Rayman Legends Retold: We Played Two Hours of This 3D Remake of the Best Rayman Game

Ubisoft has officially unveiled Rayman Legends Retold, a comprehensive 3D reimagining of the 2013 platforming classic. The title is slated for an October 1 release across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. While the transition to a 3D environment might sound like a significant departure, the game retains the soul of the original 2D experience, effectively functioning as a 2.5D platformer powered by Ubisoft’s robust Snowdrop engine—the same technology behind Star Wars Outlaws and The Division 2.

I recently visited Ubisoft Montpellier in France, where the team is co-developing the project alongside Ubisoft Milan. After spending two hours with the game, I explored the initial stages, including the “Old Teensie Kingdom” and “The Stinkbog.” I also tested the new dragon-riding sequences—which evoke the high-speed thrills of Star Fox—sampled the haunting “Land of the Dead,” and tackled a pair of high-energy musical levels. While I initially felt protective of the original’s iconic hand-drawn charm, I was quickly won over by the visual evolution. The 3D models are rendered with a deliberate, whimsical style that maintains the original’s playful aesthetic while introducing impressive depth through complex foreground and background layering.

Check out the reveal trailer below:

Retold supports local co-op for up to four players, allowing friends to jump in as Rayman, Globox, Teensy, or Barbara. Fans will be pleased to know that “Kung-Foot”—the beloved soccer-inspired mini-game—makes a triumphant return. More importantly, the core platforming mechanics remain unchanged; the game feels just as tight and responsive as it did over a decade ago. Developers demonstrated how they’ve mapped the original 2D physics onto 3D assets, using clever perspective tricks to preserve that classic, precision-based platforming feel.

One of the most striking additions is the parallax scrolling, which provides a sense of scale absent in the original. This is particularly noticeable during the dragon-riding segments, which serve as bridge levels between worlds. These stages play like intense arcade shooters, tasking you with shielding Teensies from harm while navigating treacherous terrain. There is even a dedicated “fart” button for the dragon, which serves no discernable tactical purpose, though it certainly provided a moment of juvenile amusement during my play session.

Beyond the returning musical stages, the developers are addressing one of the biggest criticisms of the original: its lackluster finale. I was shown glimpses of a mysterious new antagonist—a shrouded, purple-eyed figure with the power to corrupt the world—aimed at providing a more climactic and rewarding conclusion to the journey.

With an updated soundtrack featuring new compositions by Grant Kirkhope, Rayman Legends Retold is shaping up to be a masterful update of a modern classic. For an in-depth breakdown of the game’s production, including interviews with the art directors and animators behind the project, look for my six-page feature in the upcoming issue of Game Informer.