😍 Rayman Legends: Retold has been remade in Ubisoft’s 3D Snowdrop engine with fully voiced cinematics, launching December 3, 2026
🎶 It includes new musical levels, Dragon Ride shoot-’em-up stages, the Sixth Realm, and reworked Kung Foot 2.0 with online multiplayer
💗 Retains tight 2D platforming controls while adding a ‘Golden Heart’ invincibility option for newer players
🆓 Bundles a 4K remaster of Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition at no extra cost across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC
The video game industry isn’t shy about leaning on its past successes, often remaking and remastering its greatest hits to fill the gaps between major releases and plump up the coffers by monetizing nostalgia.
Rayman Legends felt like one of those games that didn’t really need a remake – it was already close to perfect and earned glowing reviews. Yet after spending over three hours hands-on with a work-in-progress build of Rayman Legends: Retold, it’s clear Ubisoft has surpassed the original in every way.
It’s clear Ubisoft has surpassed the original in every way.
Though we’ll have to wait a little longer than planned after a delay to December 3 from its original October 1 release date, fans of the limbless hero can rest assured that Rayman Legends: Retold is shaping up to be a sensational remake of Ubisoft’s classic platformer.
🥰 Ubisoft’s Snowdrop engine changes everything. The shift from 2D to 3D visuals makes everything feel brand-new in Rayman Legends: Retold. Ubisoft’s Snowdrop engine breathes new life into every aspect of the game, from the lighting, textures, and character animations; the whimsical world of Rayman has never felt more believable and inviting.
🪇 New musical stages are a blast. Rayman Legends’ musical stages were one of the game’s most beloved features, and they remain just as fun today. Thankfully, Ubisoft has added new levels to Retold, including larger-than-life twists on the ‘Macarena’ and ‘Eye of the Tiger’. I challenge anyone not to smile while playing through these rhythm-driven delights.
Ubisoft’s Snowdrop engine breathes new life into every aspect of the game.
🍿 Fully voiced cinematics. New hand-animated cutscenes with fully voiced cinematics drive up the production values of Rayman Legends: Retold. We’ve seen just how successful animated video game movies can be after The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and it feels like Ubisoft could create an enjoyable family-focused film after watching Retold’s cinematics unfold.
🏰 The Sixth Realm will please returning players. As with any remake, newcomers will arguably get the most out of it, but veterans aren’t left behind – the new Sixth Realm introduces unique abilities to master and cutscenes to enjoy. It doesn’t feel out of place, and is
🔥 Dragon Ride levels offer a welcome change of pace. Another new addition to Rayman Legends: Untold is the Dragon Ride levels, which transform the game into a dazzling shoot-’em-up. They’re a nice palate cleanser from the core platforming, and showcases just how impressive the game looks running on Ubisoft’s Snowdrop engine.
😲 There’s a wealth of content on offer. You won’t run out of things to do in Rayman Legends: Retold. Not only are there hundreds of Teensies to save as you progress, but there are Invasion levels (challenging, remixed versions of existing stages), online leaderboards, the aforementioned Sixth Realm, and a reworked Kung Foot 2.0, the game’s chaotic football-style minigame, which includes online multiplayer. Oh, and there are loads of costumes to unlock for the game’s cast of colorful characters.
👏 Pinpoint platforming is retained. Shifting from 2D to 3D and from the UbiArt engine to Snowdrop could have introduced noticeable changes to the game’s feel and controls, but everything felt tight and responsive. I never felt like the game was at fault for my mistakes, and the game’s frame rate and performance seemed excellent throughout, even while playing via a remote stream.
👨👩👧👦 Accessible to younger players. Rayman Legends: Retold features a ‘Golden Heart’ that, when enabled, makes you invincible. You’ll be offered it if you die repeatedly at a certain point, and it lets more novice players enjoy the game without frustration. Checkpoints are also frequent and well-placed, so you’re never too harshly punished if you mess up.
💰 Rayman Origins: Enhanced Edition sweetens the deal. Even though Rayman Legends: Retold is launching at a lower price, buyers will also receive the remastered Rayman: Origins Enhanced Edition at no extra cost. After playing through several levels, the gorgeous 4K visuals, rock-solid performance and welcome gameplay tweaks elevate the experience. It’s a generous inclusion that Ubisoft could have easily sold separately.
Welcome back, Rayman
Despite my initial skepticism, Rayman Legends: Retold feels like a fantastic foundation for Ubisoft to build upon and exactly the type of game that repositions Rayman as a tentpole IP. With the Snowdrop engine and a successful gameplay formula already in place, the future of Ubisoft’s plucky platforming icon suddenly seems brighter than ever.
The future of Ubisoft’s plucky platforming icon suddenly seems brighter than ever.
Rayman Legends: Retold releases on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC on December 3, 2026.
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Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.