Being spheres, the stages will wrap around as the playable characters move across them (meaning eventually, if a character walks in one direction without turning, they will return to their point of origin). The playable character will always travel along the lines that divide the checkerboard pattern on the ground, turning at 90-degree angles. Moving forward initiates the character's movements, and once moving, they will run continuously. Upon starting a Bonus Stage, the playable character is placed onto a spherical planet. The ground pattern is a checkerboard-esque design that changes color with each stage. Bonus Stages in Sonic Mania take place on the surface of a spherical planet that is dotted with several objects.
