acid$0.99
  • Alana$0.99
  • Bob$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Taj$0.99
  • Dark One$0.99
  • Isabell$0.99
  • Doge$0.99
  • Aaron$0.99
  • Leslie$0.99
  • Cereal$0.99

Questions

Is Sonic Boom Dash free?
Sonic Boom Dash is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sonic Surfer free?
Sonic Surfer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sonic Boom Dash or Sonic Surfer?
Sonic Surfer is rated higher. Sonic Boom Dash averages 4.5 out of 5 from 31K ratings, while Sonic Surfer averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Sonic Boom Dash or Sonic Surfer have ads?
Sonic Boom Dash shows ads; Sonic Surfer does not.
Which is updated more often, Sonic Boom Dash or Sonic Surfer?
Sonic Boom Dash ships an update every 6 weeks, and Sonic Surfer every 16 months. Most recently, Sonic Boom Dash was updated on September 28, 2026 and Sonic Surfer on June 9, 2026.

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