Gamescom can be a bit of an overwhelming experience. With over 400 games on the show floor, a myriad of appointments to attend in one of 10 halls and over 300,000 people in attendance just getting to sit down and focus on a game can be a bit of a struggle. Luckily for me, I did have two appointments in the Ubisoft area in the B2B hall, where myself and a small group of creators got to sit and really experience the games on offer without the bustle of the show floor. The first, was the highly anticipated remake of Rayman Legends. The big question with Rayman Legends Retold was what exactly were the team going to improve? Why touch something that already felt timeless?

A Snowdrop Makeover

One of the biggest shifts on paper is the move away from the original 2D UbiArt engine to the Snowdrop engine. I saw some people being a bit sceptical about the move to 3D, but trust me the visuals are absolutely gorgeous.

Rather than washing away the illustrative soul of Michel Ancel’s world, Ubisoft Montpellier and Milan used 3D geometry to add breathtaking depth. Castle spires twist into the distance, dynamic volumetric lighting casts rich shadows across the worn stonework, and character models maintain every ounce of their bouncy, squash-and-stretch cartoon charm.

Tight Platforming, Dragon Rides, and Fully Voiced Beats

Mechanically, the rhythm of movement remains just as tactile and fast as fans remember. I replayed a few of the beginning levels of the original the weekend before Gamescom, and everything felt just as smooth and satisfying as the original game. Wall-kicks, airborne hover glides, and sprinting punch chains translate seamlessly into the new engine.

Where Retold flexes its remake muscle is in the pacing and additions:

• The New Flow: Fully voiced cutscenes and cinematic transitions now weave the realms together, giving Rayman, Globox, and Barbara a surprisingly narrative-driven playground without slowing down the platforming. We didn’t get the chance to dive into the co-op (understandably) but I’m sure it’ll be an absolute blast.
• Dragon-Riding Sequences: Replacing standard world transitions are new dynamic dragon-flight stages. Making full use of the new Snowdrop engine these 3D levels have Rayman hitching a ride on a Dragon; flying, dodging and fireballing his way through to the next stage. I was lucky enough to play two of these during my time, and they were fantastic. All of the chaos you’d expect from a set piece in a Rayman game, but now with a whole extra dimension to worry about!
• Streamlined Murfy Controls: Murfy’s interactions feel much more intuitive on modern hardware, integrated cleanly so you’re much less likely to fall into a spike pit when trying to activate a platform.
• Brand New World: We didn’t get the chance to get a sneak peak at the new 6th realm added to the game, but given the rest of the new additions, gameplay improvements and gorgeous visuals I can’t imagine anyone jumping into Rayman Retold LEgends will be disappointed with more new Rayman!

Heeeyy! Macarena!

The crown jewel of the Gamescom showcase was the reveal of Retold’s brand-new musical levels. The original’s musical levels are fan favourites and Ubisoft have really hit it out of the park with the new stages on offer. As part of the demo we got to jump into a pasta-fueled run set to Los Del Río’s Macarena (yes the one from the trailer!).

It was pure, unadulterated joy. Every single drum beat, horn flare, and iconic vocal inflection is married to a platforming cue, so even though it is later in the game – so a lot harder than the initial levels we got to try in the demo – I managed to clear it on my second attempt!

The Verdict

Rayman Legends Retold doesn’t feel like a cynical graphical coat of paint. Between the stunning Snowdrop visual overhaul, the fluid dragon-riding set pieces, and four brand-new musical courses (not to mention the included Origins: Enhanced Edition bundled in), this is shaping up to be the definitive platformer of late 2026.

Ubisoft’s limbless hero has been away for far too long, but if this preview build is any indication, his grand return is hitting every high note.