The Sonic Storybook Series is a series of spinoffs to the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, whose stories are modeled after classic literature, with Sonic and friends as main characters of the story.
The two entries in the series were released on Nintendo's Wii console:
- Sonic and the Secret Rings (2007), based on 1001 Nights: Came about due to the time issues with attempting to port Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) for the Nintendo Wii, in time for launch.
- Sonic and the Black Knight (2009), based on Arthurian Legend.
Tropes present in both titles include:
- Alternate Self: Several of Sonic's friends and foes appear as characters in the stories the games adapt.
- Continuity Nod:
- When Merlina calls Sonic to her world, she uses the same spell that Erazor did when summoning the Ifrit, albeit very slightly modified. It's quite weird, given that the spell in question roughly translates to "Satan Arrive!"
- "Get Back Here!" Boss: Most the bosses in both games are technically this due to it being a rail-platformer. Of particular note is King Arthur. Ironically, he says to Sonic, "It looks like there's only one thing you're good at: Running away."
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Compared to his other game portrayals, Sonic's snarky attitude was more emphasized in both Storybook games, similar to his respective portrayals from 90s Western shows Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM) and Sonic Underground respectively.
- Nitro Boost: The Speed Break/Soul Surge. It allows Sonic go across vast chasms in a short period of time with the help of fire rings and pearls filled with energy.
- Ret-Canon: Sonic loving chili dogs was initially an element of the 90s Western canon (Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog (SatAM), Sonic Underground, and Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie Comics)). It was introduced into game canon in a Japanese manual for Advance 3, and Unleashed has chili dogs being one of the highest XP-granting food items (with Chip even saying it's something Sonic really likes), but Sonic and the Black Knight is the first time Sonic has been seen eating a chili dog on-screen in the games.
- Recycled IN SPACE!: It's Sonic the Hedgehog but with Tales of The Arabian Nights and magic rings and King Arthur and The Knights of The Round Table medieval fantasy and sword action.
- Taken for Granite: Gargoyles in Secret Rings and and fish-like Knights of the Underworld in Black Knight are capable of turning Sonic to stone. Oddly enough, it's instantly fatal in Black Knight without the Stone Brooch or Petrification immunity equipped, but is not fatal in Secret Rings — you just have to shake the Wii Remote to break free.
- Universal-Adaptor Cast: All of the recurring series' characters. Sonic himself ends up playing a role of one of the characters, though he retains his own personality regardless. It's implied in Sonic and the Secret Rings that Sonic is standing in for Aladdin; in Sonic and the Black Knight, it's revealed in the ending that Sonic is the true King Arthur (the one fought earlier was a fake created by Merlin).
- Villain of the Week: Both games feature unique one-shot villains in place of Dr. Eggman. Eggman only appears as a minor role in Sonic and the Secret Rings by proxy of his storybook counterpart King Shahryar, and he is completely absent from Sonic and The Black Knight.
