{
  "id": "sonic-games",
  "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog — Games & Connected Stories",
  "description": "One Sega game history, from the Classic era to the Modern era: games, IDW comics, animated prologues, Japanese side stories, manga and audio drama. Stated intervals replace invented calendar years. Paramount has its own separate guide.",
  "continuities": [
    {
      "id": "games",
      "label": "Sega game history & connected stories",
      "note": "Classic and Modern are eras of one history, not separate universes. Time travel, storybook worlds, the Sol Dimension and Prime’s Shatterverse are explained within the inclusive chronology. Licensed stories without a firm insertion point occupy an estimated era window; that does not automatically make them disputed canon. Paramount, Archie, Fleetway and Sonic Boom are different adaptations, outside this guide."
    }
  ],
  "entries": [
    {
      "id": "tails-adventure",
      "title": "Tails Adventure",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Classic era",
      "order": 1,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "1995",
      "description": "Tails defends Cocoa Island against the Battle Kukku army.",
      "note": "The current Japanese premise explicitly places this before Tails meets Sonic. English holiday framing does not override it.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-tails-adventure",
        "world",
        "origins"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZFGSY5W",
      "productName": "Sonic Origins Plus — Nintendo Switch",
      "productMatch": "Direct Amazon title checked. Contains four core games and twelve Game Gear downloads. Physical edition may require an unused DLC code; it does not contain every Classic spin-off.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "tails-adventure",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "sonic1",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog — Mega Drive / Genesis",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Classic era",
      "order": 10,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "1991",
      "description": "Sonic fights Eggman’s industrial takeover of South Island.",
      "note": "First core Sonic adventure. Origins adds linking animation without moving the original event.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-sonic1",
        "world",
        "origins"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZFGSY5W",
      "productName": "Sonic Origins Plus — Nintendo Switch",
      "productMatch": "Direct Amazon title checked. Contains four core games and twelve Game Gear downloads. Physical edition may require an unused DLC code; it does not contain every Classic spin-off.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "south-island",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "sonic1-8",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog — Master System / Game Gear",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Classic era",
      "order": 10,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "1991",
      "description": "The eight-bit version retells the South Island rescue with different zones.",
      "note": "Sega describes the same story; grouped with the original rather than treated as a later sequel.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-sonic1-8",
        "world",
        "origins"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZFGSY5W",
      "productName": "Sonic Origins Plus — Nintendo Switch",
      "productMatch": "Direct Amazon title checked. Contains four core games and twelve Game Gear downloads. Physical edition may require an unused DLC code; it does not contain every Classic spin-off.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "south-island",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "cd",
      "title": "Sonic CD",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Classic era",
      "order": 20,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "1993",
      "description": "Amy and Metal Sonic enter Sonic’s battle for Little Planet and the Time Stones.",
      "note": "Current Japanese core order places CD between the first game and Sonic 2. Past / future stages are local time travel, not release dates.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-cd",
        "world",
        "origins"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZFGSY5W",
      "productName": "Sonic Origins Plus — Nintendo Switch",
      "productMatch": "Direct Amazon title checked. Contains four core games and twelve Game Gear downloads. Physical edition may require an unused DLC code; it does not contain every Classic spin-off.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "cd",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "sonic2",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 — Mega Drive / Genesis",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Classic era",
      "order": 30,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "1992",
      "description": "Sonic and Tails pursue Eggman’s Death Egg project.",
      "note": "The current core order follows CD. Origins’ animated bridge belongs to this same adventure.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-sonic2",
        "world",
        "origins"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZFGSY5W",
      "productName": "Sonic Origins Plus — Nintendo Switch",
      "productMatch": "Direct Amazon title checked. Contains four core games and twelve Game Gear downloads. Physical edition may require an unused DLC code; it does not contain every Classic spin-off.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "sonic2",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "sonic2-8",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog 2 — Master System / Game Gear",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Classic era",
      "order": 31,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "1992",
      "description": "Sonic rescues the kidnapped Tails across a different set of islands.",
      "note": "A distinct kidnapping adventure, not the same plot as the Mega Drive game. Estimated early Classic insertion after the partnership begins.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-sonic2-8",
        "world",
        "origins"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZFGSY5W",
      "productName": "Sonic Origins Plus — Nintendo Switch",
      "productMatch": "Direct Amazon title checked. Contains four core games and twelve Game Gear downloads. Physical edition may require an unused DLC code; it does not contain every Classic spin-off.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "sonic2-8",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "chaos",
      "title": "Sonic Chaos / Sonic & Tails",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Classic era",
      "order": 32,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "1993",
      "description": "Sonic and Tails stop South Island sinking after Eggman takes an Emerald.",
      "note": "Estimated early Classic window. No precise elapsed month is supplied by the checked Japanese premise.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-chaos",
        "world",
        "origins"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZFGSY5W",
      "productName": "Sonic Origins Plus — Nintendo Switch",
      "productMatch": "Direct Amazon title checked. Contains four core games and twelve Game Gear downloads. Physical edition may require an unused DLC code; it does not contain every Classic spin-off.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "chaos",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "spinball",
      "title": "Sonic Spinball — Mega Drive & eight-bit versions",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Classic era",
      "order": 33,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "1993–1994",
      "description": "Sonic breaks into the pinball-like Veg-O-Fortress to free captured animals.",
      "note": "Both versions share the fortress premise. Game Gear version is in Origins Plus; the Mega Drive version is not.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-spinball",
        "world",
        "origins"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZFGSY5W",
      "productName": "Sonic Origins Plus — Nintendo Switch",
      "productMatch": "Direct Amazon title checked. Contains four core games and twelve Game Gear downloads. Physical edition may require an unused DLC code; it does not contain every Classic spin-off.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "spinball",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "sonic3",
      "title": "Sonic 3 & Knuckles — Sonic / Tails campaign",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Classic era",
      "order": 40,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "1994",
      "description": "Knuckles challenges Sonic while Eggman repairs the Death Egg on Angel Island.",
      "note": "Sonic 3 and Sonic & Knuckles form one continuous combined adventure, not two unrelated dated incidents.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-sonic3",
        "world",
        "origins"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZFGSY5W",
      "productName": "Sonic Origins Plus — Nintendo Switch",
      "productMatch": "Direct Amazon title checked. Contains four core games and twelve Game Gear downloads. Physical edition may require an unused DLC code; it does not contain every Classic spin-off.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "sonic3",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "knuckles-campaign",
      "title": "Sonic 3 & Knuckles — Knuckles campaign",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Classic era",
      "order": 41,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "1994",
      "description": "Knuckles confronts Egg Robo and Mecha Sonic after the Death Egg conflict.",
      "note": "Follow-on campaign within the combined game. Exact gap after Sonic’s ending is not supplied.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-knuckles-campaign",
        "world",
        "origins"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZFGSY5W",
      "productName": "Sonic Origins Plus — Nintendo Switch",
      "productMatch": "Direct Amazon title checked. Contains four core games and twelve Game Gear downloads. Physical edition may require an unused DLC code; it does not contain every Classic spin-off.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "knuckles-campaign",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "triple",
      "title": "Sonic Triple Trouble / Sonic & Tails 2",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Classic era",
      "order": 45,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "1994",
      "description": "Fang and Knuckles complicate Sonic and Tails’ hunt for scattered Emeralds.",
      "note": "Classic era; after the central cast’s introductions. Exact interleaving with other Classic side adventures is estimated.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-triple",
        "world",
        "origins"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZFGSY5W",
      "productName": "Sonic Origins Plus — Nintendo Switch",
      "productMatch": "Direct Amazon title checked. Contains four core games and twelve Game Gear downloads. Physical edition may require an unused DLC code; it does not contain every Classic spin-off.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "triple",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "drift",
      "title": "Sonic Drift & Sonic Drift 2",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Classic era",
      "order": 46,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "1994–1995",
      "description": "Sonic’s friends and rivals compete in Chaos Grand Prix races.",
      "note": "Two related racing installments grouped in a broad Classic window; not a claim that they occur on consecutive days.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-drift",
        "world",
        "origins"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZFGSY5W",
      "productName": "Sonic Origins Plus — Nintendo Switch",
      "productMatch": "Direct Amazon title checked. Contains four core games and twelve Game Gear downloads. Physical edition may require an unused DLC code; it does not contain every Classic spin-off.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "drift",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "chaotix",
      "title": "Knuckles’ Chaotix",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Classic era; several months after Sonic & Knuckles",
      "order": 48,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "1995",
      "description": "Knuckles and the Chaotix investigate Eggman’s new island installation.",
      "note": "Japanese story explicitly says several months after Sonic & Knuckles. Western carnival framing is not substituted for this Japanese anchor.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-chaotix",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Several months",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/Chaotix.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "chaotix",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "labyrinth",
      "title": "Sonic Labyrinth",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Classic era",
      "order": 49,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "1995",
      "description": "Eggman replaces Sonic’s shoes with slow-down shoes and hides their cure.",
      "note": "Compatible Classic side adventure; precise position among neighboring spin-offs is estimated.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-labyrinth",
        "world",
        "origins"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZFGSY5W",
      "productName": "Sonic Origins Plus — Nintendo Switch",
      "productMatch": "Direct Amazon title checked. Contains four core games and twelve Game Gear downloads. Physical edition may require an unused DLC code; it does not contain every Classic spin-off.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "labyrinth",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "skypatrol",
      "title": "Tails’ Skypatrol",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Classic era",
      "order": 50,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "1995",
      "description": "Tails patrols a strange island and confronts Witchcart.",
      "note": "A solo adventure does not itself prove it predates meeting Sonic. Kept in a provisional Classic window.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-skypatrol",
        "world",
        "origins"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZFGSY5W",
      "productName": "Sonic Origins Plus — Nintendo Switch",
      "productMatch": "Direct Amazon title checked. Contains four core games and twelve Game Gear downloads. Physical edition may require an unused DLC code; it does not contain every Classic spin-off.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "skypatrol",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "fighters",
      "title": "Sonic the Fighters",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Classic era",
      "order": 52,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "1996",
      "description": "Emerald holders fight for the right to launch an attack on the Death Egg II.",
      "note": "Fang / Bean / Bark’s Classic period; no calendar or exact interval asserted.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-fighters",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicTheFighters.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "fighters",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "3d",
      "title": "Sonic 3D Blast / Flickies’ Island",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Classic era",
      "order": 53,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "1996; 1999 Japan",
      "description": "Sonic rescues Flickies from Eggman’s robot army.",
      "note": "Same adventure across Mega Drive, Saturn and PC versions; the later Japanese release is not a fictional sequel.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-3d",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/Sonic3d.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "3d",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "blast",
      "title": "Sonic Blast / G Sonic",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Classic era",
      "order": 54,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "1996",
      "description": "Sonic and Knuckles retrieve the shards of a broken Chaos Emerald.",
      "note": "Distinct from 3D Blast despite similar localized names. Classic era, precise interleaving estimated.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-blast",
        "world",
        "origins"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZFGSY5W",
      "productName": "Sonic Origins Plus — Nintendo Switch",
      "productMatch": "Direct Amazon title checked. Contains four core games and twelve Game Gear downloads. Physical edition may require an unused DLC code; it does not contain every Classic spin-off.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "blast",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "r",
      "title": "Sonic R",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Classic era",
      "order": 55,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "1997",
      "description": "Sonic and rivals race while Eggman pursues the Emeralds.",
      "note": "Classic racing window; a new race is not an exact new year.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-r",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicR.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "r",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "mania",
      "title": "Sonic Mania — main campaign",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Classic era",
      "order": 60,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2017",
      "description": "The Phantom Ruby transforms familiar zones and sends Sonic beyond his own era.",
      "note": "Classic history after Sonic 3 & Knuckles; its ending connects to the Modern-era Forces visit.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-mania",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FNLWJ61",
      "productName": "Sonic Mania Plus — Nintendo Switch",
      "productMatch": "Exact retailer title checked; includes Encore content. Not a collection of Forces or Superstars.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "mania",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "encore",
      "title": "Sonic Mania Plus — Encore Mode",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Classic era",
      "order": 62,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2018",
      "description": "Back in his era, Sonic rescues Mighty and Ray and faces the Ruby again.",
      "note": "Return from the Forces excursion. The time-travel crossing does not require a permanent Mania-only universe.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-encore",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FNLWJ61",
      "productName": "Sonic Mania Plus — Nintendo Switch",
      "productMatch": "Exact retailer title checked; includes Encore content. Not a collection of Forces or Superstars.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "encore",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "superstars",
      "title": "Sonic Superstars — main / Trip / last stories",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Classic era",
      "order": 70,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2023",
      "description": "Sonic’s team confronts Eggman and Fang on the Northstar Islands and befriends Trip.",
      "note": "Current Japanese core order follows Mania. Unlockable campaigns belong to this adventure rather than separate release-year sequels.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-superstars",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C91MLPNG",
      "productName": "Sonic Superstars — Nintendo Switch",
      "productMatch": "Exact corresponding game / platform title checked.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "superstars",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "s4-1",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 100,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2010",
      "description": "Sonic pursues Eggman through a new campaign after the Classic adventures.",
      "note": "Current Japanese World Story begins its Modern sequence here. No fixed number of years between eras is given.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-s4-1",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicTheHedgehog4ep1.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "s4-1",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "s4-metal",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 101,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2012",
      "description": "Metal Sonic returns from his CD defeat and gains new power.",
      "note": "Prequel / parallel setup for Episode II; unlocking it via two games does not make it a post-Episode-II sequel.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-s4-metal",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicTheHedgehog4ep2.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "s4-metal",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "s4-2",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 102,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2012",
      "description": "Sonic and Tails confront Metal Sonic and Eggman as Little Planet returns.",
      "note": "An annual return links this to CD’s cycle, but does not establish a Gregorian year or the length of all intervening Classic adventures.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-s4-2",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicTheHedgehog4ep2.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "s4-2",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "adventure",
      "title": "Sonic Adventure / DX",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 110,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "1998–1999; DX 2003",
      "description": "Chaos threatens Station Square as the Emeralds and echidna history collide.",
      "note": "Six character perspectives converge on one present-day crisis. Ancient memories are optional historical segments. DX is the same story.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-adventure",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAdventure.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "adventure",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "shuffle",
      "title": "Sonic Shuffle",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 112,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2000",
      "description": "Lumina calls Sonic’s friends into Maginaryworld to oppose Void.",
      "note": "The dream setting is part of Sonic’s adventures, not sufficient reason for a separate universe.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-shuffle",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicShuffle.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "shuffle",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "adventure2",
      "title": "Sonic Adventure 2 / Battle",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 120,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2001",
      "description": "Sonic is mistaken for Shadow as the ARK’s old tragedy returns.",
      "note": "Hero / Dark perspectives converge on the Last Story. Battle’s port does not begin a later chronology.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-adventure2",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAdventure2.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "adventure2",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "advance",
      "title": "Sonic Advance",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 121,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2001",
      "description": "Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy fight another Eggman offensive.",
      "note": "Estimated early Modern insertion, before Advance 2. The Japanese overview does not supply an exact day.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-advance",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAdvance.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "advance",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "advance2",
      "title": "Sonic Advance 2",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 122,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2002",
      "description": "Sonic rescues his friends and Cream from Eggman.",
      "note": "Cream’s debut precedes Heroes in the current Japanese sequence.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-advance2",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAdvance2.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "advance2",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "pinball",
      "title": "Sonic Pinball Party",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 123,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2003",
      "description": "Sonic contests Eggman’s casino pinball tournament to save his friends.",
      "note": "Compatible early Modern side adventure; exact position around the Advance games is estimated.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-pinball",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicPinballParty.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "pinball",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "heroes",
      "title": "Sonic Heroes",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era; three-day ultimatum",
      "order": 130,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2003–2004",
      "description": "Four teams pursue different leads that converge on Metal Sonic.",
      "note": "Eggman’s challenge sets a three-day deadline. Team stories overlap instead of consuming four separate years.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-heroes",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "3 days",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicHeroes.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "heroes",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "shadow",
      "title": "Shadow the Hedgehog — routes & Last Story",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 140,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2005",
      "description": "The Black Arms invasion forces Shadow to confront his origin.",
      "note": "Branching route memories culminate in the Last Story. Japanese order places this before Battle; not every mutually exclusive route is a separate universe.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-shadow",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/ShadowTheHedgehog.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "shadow",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "battle",
      "title": "Sonic Battle",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 145,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2003",
      "description": "Sonic’s friends teach the ancient Gizoid Emerl while Eggman seeks its power.",
      "note": "Current Japanese order puts it after Shadow the Hedgehog, despite its earlier release. Old Emerl / ARK events are backstory.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-battle",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicBattle.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "battle",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "advance3",
      "title": "Sonic Advance 3",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 150,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2004",
      "description": "Eggman splits the world and deploys Gemerl against the paired heroes.",
      "note": "Follows Battle’s Emerl story in the current Japanese sequence.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-advance3",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAdvance3.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "advance3",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "rush",
      "title": "Sonic Rush",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 160,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2005",
      "description": "Blaze and Sonic cooperate when the Chaos and Sol Emeralds cross worlds.",
      "note": "The Sol Dimension is a visited setting connected to the same adventures.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-rush",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicRush.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "rush",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "06",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog — Soleanna / 2006 game",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 170,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2006",
      "description": "Sonic, Shadow and Silver confront the Solaris catastrophe across time.",
      "note": "Current Japanese order follows Rush. The ending erases this crisis; later echoes do not require placing the whole game outside the main history.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-06",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicTheHedgehog2006.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "06",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "riders",
      "title": "Sonic Riders",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 180,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2006",
      "description": "The Babylon Rogues challenge Sonic in an Extreme Gear Grand Prix.",
      "note": "Japanese sequence follows the Soleanna event. Ancient Babylon revelations remain embedded history.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-riders",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicRiders.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "riders",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "rush-adventure",
      "title": "Sonic Rush Adventure",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 190,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2007",
      "description": "Sonic and Tails reach Blaze’s world and sail with Marine.",
      "note": "Continues the Rush connection; no unsupported exact interval.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-rush-adventure",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicRushAdventure.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "rush-adventure",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "secret-rings",
      "title": "Sonic and the Secret Rings",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 191,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2007",
      "description": "Shahra draws Sonic into the Arabian Nights to stop Erazor Djinn.",
      "note": "Estimated Modern window. Storybook travel is not evidence that Sonic himself belongs to a separate continuity.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-secret-rings",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAndTheSecretRings.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "secret-rings",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "zero",
      "title": "Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity / Shooting Star Story",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 200,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2008",
      "description": "Meteorite-linked gravity devices reveal the Babylon Rogues’ ancestry.",
      "note": "Follows the first Riders and Rush Adventure in Sega’s current sequence.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-zero",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicRidersShootingStarStory.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "zero",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "unleashed",
      "title": "Sonic Unleashed / World Adventure — HD & Wii / PS2 stories",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 210,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2008–2009",
      "description": "A shattered planet, Chip and the Werehog send Sonic on a global journey.",
      "note": "Platform versions retell the same global crisis with differences. Day / night transformations do not mean separate years.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-unleashed",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicWorldAdventure.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "unleashed",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "black-knight",
      "title": "Sonic and the Black Knight",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 211,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2009",
      "description": "Sonic enters Camelot and wields Caliburn against a false king.",
      "note": "Estimated Modern side adventure. Distinct from the later Japanese Blade of Courage manga.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-black-knight",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAndTheBlackknight.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "black-knight",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "colors",
      "title": "Sonic Colors / Ultimate & Nintendo DS story",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 220,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2010; Ultimate 2021",
      "description": "Sonic and Tails investigate Eggman’s amusement park and free the Wisps.",
      "note": "Wii / Ultimate and DS are versions of the same park rescue. DS’s additional Mother Wisp story is recorded at this position.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-colors",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicColors.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "colors",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "generations",
      "title": "Sonic Generations — HD / 3DS / remaster",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 230,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2011; remaster 2024",
      "description": "A birthday becomes a time-spanning adventure with Sonic’s younger self.",
      "note": "Same birthday event across versions. The anniversary marketing number does not establish Sonic’s fictional age.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-generations",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6JYR4M7",
      "productName": "Sonic X Shadow Generations — PlayStation 5",
      "productMatch": "Exact base collection checked. Does not guarantee the preorder journal insert or separately purchased Movie Pack.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "birthday",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "shadow-generations",
      "title": "Shadow Generations",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 230,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2024",
      "description": "Shadow confronts Black Doom while White Space revisits his history.",
      "note": "Runs alongside Sonic Generations, not thirteen fictional years afterward. Modern framing and historical revisits are distinguished.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-shadow-generations",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6JYR4M7",
      "productName": "Sonic X Shadow Generations — PlayStation 5",
      "productMatch": "Exact base collection checked. Does not guarantee the preorder journal insert or separately purchased Movie Pack.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "birthday",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "free-riders",
      "title": "Sonic Free Riders",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 240,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2010",
      "description": "A new Extreme Gear tournament pits the racing teams against each other.",
      "note": "Current Japanese World Story places this after Generations despite release order.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-free-riders",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicFreeRiders.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "free-riders",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "lost-world",
      "title": "Sonic Lost World — Wii U / PC & 3DS stories",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 250,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2013; PC 2015",
      "description": "The Deadly Six turn Eggman’s machines against their creator and the world.",
      "note": "Platform versions retell the Lost Hex crisis at one position. Extra challenge / crossover stages do not establish new years.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-lost-world",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicLostWorld.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "lost-world",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "runners",
      "title": "Sonic Runners — story campaign",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 251,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2015",
      "description": "Sonic’s team rescues animals across Eggman’s mobile-game campaign.",
      "note": "Estimated later Modern window; chapter-by-chapter calendar unavailable. A defunct service is not a newly playable archive.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-runners",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicRunners.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "runners",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "tsr",
      "title": "Team Sonic Racing — Team Adventure",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 260,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2019",
      "description": "Dodon Pa invites Sonic’s friends to compete as coordinated racing teams.",
      "note": "Japanese World Story places this before Forces. TailsTube later recalls the invitation before CrossWorlds.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-tsr",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/TeamSonicRacing.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "tsr",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "forces",
      "title": "Sonic Forces — opening defeat & six-month occupation",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era; defeat → six months of occupation",
      "order": 280,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2017",
      "description": "After Sonic’s defeat, the Resistance fights Eggman’s worldwide occupation.",
      "note": "Japanese premise explicitly supplies six months. Classic Sonic’s visit connects to Mania; it is not a second permanent Classic universe.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-forces",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "0–6 months",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicForces.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "forces",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "frontiers",
      "title": "Sonic Frontiers — Starfall Islands",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "Modern era",
      "order": 350,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2022",
      "description": "Sonic searches the islands for his friends while Sage and the Ancients’ legacy emerge.",
      "note": "After Forces. Stanley’s current best fit is shortly before IDW #68, with Emerald logistics qualified; not immediately before #84.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-frontiers",
        "world",
        "stanley"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9ZFWMK1",
      "productName": "Sonic Frontiers — PlayStation 5",
      "productMatch": "Exact Amazon title checked. Final Horizon is a game update, not a separate disc purchase.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "frontiers",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "dream-team",
      "title": "Sonic Dream Team — campaign & Deep Dreams updates",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 370,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2023–2025",
      "description": "Ariem guides Sonic’s team through Eggman’s dream trap to rescue Cream.",
      "note": "Estimated later Modern placement; exact relation to Frontiers / the latest comics is not certified. Deep Dreams and Shadow challenge additions do not automatically establish separate plot-years.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-dream-team",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicDreamteam.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "dream-team",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "crossworlds",
      "title": "Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds — race / Travel Ring framing",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 390,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2025–2026 updates",
      "description": "Dodon Pa’s Travel Ring experiments send racers through connected worlds.",
      "note": "Follows the earlier Team Sonic Racing invitation per TailsTube. Exact relation to every late IDW issue is estimated. Guest rosters are not all separate narrative installments.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-crossworlds",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicRacingCrossWorld.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "crossworlds",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "rumble",
      "title": "Sonic Rumble — Eggman’s toy-world framing",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 395,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2025–2026 updates",
      "description": "Miniature Sonic characters compete inside Eggman’s elaborate toy world.",
      "note": "Estimated Modern-era promotional framing. Japanese description does not establish that the actual heroes were literally shrunk or a precise date for every costume event.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-rumble",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicRamble.html",
      "productName": "View official game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact Sega title page, with store links where maintained. This is information, not a promise of a playable archive; an exact Amazon edition has not yet been verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game information",
      "storyGroup": "rumble",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "ancients",
      "title": "Ancients / Gaia / Babylon backstory",
      "type": "Game / story segment",
      "date": "Prehistoric era; thousands to millions of years before the Modern era",
      "order": -1000000,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "Various; journal 2024",
      "description": "The Emeralds’ arrival and the planet’s older cycles frame later adventures. Individual legends have different degrees of precision.",
      "note": "Optional embedded backstory / future scenes. Numerical order is only a sorting key; this rail uses the actual stated period. Full journal interior and all localized captions not inspected.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "world",
        "game-frontiers"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Prehistoric era",
      "segment": true,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicFrontiers.html",
      "productName": "View containing game information",
      "productMatch": "Containing game; ordinary editions do not promise a Gerald journal insert.",
      "actionLabel": "View containing game information",
      "storyGroup": "ancients",
      "container": true
    },
    {
      "id": "echidna",
      "title": "Sonic Adventure — echidna tragedy",
      "type": "Game / story segment",
      "date": "Thousands of years before the Modern era",
      "order": -4000,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "Various; journal 2024",
      "description": "Tikal, Chaos and the echidna tribe appear in remembered history. The checked Japanese overview does not warrant an exact 4,000-year caption here.",
      "note": "Optional embedded backstory / future scenes. Numerical order is only a sorting key; this rail uses the actual stated period. Full journal interior and all localized captions not inspected.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "world",
        "game-adventure"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": true,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAdventure.html",
      "productName": "View containing game information",
      "productMatch": "Containing game; ordinary editions do not promise a Gerald journal insert.",
      "actionLabel": "View containing game information",
      "storyGroup": "echidna",
      "container": true
    },
    {
      "id": "gizoid",
      "title": "Gizoid / Black Arms ancient history",
      "type": "Game / story segment",
      "date": "2,000 years before the Modern era",
      "order": -2000,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "Various; journal 2024",
      "description": "Ancient Gizoid and Black Arms history precedes the ARK research.",
      "note": "Optional embedded backstory / future scenes. Numerical order is only a sorting key; this rail uses the actual stated period. Full journal interior and all localized captions not inspected.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "world",
        "game-battle"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "2,000 years",
      "segment": true,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicBattle.html",
      "productName": "View containing game information",
      "productMatch": "Containing game; ordinary editions do not promise a Gerald journal insert.",
      "actionLabel": "View containing game information",
      "storyGroup": "gizoid",
      "container": true
    },
    {
      "id": "ark",
      "title": "Project Shadow / ARK tragedy & Gerald’s journal",
      "type": "Game / story segment",
      "date": "50 years before the Modern-era Shadow / ARK stories",
      "order": -50,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "Various; journal 2024",
      "description": "Gerald’s experiments, Maria’s death and the government raid are historical events, not Paramount’s 1974 date.",
      "note": "Optional embedded backstory / future scenes. Numerical order is only a sorting key; this rail uses the actual stated period. Full journal interior and all localized captions not inspected.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "world",
        "game-adventure2"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "50 years earlier",
      "segment": true,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAdventure2.html",
      "productName": "View containing game information",
      "productMatch": "Containing game; ordinary editions do not promise a Gerald journal insert.",
      "actionLabel": "View containing game information",
      "storyGroup": "ark",
      "container": true
    },
    {
      "id": "solaris",
      "title": "Soleanna — Solaris experiment",
      "type": "Game / story segment",
      "date": "10 years before the Soleanna crisis; subsequently erased",
      "order": -10,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "Various; journal 2024",
      "description": "The failed Solaris experiment belongs to the history later undone by Sonic and Elise.",
      "note": "Optional embedded backstory / future scenes. Numerical order is only a sorting key; this rail uses the actual stated period. Full journal interior and all localized captions not inspected.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "world",
        "game-06"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "10 years earlier",
      "segment": true,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicTheHedgehog2006.html",
      "productName": "View containing game information",
      "productMatch": "Containing game; ordinary editions do not promise a Gerald journal insert.",
      "actionLabel": "View containing game information",
      "storyGroup": "solaris",
      "container": true
    },
    {
      "id": "silver-future",
      "title": "Silver’s Iblis future / restored future",
      "type": "Game / story segment",
      "date": "200 years after the Modern-era Soleanna story",
      "order": 1000,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "Various; journal 2024",
      "description": "Silver’s future changes when the Solaris crisis is undone. Time travel does not establish an unrelated permanent game continuity.",
      "note": "Optional embedded backstory / future scenes. Numerical order is only a sorting key; this rail uses the actual stated period. Full journal interior and all localized captions not inspected.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "world",
        "game-06"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "200 years later",
      "segment": true,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicTheHedgehog2006.html",
      "productName": "View containing game information",
      "productMatch": "Containing game; ordinary editions do not promise a Gerald journal insert.",
      "actionLabel": "View containing game information",
      "storyGroup": "silver-future",
      "container": true
    },
    {
      "id": "classic30",
      "title": "30th Anniversary — Seasons of Chaos, Sonic Learns to Drive & Dr. Eggman’s Birthday",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Classic era",
      "order": 56,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2021",
      "description": "Three Classic adventures reunite Sonic’s friends and familiar rivals.",
      "note": "Anthology window after the Classic cast’s introductions; no invented thirty-year birthday passage.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "30th",
        "seasons"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684058651",
      "productName": "30th Anniversary Celebration — Deluxe Edition",
      "productMatch": "Publisher identifies this corresponding ISBN edition. Amazon stock / seller not directly checked. Confirm edition and language.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "classic30"
    },
    {
      "id": "fcbd21",
      "title": "FCBD 2021 — Amy’s New Hobby",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Classic era",
      "order": 56.2,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2021",
      "description": "Amy’s photography leads to an unexpected encounter.",
      "note": "Short bonus story collected with Seasons of Chaos. Calendar / precise interleaving not checked against the complete interior.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "seasons",
        "30th"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684058651",
      "productName": "30th Anniversary Deluxe — containing Amy bonus",
      "productMatch": "Publisher identifies this corresponding ISBN edition. Amazon stock / seller not directly checked. Confirm edition and language.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "fcbd21"
    },
    {
      "id": "tails30",
      "title": "Tails’ 30th Anniversary — Flying Off the Rails",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Classic era",
      "order": 56.4,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2022",
      "description": "Tails takes the lead against a runaway mechanical threat.",
      "note": "Official Classic special; estimated pre-Superstars window from the established cast. The 30th anniversary is publication branding, not character age.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "tails-special",
        "reading",
        "history"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://prhcomics.com/book/?isbn=82771403104100111",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "tails30"
    },
    {
      "id": "amy30",
      "title": "Amy’s 30th Anniversary Special",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Classic era",
      "order": 56.5,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2023",
      "description": "Amy, Mighty and Ray encounter Metal Sonic.",
      "note": "Official Classic special; estimated pre-Superstars window from the established cast. The 30th anniversary is publication branding, not character age.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "amy-special",
        "reading",
        "history"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://prhcomics.com/book/?isbn=9798887244754",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "amy30"
    },
    {
      "id": "fang-mini",
      "title": "Fang the Hunter #1–4",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Classic era",
      "order": 57,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2024",
      "description": "Fang, Bean and Bark hunt rumors of another Chaos Emerald.",
      "note": "One continuous miniseries grouped. Set before the Northstar adventure in the working Classic order; no precise elapsed date.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "fang",
        "reading"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-fang-the-hunter",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "fang-mini"
    },
    {
      "id": "knuckles30",
      "title": "Knuckles’ 30th Anniversary Special",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Classic era; after the Northstar adventure",
      "order": 72,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2024; collected 2026",
      "description": "Knuckles mentors Trip while Eggman plots another Emerald theft.",
      "note": "Trip’s presence and mentorship place it after Superstars; the 2026 collected reprint does not move the original 2024 story.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "knuckles30",
        "game-superstars"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-knuckles-anniversary-special",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "knuckles30"
    },
    {
      "id": "classic35",
      "title": "35th Anniversary Special",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Classic era; after Trip joins the cast",
      "order": 73,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "July 2026",
      "description": "A meteor encounter draws the Classic heroes into another Eggman scheme.",
      "note": "Trip supports post-Superstars placement. The original single issue is released; the December deluxe edition is upcoming.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "35th",
        "35deluxe",
        "game-superstars"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://prhcomics.com/book/?isbn=82771403504900111",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "classic35"
    },
    {
      "id": "idw1",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog — IDW #1–12",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era; about one month after Forces",
      "order": 300,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2018",
      "description": "The postwar cleanup leads to a battle for Angel Island.",
      "note": "The approximately one-month opening interval is a reading-order reference, not a directly inspected date caption.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "coll1",
        "reading",
        "stanley"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684058279",
      "productName": "IDW Collection 1 — issues #1–12",
      "productMatch": "Exact Amazon title and publisher contents checked.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "idw1"
    },
    {
      "id": "idw13",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog — IDW #13–32: Metal Virus",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Modern era; post-Forces recovery",
      "order": 310,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2019–2020",
      "description": "Eggman’s infection turns the reconstruction into a worldwide emergency.",
      "note": "Continuous major crisis grouped; Annual 2020 overlaps portions of the run rather than coming only after #32.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "coll2",
        "reading",
        "stanley"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684058937",
      "productName": "IDW Collection 2 — #13–20 and connected stories",
      "productMatch": "Contains the opening portion, not all #13–32; Collection 3 completes this run. Confirm edition and language.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "idw13",
      "productLinks": [
        {
          "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684059585",
          "productName": "IDW Collection 3 — #21–32 & Annual 2020",
          "productMatch": "Publisher identifies this corresponding ISBN edition. Amazon stock / seller not directly checked. Confirm edition and language.",
          "actionLabel": "View on Amazon"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "idw33",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog — IDW #33–44: recovery & new threats",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Modern era; after the Metal Virus",
      "order": 320,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2020–2021",
      "description": "Chao racing, an abandoned test city and the Zeti bring fresh trouble.",
      "note": "Recovery / new-threat phase after #32. Do not date comics by their publication years.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "coll4",
        "reading",
        "stanley"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-the-idw-collection-vol-4",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Collection 4 contains #33–40, not the entire #33–44 run.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "idw33",
      "productLinks": [
        {
          "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-the-idw-collection-vol-5",
          "productName": "IDW — Collection 5",
          "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
          "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "idw45",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog — IDW #45–56: imposters & rebuilding",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Modern era; later postwar adventures",
      "order": 330,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2021–2022",
      "description": "Surge and Kit’s origins converge with Eggman’s new base and its fallout.",
      "note": "Imposter Syndrome overlaps this phase; this is not a separate universe.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "coll5",
        "reading",
        "stanley"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-the-idw-collection-vol-5",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Collection 5 contains #41–50; Collection 6 completes this run through #56.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "idw45",
      "productLinks": [
        {
          "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-the-idw-collection-vol-6",
          "productName": "IDW — Collection 6",
          "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
          "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "idw57",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog — IDW #57–67",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Modern era; before the best-fit Frontiers insertion",
      "order": 340,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2023",
      "description": "The Diamond Cutters, Restoration work and city adventures lead toward the later races.",
      "note": "Stanley’s current Frontiers estimate supplies the upper boundary near #68; annual backups can reach earlier in this window.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "v15",
        "reading",
        "stanley"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-volume-15-urban-warfare",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Volume 15 contains #57–61; Volumes 16 and 17 supply the remaining issues in this run.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "idw57",
      "productLinks": [
        {
          "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-volume-16-misadventures",
          "productName": "IDW — Misadventures",
          "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
          "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition"
        },
        {
          "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-volume-17-adventure-awaits",
          "productName": "IDW — Adventure Awaits",
          "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
          "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "idw68",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog — IDW #68–75",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Modern era; shortly after est. Frontiers insertion",
      "order": 360,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2023–2024",
      "description": "Extreme Gear racing collides with Clean Sweep and the Restoration.",
      "note": "Frontiers fits shortly before #68 according to the author, with imperfect Emerald constraints; Sage’s later debut is not the boundary.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "v17",
        "reading",
        "stanley"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-volume-17-adventure-awaits",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Volume 17 contains #67–68; Volumes 18 and 19 continue through #75.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "idw68",
      "productLinks": [
        {
          "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-vol-18-extreme-competition",
          "productName": "IDW — Extreme Competition",
          "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
          "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition"
        },
        {
          "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-vol-19-collision-course",
          "productName": "IDW — Collision Course",
          "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
          "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "idw76",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog — IDW #76–83",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Modern era; after Clean Sweep’s major conflict",
      "order": 365,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2025",
      "description": "Sonic and the Chaotix investigate the remains of Clutch’s operations.",
      "note": "A continuing investigation grouped. Reprise’s obsolete Chasing Shadows contents claim is explicitly not accepted.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "reprise",
        "reading",
        "stanley"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/797511/sonic-the-hedgehog-vol-21-reprise-by-ian-flynn-evan-stanley-daniel-barnes-adam-bryce-thomas-aaron-hammerstrom-gigi-dutreix-thomas-rothlisberger/",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Reprise contains #79–83; Cause & Effect contains #76–78. Cancelled Chasing Shadows is not promised.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "idw76",
      "productLinks": [
        {
          "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-vol-20-cause-effect",
          "productName": "IDW — Cause & Effect",
          "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
          "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "idw84",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog — IDW #84–90",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Modern era; Sage is present in the comic cast",
      "order": 380,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2026",
      "description": "The latest released comic adventures incorporate Sage and new mysteries.",
      "note": "Coverage ends at released #90; #91 remains upcoming. This is not the first possible moment Frontiers happened.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "90",
        "reading",
        "stanley"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://prhcomics.com/book/?isbn=82771401521809011",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "This exact single-issue destination is #90, not a complete #84–90 collection. Current collected editions / preorders should be checked on IDW. No invented omnibus supplied.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "idw84",
      "productLinks": []
    },
    {
      "id": "annual19",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2019 — five stories",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 305,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2019",
      "description": "Bonds of Friendship; Jet Set Tornado; Victory Garden; Curse of the Pyramid; Sonic Fan Club.",
      "note": "Early postwar anthology. Its stories overlap the early main run; full five-story date / prop audit remains open.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "coll2",
        "reading"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684058937",
      "productName": "Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2019 — five stories — corresponding collected edition",
      "productMatch": "Publisher identifies this corresponding ISBN edition. Amazon stock / seller not directly checked. Confirm edition and language.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "annual19",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "tangle-whisper",
      "title": "Tangle & Whisper #1–4",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 307,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2019",
      "description": "Tangle joins Whisper’s pursuit of a shape-shifting enemy.",
      "note": "Continuous miniseries; estimated around the early Metal Virus opening, not automatically after its 2019 annual collection position.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "tw",
        "reading"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684055830",
      "productName": "Tangle & Whisper #1–4 — corresponding collected edition",
      "productMatch": "Publisher identifies this corresponding ISBN edition. Amazon stock / seller not directly checked. Confirm edition and language.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "tangle-whisper",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "annual20",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2020 — six Metal Virus stories",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 311,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2020",
      "description": "Reflections; Eggman’s Day Off; Darkest Hour; Flock Together; The Catalyst; Big’s Big Adventure.",
      "note": "Overlaps stages of #13–32. Individual story captions need full legal interior review before finer insertion.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "coll3",
        "reading"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684059585",
      "productName": "Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2020 — six Metal Virus stories — corresponding collected edition",
      "productMatch": "Publisher identifies this corresponding ISBN edition. Amazon stock / seller not directly checked. Confirm edition and language.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "annual20",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "bad-guys",
      "title": "Bad Guys #1–4",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 315,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2020–2021",
      "description": "Starline recruits a team of villains for a raid serving his own ambitions.",
      "note": "One continuous miniseries after the Metal Virus and before the subsequent main-series plots.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "bg",
        "reading"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684057965",
      "productName": "Bad Guys #1–4 — corresponding collected edition",
      "productMatch": "Publisher identifies this corresponding ISBN edition. Amazon stock / seller not directly checked. Confirm edition and language.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "bad-guys",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "familiar",
      "title": "Familiar Territory — fifth-anniversary new backup",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 317,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2023",
      "description": "Sonic revisits familiar ground after the infection crisis.",
      "note": "New 2023 bonus story follows the Metal Virus; the same anniversary issue reprints #1, which stays at its original position.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "familiar-edition",
        "coll3",
        "reading"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://prhcomics.com/author/?authorid=2194555",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Official publisher inventory for the exact fifth-anniversary edition. No claim that IDW Collection 3 contains this later new backup; choose the anniversary issue.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "familiar",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "fcbd22",
      "title": "FCBD 2022 — Deep Trouble",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 325,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2022",
      "description": "Sonic’s cleanup work foreshadows the islands ahead.",
      "note": "Best-fit broad post-virus / pre-Frontiers window, not an exact new calendar year.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "coll6",
        "reading"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-the-idw-collection-vol-6",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "fcbd22",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "imposter",
      "title": "Imposter Syndrome #1–4",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 331,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2021–2022",
      "description": "Starline’s plans for Surge and Kit develop alongside the main comic.",
      "note": "Four-part run overlaps roughly #45–50. Read as a parallel arc, not four separated dates.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "is",
        "reading"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684059003",
      "productName": "Imposter Syndrome #1–4 — corresponding collected edition",
      "productMatch": "Publisher identifies this corresponding ISBN edition. Amazon stock / seller not directly checked. Confirm edition and language.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "imposter",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "annual22",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2022 — six stories",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 335,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2022",
      "description": "Another Grand Adventure for Jet the Hawk; Weapons; Rough Patch; Hero Camp; Future Growth; Guardians.",
      "note": "Present-day framing around this recovery phase; Future Growth includes Silver’s future perspective. Exact individual interior timestamps have not all been inspected.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "coll6",
        "reading"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-the-idw-collection-vol-6",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "annual22",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "scrapnik",
      "title": "Scrapnik Island #1–4",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 336,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2022–2023",
      "description": "A crash strands Sonic and Tails among abandoned robots.",
      "note": "One continuous island adventure, best fit around the #56–57 transition.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "si",
        "reading"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684059933",
      "productName": "Scrapnik Island #1–4 — corresponding collected edition",
      "productMatch": "Publisher identifies this corresponding ISBN edition. Amazon stock / seller not directly checked. Confirm edition and language.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "scrapnik",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "900",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog’s 900th Adventure — anniversary anthology",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 345,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2023",
      "description": "A succession of short encounters follows Sonic and an unusual delivery.",
      "note": "Best-fit mid-60s main-series window. The 900th label counts publication history across publishers, not 900 fictional years or a new Archie crossover.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "v17",
        "reading"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-volume-17-adventure-awaits",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "900",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "summer",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog’s Endless Summer",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 346,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2023",
      "description": "A beach outing brings the friends together for seasonal trouble.",
      "note": "Summer season, broadly after the mid-60s adventures; not proof of a specific real-world 2023 summer.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "v17",
        "reading"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-volume-17-adventure-awaits",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "summer",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "halloween",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog Halloween Special",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 347,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2023",
      "description": "A spooky outing becomes another challenge for Sonic and friends.",
      "note": "Seasonal Halloween setting in the late-60s window; exact relation to other seasonal stories remains an estimate.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "v17",
        "reading"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-volume-17-adventure-awaits",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "halloween",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "winter",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog Winter Jam",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 361,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2024",
      "description": "Winter activities bring the cast together for snowy misadventures.",
      "note": "Winter season around the #68–71 period; publishing order is not an exact yearly calendar.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "v18",
        "reading"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-vol-18-extreme-competition",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "winter",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "spring",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog Spring Broken",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 364,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2024",
      "description": "A camping trip turns into another dangerous excursion.",
      "note": "Estimated near the end of the racing / Clean Sweep phase. Complete interior not inspected for an exact day.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "v18",
        "reading"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-vol-18-extreme-competition",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "spring",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "annual24",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2024 — three stories",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 366,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2024",
      "description": "Shattered Diamonds; Hero’s Calling; For My Destiny.",
      "note": "An overlapping anthology: Shattered Diamonds reaches back before the later Diamond Cutters arc; the other stories fit later. Kept as a broad window, not falsely declared all after #78.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "v20",
        "reading"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-vol-20-cause-effect",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "annual24",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "chaotix30",
      "title": "Chaotix’ 30th Anniversary Special",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 367,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2025",
      "description": "Vector, Espio and Charmy give conflicting accounts of a threatened Mythsonian Museum theft.",
      "note": "Modern Chaotix, unlike the Classic anniversary specials. October 2025 publication does not establish a fictional year; exact insertion remains estimated.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "chaotix-special",
        "reprise",
        "reading"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://prhcomics.com/book/?isbn=82771403441700111",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "chaotix30",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "colors-wisp",
      "title": "Colors — The Whisper of Invasion",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Modern era; park construction / Wisp capture",
      "order": 218,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2021",
      "description": "Eggman’s forces invade Planet Wisp.",
      "note": "All three Japanese pages visually inspected; invasion precedes the finished park’s opening announcement. No calendar year printed in the inspected story.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "colors-wisp"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "All three Japanese pages visually inspected; invasion precedes the finished park’s opening announcement.",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/gamecontents/soniccolors/20210827_002648/",
      "productName": "Read official comic",
      "productMatch": "The actual freely available Japanese comic. Multi-part pages are linked by Sega; no unrelated Amazon product substituted.",
      "actionLabel": "Read official comic",
      "storyGroup": "colors-wisp"
    },
    {
      "id": "colors-park",
      "title": "Colors — Egg Planet Park",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Modern era; one day before the park opens",
      "order": 219,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2021",
      "description": "An amusement-park announcement attracts Sonic and Tails.",
      "note": "Both Japanese pages visually inspected. The broadcast explicitly says the opening is tomorrow; the comic’s 2021 release is not a later story year.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "colors-park"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "1 day earlier",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Both Japanese pages visually inspected.",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/gamecontents/soniccolors/20210909_002663/",
      "productName": "Read official comic",
      "productMatch": "The actual freely available Japanese comic. Multi-part pages are linked by Sega; no unrelated Amazon product substituted.",
      "actionLabel": "Read official comic",
      "storyGroup": "colors-park"
    },
    {
      "id": "forces-rise",
      "title": "Forces — Rise of Infinite",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Modern era; before the six-month occupation",
      "order": 270,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2017",
      "description": "A Jackal raid and Eggman’s Ruby research draw Infinite into his service.",
      "note": "All six Japanese pages visually inspected. Earlier than the masked Infinite conflict despite being the last of these comics published.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "forces-rise"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "All six Japanese pages visually inspected.",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/gamecontents/sonicforces/20171107_001481/",
      "productName": "Read official comic",
      "productMatch": "The actual freely available Japanese comic. Multi-part pages are linked by Sega; no unrelated Amazon product substituted.",
      "actionLabel": "Read official comic",
      "storyGroup": "forces-rise"
    },
    {
      "id": "forces-loom",
      "title": "Forces — Looming Shadow",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Modern era; before the six-month occupation",
      "order": 273,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2017",
      "description": "Omega’s reconnaissance leads Rouge to call Shadow into action.",
      "note": "All six Japanese pages inspected. Leads into / overlaps the Episode Shadow setup.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "forces-loom"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "All six Japanese pages inspected.",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/gamecontents/sonicforces/20171031_001475/",
      "productName": "Read official comic",
      "productMatch": "The actual freely available Japanese comic. Multi-part pages are linked by Sega; no unrelated Amazon product substituted.",
      "actionLabel": "Read official comic",
      "storyGroup": "forces-loom"
    },
    {
      "id": "forces-stress",
      "title": "Forces — Stress Test",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Modern era; before the six-month occupation",
      "order": 275,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2017",
      "description": "Silver warns Knuckles as Eggman tests a manufactured threat.",
      "note": "All six Japanese pages inspected. Eggman is still anticipating Sonic’s defeat; not a postwar incident.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "forces-stress"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "All six Japanese pages inspected.",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/gamecontents/sonicforces/20171024_001472/",
      "productName": "Read official comic",
      "productMatch": "The actual freely available Japanese comic. Multi-part pages are linked by Sega; no unrelated Amazon product substituted.",
      "actionLabel": "Read official comic",
      "storyGroup": "forces-stress"
    },
    {
      "id": "forces-moment",
      "title": "Forces — Moment of Truth",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Modern era; within the six-month occupation",
      "order": 280.1,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2017",
      "description": "An animal Resistance volunteer faces an occupied town’s dangers.",
      "note": "All seven Japanese pages inspected. The war is already underway; several-days-ago dialogue concerns the local fighters, not an exact date for the entire occupation.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "forces-moment"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "0–6 months",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "All seven Japanese pages inspected.",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/gamecontents/sonicforces/20171017_001446/",
      "productName": "Read official comic",
      "productMatch": "The actual freely available Japanese comic. Multi-part pages are linked by Sega; no unrelated Amazon product substituted.",
      "actionLabel": "Read official comic",
      "storyGroup": "forces-moment"
    },
    {
      "id": "frontiers-comic",
      "title": "Frontiers — Convergence, Parts 1–2",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Modern era; immediately before the Starfall journey",
      "order": 348,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2022",
      "description": "A robot decoy and Emerald signals lead the team toward Starfall.",
      "note": "All eight Japanese pages inspected across both parts. Final November 8 notice advertises release, not an in-universe date.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "frontiers-comic",
        "convergence2"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "All eight Japanese pages inspected across both parts.",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicFrontiers/comic/comic01.html",
      "productName": "Read official comic",
      "productMatch": "The actual freely available Japanese comic. Multi-part pages are linked by Sega; no unrelated Amazon product substituted.",
      "actionLabel": "Read official comic",
      "storyGroup": "frontiers-comic"
    },
    {
      "id": "fang-break",
      "title": "Superstars — Fang’s Big Break, Parts 1–3",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Classic era; Northstar expedition preparations",
      "order": 68,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2023",
      "description": "Eggman hires Fang to scout Northstar, where he encounters Trip.",
      "note": "All twelve Japanese pages inspected. One continuous prequel; flashbacks to prior jobs are memories, not newly dated adventures.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "fang-break"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "All twelve Japanese pages inspected.",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicSuperStars/comic/index.html",
      "productName": "Read official comic",
      "productMatch": "The actual freely available Japanese comic. Multi-part pages are linked by Sega; no unrelated Amazon product substituted.",
      "actionLabel": "Read official comic",
      "storyGroup": "fang-break"
    },
    {
      "id": "episode-shadow",
      "title": "Sonic Forces — Episode Shadow",
      "type": "Game DLC",
      "date": "Modern era; reported one month before the takeover",
      "order": 274,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2017",
      "description": "Shadow investigates Omega’s disappearance and Infinite’s illusions.",
      "note": "Connects the prewar comics to the main game. One-month framing is reported by the English transcript; Japanese caption verification remains open.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-forces",
        "episode-shadow",
        "forces-loom"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "1 month earlier",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicForces.html",
      "productName": "View game / DLC information",
      "productMatch": "Official containing game; free Episode Shadow availability and platform should be checked.",
      "actionLabel": "View game / DLC information",
      "storyGroup": "episode-shadow"
    },
    {
      "id": "final-horizon",
      "title": "Sonic Frontiers — The Final Horizon",
      "type": "Game DLC",
      "date": "Modern era; alternate final-island scenario",
      "order": 350,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2023",
      "description": "Amy, Knuckles and Tails contribute to a revised climax.",
      "note": "Alternative final chapter at the base game’s position, not a year-later sequel or a permanently unrelated universe.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "final-horizon",
        "game-frontiers"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B9ZFWMK1",
      "productName": "Sonic Frontiers — PlayStation 5",
      "productMatch": "Exact Amazon title checked. Final Horizon is a game update, not a separate disc purchase.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "frontiers"
    },
    {
      "id": "mania-shorts",
      "title": "Sonic Mania Adventures — Parts 1–5",
      "type": "Animated short",
      "date": "Classic era; after the Forces excursion",
      "order": 63,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2018",
      "description": "Sonic returns home and rejoins Tails, Knuckles, Mighty and Ray.",
      "note": "A continuous five-part return adventure. Encore and the animation are related presentations, not proof of separate permanent timelines.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "mania-shorts"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Official premise / inventory checked; complete film / episode-frame audit not claimed.",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.sega.jp/topics/detail/180719_soft_2/",
      "productName": "Watch / explore official animation",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official story / announcement with media links where provided. No exact Amazon narrative edition verified; an announcement is not labeled as a full-text archive.",
      "actionLabel": "Watch / explore official animation",
      "storyGroup": "mania-shorts",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "mania-holiday",
      "title": "Sonic Mania Adventures — Part 6: Holiday Special",
      "type": "Animated short",
      "date": "est. Classic era; winter holiday",
      "order": 64,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2018",
      "description": "Amy finds a battered Metal Sonic during a winter outing.",
      "note": "Separate seasonal bonus after the main short run; Christmas release year is not an exact fictional year.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "mania-holiday"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Official premise / inventory checked; complete film / episode-frame audit not claimed.",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicMania/",
      "productName": "Explore official Mania media",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official story / announcement with media links where provided. No exact Amazon narrative edition verified; an announcement is not labeled as a full-text archive.",
      "actionLabel": "Explore official Mania media",
      "storyGroup": "mania-holiday",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "werehog",
      "title": "Sonic: Night of the Werehog",
      "type": "Short film",
      "date": "Modern era; during the Werehog / Chip journey",
      "order": 210.1,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2008",
      "description": "Sonic and Chip take shelter in a haunted house.",
      "note": "Werehog and Chip anchor it within Unleashed’s journey, not in its 2024 reupload year.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "werehog"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Official premise / inventory checked; complete film / episode-frame audit not claimed.",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlZ3RCQfBok",
      "productName": "Watch on YouTube",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official story / announcement with media links where provided. No exact Amazon narrative edition verified; an announcement is not labeled as a full-text archive.",
      "actionLabel": "Watch on YouTube",
      "storyGroup": "werehog",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "chao-space",
      "title": "Chao in Space",
      "type": "Animated short",
      "date": "est. Modern era; dream / present-day framing",
      "order": 252,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2019",
      "description": "A Chao’s space adventure unfolds alongside a much smaller real-world conflict.",
      "note": "Dream framing is not proof of a literal space expedition or a separate historical era.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "chao-space"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Official premise / inventory checked; complete film / episode-frame audit not claimed.",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/staffcolumn/soundcolumn/senoue/20191223_002090/",
      "productName": "Watch via official Sega page",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official story / announcement with media links where provided. No exact Amazon narrative edition verified; an announcement is not labeled as a full-text archive.",
      "actionLabel": "Watch via official Sega page",
      "storyGroup": "chao-space",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "overdrive",
      "title": "Team Sonic Racing: Overdrive — Parts 1–2",
      "type": "Animated short",
      "date": "Modern era; Team Sonic Racing period",
      "order": 260,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2019",
      "description": "Racing teams jostle for victory while Eggman tries to cheat.",
      "note": "Grouped with its race game’s story position, before Forces in the Japanese core chronology.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "overdrive"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Official premise / inventory checked; complete film / episode-frame audit not claimed.",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/topics/event/20190426_001891/",
      "productName": "Watch via official Sega page",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official story / announcement with media links where provided. No exact Amazon narrative edition verified; an announcement is not labeled as a full-text archive.",
      "actionLabel": "Watch via official Sega page",
      "storyGroup": "tsr",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "wisps",
      "title": "Sonic Colors: Rise of the Wisps — Parts 1–2",
      "type": "Animated short",
      "date": "Modern era; Colors park rescue",
      "order": 220,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2021",
      "description": "Jade and the heroes oppose Metal Sonic’s Wisp-capture operation.",
      "note": "Continuous two-part side story during the Colors event; not a later adventure merely because Ultimate released in 2021.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "wisps"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Official premise / inventory checked; complete film / episode-frame audit not claimed.",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicColors/Ultimate/",
      "productName": "Explore official Colors media",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official story / announcement with media links where provided. No exact Amazon narrative edition verified; an announcement is not labeled as a full-text archive.",
      "actionLabel": "Explore official Colors media",
      "storyGroup": "colors",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "trio",
      "title": "Sonic Superstars: Trio of Trouble",
      "type": "Animated short",
      "date": "Classic era; Northstar expedition preparations",
      "order": 69,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2023",
      "description": "Fang, Trip and Eggman encounter trouble before the heroes arrive.",
      "note": "Prequel to Superstars; the dream gag does not relocate all its framing to another universe.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "trio"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Official premise / inventory checked; complete film / episode-frame audit not claimed.",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicSuperStars/",
      "productName": "Watch via official Superstars page",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official story / announcement with media links where provided. No exact Amazon narrative edition verified; an announcement is not labeled as a full-text archive.",
      "actionLabel": "Watch via official Superstars page",
      "storyGroup": "trio",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "divergence",
      "title": "Sonic Frontiers Prologue: Divergence",
      "type": "Animated short",
      "date": "Modern era; shortly before Frontiers",
      "order": 349,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2022",
      "description": "Knuckles’ investigation takes him from Angel Island to an unfamiliar prison.",
      "note": "Immediate lead-in to Frontiers; the release year is not a fictional calendar.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "divergence"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Official premise / inventory checked; complete film / episode-frame audit not claimed.",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gjszHTDjzo",
      "productName": "Watch on YouTube",
      "productMatch": "Full official Sonic-channel prologue animation.",
      "actionLabel": "Watch on YouTube",
      "storyGroup": "divergence",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "dark-beginnings",
      "title": "Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings — Episodes 1–3",
      "type": "Animated short",
      "date": "Modern era; immediately before Shadow Generations",
      "order": 229,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2024",
      "description": "Shadow’s disturbing memories lead him toward another ARK mission.",
      "note": "Continuous modern mission; fifty-year-old nightmare scenes are recollections. Extended PlayStation scenes are versions of the same prologue.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "dark-beginnings"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Official premise / inventory checked; complete film / episode-frame audit not claimed.",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYI3NVtjAxw",
      "productName": "Watch on YouTube",
      "productMatch": "Full official Japanese compilation of the three-part animation; extended scenes remain the same prologue.",
      "actionLabel": "Watch on YouTube",
      "storyGroup": "dark-beginnings",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "coverstories",
      "title": "Sonic Channel — 2021 Cover Stories anthology",
      "type": "Web prose",
      "date": "est. Modern era; character-pair encounters",
      "order": 253,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2021",
      "description": "Sonic’s friends and rivals share short adventures around the world.",
      "note": "Monthly publication dates identify the anthology, not story years. Character profiles attached to the stories are reference material rather than extra sequels.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "coverstories"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Official premise / inventory checked; complete film / episode-frame audit not claimed.",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/sidestory/coverstory/",
      "productName": "Read official stories",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official story / announcement with media links where provided. No exact Amazon narrative edition verified; an announcement is not labeled as a full-text archive.",
      "actionLabel": "Read official stories",
      "storyGroup": "coverstories",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "channel-comic",
      "title": "Sonic Channel — Sonic Comic Acts 001–025 & Special Stage",
      "type": "Web comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era; short character vignettes",
      "order": 254,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2016",
      "description": "The game cast stars in a collection of short comic incidents.",
      "note": "Grouped as a vignette anthology, not twenty-six invented dates. Index / selected strips checked; all twenty-six interiors have not been audited.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "channel-comic"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Official premise / inventory checked; complete film / episode-frame audit not claimed.",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/sidestory/comic/",
      "productName": "Read official comics",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official story / announcement with media links where provided. No exact Amazon narrative edition verified; an announcement is not labeled as a full-text archive.",
      "actionLabel": "Read official comics",
      "storyGroup": "channel-comic",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "otherworld",
      "title": "Sonic Channel — Otherworld Comedy: opening, Acts 1–12 & finale",
      "type": "Web prose / comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era; after Forces",
      "order": 337,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2022–2023",
      "description": "Eggman remakes the world around the cast’s altered lives and wishes.",
      "note": "Forces / Ruby and earlier games are remembered. Finale restores the world gradually; these are connected altered circumstances, not twelve permanent separate Sonic universes.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "otherworld"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Opening inventory and full finale prose read; not all intervening acts / illustrations inspected.",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/sidestory/ohgiri/20231208_008417/",
      "productName": "Read official finale / story links",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official story / announcement with media links where provided. No exact Amazon narrative edition verified; an announcement is not labeled as a full-text archive.",
      "actionLabel": "Read official finale / story links",
      "storyGroup": "otherworld",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "calendar",
      "title": "Sonic Channel — 2024 calendar story vignettes",
      "type": "Web prose",
      "date": "est. Modern era; Sage-era seasonal scenes",
      "order": 375,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2024",
      "description": "Short seasonal encounters revisit the game cast, including Sage.",
      "note": "Sage supports a post-Frontiers window for her scenes; calendar marketing is not a fictional 2024 chronology for every picture.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "calendar"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Official premise / inventory checked; complete film / episode-frame audit not claimed.",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/staffcolumn/20240920_008667/",
      "productName": "Read official vignette",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official story / announcement with media links where provided. No exact Amazon narrative edition verified; an announcement is not labeled as a full-text archive.",
      "actionLabel": "Read official vignette",
      "storyGroup": "calendar",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "pict",
      "title": "Sonic Channel — SONICPICT narrative vignettes",
      "type": "Web illustration / story",
      "date": "est. Classic–Modern eras; anthology windows",
      "order": 376,
      "canon": "Promotional only",
      "release": "2015–October 2026",
      "description": "Illustrated moments depict the cast between major adventures.",
      "note": "Only narrative vignettes are relevant; a wallpaper publication date is not a story year. Collection spans eras and is not asserted to occur entirely here. Full image-by-image chronology remains an explicit gap.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "pict"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Official premise / inventory checked; complete film / episode-frame audit not claimed.",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/sidestory/sonicpict/",
      "productName": "Browse official illustrations",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official story / announcement with media links where provided. No exact Amazon narrative edition verified; an announcement is not labeled as a full-text archive.",
      "actionLabel": "Browse official illustrations",
      "storyGroup": "pict",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "tailstube",
      "title": "TailsTube — Episodes 1–12, in-character broadcasts",
      "type": "Web short",
      "date": "est. Modern era; post-Forces broadcast framing",
      "order": 338,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2022–2025",
      "description": "Tails and guests discuss their adventures, exchange gifts and answer questions.",
      "note": "Grouped host-frame anthology, not a continuous twelve-part mission. Classic is the past; prior games discussed are recollections. Each broadcast’s precise interleaving remains an era estimate.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "tailstube"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Official premise / inventory checked; complete film / episode-frame audit not claimed.",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MGcYQ2ySIs",
      "productName": "Watch on YouTube",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official story / announcement with media links where provided. No exact Amazon narrative edition verified; an announcement is not labeled as a full-text archive.",
      "actionLabel": "Watch on YouTube",
      "storyGroup": "tailstube",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "tube13",
      "title": "TailsTube #13 — Pit Crew",
      "type": "Web short",
      "date": "Modern era; CrossWorlds preparations",
      "order": 388,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2025",
      "description": "A new invitation takes Tails back toward Dodon Pa’s racing activities.",
      "note": "The earlier invitation is Team Sonic Racing; do not reverse their order by guessing from guest appearances.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "tube13"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Official premise / inventory checked; complete film / episode-frame audit not claimed.",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiYfo0Wy2NA",
      "productName": "Watch on YouTube",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official story / announcement with media links where provided. No exact Amazon narrative edition verified; an announcement is not labeled as a full-text archive.",
      "actionLabel": "Watch on YouTube",
      "storyGroup": "tube13",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "tube14",
      "title": "TailsTube #14 — Bonus Lap",
      "type": "Web short",
      "date": "Modern era; further CrossWorlds testing",
      "order": 391,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2026",
      "description": "Tails returns for more racing data with new guests.",
      "note": "Follows the initial racing setup. Current Sega racing material connects Tangle and Whisper without importing the entire Archie universe.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "tube14"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Official premise / inventory checked; complete film / episode-frame audit not claimed.",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6rrciMAM3U",
      "productName": "Watch on YouTube",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official story / announcement with media links where provided. No exact Amazon narrative edition verified; an announcement is not labeled as a full-text archive.",
      "actionLabel": "Watch on YouTube",
      "storyGroup": "tube14",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "tube15",
      "title": "TailsTube #15 — Garden Party",
      "type": "Web short",
      "date": "est. Modern era; later broadcast framing",
      "order": 392,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2026",
      "description": "Tails hosts another informal gathering with friends.",
      "note": "Current episode inventory verified; exact fictional gap from the racing broadcast is not established.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "tube15"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Official premise / inventory checked; complete film / episode-frame audit not claimed.",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LJTcL-xcP8",
      "productName": "Watch on YouTube",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official story / announcement with media links where provided. No exact Amazon narrative edition verified; an announcement is not labeled as a full-text archive.",
      "actionLabel": "Watch on YouTube",
      "storyGroup": "tube15",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "tube16",
      "title": "TailsTube #16 — Between 2 Hedgehogs",
      "type": "Web short",
      "date": "Modern era; after Forces and prior time-travel adventures",
      "order": 393,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2026",
      "description": "Amy and Silver join Tails to discuss memories and time travel.",
      "note": "Official Japanese caption transcript read in full. They remember the Classic Sonic / Forces visit and explain that stabilized history can leave contradictory memories. Release date does not add fictional years.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "tube16"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Full official Japanese caption transcript read; episode metadata / verified channel checked.",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UDOIdn2lHs",
      "productName": "Watch on YouTube",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official story / announcement with media links where provided. No exact Amazon narrative edition verified; an announcement is not labeled as a full-text archive.",
      "actionLabel": "Watch on YouTube",
      "storyGroup": "tube16",
      "eraWindow": false
    },
    {
      "id": "audio",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog Presents: The Chaotix Casefiles — Prologue & Episodes 1–8",
      "type": "Audio drama",
      "date": "est. Modern era; later game / IDW-connected period",
      "order": 385,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "January–March 2026",
      "description": "Vector, Espio and Charmy investigate a mystery alongside familiar Sonic voices.",
      "note": "One continuous case, including narrated earlier events. Sega / Realm confirms an official universe expansion; exact placement against late comics is not certified. Full nine-part dialogue / prop-equivalent audit remains open.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "audio",
        "audio-end"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Official premise / inventory checked; complete film / episode-frame audit not claimed.",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sega.prezly.com/segar-and-realm-announce-first-ever-sonic-the-hedgehog-audio-drama-series",
      "productName": "Explore official listening links",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official story / announcement with media links where provided. No exact Amazon narrative edition verified; an announcement is not labeled as a full-text archive.",
      "actionLabel": "Explore official listening links",
      "storyGroup": "audio",
      "eraWindow": true,
      "productLinks": [
        {
          "productUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9yIbivGjsU",
          "productName": "Listen on YouTube — Prologue",
          "productMatch": "Official audio-drama prologue; follow the official series for Episodes 1–8.",
          "actionLabel": "Listen on YouTube — Prologue"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "terror-book",
      "title": "Sonic and the Tales of Terror",
      "type": "Prose anthology",
      "date": "est. Modern era; licensed short-story window",
      "order": 255,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2018",
      "description": "Night of the Unliving; The Forest of Spooks; The Hunt of the Werehog.",
      "note": "No exact calendar established from the checked publisher premise. Full text needed to separate framed tales, references and events; not automatically a sequel to its publication-year game.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "terror",
        "5min"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/1524787310",
      "productName": "Sonic and the Tales of Terror",
      "productMatch": "Publisher identifies this corresponding ISBN edition. Amazon stock / seller not directly checked. Confirm edition and language.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "prose-six",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "deception-book",
      "title": "Sonic and the Tales of Deception",
      "type": "Prose anthology",
      "date": "est. Modern era; licensed short-story window",
      "order": 255,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2018",
      "description": "Not So Fantastic Journey; Fighting Shadow; Dopplegänger.",
      "note": "No exact calendar established from the checked publisher premise. Full text needed to separate framed tales, references and events; not automatically a sequel to its publication-year game.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "deception",
        "5min"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/1524784745",
      "productName": "Sonic and the Tales of Deception",
      "productMatch": "Publisher identifies this corresponding ISBN edition. Amazon stock / seller not directly checked. Confirm edition and language.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "prose-six",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "5min-book",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog: 5-Minute Stories",
      "type": "Prose anthology",
      "date": "est. Modern era; same six-story anthology window",
      "order": 255,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2024",
      "description": "An illustrated containing edition of the Terror and Deception adventures.",
      "note": "Same stories at the same position; not a new 2024 event. Duplication explicitly recorded.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "5min",
        "terror",
        "deception"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593886984",
      "productName": "Sonic the Hedgehog: 5-Minute Stories",
      "productMatch": "Publisher identifies this corresponding ISBN edition. Amazon stock / seller not directly checked. Confirm edition and language.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "prose-six",
      "shared": true,
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "prime-tv",
      "title": "Sonic Prime — Seasons 1–3, Episodes 1–23",
      "type": "TV series",
      "date": "est. Modern era; one continuous Shatterverse crisis",
      "order": 256,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2022–2024",
      "description": "Sonic breaks the Paradox Prism and must reunite a fragmented reality.",
      "note": "Creator describes Sega-canon connection. Continuous crisis grouped; exact insertion among games remains estimated. The Shatterspaces are internal settings, not Paramount prequels.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "prime",
        "prime-season3",
        "prime-canon"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sonic-prime-season-3-release-date-photos",
      "productName": "Find Sonic Prime on Netflix",
      "productMatch": "Official Netflix series article / viewing destination. No verified complete-series Amazon box set substituted.",
      "actionLabel": "Find Sonic Prime on Netflix",
      "storyGroup": "prime",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "prime-comic1",
      "title": "Sonic Prime — graphic adaptation, Volume 1",
      "type": "Graphic adaptation",
      "date": "est. Modern era; same Prime crisis",
      "order": 256,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2025",
      "description": "First two episodes adapted from the animated series.",
      "note": "Same-story format grouped with Prime, not a new game-history adventure in the comic’s release year.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "prime1",
        "prime-canon"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-sonic-prime-vol-1",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "prime",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "prime-comic2",
      "title": "Sonic Prime — graphic adaptation, Volume 2",
      "type": "Graphic adaptation",
      "date": "est. Modern era; same Prime crisis",
      "order": 256,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2025",
      "description": "Next part of the first season adapted from the animated series.",
      "note": "Same-story format grouped with Prime, not a new game-history adventure in the comic’s release year.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "prime2",
        "prime-canon"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-sonic-prime-vol-2",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "prime",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "prime-comic3",
      "title": "Sonic Prime — graphic adaptation, Volume 3",
      "type": "Graphic adaptation",
      "date": "est. Modern era; same Prime crisis",
      "order": 256,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2026",
      "description": "Conclusion of the first-season adaptation adapted from the animated series.",
      "note": "Same-story format grouped with Prime, not a new game-history adventure in the comic’s release year.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "prime3",
        "prime-canon"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-sonic-prime-vol-3",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "prime",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "blade",
      "title": "Sonic and the Blade of Courage — Volumes 1–2 & ongoing serialization",
      "type": "Manga",
      "date": "est. Modern era; original Sonic / Yuta adventure",
      "order": 377,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2025–2026",
      "description": "Sonic joins a timid schoolboy in a battle involving Emeralds and a crystallization scheme.",
      "note": "Licensed original story kept in the inclusive Modern window. Human school setting alone does not prove a different universe; a precise game insertion has not been certified. Volume 2 has bonus manga; later magazine chapters are not falsely claimed fully inventoried.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "blade1",
        "blade2"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Publisher metadata / first-volume contents and opening sample pages inspected; not a full serialized chapter audit.",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4091541046",
      "productName": "View on Amazon Japan",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding Japanese Volume 1, ISBN 9784091541048; retailer stock not directly checked.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon Japan",
      "storyGroup": "blade",
      "eraWindow": true,
      "productLinks": [
        {
          "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4091543235",
          "productName": "Volume 2 — Amazon Japan",
          "productMatch": "Corresponding ISBN 9784091543233; Japanese edition, includes publisher-advertised bonus manga.",
          "actionLabel": "Volume 2 — Amazon Japan"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "shadow-manga",
      "title": "Jet-Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog",
      "type": "Manga",
      "date": "est. Modern era; Shadow game-inspired adventure",
      "order": 231,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2024–2025",
      "description": "Yuki Imada presents an official manga adventure centered on Shadow.",
      "note": "Kept near the Shadow Generations story period as a qualified game-inspired window; not asserted to retell every campaign scene. Full interior needed before a more exact grouping.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "shadow-manga"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4091540309",
      "productName": "View on Amazon Japan",
      "productMatch": "Exact Japanese ISBN 9784091540300; listing stock / language should be checked.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon Japan",
      "storyGroup": "shadow-manga",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "murder",
      "title": "The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Modern era; Amy’s birthday",
      "order": 362,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2023",
      "description": "A birthday murder-mystery party aboard a train becomes more than a game.",
      "note": "Compatible later Modern window near the IDW seasonal adventures; specific ordering is an estimate. Birthday is not assigned an invented numerical age.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "murder",
        "reading"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://store.steampowered.com/app/2324650/The_Murder_of_Sonic_the_Hedgehog/",
      "productName": "Play official free game",
      "productMatch": "Exact free Sega game on Steam. No unrelated paid product substituted.",
      "actionLabel": "Play official free game",
      "storyGroup": "murder",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "dc",
      "title": "DC x Sonic the Hedgehog #1–5",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era; licensed crossover window",
      "order": 396,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2025",
      "description": "Darkseid’s invasion brings the Justice League into Sonic’s world.",
      "note": "Official narrative, included by default. Its exact integration with the core game / IDW history is unconfirmed; a portal is not evidence that every story from the guest franchise shares Sonic’s world. Full interiors not inspected.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "dc1"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.dc.com/comics/dc-x-sonic-the-hedgehog-2025/dc-x-sonic-the-hedgehog-1",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "dc",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "dc-metal",
      "title": "DC x Sonic the Hedgehog: Metal Legion #1–5",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era; licensed crossover window",
      "order": 397,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2026",
      "description": "The two hero teams face another cross-world threat.",
      "note": "Official narrative, included by default. Its exact integration with the core game / IDW history is unconfirmed; a portal is not evidence that every story from the guest franchise shares Sonic’s world. Full interiors not inspected.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "dc2"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.dc.com/comics/dc-x-sonic-the-hedgehog-metal-legion-2026/dc-x-sonic-the-hedgehog-metal-legion-2026-4",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "dc-metal",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "godzilla-comic",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog x Godzilla #1–3 — ongoing",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era; licensed crossover window",
      "order": 398,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2026",
      "description": "Eggman’s dimensional scheme unleashes kaiju on Sonic’s world.",
      "note": "Official narrative, included by default. Its exact integration with the core game / IDW history is unconfirmed; a portal is not evidence that every story from the guest franchise shares Sonic’s world. Full interiors not inspected.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "godzilla",
        "godzilla3",
        "godzilla4"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/blogs/news/sonic-the-hedgehog-x-godzilla-brings-the-pop-culture-franchises-together-for-the-first-time-ever-in-comics",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "godzilla-comic",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "pocket-game",
      "title": "Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Classic era",
      "order": 90,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "1999",
      "description": "Sonic fights to save the forest animals in SNK’s handheld adventure.",
      "note": "Estimated compatible game-history window. Release year is shown separately; no unsupported exact interval is assigned. Minor timeline / localization details await a full manual and script audit.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "pocket",
        "history"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.gamingalexandria.com/highquality/ngpc/Rockman%20-%20Battle%20and%20Fighters/Neo%20Geo%20Pocket%20Software%20Catalogue.pdf",
      "productName": "View historical product information",
      "productMatch": "Original publisher / platform inventory. Not a current playable archive or an unrelated modern collection; exact Amazon edition not yet verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View historical product information",
      "storyGroup": "pocket-game",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "rivals1",
      "title": "Sonic Rivals",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 192,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2006",
      "description": "Sonic’s rivals pursue the mystery of characters transformed into cards.",
      "note": "Estimated compatible game-history window. Release year is shown separately; no unsupported exact interval is assigned. Minor timeline / localization details await a full manual and script audit.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "rivals",
        "history"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://blog.playstation.com/?p=144129",
      "productName": "View historical product information",
      "productMatch": "Original publisher / platform inventory. Not a current playable archive or an unrelated modern collection; exact Amazon edition not yet verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View historical product information",
      "storyGroup": "rivals1",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "rivals2",
      "title": "Sonic Rivals 2",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Modern era",
      "order": 193,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2007",
      "description": "The rivals pair up as a new threat targets the Chao.",
      "note": "Estimated compatible game-history window. Release year is shown separately; no unsupported exact interval is assigned. Minor timeline / localization details await a full manual and script audit.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "rivals",
        "history"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://blog.playstation.com/?p=144129",
      "productName": "View historical product information",
      "productMatch": "Original publisher / platform inventory. Not a current playable archive or an unrelated modern collection; exact Amazon edition not yet verified.",
      "actionLabel": "View historical product information",
      "storyGroup": "rivals2",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "chronicles-game",
      "title": "Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Modern era; post-Heroes cast, time-displaced ending",
      "order": 194,
      "canon": "Disputed canon",
      "release": "2008; Japan 2009",
      "description": "Sonic’s friends pursue the Marauders into the Twilight Cage.",
      "note": "Licensed game retained in the inclusive timeline. Its later canon treatment is disputed; exact placement and the ending’s elapsed time need direct guidebook / script review. Uncertainty about date alone is not the reason for the disputed badge.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "chronicles",
        "canon"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicChronicles.html",
      "productName": "View official RPG information",
      "productMatch": "Exact official game information; not a promise of current digital availability.",
      "actionLabel": "View official RPG information",
      "storyGroup": "chronicles-game",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "journal-book",
      "title": "Gerald Robotnik’s Journal — physical logbook & in-game entries",
      "type": "In-universe book",
      "date": "50 years before the Modern-era ARK stories",
      "order": -50,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2024",
      "description": "Gerald records research and family thoughts during Project Shadow.",
      "note": "Historical narrative companion. Its twenty-eight-page physical insert and campaign discoveries belong to the ARK research period; not a 2024 fictional diary. Full journal interior not acquired.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "journal",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "50 years earlier",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sega.prezly.com/sonic-x-shadow-generations-speeds-into-stores-on-october-25-2024",
      "productName": "View official journal edition information",
      "productMatch": "Exact edition announcement; no Amazon base-game copy falsely promised to include the limited journal.",
      "actionLabel": "View official journal edition information",
      "storyGroup": "journal-book"
    },
    {
      "id": "movie-pack-game",
      "title": "Shadow Generations — Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Movie Pack",
      "type": "Game DLC",
      "date": "Modern era; dimension-shift side scenario",
      "order": 230,
      "canon": "Non-canon connected",
      "release": "December 2024",
      "description": "Shadow crosses into a movie-inspired Tokyo level.",
      "note": "Connected game DLC, not the Paramount film’s events inserted into Sega history. Developer says there is no directly connected movie story. This is the specific reason for the connected-material status.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "movie-pack",
        "game-generations"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://store.playstation.com/en-gb/product/UP0177-PPSA17597_00-DLCADD0000000000",
      "productName": "View official DLC",
      "productMatch": "Exact Movie Pack DLC store page; requires containing game. Base Amazon edition does not guarantee this content.",
      "actionLabel": "View official DLC",
      "storyGroup": "birthday"
    },
    {
      "id": "classic-generations",
      "title": "Sonic Generations — younger Sonic’s time-travel visit",
      "type": "Game segment",
      "date": "est. Classic era; visit to the Modern birthday event",
      "order": 59,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2011; remaster 2024",
      "description": "Younger Sonic helps his future self restore displaced history.",
      "note": "Optional Classic perspective on the Generations event, before the subsequent Mania / Forces excursion in the working history. The full game is counted at its Modern framing position.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-generations",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": true,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6JYR4M7",
      "productName": "Sonic X Shadow Generations — PlayStation 5",
      "productMatch": "Exact base collection checked. Does not guarantee the preorder journal insert or separately purchased Movie Pack.",
      "actionLabel": "View on Amazon",
      "storyGroup": "classic-generations",
      "container": true
    },
    {
      "id": "classic-forces",
      "title": "Sonic Forces — younger Sonic’s six-month-war excursion",
      "type": "Game segment",
      "date": "Classic era; between Mania and the return adventure",
      "order": 61,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2017",
      "description": "The Phantom Ruby brings younger Sonic into the Resistance conflict.",
      "note": "Optional younger perspective; returning home leads toward Encore. Not an extra copy of the main game or an unrelated permanent Mania dimension.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "game-forces",
        "game-mania",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Classic era",
      "segment": true,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicForces.html",
      "productName": "View containing game information",
      "productMatch": "Exact containing game information.",
      "actionLabel": "View containing game information",
      "storyGroup": "classic-forces",
      "container": true
    },
    {
      "id": "segasonic-game",
      "title": "SegaSonic the Hedgehog — arcade adventure",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Classic era; before the Mania reunion",
      "order": 58,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "1993",
      "description": "Sonic, Mighty and Ray escape Eggman’s island traps.",
      "note": "The trio’s earlier adventure precedes their Mania reunion. No exact year or unsupported claim that this necessarily predates Sonic 1.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "segasonic",
        "game-mania"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Classic era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.sega.jp/topics/detail/180518_soft_2/",
      "productName": "View official arcade / character history",
      "productMatch": "Official historical information. Neither Origins Plus nor Mania Plus contains the original arcade game.",
      "actionLabel": "View official arcade / character history",
      "storyGroup": "segasonic-game",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "chao1",
      "title": "Chao Adventure — VMU story encounters",
      "type": "Game / companion story",
      "date": "est. Modern era; containing Adventure-game period",
      "order": 110.1,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "1998–1999",
      "description": "A transferred Chao travels, meets characters and faces small challenges.",
      "note": "Companion encounters belong around the containing game’s Chao activities. Individual branching outcomes and exact time away have not been fully transcribed.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "chao-manual",
        "game-adventure"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://info.sonicretro.org/images/8/85/SonicAdventure_DC_US_manual.pdf",
      "productName": "View original game / manual information",
      "productMatch": "Original containing-game resource. Modern DX / Battle ports do not automatically provide the Dreamcast VMU program.",
      "actionLabel": "View original game / manual information",
      "storyGroup": "chao1",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "chao2",
      "title": "Chao Adventure 2 — VMU story encounters",
      "type": "Game / companion story",
      "date": "est. Modern era; containing Adventure-game period",
      "order": 120.1,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2001",
      "description": "A transferred Chao travels, meets characters and faces small challenges.",
      "note": "Companion encounters belong around the containing game’s Chao activities. Individual branching outcomes and exact time away have not been fully transcribed.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "chao2-manual",
        "game-adventure2"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://sonic.sega.jp/sonicadv2/",
      "productName": "View original game / manual information",
      "productMatch": "Original containing-game resource. Modern DX / Battle ports do not automatically provide the Dreamcast VMU program.",
      "actionLabel": "View original game / manual information",
      "storyGroup": "chao2",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "runners-adventure-game",
      "title": "Sonic Runners Adventure",
      "type": "Game",
      "date": "est. Modern era; mobile-story window",
      "order": 252.1,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2017",
      "description": "Sonic’s team fights Eggman across a four-location mobile campaign.",
      "note": "Distinct Gameloft adventure; not a re-release of every original Runners chapter. Exact insertion between console stories remains an estimate.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "runners-adventure",
        "runners-store"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gameloft.android.ANMP.GloftICHM",
      "productName": "View official game on Google Play",
      "productMatch": "Exact corresponding game, regional availability may vary. No unrelated Amazon product substituted.",
      "actionLabel": "View official game on Google Play",
      "storyGroup": "runners-adventure-game",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "tsr-comic-story",
      "title": "Team Sonic Racing — one-shot / Deluxe Turbo Championship Edition",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Modern era; leads into Team Sonic Racing",
      "order": 259,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "2018; Deluxe 2019",
      "description": "Sonic’s team races to stop a rival acquiring powerful technology.",
      "note": "Prequel placement follows the publisher’s statement. Deluxe is a containing edition, not another race year. Japanese game chronology puts the race period before Forces.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "tsr-comic",
        "game-tsr",
        "world"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://idwpublishing.com/collections/sonic-the-hedgehog-1",
      "productName": "Find official comic edition",
      "productMatch": "Official publisher catalogue; select the named Team Sonic Racing one-shot / Deluxe edition. Game discs do not automatically contain this comic.",
      "actionLabel": "Find official comic edition",
      "storyGroup": "tsr-comic-story"
    },
    {
      "id": "crossworlds-comic-story",
      "title": "Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds — comic one-shot",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "Modern era; CrossWorlds racing preparations",
      "order": 389,
      "canon": "Confirmed canon",
      "release": "March 2026",
      "description": "Tails and Tangle get separated when a race encounters dimensional glitches.",
      "note": "Direct game tie-in. Comic’s 2026 release does not put its setup after every 2026 race update.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "crossworlds-comic",
        "game-crossworlds"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Relative / stated chronology",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": false,
      "productUrl": "https://prhcomics.com/book/?isbn=82771403491200111",
      "productName": "View official comic / edition",
      "productMatch": "Corresponding official comic or containing edition. Exact current Amazon ASIN unverified; no 979-prefix ISBN converted into a fabricated ASIN.",
      "actionLabel": "View official comic / edition",
      "storyGroup": "crossworlds-comic-story"
    },
    {
      "id": "ghost-tale",
      "title": "Ghost Tale",
      "type": "Short film",
      "date": "est. Modern era; after the Werehog haunting",
      "order": 212,
      "canon": "Assumed canon",
      "release": "2023",
      "description": "Lah and the two ghosts return for another supernatural comedy.",
      "note": "Connected studio sequel without Sonic appearing. The real fifteen-year production gap does not establish fifteen in-universe years.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "ghost",
        "werehog"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW3eBWQ1IyQ",
      "productName": "Watch on YouTube",
      "productMatch": "Exact free official MARZA short.",
      "actionLabel": "Watch on YouTube",
      "storyGroup": "ghost-tale",
      "eraWindow": true
    },
    {
      "id": "fastfriends-comics",
      "title": "Fast Friends Forever — fifteen promotional strips",
      "type": "Comic",
      "date": "est. Modern era; friendship vignette anthology",
      "order": 378,
      "canon": "Promotional only",
      "release": "2023",
      "description": "A rotating team of artists tells small stories about the Sonic cast.",
      "note": "Official commissioned narrative strips, distinguished from unrelated fan comics. Some stylized guest / imagined scenes do not certify precise game chronology. Complete fifteen-strip date inspection not claimed.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "fastfriends",
        "fastfriends-release"
      ],
      "continuity": "games",
      "railLabel": "est. Modern era",
      "segment": false,
      "confidence": "Evidence-based estimate",
      "inspection": "Source / inventory checked; full work not inspected",
      "estimated": true,
      "productUrl": "https://twitter.com/sonic_hedgehog/status/1689310640228442112",
      "productName": "Read official comic post",
      "productMatch": "Original official Sonic social upload; login / platform availability may apply.",
      "actionLabel": "Read official comic post",
      "storyGroup": "fastfriends-comics",
      "eraWindow": true
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "world",
      "title": "Sega Japan — World Story",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/character/worldstory/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Current Japanese chronology, including Classic → Modern, the fifty-year ARK interval and two-hundred-year future. Used for relative order, not invented Gregorian years."
    },
    {
      "id": "history",
      "title": "Sega Japan — game history",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/history/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Cross-checked the linked Japanese title pages, platform versions, premises and digital-store links. A missing title in the overview is not a declaration of non-canonicity."
    },
    {
      "id": "origins",
      "title": "Sega — Origins Plus online manual",
      "url": "https://manuals.sega.com/origins/en/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Four core remasters plus twelve downloadable Game Gear games. Does not include Chaotix, SegaSonic arcade, Sonic R, The Fighters or Mega Drive 3D Blast."
    },
    {
      "id": "canon",
      "title": "Sonic Official — Season 7 Episode 7 lore-team interview",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbvvteIEoIo",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Official caption transcript checked at 15:55–16:04: lore-team guest explicitly confirms IDW is canon and follows Forces. This is a transcript check, not a full video-frame audit."
    },
    {
      "id": "stanley",
      "title": "Evan Stanley — Frontiers fits shortly before IDW #68",
      "url": "https://www.tumblr.com/spiritsonic/803775291626586112/evan-a-big-questionso-the-mystery-villain",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Actual author post read in browser. Rejects immediately-before-84 placement; suggests shortly before 68 while acknowledging imperfect Emerald constraints and a removed explanatory line."
    },
    {
      "id": "reading",
      "title": "IDW inventory / interleaving cross-check",
      "url": "https://www.planete-sonic.com/transmedia/comics/comics-idw/article/guide-comics-idw-chronologie",
      "kind": "Secondary / inventory",
      "note": "Secondary reading-order inventory. Used only for provisional interleaving; current publisher release records and Stanley’s direct statement take precedence. Annual interiors have not all been inspected."
    },
    {
      "id": "cancel",
      "title": "Kiel Phegley — Chasing Shadows cancellation",
      "url": "https://bsky.app/profile/kielphegley.bsky.social/post/3m5udrfcehk2w",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Writer’s November 17, 2025 cancellation statement. An older collection blurb still naming this one-shot is not proof of publication."
    },
    {
      "id": "reprise",
      "title": "PRH / IDW — Reprise collection",
      "url": "https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/797511/sonic-the-hedgehog-vol-21-reprise-by-ian-flynn-evan-stanley-daniel-barnes-adam-bryce-thomas-aaron-hammerstrom-gigi-dutreix-thomas-rothlisberger/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "April 21, 2026; #79–83 verified. Blurb retains cancelled Chasing Shadows; exact replacement contents await a legal contents-page check. Do not purchase assuming that cancelled story is inside."
    },
    {
      "id": "90",
      "title": "PRH / IDW — issue 90",
      "url": "https://prhcomics.com/book/?isbn=82771401521809011",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "September 30, 2026 release. Released main-series coverage stops at #90 at this audit."
    },
    {
      "id": "91",
      "title": "IDW — issue 91",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-91-idw-foil-exclusive",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "October 28, 2026 scheduled release; not counted as a released story on October 21."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-tails-adventure",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Tails Adventure",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/TailsAdventure.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-sonic1",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic the Hedgehog — Mega Drive / Genesis",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicTheHedgehog.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-sonic1-8",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic the Hedgehog — Master System / Game Gear",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicTheHedgehog.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-cd",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic CD",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicCd.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-sonic2",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic the Hedgehog 2 — Mega Drive / Genesis",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicTheHedgehog2.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-sonic2-8",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic the Hedgehog 2 — Master System / Game Gear",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicTheHedgehog2.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-chaos",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Chaos / Sonic & Tails",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAndTails.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-spinball",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Spinball — Mega Drive & eight-bit versions",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicSpineball.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-sonic3",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic 3 & Knuckles — Sonic / Tails campaign",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicTheHedgehog3.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-knuckles-campaign",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic 3 & Knuckles — Knuckles campaign",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAndKnuckles.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-triple",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Triple Trouble / Sonic & Tails 2",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAndTails2.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-drift",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Drift & Sonic Drift 2",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicDrift2.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-chaotix",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Knuckles’ Chaotix",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/Chaotix.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-labyrinth",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Labyrinth",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicLabyrinth.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-skypatrol",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Tails’ Skypatrol",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/TailsSkaypatrol.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-fighters",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic the Fighters",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicTheFighters.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-3d",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic 3D Blast / Flickies’ Island",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/Sonic3d.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-blast",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Blast / G Sonic",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/GSonic.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-r",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic R",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicR.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-mania",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Mania — main campaign",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicMania.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-encore",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Mania Plus — Encore Mode",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicMania.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-superstars",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Superstars — main / Trip / last stories",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicSuperStars.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-s4-1",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicTheHedgehog4ep1.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-s4-metal",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicTheHedgehog4ep2.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-s4-2",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicTheHedgehog4ep2.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-adventure",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Adventure / DX",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAdventure.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-shuffle",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Shuffle",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicShuffle.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-adventure2",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Adventure 2 / Battle",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAdventure2.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-advance",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Advance",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAdvance.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-advance2",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Advance 2",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAdvance2.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-pinball",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Pinball Party",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicPinballParty.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-heroes",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Heroes",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicHeroes.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-shadow",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Shadow the Hedgehog — routes & Last Story",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/ShadowTheHedgehog.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-battle",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Battle",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicBattle.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-advance3",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Advance 3",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAdvance3.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-rush",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Rush",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicRush.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-06",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic the Hedgehog — Soleanna / 2006 game",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicTheHedgehog2006.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-riders",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Riders",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicRiders.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-rush-adventure",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Rush Adventure",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicRushAdventure.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-secret-rings",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic and the Secret Rings",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAndTheSecretRings.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-zero",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity / Shooting Star Story",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicRidersShootingStarStory.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-unleashed",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Unleashed / World Adventure — HD & Wii / PS2 stories",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicWorldAdventure.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-black-knight",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic and the Black Knight",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicAndTheBlackknight.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-colors",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Colors / Ultimate & Nintendo DS story",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicColors.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-generations",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Generations — HD / 3DS / remaster",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicGenerations.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-shadow-generations",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Shadow Generations",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicGenerations.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-free-riders",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Free Riders",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicFreeRiders.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-lost-world",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Lost World — Wii U / PC & 3DS stories",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicLostWorld.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-runners",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Runners — story campaign",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicRunners.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-tsr",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Team Sonic Racing — Team Adventure",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/TeamSonicRacing.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-forces",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Forces — opening defeat & six-month occupation",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicForces.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-frontiers",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Frontiers — Starfall Islands",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicFrontiers.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-dream-team",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Dream Team — campaign & Deep Dreams updates",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicDreamteam.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-crossworlds",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds — race / Travel Ring framing",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicRacingCrossWorld.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "game-rumble",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Rumble — Eggman’s toy-world framing",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicRamble.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Japanese story premise / platform inventory read. Story order and inspection limitations are recorded on the entry."
    },
    {
      "id": "coll1",
      "title": "IDW — Collection 1",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-the-idw-collection-volume-1",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Collects #1–12. Amazon title 1684058279 directly checked."
    },
    {
      "id": "coll2",
      "title": "IDW — Collection 2",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-the-idw-collection-volume-2",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Collects #13–20, Annual 2019 and Tangle & Whisper #1–4; ISBN 9781684058938."
    },
    {
      "id": "coll3",
      "title": "IDW — Collection 3",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-the-idw-collection-vol-3",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Collects #21–32 and Annual 2020; ISBN 9781684059584."
    },
    {
      "id": "coll4",
      "title": "IDW — Collection 4",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-the-idw-collection-vol-4",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Collects #33–40 and Bad Guys #1–4."
    },
    {
      "id": "coll5",
      "title": "IDW — Collection 5",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-the-idw-collection-vol-5",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Collects #41–50 and Imposter Syndrome #1–4."
    },
    {
      "id": "coll6",
      "title": "IDW — Collection 6",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-the-idw-collection-vol-6",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Collects #51–56, Annual 2022, FCBD 2022 and Scrapnik Island #1–4. Published May 2026, not a future solicitation."
    },
    {
      "id": "tw",
      "title": "IDW — Tangle & Whisper",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-tangle-whisper",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Publisher product / contents checked. Full interior not implied."
    },
    {
      "id": "bg",
      "title": "IDW — Bad Guys",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-bad-guys-tp",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Publisher product / contents checked. Full interior not implied."
    },
    {
      "id": "is",
      "title": "IDW — Imposter Syndrome",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-imposter-syndrome",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Publisher product / contents checked. Full interior not implied."
    },
    {
      "id": "si",
      "title": "IDW — Scrapnik Island",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-scrapnik-island",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Publisher product / contents checked. Full interior not implied."
    },
    {
      "id": "fang",
      "title": "IDW — Fang the Hunter",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-fang-the-hunter",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Publisher product / contents checked. Full interior not implied."
    },
    {
      "id": "seasons",
      "title": "IDW — Seasons of Chaos",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-seasons-of-chaos",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Publisher product / contents checked. Full interior not implied."
    },
    {
      "id": "30th",
      "title": "IDW — 30th Anniversary Deluxe",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-30th-anniversary-celebration-the-deluxe-edition",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Publisher product / contents checked. Full interior not implied."
    },
    {
      "id": "knuckles30",
      "title": "IDW — Knuckles Anniversary Special",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-knuckles-anniversary-special",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Publisher product / contents checked. Full interior not implied."
    },
    {
      "id": "v15",
      "title": "IDW — Urban Warfare",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-volume-15-urban-warfare",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Publisher product / contents checked. Full interior not implied."
    },
    {
      "id": "v16",
      "title": "IDW — Misadventures",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-volume-16-misadventures",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Publisher product / contents checked. Full interior not implied."
    },
    {
      "id": "v17",
      "title": "IDW — Adventure Awaits",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-volume-17-adventure-awaits",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Publisher product / contents checked. Full interior not implied."
    },
    {
      "id": "v18",
      "title": "IDW — Extreme Competition",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-vol-18-extreme-competition",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Publisher product / contents checked. Full interior not implied."
    },
    {
      "id": "v19",
      "title": "IDW — Collision Course",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-vol-19-collision-course",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Publisher product / contents checked. Full interior not implied."
    },
    {
      "id": "v20",
      "title": "IDW — Cause & Effect",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-vol-20-cause-effect",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Publisher product / contents checked. Full interior not implied."
    },
    {
      "id": "35th",
      "title": "PRH / IDW — 35th Anniversary Special",
      "url": "https://prhcomics.com/book/?isbn=82771403504900111",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "July 8, 2026 single issue. Classic cast includes Trip; December deluxe edition is a later format, not an unreleased original adventure."
    },
    {
      "id": "35deluxe",
      "title": "PRH — 35th Anniversary Deluxe",
      "url": "https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/819231/sonic-the-hedgehog-35th-anniversary-special--the-deluxe-edition-by-iasmin-omar-ata-thomas-rothlisberger-mauro-fonseca-min-ho-kim/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "December 15, 2026 announced collection, ISBN 9798887244846; not yet released at audit."
    },
    {
      "id": "colors-wisp",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Colors — The Whisper of Invasion",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/gamecontents/soniccolors/20210827_002648/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "All three Japanese pages visually inspected; invasion precedes the finished park’s opening announcement. No calendar year printed in the inspected story."
    },
    {
      "id": "colors-park",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Colors — Egg Planet Park",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/gamecontents/soniccolors/20210909_002663/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Both Japanese pages visually inspected. The broadcast explicitly says the opening is tomorrow; the comic’s 2021 release is not a later story year."
    },
    {
      "id": "forces-rise",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Forces — Rise of Infinite",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/gamecontents/sonicforces/20171107_001481/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "All six Japanese pages visually inspected. Earlier than the masked Infinite conflict despite being the last of these comics published."
    },
    {
      "id": "forces-loom",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Forces — Looming Shadow",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/gamecontents/sonicforces/20171031_001475/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "All six Japanese pages inspected. Leads into / overlaps the Episode Shadow setup."
    },
    {
      "id": "forces-stress",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Forces — Stress Test",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/gamecontents/sonicforces/20171024_001472/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "All six Japanese pages inspected. Eggman is still anticipating Sonic’s defeat; not a postwar incident."
    },
    {
      "id": "forces-moment",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Forces — Moment of Truth",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/gamecontents/sonicforces/20171017_001446/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "All seven Japanese pages inspected. The war is already underway; several-days-ago dialogue concerns the local fighters, not an exact date for the entire occupation."
    },
    {
      "id": "frontiers-comic",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Frontiers — Convergence, Parts 1–2",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicFrontiers/comic/comic01.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "All eight Japanese pages inspected across both parts. Final November 8 notice advertises release, not an in-universe date."
    },
    {
      "id": "fang-break",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Superstars — Fang’s Big Break, Parts 1–3",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicSuperStars/comic/index.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "All twelve Japanese pages inspected. One continuous prequel; flashbacks to prior jobs are memories, not newly dated adventures."
    },
    {
      "id": "convergence2",
      "title": "Sega — Convergence Part 2",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicFrontiers/comic/comic02.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Second four pages inspected; same continuous comic."
    },
    {
      "id": "episode-shadow",
      "title": "Forces — Episode Shadow script reference",
      "url": "https://sonic.fandom.com/wiki/Sonic_Forces/Script_(Episode_Shadow)",
      "kind": "Secondary / script reference",
      "note": "English script transcription reports the first encounter one month before the takeover. Japanese on-screen caption not directly inspected; this is qualified secondary support, not an invented exact day."
    },
    {
      "id": "final-horizon",
      "title": "Sega — The Final Horizon",
      "url": "https://asia.sega.com/SonicFrontiers/en/information/230929.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Official update adds a different final-island scenario with playable friends."
    },
    {
      "id": "mania-shorts",
      "title": "Sega / official story — Sonic Mania Adventures — Parts 1–5",
      "url": "https://www.sega.jp/topics/detail/180719_soft_2/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "A continuous five-part return adventure. Encore and the animation are related presentations, not proof of separate permanent timelines."
    },
    {
      "id": "mania-holiday",
      "title": "Sega / official story — Sonic Mania Adventures — Part 6: Holiday Special",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicMania/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Separate seasonal bonus after the main short run; Christmas release year is not an exact fictional year."
    },
    {
      "id": "werehog",
      "title": "Sega / official story — Sonic: Night of the Werehog",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlZ3RCQfBok",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Werehog and Chip anchor it within Unleashed’s journey, not in its 2024 reupload year."
    },
    {
      "id": "chao-space",
      "title": "Sega / official story — Chao in Space",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/staffcolumn/soundcolumn/senoue/20191223_002090/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Dream framing is not proof of a literal space expedition or a separate historical era."
    },
    {
      "id": "overdrive",
      "title": "Sega / official story — Team Sonic Racing: Overdrive — Parts 1–2",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/topics/event/20190426_001891/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Grouped with its race game’s story position, before Forces in the Japanese core chronology."
    },
    {
      "id": "wisps",
      "title": "Sega / official story — Sonic Colors: Rise of the Wisps — Parts 1–2",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicColors/Ultimate/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Continuous two-part side story during the Colors event; not a later adventure merely because Ultimate released in 2021."
    },
    {
      "id": "trio",
      "title": "Sega / official story — Sonic Superstars: Trio of Trouble",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicSuperStars/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Prequel to Superstars; the dream gag does not relocate all its framing to another universe."
    },
    {
      "id": "divergence",
      "title": "Sega / official story — Sonic Frontiers Prologue: Divergence",
      "url": "https://www.sega.jp/topics/detail/221102_1/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Immediate lead-in to Frontiers; the release year is not a fictional calendar."
    },
    {
      "id": "dark-beginnings",
      "title": "Sega / official story — Sonic X Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings — Episodes 1–3",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/gamecontents/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Continuous modern mission; fifty-year-old nightmare scenes are recollections. Extended PlayStation scenes are versions of the same prologue."
    },
    {
      "id": "coverstories",
      "title": "Sega / official story — Sonic Channel — 2021 Cover Stories anthology",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/sidestory/coverstory/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Monthly publication dates identify the anthology, not story years. Character profiles attached to the stories are reference material rather than extra sequels."
    },
    {
      "id": "channel-comic",
      "title": "Sega / official story — Sonic Channel — Sonic Comic Acts 001–025 & Special Stage",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/sidestory/comic/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Grouped as a vignette anthology, not twenty-six invented dates. Index / selected strips checked; all twenty-six interiors have not been audited."
    },
    {
      "id": "otherworld",
      "title": "Sega / official story — Sonic Channel — Otherworld Comedy: opening, Acts 1–12 & finale",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/sidestory/ohgiri/20231208_008417/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Forces / Ruby and earlier games are remembered. Finale restores the world gradually; these are connected altered circumstances, not twelve permanent separate Sonic universes."
    },
    {
      "id": "calendar",
      "title": "Sega / official story — Sonic Channel — 2024 calendar story vignettes",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/staffcolumn/20240920_008667/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Sage supports a post-Frontiers window for her scenes; calendar marketing is not a fictional 2024 chronology for every picture."
    },
    {
      "id": "pict",
      "title": "Sega / official story — Sonic Channel — SONICPICT narrative vignettes",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/special/sidestory/sonicpict/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Only narrative vignettes are relevant; a wallpaper publication date is not a story year. Collection spans eras and is not asserted to occur entirely here. Full image-by-image chronology remains an explicit gap."
    },
    {
      "id": "tailstube",
      "title": "Sega / official story — TailsTube — Episodes 1–12, in-character broadcasts",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MGcYQ2ySIs",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Grouped host-frame anthology, not a continuous twelve-part mission. Classic is the past; prior games discussed are recollections. Each broadcast’s precise interleaving remains an era estimate."
    },
    {
      "id": "tube13",
      "title": "Sega / official story — TailsTube #13 — Pit Crew",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiYfo0Wy2NA",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "The earlier invitation is Team Sonic Racing; do not reverse their order by guessing from guest appearances."
    },
    {
      "id": "tube14",
      "title": "Sega / official story — TailsTube #14 — Bonus Lap",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6rrciMAM3U",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Follows the initial racing setup. Current Sega racing material connects Tangle and Whisper without importing the entire Archie universe."
    },
    {
      "id": "tube15",
      "title": "Sega / official story — TailsTube #15 — Garden Party",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LJTcL-xcP8",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Current episode inventory verified; exact fictional gap from the racing broadcast is not established."
    },
    {
      "id": "tube16",
      "title": "Sega / official story — TailsTube #16 — Between 2 Hedgehogs",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UDOIdn2lHs",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Official Japanese caption transcript read in full. They remember the Classic Sonic / Forces visit and explain that stabilized history can leave contradictory memories. Release date does not add fictional years."
    },
    {
      "id": "audio",
      "title": "Sega / official story — Sonic the Hedgehog Presents: The Chaotix Casefiles — Prologue & Episodes 1–8",
      "url": "https://sega.prezly.com/segar-and-realm-announce-first-ever-sonic-the-hedgehog-audio-drama-series",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "One continuous case, including narrated earlier events. Sega / Realm confirms an official universe expansion; exact placement against late comics is not certified. Full nine-part dialogue / prop-equivalent audit remains open."
    },
    {
      "id": "audio-end",
      "title": "Official Sonic — Chaotix Casefiles finale, Episode 8",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C0y_jjoTnY",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Finale is Episode 8, not an invented Episode 9. Prologue is Episode 0."
    },
    {
      "id": "terror",
      "title": "PRH — Tales of Terror",
      "url": "https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/564741/sonic-and-the-tales-of-terror-by-kiel-phegley-illustrated-by-patrick-spaziante/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Three official prose stories; ISBN 9781524787318. Full interiors not inspected."
    },
    {
      "id": "deception",
      "title": "PRH — Tales of Deception",
      "url": "https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/557525/sonic-and-the-tales-of-deception-by-jake-black-illustrated-by-ian-mcginty/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Three official prose stories; ISBN 9781524784744. Full interiors not inspected."
    },
    {
      "id": "5min",
      "title": "PRH — 5-Minute Stories",
      "url": "https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/753086/sonic-the-hedgehog-5-minute-stories-by-jake-black-and-kiel-phegley-illustrated-by-patrick-spaziante-and-ian-mcginty/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Collects the six earlier Terror / Deception stories; ISBN 9780593886984. Not six newly dated sequels."
    },
    {
      "id": "prime-canon",
      "title": "Prime creator Logan McPherson — Sega canon / collaboration",
      "url": "https://www.comingsoon.net/tv/features/1253395-sonic-prime-interview-deven-mack-logan-mcpherson-on-sonics-multiverse",
      "kind": "Primary / creator interview",
      "note": "Direct creator interview describes integration with Sega’s canon. Exact insertion against all games is not supplied."
    },
    {
      "id": "prime",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Prime announcement",
      "url": "https://www.sega.jp/topics/detail/210202_2/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Official series relationship; Netflix series later totals 23 episodes."
    },
    {
      "id": "prime-season3",
      "title": "Netflix — Prime third season",
      "url": "https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/sonic-prime-season-3-release-date-photos",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Third-season continuation, not an independently dated game sequel."
    },
    {
      "id": "prime1",
      "title": "IDW — Sonic Prime Volume 1",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-sonic-prime-vol-1",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Publisher product / contents checked. Full interior not implied."
    },
    {
      "id": "prime2",
      "title": "IDW — Sonic Prime Volume 2",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-sonic-prime-vol-2",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Publisher product / contents checked. Full interior not implied."
    },
    {
      "id": "prime3",
      "title": "IDW — Sonic Prime Volume 3",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/products/sonic-the-hedgehog-sonic-prime-vol-3",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Publisher product / contents checked. Full interior not implied."
    },
    {
      "id": "blade1",
      "title": "Shogakukan — Sonic and the Blade of Courage Volume 1",
      "url": "https://shogakukan-comic.jp/book?isbn=9784091541048",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "December 26, 2025; Yuki Imada original Sega-supervised manga. Legal preview cover / contents and opening printed pages 3–5 inspected; no calendar seen in that extract. Not the Black Knight story."
    },
    {
      "id": "blade2",
      "title": "Shogakukan — Blade of Courage Volume 2",
      "url": "https://shogakukan-comic.jp/book?isbn=9784091543233",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "August 28, 2026; Sonic / Yuta confront Shadow and Eggman’s human-crystallization scheme. Printed-volume bonus manga explicitly included; interiors not fully inspected."
    },
    {
      "id": "shadow-manga",
      "title": "Shogakukan — Jet-Black Hedgehog Shadow",
      "url": "https://shogakukan-comic.jp/book-series?cd=53779",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Yuki Imada one-volume official manga; legal sample linked, ISBN 9784091540300. Direct game-history integration not certified by the catalogue."
    },
    {
      "id": "murder",
      "title": "Sega — The Murder of Sonic, official Steam release",
      "url": "https://store.steampowered.com/app/2324650/The_Murder_of_Sonic_the_Hedgehog/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Free official April Fools mystery; a playful canon disclaimer is not evidence it happens in the Paramount universe."
    },
    {
      "id": "dc1",
      "title": "DC — DC x Sonic the Hedgehog",
      "url": "https://www.dc.com/comics/dc-x-sonic-the-hedgehog-2025/dc-x-sonic-the-hedgehog-1",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Official interdimensional crossover; five-part first series. Core game-history insertion is not certified."
    },
    {
      "id": "dc2",
      "title": "DC — Metal Legion",
      "url": "https://www.dc.com/comics/dc-x-sonic-the-hedgehog-metal-legion-2026/dc-x-sonic-the-hedgehog-metal-legion-2026-4",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Official sequel. Do not import all DC stories into Sonic’s timeline merely because a portal opens."
    },
    {
      "id": "godzilla",
      "title": "IDW — Sonic x Godzilla announcement",
      "url": "https://idwpublishing.com/blogs/news/sonic-the-hedgehog-x-godzilla-brings-the-pop-culture-franchises-together-for-the-first-time-ever-in-comics",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Official five-issue project; portal crossover with game cast. Integration with every main comic event unconfirmed."
    },
    {
      "id": "godzilla3",
      "title": "PRH / IDW — Sonic x Godzilla #3",
      "url": "https://prhcomics.com/book/?isbn=82771403548300311",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "October 14, 2026 release; current released coverage #1–3."
    },
    {
      "id": "godzilla4",
      "title": "PRH / IDW — Sonic x Godzilla #4",
      "url": "https://prhcomics.com/book/?isbn=82771403548300411",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Current November 11, 2026 solicitation supersedes earlier October expectations; not released at this audit."
    },
    {
      "id": "pocket",
      "title": "SNK — Neo Geo Pocket software catalogue, archival scan",
      "url": "https://www.gamingalexandria.com/highquality/ngpc/Rockman%20-%20Battle%20and%20Fighters/Neo%20Geo%20Pocket%20Software%20Catalogue.pdf",
      "kind": "Primary / archived publisher catalogue",
      "note": "Original publisher catalogue advertises Sonic Pocket Adventure. This is not included in modern NEOGEO Pocket Color Selection Volumes 1–2; no unrelated Steam collection substituted."
    },
    {
      "id": "rivals",
      "title": "PlayStation — official Rivals / Rivals 2 inventory",
      "url": "https://blog.playstation.com/?p=144129",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Historical PlayStation Store publication verifies both PSP releases. Not a current promise that the discontinued PSP storefront works. Full manuals not inspected."
    },
    {
      "id": "chronicles",
      "title": "Sega Japan — Sonic Chronicles",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/SonicChannel/gametitle/SonicChronicles.html",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Official licensed RPG premise verified. Later canon treatment is contested in reference discussions; exact later exclusion statement not inspected in the licensed guidebook."
    },
    {
      "id": "tails-special",
      "title": "PRH / IDW — Tails’ anniversary single",
      "url": "https://prhcomics.com/book/?isbn=82771403104100111",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "November 16, 2022 single issue; exact story product, not the unrelated Sonic 30th volume."
    },
    {
      "id": "amy-special",
      "title": "PRH / IDW — Amy’s Anniversary Special collection",
      "url": "https://prhcomics.com/book/?isbn=9798887244754",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "September 22, 2026 hardcover reprints the September 2023 Amy one-shot."
    },
    {
      "id": "chaotix-special",
      "title": "PRH / IDW — Chaotix anniversary single",
      "url": "https://prhcomics.com/book/?isbn=82771403441700111",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "October 22, 2025 actual release supersedes older August solicitation. Mythsonian Museum mystery."
    },
    {
      "id": "familiar-edition",
      "title": "PRH / IDW — fifth-anniversary edition creator inventory",
      "url": "https://prhcomics.com/author/?authorid=2194555",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Jennifer Hernandez’s official inventory lists the #1 Fifth Anniversary Edition. Familiar Territory is its new backup, not part of Collection 3."
    },
    {
      "id": "journal",
      "title": "Sega — Gerald’s 28-page Day One journal",
      "url": "https://sega.prezly.com/sonic-x-shadow-generations-speeds-into-stores-on-october-25-2024",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Official physical Day One preorder contents: 28-page in-character journal. A standard used copy does not guarantee the insert."
    },
    {
      "id": "movie-pack",
      "title": "PlayStation / Sonic Team — Movie Pack is a game scenario",
      "url": "https://blog.playstation.com/2024/09/24/movie-shadow-coming-to-sonic-x-shadow-generations/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Developer interview distinguishes the movie-inspired level from the film’s actual plot."
    },
    {
      "id": "segasonic",
      "title": "Sega Japan — SegaSonic’s Mighty & Ray return",
      "url": "https://www.sega.jp/topics/detail/180518_soft_2/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Official Sega description identifies the 1993 arcade game and its returning characters. Exact placement among Classic spin-offs is estimated, not inferred from release year."
    },
    {
      "id": "chao-manual",
      "title": "Sega — Sonic Adventure manual, archival scan",
      "url": "https://info.sonicretro.org/images/8/85/SonicAdventure_DC_US_manual.pdf",
      "kind": "Primary / archived manual",
      "note": "Original publisher manual describes transferring Chao into Chao Adventure. Archival host, not a modern commercial download."
    },
    {
      "id": "chao2-manual",
      "title": "Sega — Sonic Adventure 2 official historical site",
      "url": "https://sonic.sega.jp/sonicadv2/",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Original containing game / VMU context; not a current online service. Exact branching Chao script not fully inspected."
    },
    {
      "id": "runners-adventure",
      "title": "Gameloft / Sega — Runners Adventure announcement",
      "url": "https://www.gameloft.com/newsroom/sonic-runners-adventure-is-coming-to-smartphones-and-4263",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "December 2017 worldwide mobile announcement; distinct from Sega’s original Runners service."
    },
    {
      "id": "runners-store",
      "title": "Gameloft — Runners Adventure official store",
      "url": "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gameloft.android.ANMP.GloftICHM",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Publisher listing confirms a story campaign across four locations. Current regional availability may vary."
    },
    {
      "id": "tsr-comic",
      "title": "IDW / Sega — Team Sonic Racing comic announcement",
      "url": "https://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc-18-sonic-the-hedgehog-races-on-a-new-planet-in-team-sonic-racing/",
      "kind": "Primary / reproduced publisher release",
      "note": "Original publisher press release reproduced by Comics Beat. Comic leads into the game; planned release and actual publication differ. Complete comic interior not inspected."
    },
    {
      "id": "crossworlds-comic",
      "title": "PRH / IDW — CrossWorlds one-shot",
      "url": "https://prhcomics.com/book/?isbn=82771403491200111",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "March 4, 2026 one-shot: Tails and Tangle encounter glitches in another world. Current publisher listing verified."
    },
    {
      "id": "ghost",
      "title": "MARZA — Ghost Tale, official short",
      "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW3eBWQ1IyQ",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Official studio upload and description checked. Returns the Werehog short’s ghosts; fifteen years refers to release gap, not a proved story interval."
    },
    {
      "id": "fastfriends",
      "title": "Sega — Fast Friends Forever official comic posts",
      "url": "https://twitter.com/sonic_hedgehog/status/1689310640228442112",
      "kind": "Primary",
      "note": "Original official social comic; first campaign strip. Full fifteen-strip interior audit remains open."
    },
    {
      "id": "fastfriends-release",
      "title": "Sega — Fast Friends Forever campaign release",
      "url": "https://www.capsulecomputers.com.au/2023/08/sega-unveils-first-of-its-kind-fast-friends-forever-campaign-in-celebration-of-sonic-and-friends-and-fans/",
      "kind": "Primary / reproduced release",
      "note": "Reproduced publisher campaign release announces the initial strip plus fourteen more. Editorial monthly date is not an in-universe year."
    }
  ],
  "scope": [
    {
      "title": "Paramount films, Knuckles and movie tie-ins",
      "type": "Separate screen continuity",
      "status": "Already covered separately",
      "note": "Use the Sonic Paramount guide at /universes/sonic-paramount/. Its calendar, childhood and ARK dates do not set dates in the Sega games.",
      "sources": [
        "world"
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Dream Team update dialogue; older mobile / arcade micro-stories",
      "type": "Game narrative inventory",
      "status": "Further script / event inventory needed",
      "note": "SegaSonic, Chao Adventure 1–2 and Runners Adventure have been added in the omission pass. Dream Team challenge updates and older Dash / Jump / Speed Battle / Speed Simulator events still need full narrative-versus-costume inspection. No fake date for every event skin.",
      "sources": [
        "history",
        "segasonic",
        "runners-adventure"
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Chaotix / Tails / Amy anniversary interiors; annual backups; Prime graphic Volume 4; IDW promotional micro-comics",
      "type": "Comic / manga inventory",
      "status": "Further interior / current edition audit needed",
      "note": "Released annuals 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2024 are indexed. Prime Volumes 1–3 are matched; Volume 4 edition / contents verification remains open. Exact all-backup interleaving and every standalone anniversary retail edition are not falsely claimed inspected.",
      "sources": [
        "reading",
        "prime1",
        "prime2",
        "prime3",
        "reprise"
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Chasing Shadows; IDW #91; Godzilla #4–5; later collections",
      "type": "Cancelled / upcoming material",
      "status": "Not counted as released stories",
      "note": "Chasing Shadows was cancelled by its writer despite a stale Reprise blurb. #91 is expected October 28; current Godzilla #4 date is November 11. Anniversary deluxe December 2026 is a later edition of the already released July story.",
      "sources": [
        "cancel",
        "91",
        "godzilla4",
        "35deluxe"
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "McLaren Racing Around the World manga; Sonic & Friends; other campaign micro-stories",
      "type": "Official side stories / promotional narratives",
      "status": "Known narrative leads — further legal interior / episode inventory needed",
      "note": "Team Sonic Racing and CrossWorlds comics, Fast Friends Forever and Ghost Tale are indexed above. The McLaren comic and complete Sonic & Friends episode-level narrative inventory still need direct legal-source review. No invented story year derived from campaign branding.",
      "sources": [
        "history",
        "channel-comic",
        "tailstube",
        "fastfriends"
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Mario & Sonic story modes; LEGO Dimensions Sonic Level Pack; licensed crossover games / shorts",
      "type": "Crossovers",
      "status": "Further scoped narrative inventory required",
      "note": "Crossover campaigns can contain real stories. Cameos, cosmetics and ordinary races alone are not new chapters. Their relationship to the core game history needs qualified primary evidence; this guide does not import entire guest franchises.",
      "sources": [
        "history",
        "dc1",
        "godzilla"
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Archie, Fleetway, SatAM, Adventures of Sonic, Sonic X, OVA, Boom, Nicky manga and older Western origin novels",
      "type": "Established other adaptations",
      "status": "Outside this main-game-history guide",
      "note": "These have their own premises / continuity, unlike Classic versus Modern eras. A game-inspired title or shared character does not make every Archie issue a missing IDW prequel. Potential Classic Mega Drive comic connections need separate creator / interior verification.",
      "sources": [
        "world",
        "history"
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Origins / collections, soundtracks, guides and activity books",
      "type": "Reprints / non-narrative material",
      "status": "Containing editions and narrative inserts distinguished",
      "note": "Origins animations, platform retellings and DLC are grouped above. Reference works / coloring pages / music are not automatically new adventures. Bonus manga and in-character prose require actual interior evidence. No title implies all merchandise has been inspected.",
      "sources": [
        "origins",
        "blade2"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "audit": {
    "checked": "2026-10-21",
    "status": "Research edition — verification gaps disclosed",
    "checks": [
      "Research table produced before page generation. Reviewed the Japanese World Story order against individual title premises; Classic and Modern remain one history.",
      "Checked 50 actual Japanese comic pages: Forces 25, Frontiers 8, Superstars 12 and Colors 5. Forces publication order is not story order; Colors says park opening tomorrow.",
      "Used Japanese Tails Adventure pre-meeting premise and Chaotix several-month interval. Shadow precedes Battle; Free Riders follows Generations; Team Sonic Racing precedes Forces in the current Japanese overview.",
      "Grouped same-story ports / retellings and continuous comic runs. Main IDW coverage includes every issue #1–90 across contiguous runs, with Frontiers inserted before #68 using Stanley’s actual post.",
      "Compared current publisher / writer records: #91 and Godzilla #4 remain upcoming; Chasing Shadows is cancelled despite a stale collection blurb. Classic 35th single is released even though its deluxe edition is upcoming.",
      "Read TailsTube #16’s full official Japanese caption transcript; memories of rewritten time travel are not grounds for inventing a separate permanent Classic universe.",
      "Direct Amazon titles checked for Origins Plus, Mania Plus, Superstars, X Shadow Generations, Frontiers and IDW Collection 1. Publisher ISBNs identify other book editions; 979-prefix titles use publisher links instead of fabricated ASINs.",
      "Reviewed omission ledger before approval. This is a substantial research edition with explicit uncompleted peripheral inventories, not an assertion that every licensed Sonic page has been exhausted."
    ],
    "gaps": [
      "Most adventures have no verified Gregorian year. Era labels and stated intervals are deliberate; release dates, anniversary numbers and historic static ages are not an aging calendar. Some side-story windows overlap and their exact interleaving remains estimated.",
      "All 50 downloaded Sega comic pages listed above were inspected. This does not extend to every IDW annual backup, manga volume, Sonic Channel strip, game manual or episode frame. Blade of Courage preview inspection covers contents and opening pages only.",
      "Known additional game / crossover / promotional story leads are listed in the coverage ledger. Primary archive recovery and exact access matches remain unfinished; do not call this franchise-wide exhaustive completion.",
      "Frontiers / IDW insertion is an author-endorsed best fit, not a perfectly solved Emerald inventory. Prime and licensed manga / crossovers have broad integration windows; no unsupported exact date is supplied.",
      "Reprise retains an obsolete cancelled-story blurb. Exact replacement contents await legal TOC inspection. Some publisher ISBN matches were not directly opened on Amazon; availability, used DLC codes and playback / platform region are not guaranteed."
    ],
    "publishReady": true
  }
}