Getting the V1.03 (Patched) version from Steam (obsolete, will update)

~~Note: If you decide to switch your version of Sonic Mania to this version and then attempt to submit a run, you must use the other leaderboard used for the Unpatched/v1.03 versions of this game (at the time of this guide being posted) found here: https://www.speedrun.com/sonic_mania_pre-dlc~~

1. Exit out Steam first, then right-click on Steam shortcut and click on Properties.
2. Under where it says "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe" (the text box next to Target), add '-dev -console' after. It should look like this: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe" -dev -console
3. Hit Apply and OK. Quit out of Properties.
4. Open Steam as Administrator
5. You'll see the Console be added at the big tab menu: STORE LIBRARY COMMUNITY (username) CONSOLE
6. Click on Console, then type down this command: download_depot 584400 584401 3856100003260477365
7. Look at the text in the prompt. When it downloads, it will give a directory of where it is. Use that directory to find these three v1.03 files:
1. data.rsdk
2. SonicMania.exe
3. steam_api.dll
Paste these to the Sonic Mania directory (I would recommend making a backup of the original files before doing so) and you should be set.

Knuckles All Emeralds Speedrun Tutorial (by Oldclov)

Written document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-MAxp8w64TXbbHx_QIcRO9-ams4ZMI7ZoKN6jSR_wzY/edit?usp=sharing
Video playlist (w/ inputs): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRdQgvLHI6NqrsmxNB6KoTtDjBJ5b9Djh

I'm taking feedback from now on
I tried to cover pretty much every route and alternate route possible that doesn't imply losing more than 1-2 minutes over the fastest one. I might be missing things, but yeah just tell me if I did 😛
I also want to know if the document is too long/confusing/whatever so I can make it better

Music/SFX Modding Tutorial

This Google doc tutorial (w/pictures) explains how to modify Sonic Mania's music/SFX files for the purpose of speedrunning. 

The link for it can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VLVlHX1EH0tSrJACvkUPkxcQv-cyPcuiF9EokXnyzrE/edit?usp=sharing

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this tutorial then feel free to DM me.

Sonic - Beginner / Advanced Tutorial (Plus, by Xerclipse)

Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9AiNN4Hpuw9rebg4zeZMkQmMMkAnSGTS

Hello runners. This tutorial series will teach you how to speedrun Sonic Mania. The category I teach is Solo Sonic, Mania Mode, Bad ending (Plus)

Each video will show a walkthrough of an act per zone. That video will be divided into two parts.

Beginner:
- Shows basic route
- Shows alternate / back up path
- Does not use tricks that take too much time to practice.
- Does not go over how to optimize the path

Advanced:
- Gives players a challenge
- Saves more time
- May not show the most optimal path but still faster
- Assumes you watched the beginner parts first.
- When you get comfortable with the stage, you can try these strats.

Keep in mind that this series is a work in progress. I do not have every single act done yet. So as I update this guide, you are welcome to stay updated as well.

Input display is shown at the bottom right corner. You can also download the video and slow down the frames if you really want to understand the timings of the input.

Completed tutorials

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxiMR15TIfw&list=PL9AiNN4Hpuw9rebg4zeZMkQmMMkAnSGTS&index=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ay65i2pR1Q&index=2&list=PL9AiNN4Hpuw9rebg4zeZMkQmMMkAnSGTS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W80gkvrMsc&index=3&list=PL9AiNN4Hpuw9rebg4zeZMkQmMMkAnSGTS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqyQjlUDeWU&list=PL9AiNN4Hpuw9rebg4zeZMkQmMMkAnSGTS&index=4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O24rxXKegI&t=1s&index=6&list=PL9AiNN4Hpuw9rebg4zeZMkQmMMkAnSGTS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyWcV3HLOJw&list=PL9AiNN4Hpuw9rebg4zeZMkQmMMkAnSGTS&index=6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nsar6YvwpQ&t=0s&list=PL9AiNN4Hpuw9rebg4zeZMkQmMMkAnSGTS&index=8

https://youtu.be/J1LvldUkYAY

Next one: LR 1 (yes im going out of order because i feel like its a daunting stage)

Coming Soon:

PG 1 (footage taken)
PG 2
SS 1 (footage taken)
SS 2
HC 1
HC 2
MS (Both acts will be featured)
OO 1
OO 2 (footage taken)
LR 1 (footage taken)
LR 2 (footage taken)
MM 1
MM 2
TM 1
TM 2

Sonic - Beginner Tutorial (Patched)

UPDATE: Since this guide is in a 1.03 version of a game while this guide teaches Plus, we gotta move to another set of leaderboards. Feel free to still look at this or join the new leaderboards. https://www.speedrun.com/sonicmaniaplus 

The guide will still be updated here but just know that its only the plus update. To new players you will most likely be playing the plus version so let's join the plus leaderboards.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9AiNN4Hpuw9rebg4zeZMkQmMMkAnSGTS

Hello runners. This tutorial series will teach you how to speedrun Sonic Mania. The category I teach is Solo Sonic, Mania Mode, no emeralds. 

Each video will show a walkthrough of an act per zone. That video will be divided into two parts. 

Beginner:
	- Shows basic route
	- Shows alternate / back up path 
	- Does not use tricks that take too much time to practice.
	- Does not go over how to optimize the path

Advanced:
	- Gives players a challenge
	- Saves more time
	- May not show the most optimal path
	- Assumes you watched the beginner parts first.
	- Please don't try this unless you get comfortable with the stage first.

Keep in mind that this series is a work in progress. I do not have every single act done yet. So as I update this guide, you are welcome to stay updated as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxiMR15TIfw&list=PL9AiNN4Hpuw9rebg4zeZMkQmMMkAnSGTS&index=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ay65i2pR1Q&index=2&list=PL9AiNN4Hpuw9rebg4zeZMkQmMMkAnSGTS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W80gkvrMsc&index=3&list=PL9AiNN4Hpuw9rebg4zeZMkQmMMkAnSGTS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqyQjlUDeWU&list=PL9AiNN4Hpuw9rebg4zeZMkQmMMkAnSGTS&index=4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O24rxXKegI&t=1s&index=6&list=PL9AiNN4Hpuw9rebg4zeZMkQmMMkAnSGTS

Input display is shown at the bottom right corner. You can also download the video and slow down the frames if you really want to understand the timings of the input.

Sonic & Tails - All Emeralds Beginners Tutorial

This tutorial series will help you learn the basic speedrunning techniques used in Sonic Mania and show you a route that is currently used in each zone.

All zones have been split into act 1 and act 2. Each video starts with a full detailed walkthrough of the act and ends with what a speedrun of the stage looks like for reference.

**Full playlist** - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5y7iYYmIVgJiWBJyGbuFUDz0Q9q2RcG1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJkJ1hUbxu8&t=1s&index=2&list=PL5y7iYYmIVgJiWBJyGbuFUDz0Q9q2RcG1

Sonic Bad Ending: Basic Tutorial (Plus, by Xerclipse)

Part 1: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/383192518
Green Hill
Chemical Plant
Studiopolis
Flying Battery
Press Garden
Stardust Speedway

Part 2: coming soon
Hydrocity
Mirage Saloon
Oil Ocean
Lava Reef
Metallic Madness
Titanic Monarch

This is a basic and long version of my tutorial for Sonic Mania. It's different from the other series I have because this one is live streamed.

Sonic+Tails Puyo Skip guide (by JoeyBaby69)

Edit (by Xandre): Works for all versions of the game 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUGdbbCGKs4&

Super Sonic ILs document (by Zaxon96)

Even though this document is quite dated and not really updated at all anymore, could still be useful to check out.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10bsNVkajKSDswqzogpo-vy4Vr8pedNGi-PyOgUUVKI0

Argick

1qpekp36

Xerclipse

Xandre_

Sonic Mania

Green Hill 1

Chemical Plant 1

Chemical Plant 2

PlayStation 4

Switch

LoganberrynotGD

X_MC

adalbertoluizpereira

MeepleMike

Bad Ending

Good Ending

Patched

Unpatched

All Emeralds

No Emeralds

Plus

Mania Mode

Sonic & Tails

Sonic

Tails

Knuckles

Mighty

Encore

Encore Mode

Glitched

No Major Glitches

Ending

Patch version

Emeralds

Mode

Character

Play Style

PLAY STYLE

Xbox One

PlayStation 5

Xbox Series X

Xbox Series S

Classic Sonic

New Rule Changes to the Leaderboard [5/14/2024]

Music/SFX Mods + Background Pausing is now allowed!

Category extension board is live.

The Sonic Mania Plus leaderboard has now been merged into this board! + application for new verifiers

Name	Author
Getting the V1.03 (Patched) version from Steam (obsolete, will update)	Xandre_ 4 years ago
Knuckles All Emeralds Speedrun Tutorial (by Oldclov)	Xandre_ 4 years ago
Music/SFX Modding Tutorial	Xandre_ 3 years ago
Sonic - Beginner / Advanced Tutorial (Plus, by Xerclipse)	Xandre_ 4 years ago
Sonic - Beginner Tutorial (Patched)	Xerclipse 4 years ago
Sonic & Tails - All Emeralds Beginners Tutorial	Argick 7 years ago
Sonic Bad Ending: Basic Tutorial (Plus, by Xerclipse)	Xandre_ 4 years ago
Sonic+Tails Puyo Skip guide (by JoeyBaby69)	Xandre_ 4 years ago
Super Sonic ILs document (by Zaxon96)	Xandre_ 4 years ago