Since her memorable introduction in Sonic Rush, Blaze the Cat has solidified her place as a fan-favorite character within the Sonic the Hedgehog universe. Known for her fiery abilities and regal demeanor, Blaze brought a unique dynamic to the cast. However, a noticeable absence of Blaze in the main Sonic series games since Sonic Generations (2011) has left many fans wondering about her whereabouts and future.
Games like Sonic Lost World, Sonic Forces, and Sonic Boom have all been released to varying degrees of fanfare, yet Blaze has been conspicuously missing from each title. Considering her popularity and positive reception among fans, this absence is particularly striking. While Blaze has maintained a presence in Sonic comics and other spin-off media, her exclusion from the flagship gaming experiences raises questions about Sega’s plans for the character.
Sonic Forces, in particular, seemed like a missed opportunity. The game featured a wide array of characters from Sonic’s history, essentially a reunion of sorts, drawing heavily from the nostalgia of Sonic Generations. Ironically, despite this inclusive approach, both Blaze and Cream the Rabbit were notably absent from the roster. While Sonic Mania celebrated classic Sonic gameplay, fans speculated if the separation of Mania and Forces meant Blaze might have been considered for a playable role in Forces, potentially in place of Classic Sonic. Classic Sonic’s inclusion in Forces, while a nod to Generations, felt somewhat forced in the narrative, especially considering his lack of direct confrontation with the main antagonist, Infinite. Given that Sonic Forces incorporated dimensional rifts via the Phantom Ruby, the narrative groundwork was already present to logically include Blaze and her Sol Dimension.
Blaze the Cat official artwork from Sonic Channel, highlighting her absence in recent Sonic games.
The Sonic Boom branch, launched in 2014, spanning two seasons of a TV series and multiple games, also offered potential avenues for Blaze’s return. Despite featuring several returning modern Sonic characters alongside the core cast, Blaze, and her often-associated counterpart Silver the Hedgehog, remained absent. The introduction of characters like D-Fekt in Sonic Boom sparked speculation about whether they were intended as replacements for established characters like Silver, a notion many fans hoped was unfounded. Even with game titles like Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice, which thematically aligned with Blaze’s fire abilities, she was nowhere to be seen.
Adding to the intrigue, there have been sporadic, seemingly random instances hinting at Blaze’s continued relevance within the Sonic brand. Official Sonic YouTube streams have featured merchandise like Blaze the Cat shirts, and the official Sonic social media accounts occasionally post images of Blaze, like the one featured above. These occurrences, while appreciated by fans, feel disconnected from her absence in the main game series, leaving many to wonder about their true meaning. Even in Lego Dimensions’ Sonic Pack, a celebration of the Sonic universe, Blaze was surprisingly absent.
This underutilization of a beloved character leads to considerable speculation. Is Sega strategically planning a grand return for Blaze the Cat in an upcoming Sonic game? Could a Sonic Rush 3, or perhaps a reimagining of the Sonic Rush series in 3D, be on the horizon? The fanbase eagerly awaits answers, hoping to see Blaze the Cat blaze her trail back into the forefront of the Sonic the Hedgehog game universe once again.
