Project Shadow
Professor Gerald Robotnik leads Project Shadow aboard the Space Colony ARK and creates Shadow as the Ultimate Life Form. Gerald's research, Maria Robotnik, and the ARK become the foundation of Shadow's history.
Shadow's
story
Shadow the Hedgehog's main game chronology, from his creation aboard the Space Colony ARK through Sonic Adventure 2, Team Dark, the Black Arms invasion, and Shadow Generations.
From the ARK
to White Space.
Maria's death and Shadow's stasis
G.U.N. forces raid the ARK. Maria is killed while helping Shadow escape, and Shadow is later placed in suspended animation on Prison Island.
Sonic Adventure 2
Eggman releases Shadow. His damaged memories drive the conflict until he remembers Maria's real wish and joins Sonic to stop the ARK from destroying Earth.
Sonic Heroes
Rouge discovers Shadow alive in an Eggman base. With his memories missing, Shadow joins Rouge and E-123 Omega as Team Dark.
Shadow the Hedgehog
Black Doom and the Black Arms return. The branching story's 326 paths lead to ten normal endings before Last Story resolves the central identity mystery.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Shadow works as a G.U.N. agent alongside Rouge and Omega. His campaign centers on Team Dark, Mephiles, and his decision to keep moving forward.
Shadow Generations
Shadow enters White Space, encounters figures from his past, and faces Black Doom again while gaining new Doom Powers.
Play the central
story in order.
Sonic Adventure 2 → Sonic Heroes → Shadow the Hedgehog (2005) → Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) → Shadow Generations.
Other Sonic games include Shadow too, but these entries contain the biggest steps in his personal arc.