Summary
- Super Mario Odyssey shares the creative level design and focus on movement with Rayman Legends, offering a similar mechanical satisfaction.
- Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze rivals Rayman Legends in level design complexity and constantly remixes mechanics to keep gameplay fresh.
- Celeste and Ori and the Will of the Wisps intersect with Rayman Legends by pushing movement mechanics to the limit and tying gameplay hurdles to emotional resonance.
Some platformers just hit different. Rayman Legends wasn’t just a great platforming game; it was a masterclass in momentum, creativity, and rhythm-driven gameplay. From its perfectly timed musical stages to its chaotic Invasion levels, everything about it felt handcrafted with an almost obsessive attention to detail. The movement was buttery smooth, the controls razor-sharp, and every level threw in just enough surprises to keep things fresh without ever feeling overwhelming.
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But, Rayman Legends also spoiled players a little. Once that level of fluidity, flair, and pacing becomes the baseline, it’s hard to settle for anything less. Not every platformer can match that level of energy, but these come remarkably close.
8 Super Mario Odyssey
A Mustache, A Hat, And A World Bursting With Secrets
Super Mario Odyssey
- Released
- October 27, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
For a game that doesn’t follow a 2D side-scrolling format, Super Mario Odyssey still shares more DNA with Rayman Legends than one might initially expect. The sheer creativity in level design, the fluidity of movement, and the emphasis on momentum-driven traversal all echo the same kind of mechanical satisfaction found in Rayman’s best stages. Mario’s wide moveset — triple jumps, rolls, dives, hat throws, and captures — replaces Rayman’s bounce and glide with acrobatic improvisation. Both games emphasize movement as expression, rewarding players who experiment with their environment rather than follow a strict path.
What also ties the two together is how frequently each level reinvents its own rules. Much like Rayman Legends’ musical stages or chase sequences that often pivot in tone and tempo, Odyssey constantly shifts between gameplay ideas — whether it’s controlling a tank in a bullet-strewn battlefield or rolling around as a tropical seed. And while Mario’s kingdoms are far from the painterly chaos of Rayman’s world, there’s a similar sense of playfulness at every corner — like the way Luncheon Kingdom channels the exaggerated palettes of PS2-era platformers such as Tak and the Power of Juju.
7 Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Barrels, Bongos, And Some Of The Most Beautifully Brutal Platforming Ever Made
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
- Released
- February 21, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Retro Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Switch, Nintendo Wii U
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
When it comes to 2D platformers that actually rival Rayman Legends in both level design and gameplay complexity, Tropical Freeze falls among the best examples. Stages shift constantly, forcing players to adapt mid-run as backgrounds become foregrounds, terrain collapses underfoot, and environmental hazards sync with the music. One stage might have players riding a rocket barrel through falling debris, while the next tosses them into underwater labyrinths scored by David Wise’s melancholic piano themes.
Unlike Rayman’s floaty and airy movement, Donkey Kong’s weighty controls give a more grounded feel to each jump and roll, making timing feel tactile. But both games share the same design philosophy — constantly remixing level mechanics to keep every stage distinct. In many ways, it feels like a spiritual successor to Rayman Legends’ punchy set-piece design, filtered through the difficulty curve of old-school Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest.
6 Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy
Three Heroes Walk Into a Puzzle… And One of Them Grapples the Ceiling
Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy
- Released
- August 31, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Frozenbyte
- Publisher(s)
- THQ Nordic
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Puzzle
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
While Trine 5 leans harder into physics-based puzzles and slower-paced traversal, the series’ lush fantasy art direction and emphasis on cooperative platforming place it in similar territory to Rayman Legends. What sets this game apart is its tri-character design — players can swap between a wizard who conjures platforms, a thief with a grappling hook, and a knight who can break through obstacles or glide with his shield. Much like the Rayman Legends ensemble cast with Globox and Barbara, each character here offers distinct abilities that let players approach levels in different ways.
The level design often feels more layered and interconnected than Rayman’s, with solutions that can vary wildly depending on the player’s creativity. And although it lacks the rhythm-based stages or arcade speed of Rayman Legends, it compensates with depth and flexibility.
5 Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
Digging Through Treasure Feels Better When the Shovel Hits Just Right
Shovel Knight
- Released
- June 26, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Yacht Club Games
- Publisher(s)
- Yacht Club Games
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Mechanically simple but deceptively intricate, Shovel Knight delivers platforming that demands precision but never feels punishing. The game wears its 8-bit influences openly, drawing from DuckTales, Mega Man, and Castlevania, yet there’s a modern responsiveness underneath its retro facade that makes every jump and downward strike feel deliberate.
Every swing of the shovel, every bounce off an enemy, and every timed jump across collapsing platforms feels sharp and precise. Much like Rayman Legends, Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove refuses to let things get stale. Each of its included campaigns — Plague of Shadows, Specter of Torment, and King of Cards — completely reshapes how players interact with the same environments. Whether it’s the acrobatic dash-slashing of Specter Knight or the alchemical jumps of Plague Knight, the game constantly reinvents its own formula, just as Rayman Legends did with musical stages, chase sequences, and shifting terrain.
4 Super Meat Boy
When Brutality Has a Bounce To It
Super Meat Boy
- Released
- October 20, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
There’s no filler here, just pure, unforgiving platforming. Super Meat Boy is built on momentum, reflexes, and muscle memory. The movement is incredibly precise, with wall jumps, mid-air turns, and bursts of speed that demand near-perfect execution. It’s a different kind of challenge from Rayman Legends, but it still shares that same philosophy of making every second of gameplay matter.
The structure is tight and focused: short, brutal levels that throw players straight into the action, with near-instant respawns that keep the rhythm flowing. There are no distractions — just the player, the level, and the platforming. It’s especially reminiscent of Rayman’s “Invasion” levels, where players had to rush through alternate versions of stages under tight time limits. And, much like in Rayman Legends, even failure in Super Meat Boy never feels cheap — it’s just one more step toward mastering the rhythm of the level.
3 Celeste
A Mountain That’s Harder To Climb Than It Looks, But So Worth It
Celeste
- Released
- January 25, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Extremely OK Games
- Publisher(s)
- Extremely OK Games
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
At first glance, Celeste may seem quiet and introspective, but beneath its minimalist art style is one of the most meticulously crafted platformers in recent memory. The core mechanics — jumps, air-dashes, wall climbs — are straightforward, but their application across the game’s constantly shifting levels turns every chapter into a fresh test of skill. From moving platforms and wind currents to dimension-shifting mirrors, nothing stays the same for long.
That design principle is where Celeste and Rayman Legends intersect. Both games build each stage around a central movement idea, then push it to its limits. Every new chapter adds something to the way players move and react, much like how Rayman Legends would twist a level’s mechanics midway through or introduce timed sequences that alter how players interact with the world. What sets Celeste apart, though, is its emotional resonance. Every gameplay hurdle echoes the internal struggle of its protagonist, creating a rare platformer where mechanics and narrative are deeply intertwined.
2 Ori And The Will Of The Wisps
When the Forest Fights Back With Light, Wind, And Grace
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Released
- March 11, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
The little spirit Ori is no stranger to peril, but when a fateful flight puts the owlet Ku in harm’s way, it will take more than bravery to bring a family back together, heal a broken land, and discover Ori’s true destiny. From the creators of the acclaimed action-platformer Ori and the Blind Forest comes the highly anticipated sequel. Embark on an all-new adventure in a vast world filled with new friends and foes that come to life in stunning, hand-painted artwork. Set to a fully orchestrated original score, Ori and the Will of the Wisps continues the Moon Studios tradition of tightly crafted platforming action and deeply emotional storytelling.
- Developer(s)
- Moon Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch, PC
- Genre(s)
- Platformer, Adventure
Ori and the Will of the Wisps isn’t structured like Rayman Legends — it’s a sprawling Metroidvania rather than a level-based platformer — but the moment-to-moment gameplay speaks the same language. The movement system is one of the most finely tuned in the genre. Players gain access to a cascade of abilities — double jumps, dashes, grappling hooks, bash launches — all designed to chain together in fluid, acrobatic sequences.
The level design complements that mobility with organic terrain that encourages speed, flow, and vertical traversal. It’s not uncommon to sprint through an entire section without touching the ground, using enemy projectiles and environmental elements as momentum fuel. In that sense, it captures the same joy of motion that makes Rayman Legends so satisfying. And when the game ramps up — during high-speed escape sequences or Spirit Trials — it mirrors the same kind of breakneck pacing found in Rayman’s most iconic musical or chase levels. Add to that the visual spectacle and haunting orchestral score, and it becomes an experience that feels just as alive and reactive as anything in the Rayman universe.
1 Cuphead
Bullets, Bosses, And Jazz-Laced Platforming
Cuphead
- Released
- September 29, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
Though Cuphead is primarily known for its grueling boss fights, its side-scrolling run-and-gun levels often go underappreciated — and that’s where the connection to Rayman Legends becomes clearest. These stages are intense, unpredictable, and layered with hazards that force players to keep moving and keep reacting. Movement is tight, air-dashes are vital, and enemies come in swarms, often with attacks timed to the rhythm of the game’s jazz-infused soundtrack.
Even outside those levels, Cuphead’s boss fights share a DNA similar to Rayman’s more chaotic sequences. Each encounter evolves over multiple phases, each more bizarre and intricate than the last, forcing players to adapt in real-time to new patterns. And then there’s the animation — hand-drawn, expressive, and overflowing with personality. While the visual style is a far cry from Rayman’s fantasy settings, both games understand the importance of marrying visual storytelling with gameplay mechanics. Nothing on screen is static; everything moves, reacts, and plays into the pacing of the game.