Rayman Legends Retold Hands-On Preview: Rayman Is Back, and Better Than Ever
It’s been a long time since Rayman has had the spotlight. While the character has continued to pop up here and there over the years, it never really felt like Ubisoft knew what to do with him after his last mainline release, Rayman Legends. Believe it or not, that was 13 years ago, and fans have been wanting to see the iconic mascot in another game since then. Well, Ubisoft has answered, though it’s not exactly a new game, as they’re remaking Rayman Legends. For a game that many fans already considered to be close to platforming perfection, the unsurprising response that many of you probably have is why?
Well, I’m not one to oppose a remake, especially when it’s done so well, and after being invited by Ubisoft to get an early hands-on look at Rayman Legends Retold and spending two hours playing it, I actually understand why they chose to remake it, because quite frankly, this might be one of the best reimaginings I’ve seen for a remake of a 2D game, as this is more than just a simple graphical facelift. It’s a complete overhaul of the original experience, featuring new visuals and music, cinematics, and even new story content and gameplay mechanics.
Rayman Legends Retold is a Full 3D Graphical Overhaul, With Some Surprising New Additions
Before jumping into the demo itself, Ubisoft gave a presentation outlining some of the biggest changes coming in Rayman Legends Retold. While the original game serves as the foundation, this version expands on it quite a bit. A new story arc has been added, new cutscenes have been created, and several gameplay mechanics are making their debut.
One of the first things that stood out was the visual presentation. For those who don’t remember, the original Rayman Legends featured a hand-drawn 2D art style. It was charming at the time, and in all fairness, it still holds up very well today. Which does raise the question of why it’s even being remade, but I’m always open to seeing something from a new perspective, and that’s precisely what Rayman Legends Retold aims to deliver, as it shifts from 2D art to 3D art. Rayman Legends Retold still looks unmistakably like Rayman, but the move toward a more immersive 3D art style immediately gives the game a different feel from the original. It maintains its charms, as Ubisoft tried to replicate many of the original scenes, but now in much greater depth, with expanded environments. These shine especially true during newly crafted cinematic cutscenes.
I saw plenty during the preview, and they all looked fantastic, almost Pixar quality tier. They’re fully voiced too, which, coupled with the shift to a fully 3D presentation, adds a lot more personality to the cast, and it honestly feels like a natural evolution for the series. Ubisoft also confirmed that David Gasman is returning as Rayman alongside Billy West as Murphy, which should be welcome news for longtime fans.
Music is also receiving a major focus. Christophe Héral returns to work on the soundtrack, this time alongside Grant Kirkhope. According to Ubisoft, the pair have created roughly 55 minutes of new music specifically for the additional levels and story content being added in Retold. The musical levels from the original game are also returning, which I think many fans will be delighted to hear.
Of course, none of that really matters if the game doesn’t feel good to play. Thankfully, Rayman Legends Retold still feels excellent.
Within minutes of picking up the controller, everything immediately clicked. Movement feels fast, responsive, and incredibly smooth. Whether I was wall-running, gliding, chaining jumps together, or simply trying to collect every last Lum hidden throughout a stage, the game constantly felt like it encouraged experimentation.
One thing I found myself doing a lot was trying to break from the intended path through levels. There were multiple moments where it felt like Ubisoft expected players to move through a platforming section one way, only for me to realize I could bypass half of it through a well-timed jump or by combining abilities together in a way that probably wasn’t intended. Instead of punishing that curiosity, the game seemed to embrace it, and those moments became some of my favorites from the demo.
The biggest surprise for me, however, was the Dragon Ride levels.
Going into the preview, I assumed dragons would simply be used as transportation between worlds. That is partially true, but Ubisoft has also built entire levels around them. These sections put players directly in control of a dragon as they fly through large 3D environments filled with hazards, obstacles, and platforming challenges. This isn’t being played from the traditional 2D scrolling perspective. You are literally flying around in a 3D environment, almost as if Ubisoft is potentially hinting towards something bigger in Rayman’s future (speculation on my part).
These new sections are undoubtedly the highlight for me.
Not only do they offer a completely different pace compared to the traditional side-scrolling gameplay, but they somehow still feel right at home in a Rayman game. It is one of those ideas that sounds strange when you first hear it, but after playing it for a few minutes, you start wondering why the series never tried something like this before.
Outside of the Dragon Ride levels, Ubisoft confirmed that Rayman Legends Retold will include five entirely new platforming stages, a brand-new sixth world called the Land of the Living Dead, a new final boss encounter, and a new ending. Players will also unlock a new ability, the Power of Light, which plays a major role in the newly added content.
Returning modes include Kung Foot Evo and the Cave of Trials, while couch co-op support returns for up to four players. Unfortunately, there will be no online co-op, which feels like a missed opportunity, especially given how much fun local multiplayer can be.
That said, after spending two hours with the game, it was hard to walk away disappointed.
More than anything, what stood out to me was how much personality Rayman Legends Retold still has. The humor is intact, the platforming feels fantastic, and the new additions seem designed to complement the original experience rather than replace it.
I left the preview wanting to play more, which is probably the best compliment I can give it. Rayman has been gone for a long time, but based on what I played, it feels like he’s finally making the comeback fans have been waiting for.
Rayman Legends Retold launches on October 1, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC for $39.99. After my time with the preview build, it’s a release I’ll be keeping a close eye on.
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