Everyone knows that Sonic the Hedgehog is having a big year. The famous blue hedgehog is turning 35 years old, and his creator, Sega, is celebrating this major milestone. However, Sonic is not the only classic character getting attention right now. Sega has another beloved series that is also celebrating its 35th birthday in 2026, and the company is making sure it does not get overlooked.
The game in question is the popular match-puzzle title Puyo Puyo. This game is famous for its colorful blobs that fall from the top of the screen. The main goal is simple: players must match blobs of the same color to clear them from the board and score points. The game first appeared in arcades back in 1991. It was originally created by a developer named Compile. Since the year 2001, Sega has owned the series, and it is now managed by the same team that created Sonic, known as Sonic Team. The most recent version of the game was an update for the Switch 2 released last year.
Now that Puyo Puyo has entered its 35th year, Sega has officially kicked off the birthday festivities. The company calls this celebration the “Dairensa!” project. To mark the occasion, Sega has released brand new artwork featuring the game’s characters. They have also set up a special teaser website to build excitement. This website points to a specific date: February 1st. On that day, there will be a live stream event dedicated to the 35th anniversary. While there are no promises of a brand new game announcement, the stream will share updates about the mobile role-playing game called Puyo Puyo!! Quest.
The celebrations are not just happening online. Sega has planned several real-world events, mostly focused in Japan. According to reports, there will be a pop-up store dedicated to the anniversary. This store will travel to different locations, starting in Yokohama’s Marui City from February 4th to the 28th. It will then move to Kiddy Land Osaka Umeda from February 7th to March 15th, and finally stop at Tokyo’s Annivroad from March 5th to March 22nd. Additionally, there will be special collaboration events featuring both Sonic and Puyo Puyo at the Hankyu Sanban-gai shopping center in Osaka during February and March. Fans in Japan will also be able to buy lottery tickets featuring both franchises.
It is still unclear if Sega will hold similar events outside of Japan for Puyo Puyo fans in other countries. However, the company certainly has a busy schedule ahead when it comes to celebrating birthdays. Besides Sonic and Puyo Puyo both turning 35, Sega has other classics hitting big numbers. The game Nights into Dreams will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, and the popular Sakura Wars series is also reaching that same 30-year milestone.
