Other non-Sonic games are included, but some, such as the Streets of Rage trilogy, are omitted in the Western localization.

[1][4][2] Four additional games, Bonanza Bros. (1990) and the Streets of Rage trilogy (1991–1994), are unlockable only in the Japanese version and are not included in any international releases.

[3][4] Each game is mostly identical to its initial release, but some were changed; for example, Sonic R runs at a higher frame rate.

[3] Players can view scans of the original instruction manuals for each game, along with hints and cheat codes.

[5] The compilation features an extensive museum section in which players can view content—such as promotional artwork, videos, screenshots, and remixed music—unlocked after obtaining achievements.

In each demo, the player begins in the respective game's final level and can play until the time limit is met.

[5] At the beginning of Gems Collection's development, Sonic Team made a list of the most wanted games for the compilation.

Producer Yuji Naka said storage constraints prevented Sonic CD from inclusion in Mega Collection.

[12]: 85 [22] Juan Castro (IGN) found that Sonic CD "still holds its own against modern platformers", praising its unique, time-travel oriented gameplay, level design, visuals, and sound.

Castro called it "the pinnacle of 16-bit gaming", praising its melding of boss fights, action, and platforming and saying it aged well.

[2][3][19] Davis and Theobald both criticized the exclusion of the Streets of Rage games in the North American version.

Davis stated he preferred them over Vectorman and Theobald said Sega should have just let the compilation get a Teen rating from the ESRB.

[24] Reviewers were generally divided over whether Sonic Gems Collection would leave players satisfied.

[22] Castro said the compilation was "decent" and worth its price tag, but was not as solid as Sonic Mega Collection.

[2] Bramwell was sarcastic: "if this sort of thing matters to you, if you still can't bear to unplug your Dreamcast, and you do own Virtua Fighter 4 and all the others and think they're brilliant, this is for you".

[23] When Famitsu named the best games of 2005, it ranked Sonic Gems Collection among the bottom of the PlayStation 2 and GameCube releases.