(Thanks to reader lanerobertlane for the tip.) So, you must still find them within the level to start a bonus stage, but with the debug tool allowing you to clip through walls, you can zip through the scenery and find them far faster than if you played normally. You can spawn these using the debug tool, but it simply gives you 50 rings. UFO catch special stages are a little more difficult. When you exit, simply spawn another signpost, and repeat. Generate enough rings through creating item boxes, then leap into the Blue Sphere special stage. Using debug, every stage has the option to spawn a signpost instantly. Simply unlock debug mode, then enter a No Save playthrough with it enabled. While you can (and should!) play special stages as you naturally play Sonic Mania, there is an easier way to access them. How to easily access special stages in Sonic Mania Since levels are so sprawling it'll be difficult and almost fruitless to describe their specific locations, but exploring and replaying stages is your best bet to finding enough to unlock every Emerald. In short, if you explore off the beaten path in each stage - if there's a out-of-the-way platform or route - there's a chance it'll lead to them. While signposts (Blue Sphere stages) are everywhere, gold rings and the UFO chase stages they lead to are harder to find. There are seven stages in total, each in sequence, no matter where you find them, but are specific to that playthrough - so all seven must be found by the last boss.

UFO chase stages - Littered throughout every stage are giant rings, which take you to special stages to unlock Chaos Emeralds if you complete them successfully.

Progress carries over between playthroughs, so no need to get them all in a single sitting. Completing these will earn you a silver or gold medal, depending on your performance, which then unlock bonus modes from the Extras menu.

Blue Sphere stages - If you have 25 rings and hit a mid-level signpost, a ring will appear above that you can leap through, taking you to a special stage.

There are two types of special stages in Sonic Mania, which unlock different things:

Sonic Mania special stages - How to play Blue Sphere and UFO It's once again how you access Chaos Emeralds - a bonus challenge that unlocks the game's best ending - while the return of Blue Sphere provides additional attractions to be toyed around with elsewhere in the game - which we explain more of in our Sonic Mania unlocks and cheats page. Sonic Mania special stages are, like the rest of the game, a nostalgia-tinged throwback to Sonic's vast 16-bit history.

Sonic mania big ring locations