Rayman Legends Retold is an ambitious return for one of gaming's most colorful and entertaining platforming franchises. Rather than simply putting a new coat of paint on the classic Rayman Legends, Ubisoft is rebuilding the experience with new visuals, expanded storytelling, additional gameplay content, and a fresh sixth realm.
For longtime Rayman fans, that makes Rayman Legends Retold particularly interesting. The original Rayman Legends was already considered one of the strongest modern 2D platformers, so Ubisoft had a difficult task. The challenge was to modernize the game without losing the precise platforming, humor, personality, and creativity that made the original so memorable.
Based on the announced features and hands-on previews, Rayman Legends Retold appears to be taking that challenge seriously.
The Launch Edition is particularly appealing to physical-game collectors because it includes more than just the disc. Ubisoft says the retail Launch Edition includes the base game, Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition, a printed Glade of Dreams map, three lithographs, and a slipcase.
Overview
Rayman Legends Retold is scheduled for release on PlayStation 5 on October 1, 2026. The game is being developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and Ubisoft Milan.
At its core, Retold remains a fast-paced side-scrolling platformer. Players control Rayman and his friends as they jump, glide, punch enemies, collect items, rescue Teensies, defeat bosses, and explore colorful fantasy environments.
The biggest difference is presentation.
Instead of simply reproducing the original's mostly two-dimensional artwork, Retold uses a new 3D visual approach while retaining the basic 2D platforming structure. The result is essentially a 2.5D experience that attempts to combine the clarity of traditional side-scrolling gameplay with greater environmental depth.
That is an interesting direction because Rayman has always been a character who works particularly well with imaginative environments.
Story
Rayman Legends Retold introduces a new story surrounding the familiar Rayman universe.
The Glade of Dreams is threatened by a mysterious villain who spreads corruption throughout the various realms. Rayman, Globox, Barbara, Grand Minimus, and Murphy must work together to restore peace and rescue the captured Teensies.
This expanded story is one of the most significant differences between Retold and the original Rayman Legends.
The remake includes fully voiced cinematics and additional character interactions. Ubisoft has also introduced a new antagonist and a mysterious sixth realm.
For players who remember the original primarily as a collection of fantastic platforming stages connected by a relatively lightweight story, the expanded narrative should give the adventure a greater sense of continuity.
The addition of voiced cinematics is also a welcome modernization. Rayman's bizarre characters and exaggerated personalities are naturally suited to expressive animation and voice work.
Gameplay
The most important question with any remake of a beloved platformer is simple.
Does it still feel good to play?
Everything Ubisoft has shown so far suggests that the answer is yes.
The fundamental Rayman formula remains intact. Players jump across platforms, attack enemies, glide through dangerous areas, collect Lums, rescue Teensies, discover secrets, and navigate increasingly challenging stages.
That simplicity is part of Rayman Legends' appeal.
There is very little unnecessary complexity standing between the player and the platforming. You learn the controls quickly, but mastering the levels requires considerably more skill.
The game can be approachable for younger or less experienced players while still providing plenty of challenges for veteran platforming fans.
New gameplay additions should also prevent Retold from feeling like nothing more than a graphical remake.
Dragon rides are among the more unusual additions. These sections introduce a different style of action and provide a break from traditional platforming.
There is also the Cave of Trials, which provides ongoing challenges for players who want to test their skills.
Musical Levels
One of the defining features of Rayman Legends has always been its musical stages, and Retold expands this idea.
Four new musical stages are being added, with gameplay designed around the rhythm of the soundtrack.
These levels are among the most memorable concepts in the Rayman series because they combine platforming with music. Instead of simply listening to a great soundtrack while playing, the player essentially becomes part of the music.
Jumps, attacks, movements, and environmental events can all be synchronized with the rhythm.
This creates a completely different feeling from ordinary platforming stages.
The expanded soundtrack also brings together returning material and new compositions, with Christophe Héral and Grant Kirkhope contributing to the music.
Graphics and Presentation
The visual overhaul is arguably the biggest change in Rayman Legends Retold.
The original Rayman Legends used a beautiful hand-drawn artistic style. It still looks remarkably good, which makes replacing its visual presentation a risky decision.
Retold instead uses a new 3D presentation designed to preserve the personality and colorful fantasy of the original while giving the environments more depth.
The camera can move, tilt, and emphasize different parts of the environment. Background and foreground elements can provide additional visual depth while the actual platforming remains focused on the traditional side-scrolling structure.
Early hands-on impressions suggest that Ubisoft has been careful not to sacrifice gameplay clarity for visual spectacle.
That is extremely important.
A platformer can have spectacular graphics, but if players cannot easily determine where their character can land, visual improvements become a disadvantage.
Retold appears designed to maintain the clean gameplay of the original while making the world feel more alive.
PlayStation 5 Features
The PlayStation 5 is a natural platform for this type of visual remake.
Retold is designed specifically for current-generation hardware, and the game supports the PS5's DualSense controller features.
The improved hardware also allows Ubisoft to create more detailed environments, richer animation, dynamic camera movement, and more expressive cinematics.
The game is also PS5 Pro Enhanced.
For players with a PS5 Pro, that could make Retold particularly attractive as a showcase for Ubisoft's updated visual direction.
Multiplayer
One of Rayman's greatest strengths has always been its local multiplayer.
Rayman Legends Retold continues that tradition with support for up to four players in couch co-op.
This is an important feature because cooperative platformers can be remarkably entertaining when played with family or friends.
Players can work together to complete stages, collect Lums, rescue Teensies, and overcome obstacles.
Of course, four-player Rayman can also become chaotic very quickly.
That chaos is part of the fun.
Players can accidentally interfere with each other, knock one another around, or turn a carefully planned section into complete mayhem.
The game embraces that playful atmosphere rather than trying to make cooperative gameplay overly serious.
Kung Foot
Kung Foot also returns.
This quirky mini-game combines elements of soccer and arcade combat. The objective is straightforward, but the resulting matches can become surprisingly competitive.
Retold improves Kung Foot with updated controls, power-ups, and customizable rules.
For families or groups of friends, this could provide plenty of additional entertainment after completing the main adventure.
The Launch Edition
The Launch Edition is especially interesting for physical-media collectors.
Unlike the digital versions, the retail Launch Edition includes several physical extras.
The package contains:
Rayman Legends Retold
Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition
Printed Glade of Dreams map
Three lithographs
Slipcase
That makes the Launch Edition more than a standard physical copy.
The inclusion of Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition is particularly valuable because it effectively gives buyers another major Rayman platforming adventure.
Rayman Origins has been enhanced with 4K visuals, 60 FPS presentation, new collectibles and rewards, haptic feedback support, and quality-of-life improvements.
For someone who enjoys physical games and wants a substantial Rayman package, the Launch Edition makes a lot of sense.
Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition
Including Rayman Origins is one of the smartest decisions Ubisoft has made with Retold.
Origins was the game that helped establish the modern Rayman platforming style, while Legends expanded and refined that formula.
Having both games together allows players to experience the evolution of the franchise.
The enhanced version also gives longtime fans another reason to revisit Origins.
New players who have never played it receive an excellent introduction to the modern Rayman style.
Difficulty
Rayman games have a reputation for being deceptively challenging.
The colorful presentation can make the games look like simple children's platformers, but later stages can demand excellent timing, quick reactions, and memorization.
That balance should remain one of Retold's strengths.
Early levels can be welcoming and accessible, while later challenges should provide considerably more resistance.
Collecting everything also increases the difficulty substantially.
Simply reaching the end of a level is one goal.
Finding every collectible, rescuing every Teensie, and mastering every challenge is another.
That gives completionists plenty of reasons to keep playing after finishing the main story.
Soundtrack
Music has always been a major part of Rayman's identity.
The musical stages in particular demonstrate how effectively Ubisoft can combine soundtrack and gameplay.
Retold expands the soundtrack while retaining the musical personality of the original.
Christophe Héral returns to the project, while Grant Kirkhope also contributes.
The combination should provide a soundtrack that matches the game's colorful environments and unpredictable sense of humor.
Replay Value
Replay value is another major strength.
The main campaign already offers plenty of content, but players who want to see everything will have significantly more work ahead of them.
Collectibles, challenge stages, musical levels, multiplayer, Kung Foot, and additional content give the game considerable longevity.
The addition of a sixth realm is especially important for returning players.
Someone who has already completed the original Rayman Legends may wonder whether another playthrough is worthwhile.
The new story, visual presentation, musical stages, dragon-riding sections, and sixth realm provide several reasons to return.
What I Like About Rayman Legends Retold
The biggest strength is that Ubisoft does not appear to be treating this as a simple remaster.
The game has been substantially reworked.
The new visual style gives the world a different personality while retaining the core platforming mechanics.
The expanded story is another welcome addition.
The sixth realm and four new musical stages provide new material for returning players, while the inclusion of Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition significantly increases the overall value of the package.
Four-player couch co-op is also a major advantage.
There are not enough modern platformers that focus heavily on local multiplayer, so Rayman Legends Retold has an opportunity to fill an important niche.
The Launch Edition's physical extras are another positive for collectors.
What Could Be Better
The biggest potential concern is the visual change.
The original Rayman Legends had an exceptionally beautiful hand-drawn art style. Some longtime fans may prefer that appearance to the new 3D presentation.
A remake can improve graphics while still losing some of the artistic character of the original.
That will ultimately come down to personal preference.
Another potential issue is that the core game is based on a 2013 platformer that already played extremely well.
Players who own Rayman Legends may reasonably ask whether they need another version.
For those players, the value depends heavily on how much they appreciate the new story, sixth realm, visual overhaul, new musical stages, dragon-riding sections, and other additions.
The lack of online multiplayer may also disappoint some players who prefer playing with friends remotely. The major multiplayer focus is local couch co-op.
Who Should Buy It?
Rayman fans should be at the front of the line.
If you enjoyed Rayman Legends, Retold offers enough new material to make another trip through the Glade of Dreams appealing.
Fans of platforming games should also pay attention.
The game combines accessible controls with increasingly demanding challenges, making it suitable for both casual players and experienced platforming enthusiasts.
Families are another obvious audience.
Four-player couch co-op makes this a particularly attractive game for households looking for something that multiple people can enjoy together.
Physical game collectors should also consider the Launch Edition because of its map, lithographs, slipcase, and inclusion of Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition.
Final Verdict
Rayman Legends Retold looks like one of the more interesting platformer remakes coming to the PlayStation 5.
Instead of simply increasing the resolution and calling it a day, Ubisoft is attempting to rethink the presentation while expanding the story and adding meaningful new gameplay.
The new 3D visual style is a significant departure from the original, but the underlying platforming remains focused on the precise, fast-moving gameplay that made Rayman Legends so enjoyable.
The sixth realm, four new musical stages, dragon rides, Cave of Trials, expanded soundtrack, voiced cinematics, improved Kung Foot, and four-player couch co-op give players plenty to explore.
The Launch Edition is arguably the most attractive version for physical-media fans because it includes Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition along with several collectible extras.
At the announced $39.99 price point for the standard game, Rayman Legends Retold also looks competitively priced for a modern reimagining of a classic platformer.
The biggest question is whether longtime fans will prefer the new 3D presentation to the original's hand-drawn artwork. That is something that cannot be answered purely by specifications or trailers.
However, based on the information available before release, Ubisoft appears to have preserved the most important ingredient: the fun.
Rayman Legends Retold has the potential to introduce a new generation of players to one of Ubisoft's most charming characters while giving longtime fans a legitimate reason to return to the Glade of Dreams.
For platforming fans, families, Rayman enthusiasts, and physical-game collectors, the Launch Edition deserves serious consideration.
Overall Rating: 9 out of 10
Pros
Excellent platforming foundation
Beautiful new 3D presentation
Expanded story and voiced cinematics
New sixth realm
Four new musical stages
Dragon-riding sections
Cave of Trials challenges
Improved Kung Foot
Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition included
Physical Launch Edition extras
Cons
The new visual style may not appeal to everyone
Longtime owners of Rayman Legends may question whether they need another version
No online multiplayer for cooperative play
Final Recommendation
Rayman Legends Retold Launch Edition is shaping up to be much more than a simple remake. It combines the proven platforming formula of Rayman Legends with a redesigned presentation, additional story content, new challenges, new musical stages, and a bonus enhanced version of Rayman Origins.
For PlayStation 5 owners who enjoy colorful, fast-paced platformers, it is a game worth watching closely.
For Rayman fans, the Launch Edition could be one of the most attractive physical releases of the year.
