Ubisoft has dug into the vault and dusted off a classic with the announcement of Rayman Legends Retold releasing October 1, 2026.
This is not simply a port of the original PlayStation 3-era classic. It's a full-on reimagining of how the game could be designed using the processing power of today's consoles, while still being true to the story, poetry, and fun of the original.
Ahead of the announcement of this release, I was invited to play the work-in-progress build for approximately 90 minutes. If you're a Rayman fan, then you're going to like what's in store!
Rayman Legends Retold - Everything we know so far
The upcoming Rayman Legends Retold game will be a reimagining of the critically-acclaimed Rayman Legends platformer that was released in 2013 and published by Ubisoft.
I say "reimagining" because we've had plenty of ports to play the original Rayman Legends game on multiple consoles in multiple compilations, but this new version introduces many additional elements.
The new version of the game includes 2.5D and 3D gameplay sequences, a new map connecting all the different levels in a way we've never seen before, and new abilities which would ultimately lead to a new ending in the game's story.
Let's dig a little deeper.
Sidescrolling but add 3D
All the main beats from the original gameplay are in this sidescrolling adventure; however, it's not always a sidescroller anymore. New 2.5D and incredibly fun 3D gameplay experiences have been added to Rayman Legends Untold.
In my test period, I explored lush jungles with ancient ruins in the distance. Swung my way across bogs laden with traps. But the standout experience was the new 3D "Dragon Ride," which is a brand new gameplay mechanic for travelling between lands.
At an early-ish point in your adventure, you'll encounter some tough-looking dragons, but you quickly discover not only are they friendly to you (thanks to some handy dragon biscuits), they're also helpful. You mount a dragon in order to safely transport your "Teensies" across vast distances, dodging enemy weapons, weaving through fortresses, cascading down waterfalls, and navigating treacherous mines.
As you take fire or accidentally crash into objects, your "Teensies" pay the price. Many of mine did not make the full journey, and it took me three tries to successfully navigate my first dragonflight, but it was so fun, and each time you learn the route a little better, building your confidence for your next attempt. This new 3D aspect adds a fun new challenge to make the game feel fresh, even if you've played this classic many times in the past.
Interconnected maps
As mentioned above, you'll be travelling between realms a lot. And for the first time, these realms are now organized in a new world map.
The map logically collects and places the realms together in a way we haven't seen in the original. As you play through the different levels, you'll see each region has a distinct identity that carries through each level, and each realm is distinct from the others.
The global map is a cool add-on for fans to feel more immersed in the world of the game and, overall, makes things feel more cohesive when you're imagining the lore of the lands you're exploring.
New elements, new ending
While I didn't experience these first-hand in my gameplay, I did learn that there are new levels and an entirely new world (the land of the living dead) to explore. To safely traverse this new land, Rayman inherits a new ability, the power of light, which will allow him to not only conquer this new land, but the new ability will influence story aspects for the sixth and final world, ultimately leading to an original ending that wouldn't have been possible in the original because of this new ability. Users will also enjoy brand-new cutscenes that weren't part of the original story.
Beyond that, the musical score has been enhanced and added to, with 55 minutes of new music to go along with the existing one hour and 13 minutes of music that would be familiar from the original. The game has been dubbed in eight languages, so more players around the globe can enjoy it. And aside from some new characters being introduced, 10 main characters in the game will now have newly added voices to further enhance the storytelling aspect when you revisit the world of Rayman.
What's still the same in Rayman Legends Retold
If you loved the original, don't worry. All the core elements gamers liked from the first version are still present. The bulk of the story remains the same (just with the option of a new ending now). The core gameplay mechanics (floating to navigate large jumps in the Stink Bog, collecting Teensies, entering portals to explore new levels) are all there.
Additionally, Kung Foot Mode (the soccer-like mini game – I'm from Canada so we call it soccer, not football) and the Cave of Trials (the endless platformer challenge mode) will be part of this new experience as well. Gamers can enjoy couch co-op to play with a total of four people.
Is Rayman Legends Retold Worth It?
After playing 90 minutes of this game, I can say I was left wanting SO much more. I was warned many times during my remote playing session that this was an "early build, beta version, and things may not be fully polished." I was blown away with the status of the game as-is. So, I can't even imagine how great the final version is going to be if the relatively short preview version I experienced was so good.
This is absolutely not a case where a studio was like, "Hmm…how can we quickly make some money by exploiting the nostalgia of gamers?" Rayman Legends Retold is a love letter to fans of this game and franchise. The purity that's maintained from the original shows the studio treasures the original. The new cutscenes, 3D sequences, and sound designs are thoughtful enhancements to make the game feel new.
Come October 1, Rayman Legends Retold is a must-buy, in my opinion, for anyone looking for a fun platformer experience, whether you played the original or not.
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