Rayman Is Officially Back In A Big Way With Rayman Legends Retold

1 week ago 28

Published Jun 2, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT

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Ubisoft is in a very precarious spot right now. As the industry continues to evolve, some of its franchises are struggling in the current market. However, the powerhouse publisher still has a lot of IPs up its sleeve, including one of the most iconic platforming mascots of all time.

Rayman started from humble beginnings, debuting on the original PlayStation in 1995. However, like many mascot platformers, the series struggled to adapt to the 2000s and came back gloriously in the 2010s. Rayman Origins was a fantastic reintroduction to the character, adding in some cheeky multiplayer for good measure to onboard new fans.

However, Rayman Legends is really where everything felt like a step-up, and the team had perfected the formula. Since then, things have been fairly quiet for Rayman. Legends has been re-released across multiple platforms, but there hasn't been much movement since then. That all changes with Rayman Legends Retold.

We had a chance to play several levels of Rayman Legends Retold in an early build, and things are already promising. Remaking a gorgeous hand-drawn platformer is an extremely bold choice, but the gameplay holds up in our time with it, focusing on platforming fundamentals, while offering brisk, fast-paced level designs combined with challenge stages that test your reaction time.

Murfy, a helper character of sorts, also returns in Retold. Originally, in the Wii U edition, he served as a touchpad-enabled way to manipulate the environment, but like other versions of the game, he's now controlled entirely by physical button presses. Murfy will automatically line up with specific objects, and an LB or RB (L1/R1) press can cut ropes or turn gears to create new platforming opportunities.

What I liked most about this edition of Legends is that it maintains the low-key stakes of the original but adds challenging elements if you're willing to take them on. In other words, breezing through some of the early stages isn't particularly difficult, but if you're going for a 100% rating, you might find several jumps to be a bit taxing. It's a great way for hardcore platformer enthusiasts to feel like they're accomplishing something without alienating a huge crowd of new Rayman fans.

While the jury is still out on the visuals for the final release of the game, the beauty of the backgrounds was immediately apparent when I first started playing. The night levels have fantastic lightning, and all the pratfalls and enemies are extremely clear. In addition to the remade visuals, other perks include revamped 3D portions of the game.

For many folks, Rayman Legends is already a 10/10 game. Ubisoft would really have to mess with it to make it less likable, and so far, things seem to be progressing nicely.

Rayman Legends Retold will debut on October 1 and retails at $39.99. Given how some games are twice as much now, it's not a bad deal if you have friends and family who are willing to play through a platforming classic.