The Special Stages (スペシャルステージ Supesharusutēji?), also referred to as Special Zones and Secret Zones, are locations that appear in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. They are dimensions separate from Sonic's world, where one can obtain the Chaos Emeralds or, in some cases, other mystical items. Special Stages can be accessed via various means from Sonic's world and, in other cases, from planets, floating continents, and different dimensions.