Rayman Origins

A beautifully animated, brilliantly scored, exquisitely judged platformer, equally modern and classic.

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Rayman Origins is a 2D side-scrolling platformer, returning to the series' roots with high-definition graphics and four-player co-op. When the Glade of Dreams is overrun by evil Darktoons, the Fairy Council calls on Rayman and his friends to restore peace and save their home. With humorous gameplay and a variety of levels, Rayman Origins offers a fun and challenging experience for players. Note: Online features will no longer be available from 2024-01-25.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,155 reviews

music183 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Stunning hand-drawn graphics and vibrant art style that captivates players.
Engaging and fluid platforming mechanics that are easy to learn but hard to master.
Fun multiplayer experience that allows for chaotic co-op play with friends.

Occasional difficulty spikes that can lead to frustration, especially in later levels.
Lack of online multiplayer and achievements, which limits replayability.
Some players experience technical issues, such as controller recognition problems and game-breaking bugs.

music
291 mentions
63 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its exceptional quality, catchy tunes, and ability to enhance the whimsical atmosphere of the gameplay. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's diversity, with memorable tracks that fit various imaginative environments, making it a standout feature of the overall experience. While some note that the music can become repetitive over time, the general consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “The music is exceptional, the artwork incredible to look at as you traverse an imaginative world in one of the most exhilarating platformers I have ever played.”
- “The soundtrack is a joy to the ears, featuring catchy tunes that perfectly complement the game's whimsical atmosphere.”
- “Rayman Origins is a delight for the eyes and ears with its colorful and creative level themes, slick animations, and catchy soundtrack.”
- “This game would however benefit from a more extensive soundtrack.”
- “The music stands out with some really catchy tunes, but in a number of instances focuses a lot on childish sounds and themes that may become irritating to some people after a while.”
- “The music was unique, but the loops caused by dying repeatedly mean that any nice melodies are quickly forgotten.”
graphics
281 mentions
74 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of Rayman Origins are widely praised for their stunning hand-drawn art style, vibrant colors, and fluid animations, creating a visually captivating experience that still impresses today. Reviewers highlight the game's whimsical aesthetic and charming character designs, which enhance the overall platforming experience. The combination of beautiful visuals and an engaging soundtrack contributes to its status as a standout title in the platformer genre.
- “Rayman Origins shines with its stunning hand-drawn visuals and fluid animation.”
- “The hand-drawn art style is nothing short of a work of art, and it's clear that Ubisoft Montpellier poured their hearts and souls into creating this visual masterpiece.”
- “The graphics are absolutely beautiful and it has awesome gameplay to match.”
- “Game looks really fun and I can tell it would be if it wasn't for the fact that it's not compatible with my graphics driver.”
- “This game's art style, world, and gameplay are wasted on its boring and tedious level design.”
- “Repetitive, with irritating controls and a 'safe' art style that comes across as more generic than ingratiating.”
gameplay
237 mentions
52 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Rayman Origins is characterized by its fluid controls, engaging platforming mechanics, and vibrant level design that keeps players entertained and challenged. While the core mechanics are simple, the game introduces a variety of obstacles and challenges that maintain a sense of discovery, though some players note a tendency towards repetitiveness in level design. Overall, the combination of charming visuals, whimsical humor, and solid gameplay makes it a standout title in the platforming genre.
- “The gameplay is based on simple rules: running, jumping, and avoiding obstacles, but the variety of levels and opponents makes it never boring.”
- “The level design features a mix of intricate platforming challenges and clever obstacles that keep the gameplay engaging.”
- “With satisfying physics that are a dream to control, inspired and varied level themes with unique mechanics, Rayman Origins is a staple in the platformer genre that deserves every bit of praise and recognition it receives.”
- “One of the major drawbacks of Rayman Origins is its tendency towards repetitive gameplay.”
- “While the core platforming mechanics are solid, the levels can sometimes feel formulaic, with similar types of challenges and obstacles reappearing throughout the game.”
- “Overall it was very repetitive (gameplay, animation, screen and the end of every stage) and I literally was so bored that I almost didn't finish the game.”
story
105 mentions
22 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The story in "Rayman Origins" is largely considered minimal and disjointed, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a driving force. While some players appreciate the light-hearted and quirky elements, many find the narrative lacking depth and coherence, often relying on the game's manual for context. Overall, the simplistic plot does not significantly detract from the enjoyable platforming experience, but it leaves players craving a more engaging storyline.
- “The light-hearted storyline and quirky characters contribute to an enjoyable and entertaining experience.”
- “A mix of humor and the amazing art direction in the simple storyline keeps the player motivated to try over and over again.”
- “With a whimsical story and characters that speak Pig Latin, this is a game to play inside on a rainy day that will make you just feel wonderful about life.”
- “The story serves more as a backdrop for the platforming action rather than a driving force.”
- “The story is so wacky I don't even know how to begin to describe it; the levels are fun even if some of the harder levels can drive you crazy.”
- “Don't expect the existence (and especially a coherent) of a story, since this pretty much lacks it.”
humor
90 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its whimsical and slapstick nature, with many players highlighting the hilarious animations, quirky characters, and funny sound design that enhance the overall experience. While some find the humor to be a bit chaotic, especially in multiplayer, it consistently brings joy and laughter, making it a delightful choice for both solo and cooperative play. Overall, the game's lighthearted tone and creative comedic elements contribute significantly to its charm and entertainment value.
- “With its hand-drawn art style, whimsical humor, and classic platforming gameplay, it offers a nostalgic journey for fans of the genre.”
- “The game is crafted with so much love, so much humor, and does so many things right, that it is impossible not to have a blast.”
- “Everything you can expect from a Rayman game: challenging platforming, slapstick humor, a story that barely makes sense, and an overall funny experience.”
replayability
24 mentions
33 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the abundance of collectibles, hidden secrets, and challenges like time trials that encourage multiple playthroughs, others find the overall experience limited due to a lack of significant changes or new content. Many highlight the enjoyable level design and mechanics that enhance replay value, but some caution that certain glitches may hinder the experience. Overall, it offers substantial replay potential for those seeking to perfect their skills or explore every aspect of the game.
- “The game's exceptional level design, sound design, and replay value make it a must-play for any fan of the genre.”
- “Very fluid movement mechanics, great replay value due to acquisition of new abilities, beautiful artwork, and great local multiplayer if you have the remotes for it.”
- “Every level has bonus goals besides just beating the level, so there's a lot of replayability for that reason alone.”
- “While there are collectibles and hidden secrets to find, the overall replay value is diminished by the lack of significant changes or new content.”
- “This limited replayability may leave some players feeling that their experience was more fleeting than substantial.”
- “However, its repetitive gameplay elements, uneven difficulty curve, and limited replay value may detract from its overall appeal.”
atmosphere
19 mentions
47 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its whimsical and charming qualities, enhanced by beautiful art design and a delightful soundtrack that evokes nostalgia. Reviewers highlight the vibrant colors and upbeat music, creating an immersive experience that feels both fun and engaging. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as unique, captivating, and reminiscent of childhood memories, making it a standout feature.
- “The soundtrack is a joy to the ears, featuring catchy tunes that perfectly complement the game's whimsical atmosphere.”
- “A fantastic platformer with some of the best 2D gameplay I've ever experienced, alongside a world and atmosphere that is bursting with charm.”
- “The visuals are some of the best I've ever seen, the sound, music, and atmosphere are all utterly unique and delightful, and overall it just carries this feeling of pure video-gamey fun that is becoming increasingly sparse nowadays.”
- “Sometimes can be boring but the graphics and atmosphere are amazing, so you can get it on sale.”
- “I didn't feel the atmosphere of previous Rayman games (Rayman 2 & 3), which disappointed me a little.”
- “The wacky and cartoonish atmosphere fits very well and never felt as though the immersion was breaking.”
grinding
13 mentions
23 % positive mentions
15 % neutral mentions
62 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring 60-100 hours to progress. Many reviews highlight the need for repeated playthroughs of levels to collect necessary items, which detracts from the overall enjoyment and can feel artificially extended. While some appreciate the game's art and gameplay, the grind is frequently described as a frustrating experience that overshadows the fun.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grindy (60 - 100 hours).”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Going through harder versions of the 4 main lands is absurdly tedious, since it feels like the game is artificially trying to enlarge the already masterclass experience under the pretext of story progression.”
- “This game's art style, world, and gameplay are wasted on its boring and tedious level design.”
- “Makes completing every level with all medals tedious; I gave up after realizing I wasn't having fun.”
optimization
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players praise its performance on older hardware and the ability to run smoothly at high resolutions, others report significant issues, particularly on Windows 10, with frame drops and overall poor optimization. Overall, the game's performance seems to vary widely among users, with some experiencing fantastic optimization and others facing frustrating technical problems.
- “This game rules - impeccable soundtrack and awesome visuals (that ran on my older laptop without causing performance issues) with amazing color palettes.”
- “Amazing platformer, incredible hand-drawn visuals, supports up to 8k, performance is amazing, you can play with 4 people at the same time.”
- “Not really my thing, I can't find that many things to complain about though, the art style is great, the controls play great, the optimization is fantastic, apparently the game is completely DRM-free, there's a lot of positives to say about this game.”
- “Game is not optimized for Windows 10 and runs like garbage.”
- “I like the port to PC with keyboard and all of the advantages that brings, but I could go on for days about the poor optimization.”
- “The only gripe I have is that it doesn't appear to be optimized too well, as occasionally it will skip a frame or two.”
stability
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is mixed, with some users reporting a smooth experience free of bugs and glitches, while others have encountered significant issues, including game-breaking freezes and minimal controller support on PC. Overall, while the graphics and gameplay are praised, the presence of critical bugs can severely impact the gaming experience for some players.
- “The game is bug-free.”
- “Graphically, the game is flawless, running at full HD, and it performs excellently even on my work laptop with Intel graphics.”
- “Absolutely fantastic game, but the controller support is minimal for PC and it can be very buggy depending on your system!”
- “While the artwork, soundtrack, and gameplay are amazing, in the end this game is a buggy mess.”
- “Apparently there is this game-breaking bug where you get back to the map and it just freezes and won't accept user input, and somehow this state gets saved so basically quitting and loading the save again just gets you frozen again, meaning all the hours of play I've put into this game so far have been thrown out the window.”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be a deeply emotional experience, often evoking tears of joy and nostalgia. Its artistic design and wholesome elements resonate strongly, making it a standout in the platform genre. Overall, it elicits a powerful emotional response, with many expressing a strong connection to the game's themes.
- “Made me cry 50 times, buy it now.”
- “I'm a huge platform game fan from back in the day, and this game at times made me want to cry with childlike joy.”
- “This game actually made me cry.”
character development
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highlighted by its exceptional design and animation, showcasing a high level of detail that enhances the overall visual experience. While newcomers may find the character design impressive, it stands out as a strong point even when considered independently from the gameplay.
- “This may seem a little weird if 'Origins' is your first venture into this franchise, because literally every other aspect of the game is drawn and animated with a fine attention to detail and a powerful command of character design, resulting in a visual experience that, if separated from the rest of the game, is still outstanding amongst the best of its kind.”
- “Amazing character design.”
- “Fun platformer with great level and character design.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any meaningful way throughout the game.”
- “Despite the beautiful visuals, the characters themselves are one-dimensional and fail to leave a lasting impression.”
monetization
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-150 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its straightforward monetization model, featuring no Uplay, DLC, microtransactions, or third-party DRM, and is considered a complete product at launch. However, there are concerns about misleading advertising that does not accurately reflect this aspect.
- “No Uplay, no DLC, no microtransactions, no third-party DRM; it released finished.”
- “The game offers a complete experience without any additional costs or hidden fees.”
- “I appreciate that there are no paywalls or aggressive monetization tactics.”
- “The video does not state that and creates an untrustworthy advertisement.”
- “The game feels incomplete without any additional content or monetization options.”