A high-water mark for the 2D platformer, fully realised in this definitive cut. The musical levels remain showstopping set pieces, and the hand-drawn animation is endlessly elegant. Played four-handed, it's a riot of fluid joy.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer4 players7+
Co-op
Description
Rayman and friends romp through enchanting stages to free captive Teensies. Published by Ubisoft, released worldwide in 2017. Hand-drawn platforming, the flying ally Murfy, rousing musical levels and co-op for up to four players.
Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
The UbiArt engine works wonders: hand-painted backdrops, incredibly fluid animation and musical levels where everything bounces in time. This colourful fairyland, overflowing with imagination and visual gags, remains a dazzling showcase for the 2D platformer.
Christophe Héral and Billy Martin dress each world in its own sonic color, from hushed jazz to mariachi fanfares. And then come those musical levels where every jump syncs to the melody: "Castle Rock" and its cult rock covers turn platforming into a gleeful rhythmic choreography. Few games fuse sound and motion this completely.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
It's hard to find smoother 2D platforming: the hand-drawn animation hasn't aged a day and every jump breathes precision. The level design overflows with invention, from the impeccable timing of the musical stages to the frantic chase phases. Unlocking the Teensies feels repetitive, but the generosity and four-player co-op make it a benchmark with no superior equivalent.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Running, jumping and punching through scenery bursting with color feels almost like dancing. The musical levels, where every obstacle hits on the beat, are moments of pure joy, especially shared with friends. The visual generosity and pinpoint controls invite you to replay for the sheer pleasure of motion, far beyond simply reaching the end of a stage.
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾5 GB📅12/09/2017
Published by Ubisoft
Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition (Nintendo Switch) price, value & rarity
Michel Ancel's team turns each finale into a rhythmic firework: Rayman Legends bosses warp to the beat, stack acrobatic phases and demand pinpoint timing. The music levels push the idea even further, syncing every jump to the score. It's pure platforming joy, readable, frantic and endlessly replayable.
An underrated gem
Widely seen as one of the genre's peaks, this platforming feast is still played less than it deserves on Switch, where it blended into the crowd of ports. Its hand-drawn art and music-driven stages keep an undimmed vitality. Four-player co-op makes it a couch delight, perfect for families or friends after fun that's both instant and dazzlingly skilful.
Better with friends
Pinpoint jumps and good-natured chaos live side by side: you bump into each other, revive a buddy who fell into the void and fail together in a great burst of laughter. The cooperation for up to four is wonderfully accessible, and the Kung Foot mode slips a dose of deliriously silly football competition between two stages. Colourful and instant, it launches in a heartbeat and delights kids and veterans alike.
Is Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition still worth playing in 2026?
Rayman Legends remains, years after release, one of the absolute peaks of modern 2D platforming. Its hand-drawn animation hasn't aged a second, and its level design overflows with invention, from the timing of the musical stages to the frantic escape sequences. The Definitive Edition adds content and ideal portability for short bursts. The Teensy-unlock structure feels a touch repetitive, but the generosity, fluidity and four-player co-op make it a benchmark with simply no superior equivalent.
