Here are all the guides, tips, and strategies to enjoy playing Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (1994) with cheats and unlockables.
Cheats
General
All Chaos Emeralds
Activate the Sound Test option via Debug Mode, then play the following tracks in order.
02, 04, 05, 06
A Chaos Emerald sound will confirm the code was entered correctly.
All Chaos Emeralds (Alternate)
Enter the Level Select code, highlight the “Special Stage” option, and press C+START. After receiving a Chaos Emerald, press A+START and repeat the process until you have all 7.
Debug Mode + Level Select
When the SEGA logo begins to fade on the opening screen, and Sonic begins jumping, quickly press UP (2x), DOWN (2x), UP (4x). If done correctly, a Ring chime sound will play.
To activate Debug Mode, hold A and press START to choose a level.
Night Mode
Enter the Level Select code, choose a zone, and then press C+START.
Sound Test
Enter the Debug Mode code, then press UP at the main menu to reveal a Sound Test option.
View Animations
Enter Debug Mode and press B + C. You’ll be treated to a view of Sonic and Kunckles’ moves.
Action Replay Codes
The game is enjoyable by itself, but cheating makes it even better. Always keep in mind to input codes with an Action Replay. All the below codes are compatible with most emulators.
Note: before entering cheats, be aware that altering the game can cause random freezing and several other glitches.
| Effect | Code |
|---|---|
| CodeTable | 008630:603C |
| All Emeralds Collected | FFB02A:006E |
| All Powerful (Invincible, Magnetism, Water Breathing) | FFF600:2400 |
| Enable Debug Mode | FFFFD0:0100 |
| Enable Stage Select – Angel Island (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:0001 |
| Enable Stage Select – Hydrocity (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:0101 |
| Enable Stage Select – Marble Garden (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:0201 |
| Enable Stage Select – Carnival Night (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:0301 |
| Enable Stage Select – Flying Battery (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:0401 |
| Enable Stage Select – Icecap (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:0501 |
| Enable Stage Select – Launch Base (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:0601 |
| Enable Stage Select – Mushroom Valley (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:0701 |
| Enable Stage Select – Sandopolis (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:0801 |
| Enable Stage Select – Lost Level 09 (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:0901 |
| Enable Stage Select – Desert Palace (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:1001 |
| Enable Stage Select – Chrome Gadget (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:1101 |
| Enable Stage Select – Endless Mine (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:1201 |
| Enable Stage Select – Sky Sanctuary (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:0A01 |
| Enable Stage Select – Death Egg (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:0B01 |
| Enable Stage Select – The Doomsday (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:0C01 |
| Enable Stage Select – Lost Level 0D (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:0D01 |
| Enable Stage Select – Azure Lake (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:0E01 |
| Enable Stage Select – Balloon Park (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:0F01 |
| Enable Stage Select – Gumball Machine (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:1301 |
| Enable Stage Select – Glowing Spheres (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:1401 |
| Enable Stage Select – Slot Machine (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:1501 |
| Enable Stage Select – Lava Reef/Hidden Palace (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:1601 |
| Enable Stage Select – Death Egg/Hidden Palace (XX – Stage, YY, Act) | FFFE10:1701 |
| Red Spheres Have No Effect In Special Stages (you can walk through them) | 008672:6622 00868C:4E75 |
| White and Red Star Spheres Have No Effect In Special Stages (they won’t bump you backwards) | FFFE12:0009 |
| Infinite Lives | FFFE20:00C8 |
| Infinite Rings | FFF710:00 |
| Never Use Up Shield (Sonic) | FFFFFA:0100 |
| Only Need 1 Blue Sphere For Chaos Emerald | FFFFB0:0007 |
| Rings Multiplier | FFFE24:000F |
| Sonic 2 Options Menu (Wait At Title Screen) | FFF600:1000 |
| Sonic 2 2P Level Select (Wait At Title Screen) – Some Projectiles Blocked and Rings Not Lost On Hit | FFB02B:01 |
| Sonic 2 2P Level Select (Wait At Title Screen) – Invulnerability, Disables All Double Jump Attacks | FFB02B:02 |
| Sonic 2 2P Level Select (Wait At Title Screen) – Fire Shield | FFB02B:10 |
| Sonic 2 2P Level Select (Wait At Title Screen) – Lightning Shield | FFB02B:20 |
| Sonic 2 2P Level Select (Wait At Title Screen) – Water Shield | FFB02B:40 |
| Sonic 2 2P Level Select (Wait At Title Screen) – No Change In Movement Or Direction While On Ground | FFB02B:80 |
| Stop Timer | FFE438:0001 |
Game Genie Codes
The game is enjoyable by itself, but cheating makes it even better. Always keep in mind to input codes with a Game Genie. All the below codes are compatible with most emulators.
Note: before entering cheats, be aware that altering the game can cause random freezing and several other glitches.
| Effect | Code |
|---|---|
| 1 Blue Sphere Needed For Chaos Emerald | ACGA-AA8T |
| 10 Rings Needed For A Free Guy | BLGT-CAE0 |
| 20 Rings Needed For A Free Guy | CWGT-CAE0 |
| 30 Rings Needed For A Free Guy | D4GT-CAE0 |
| 50 Rings Needed For A Free Guy | GLGT-CAE0 |
| 75 Rings Needed For A Free Guy | KRGT-CAE0 |
| Bonus Jump | TAYA-CRB6 |
| Don’t Lose Rings | AWHA-CA92 |
| Get 2 Free Guys For 100 Rings | HCGT-DJZY |
| Get 3 Free Guys For 100 Rings | HCGT-DNZY |
| Get 4 Free Guys For 100 Rings | HCGT-DTZY |
| Get 5 Free Guys For 100 Rings | HCGT-DYZY |
| Get 6 Free Guys For 100 Rings | HCGT-D2ZY |
| Get 7 Free Guys For 100 Rings | HCGT-D6ZY |
| Get 8 Free Guys For 100 Rings | HCGT-DAZY |
| Infinite Lives | AJ3A-CA7A |
| Invincibility Lasts 1/4 As Long | E06A-CAB6 |
| Invincibility Lasts 1/2 As Long | KR6A-CAB6 |
| Invincibility Lasts 2x As Long | 986A-CAB6 |
| Invincibility Lasts Forever | AJRT-CA8R |
| Level Select | AA6T-AAXC |
| Mega Jump | AAYA-C0B6 |
| Only Need 2 Chaos Emeralds | SCFT-B2T4 |
| Only Need 3 Chaos Emeralds | SCFT-BTT4 |
| Only Need 4 Chaos Emeralds | SCFT-BNT4 |
| Only Need 6 Chaos Emeralds | SCFT-BJT4 |
| Rings Worth 2 | SCGT-DJYL |
| Rings Worth 3 | SCGT-DNYL |
| Rings Worth 4 | SCGT-DTYL |
| Rings Worth 5 | SCGT-DYYL |
| Rings Worth 6 | SCGT-D2YL |
| Rings Worth 7 | SCGT-D6YL |
| Rings Worth 8 | SCGT-DAYL |
| Shield Can Be Activated Multiple Times | ACAT-CAB6 |
| Sonic Never Drowns | ATST-CA38 |
| Start With 1 Life | AG4T-AAH4 |
| Start With 2 Lives | AL4T-AAH4 |
| Start With 5 Lives | A04T-AAH4 |
| Start With 10 Lives | BL4T-AAH4 |
| Start With 25 Lives | DG4T-AAH4 |
| Start With 50 Lives | GL4T-AAH4 |
| Start With 99 Lives | NR4T-AAH4 |
| Super Jump | AAYA-CWB6 |
| Super Ring Powerup Worth 0 | AC5A-CAHN |
| Super Ring Powerup Worth 5 | A05A-CAHN |
| Super Ring Powerup Worth 15 | B85A-CAHN |
| Super Ring Powerup Worth 20 | CW5A-CAHN |
| Super Ring Powerup Worth 25 | DG5A-CAHN |
| Super Ring Powerup Worth 30 | D45A-CAHN |
| Super Ring Powerup Worth 50 | GL5A-CAHN |
| Super Ring Powerup Worth 100 (1-Up Every Time) | NW5A-CAHN |
| Super Sonic Never Loses Rings | AJZA-CA8N |
Tips & Tricks
100000 Points
Beat a stage with the exact time of 09:59 to receive a guaranteed 100000 points.
Frame by Frame
After enabling the Level Select code, pause the game, then press the C button to advance the game by one frame.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Sonic & Knuckles are platform games developed by Sega Technical Institute (STI) and initially released in 1994 for the Genesis.