HD renaissance of the Rayman series by Ubi Montpellier under Michel Ancel. Absolutely sublime hand-painted 2D art direction, master-class platforming level design, four-player local co-op. Rayman, Globox and friends traverse ten themed worlds, many secrets, climbing challenge. Eclectic and catchy soundtrack. A triumphant renaissance, perhaps the best 2D platformer of the 2010s. Absolute must-own.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer1 player7+
Description
Platform game by Ubisoft Montpellier and Ubisoft, Europe November 2011. Rayman, Globox and the Teensies explore fantastical natural 2D stages filled with monsters to recover captured Electoons. Fluid 2D levels with exceptionally beautiful hand-drawn graphics, up to four-player co-op, spectacular bosses and secrets to unlock. Resurrection of original 2D side-scrolling Rayman acclaimed for its artistic ambition.
Rayman Origins review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
Entirely hand-drawn, this 2D festival overflows with vivid colours, sumptuous painted backgrounds and animation of enchanting fluidity. Each universe teems with visual ideas without ever harming the clarity of play. This graphic splendour, signed UbiArt, remains one of the finest of the generation.
Mischievous and virtuosic, the music blends jazz, world sonorities and zany choirs in a delightful profusion, right up to the musical levels where everything synchronises. Each track sparkles with inventiveness and matches the game's bouncing whimsy. This unbridled sonic creativity is the whole charm of this festival of colour.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Running, gliding, bouncing and striking in a flow of almost musical fluidity: the animation and the control response fuse to the point where movement becomes a pleasure in itself. The level design, paced like a score, multiplies ideas and peaks in exhilarating chases. Four-player co-op adds to the joyous chaos. Few 2D platformers reach such grace in the hand.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Running, gliding and bopping in a hand-drawn world of dazzling beauty, to a playful soundtrack: this platformer rekindles the series' magic with a gleeful fluidity. Four-player co-op turns the adventure into joyful madness. The levels brim with ideas and secrets, and the pace never lets up. Gorgeous, accessible and full of charm, a triumphant, timeless return.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Running, jumping and slapping enemies through levels of intoxicating fluidity lays out a platformer where every Lum collected and every secret push you to retrace the perfect line. Zany co-op, timed challenges and hidden worlds chain short objectives and rewards together. A few demanding levels sting, yet the grace of the movement and the visual generosity keep a lasting grip.
A 2D rebirth of Rayman by Ubisoft, a platformer of sumptuous animation from the UbiArt engine, praised for its joy of play and multiplayer co-op. Widely distributed in the West, its appeal stays measured but tinged with an esteem cult, its Wii run staying abundant. Its interest lies in this recognized graphic quality rather than scarcity.
Is Rayman Origins still worth playing in 2026?
Rayman Origins marks the return to grace of Ubisoft's mascot, and remains one of the finest 2D platformers of its generation. Its UbiArt art direction, made of hand-painted settings and animation of enchanting fluidity, has no equivalent and amazes at every level. The gameplay, of exemplary precision, combines generosity, inventiveness and a jubilant co-op for up to four players, ideal on Wii. The delirious humour and the sense of rhythm complete an experience tailored for fun. The genre ages very well by nature. For the fan of charming and demanding platforming, solo or in a group, this masterpiece remains fully recommendable.
