Sonic the Hedgehog was included on compilations for many platforms, including Sega Smash Pack: Volume 1 for Dreamcast, Sonic Mega Collection for Gamecube and Sonic Mega Collection Plus for Xbox, PlayStation 2 and Windows. Every other game in the series features 7 Emeralds. Of all the Sonic games, Sonic the Hedgehog is the only game to have only 6 Chaos Emeralds. An option allows choice on viewing Japanese, United States, or European case and cartridge.

In the beginning menu, the original Mega Drive case is displayed original game cartridge is too, when tapping to start a game. The Genesis version of Sonic the Hedgehog appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.