[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rayman2.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:[[FanNickname The Limbless Wonder]]]]

''Rayman'' is a video game series created by MichelAncel. Rayman is a strange, [[RaymanianLimbs limbless]] individual of [[MultipleChoicePast various origins]], who fights to save the Glade of Dreams from a variety of antagonists.

The first game in the series, simply titled ''[[VideoGame/{{Rayman1995}} Rayman]]'', is a 2D platformer, in which Rayman must defeat the evil Mr. Dark, a sinister individual who has stolen the [[MacGuffin Great Protoon]]. Along the way, Rayman must rescue the many Electoons, who have been held captive by Mr. Dark's minions.

The second game, ''VideoGame/{{Rayman 2}}: The Great Escape'', is his first 3D title, and the most popular among fans. DarkerAndEdgier, although still wacky and cartoony, it features an evil group of sinister Robo-Pirates, lead by the Admiral Razorbeard, who enslave the people of the Glade of Dreams and split the Heart of the World - the planet's Primordial Core - into 1000 beads of light, the Yellow Lums. In order to defeat the pirates and restore the Heart of the World, Rayman must gather four legendary masks, which will summon Polokus, who created Rayman's world. This was followed by ''Rayman 2: Revolution'', a Playstation 2 exclusive remake of ''Rayman 2'', which made several significant changes to the level design and featured improved graphics.

The following game, ''Rayman M'' (Known as ''[[MarketBasedTitle Rayman Arena]]'' in the US) was a multiplayer-focused game consisting of racing and battle segments. It introduced a few new characters but it didn't have a storyline.

The third game in the main series, ''VideoGame/Rayman3HoodlumHavoc'', was the first Rayman game without Michel Ancel, and featured a more detailed storyline involving Andre, a Black Lum, who seeks to use the power of the Heart of the World to spawn an army of Hoodlums, hooded {{mooks}} shaped like potato sacks. [[ContestedSequel This game was controversial]] for introducing a points system and a humorous (at times subversive) script. It also employed voices from well-known actors, including JasonMarsden as Rayman, Creator/BillyWest as Murphy (who coincidentally voiced Rayman for the TV show), and John Leguizamo as Globox.

There have also been several handheld adaptations and a PartyGame spin-off series, ''Rayman Raving Rabbids'', featuring Rayman's attempts to do battle in various {{Mini Game}}s with a horde of bizarre rabbit-like creatures, which was very well received by the majority of critics. The Rabbids later spun off into [[VideoGame/RavingRabbids their own franchise]], breaking ties with Rayman and following its own agenda. [[AnimatedAdaptation A little-seen Rayman CGI TV Series was also made]], but only lasted four episodes and was never finished due to lack of funding.

For a while it seemed like Rayman would be UbiSoft's answer to Nintendo's Mario, becoming its mascot. But recently, the character was abandoned by the company once they became one of the biggest international gaming producers and left the whole childrens' market all together, considering that 1.) [[MichelAncel Ancel]] moved away from the line-up after ''The Great Escape'' to work on other titles, such as ''VideoGame/BeyondGoodAndEvil'', making the series lose its luster, 2.) the rabbids themselves [[SpotlightStealingSquad stole Rayman's spotlight]] to the point that he's basically become a minor character, and 3.) the series was never popular enough to become a cash cow anyway.

However, after years of waiting for news on the state of the next 'proper' Rayman game, one was finally announced in the form of ''VideoGame/RaymanOrigins''. While originally intended to actually be a prequel of sorts to the series, it instead takes place sometime after ''Rayman 2'' and [[ArcWelding combines plot and world elements from the first 2 games]]. The game follows Rayman and [[CoOpMultiplayer up to 3 friends]] (Globox and the Teensies) as they battle through a [[AwesomeArt beautifully]] [[SceneryPorn detailed 2D world]] in order to save the Glade of Dreams from the evil Darktoons who have invaded, in a [[{{Reconstruction}} throwback]] to the great 2D platformers of old. Oh, and the game was developed by series creator Michel Ancel in his return to the series after ''Rayman 2''. Needless to say, the fandom rejoiced and so, in fact, did the critics, who gave the game rave reviews, with many calling it not only the best in the series, but one the best platformers of recent years. Even [[WebAnimation/ZeroPunctuation Yahtzee]] loved it. The 2013 sequel, ''Rayman Legends'', is on the way to Wii U, PS3, and Xbox 360.

If you were looking for the ''Rayman Raving Rabbids'' games that were originally a part of this series, see ''VideoGame/RavingRabbids''.
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[[folder: Games in the Series]]
!Main Series Games
* ''[[VideoGame/{{Rayman1995}} Rayman]]'' (1995) PS1, PC, GBC, GBA, DS, Jaguar, Saturn, PSN.
* ''[[Rayman2TheGreatEscape Rayman 2: The Great Escape]]'' (1999) N64, PS1, PS2, PSN, PC, GBC, DS, 3DS, Dreamcast, iOS
* ''[[Rayman3HoodlumHavoc Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc]]'' (2003) PS2, PSN, PC, Xbox, XBLA, Gamecube, GBA, N-Gage, Mac OS X, Mobile
* ''Rayman: Hoodlum's Revenge'' (2005) GBA
* ''RaymanOrigins'' (2011) Wii, 3DS, PS3, PS Vita, Xbox 360, PC
* ''RaymanLegends'' (2013) Wii U, PS3, Xbox 360

!SpinOff Games:

* ''Rayman Junior/ Rayman Brain Games'' (2000) PS1, PC
* ''[[Videogame/RaymanM Rayman M/ Rayman Arena/Rayman Rush]]'' (2001) PS1, PS2, GameCube, Xbox, PC
* ''Rayman Golf'' (2003) Mobile
* ''Rayman Jungle Run'' (2012) iOS, Android

!ExpandedUniverse:

* ''[[WesternAnimation/RaymanTheAnimatedSeries Rayman: The Animated Series]]''

->for the Rabbids games, refer to the ''VideoGame/RavingRabbids'' page.
[[/folder]]

!!This series as a whole provides examples of:

* AdventureCouple - Rayman and Globox.
* ArrowCam - In ''Rayman 3'', you've got the missile fist, and in ''Rayman Arena'' there's the Buzz Rocket weapon.
* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking:
** According to The General in ''Rayman 2'', the Grolgoth can kill, crush, destroy, torture, and pull ears.
** In one area of Hoodlum Headquarters in ''Rayman 3'', the lady's voice over the intercom warns the Hoodlums of the Leptys' sensitive nature, advising that they not drink in its presence and to ''avoid verifying the room temperature.''
* AutoScrollingLevel - A few, most notably in Blue Mountains.
* BelatedBackstory - Rayman's origin was treated as a mystery in [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hrwjiu7Svo Rayman 2's Omniscient]], and is finally being explored in the aptly named Rayman Origins. From what was shown so far, it at least follows the revelation that Rayman was not a being Polukus dreamed up, and that Rayman is the only individual to receive powers from faries.
* BenevolentArchitecture - Floating rings and platforms that are uncannily useful, or objects/switches that coincidentally allow you to use them ''only'' with a specific power you happen to have acquired… yeah, this is in essentially every single game.
* BottomlessPits - In the original ''Rayman'' and ''Rayman 2''. Mostly averted in ''Rayman 3'', in which falling off of a high ledge that ''looks'' like a bottomless pit tends to result in landing in an area that allows you in some way to make your way back to where you were. Heck, falling into a supposed bottomless pit is even ''required'' at one point in the game to avoid death. The single bottomless pit in the game is found during the final battle and even then it isn't much of a threat.
* BreakingTheFourthWall - In ''Rayman 3''.
* BubblegloopSwamp - There's at ''least'' one area like this in every game.
* CameraLockOn: The 3D games.
* CloudCuckooLander: Globox. He's also [[TheDitz quite stupid]].
* CollisionDamage - Played straight in ''Rayman'', and in ''Rayman 2'' one type of {{Mook}} will charge towards you(surprisingly fast given their appearance) in order to squash you flat. Even more annoying in this game is that small creatures like ordinary-sized spiders and innocent-looking crabs will ''hurt you'' if you touch them. Luckily, they aren't encountered very often.
* ColorCodedForYourConvenience - Alternate skins in ''Rayman M'' when multiple players choose the same character, and of course the lums in almost every other game.
* ConvectionSchmonvection - The fight with Mr. Skops in the first game. You can be hanging off a ledge ''with your feet dangling inches above the lava'' and not die. And there are entire ''levels'' in ''Rayman 2'' and ''Rayman 3'' that feature tons of lava and overall scorched settings... the only hint that there's heat rising at all is that in ''Rayman Revolution'' you're allowed to keep your flying power indefinitely as long as you're over lava, in which the rising heat could help you stay airborne.
* CoolClearWater - Starting in Rayman 2, Rayman is able to swim in clear, "clean" water, but [[GrimyWater ugly water]] kills or damages him.
* CowardlySidekick - Globox.
* CraniumRide - In ''Rayman'' and ''Rayman 2'', knocking a plum onto the heads of certain {{Mook}}s allowed you to jump onto their heads in order to reach otherwise unreachable areas and items.
* CriticalExistenceFailure - Every single game. What's funny here is how crazy Rayman's deaths tend to be, ranging from him turning into Antitoons and flying away to him disappearing into glowing balls.
* DownTheDrain - Both ''Rayman 2'' and ''Rayman 3'' had underwater levels.
* DefeatMeansFriendship - In the original Rayman, Bzzit begins to cry after being defeated by Rayman. Rayman then consoles his opponent and befriends him, and proceeds to ride the mosquito right in the next stage. (No relation to Moskito, a PaletteSwap of Bzzit who tries to kill Rayman a few stages later.)
* FloatingPlatforms - They're everywhere, and in all sorts of different varieties.
* FollowTheMoney - In the first game tings are almost ''always'' a dead giveaway to bonus powers and secret areas that feature the Magician's hat or hidden Electoon Cages; in general, if you see a ting, it means that you can find something good if you go to it. Lots of these even form paths or arrows, while some go as far to write out 'YES' or 'NO' in some levels to indicate whether you're going the right way or not. In the second and third games, Lums tend to be scattered around paths that you need to follow to progress in the level.
* [[OneEpisodeWonder Four Episode Wonder]] - The series had a very little-known TV show that did not last long.
* FungusHumongous - A repeating element in the series.
* GangplankGalleon
* GrimyWater - Many levels in ''Rayman 2'' and ''Rayman 3'' have several variations of this. Pretty much all water encountered in the first ''Rayman'' qualifies, as well.
* HammerSpace - Where ''else'' could Rayman stash all of those lums he's running around collecting? And don't forget tings in the first game. Oh, and how about ''Rayman 2'''s raindance mask and elixir of life? He pulls them out of nowhere; he doesn't even have a BagOfHolding for an excuse.
* HelicopterHair
* HeliCritter - Rayman himself, using his hair.
* HeterosexualLifePartners - Rayman and Globox, who, if what we can tell of ''Origins''' plot, have pretty much been best buds forever.
* HumongousMecha - The Grolgoth in Rayman 2, Celoché in Rayman 3.
* IdleAnimation - Each game has this to some extent. Besides Rayman in the first and second games, all characters in ''Rayman Arena'' have a unique animation if they're left idle. Globox has his own idle animations in ''Rayman 3'' as well.
* LaughablyEvil - Pretty much every {{Mook}} in the series could be classified as this, though it is most notable in the first game.
* LavaPit - Tons of 'em...
* LethalLavaLand - If the names 'Sanctuary of Rock and Lava' or 'Sanctuary of Stone and Fire' aren't a dead giveaway, there's something wrong with you.
** Also, the Hoodlum Headquarters in ''Rayman 3'', combined with EternalEngine. The voice over the intercom even states, [[AudioErotica in a rather sultry voice]], "Interior temperature: 98.6 degrees ''[[AccidentalInnuendo and rising]]''" - the Foundry itself is built ''entirely over a lava pool''!
* LevitatingLotusPosition: Ly from {{Rayman}} 2 does the floating variation of the LotusPosition.
* LifeMeter - All of them.
* MalevolentArchitecture - Especially in Razoff's mansion in ''Rayman 3''... and the Tower of Leptys. You know what, scratch that, there are tons of places with this ''everywhere''.
* MercyInvincibility - ''Un''mercifully short compared to other games, and in the first game it tends to push you into [[SpikesOfDoom something]] [[LavaPit that's]] [[CollisionDamage going]] [[GrimyWater to]] [[SuperDrowningSkills kill]] [[AdvancingWallOfDoom you]] [[EverythingTryingToKillYou anyways]].
* MindScrew - In ''Rayman: Raving Rabbids'', if you wear the disco outfit, you can clearly see knees in the pants, even though Rayman has no legs. This hints that he might have limbs after all, but they're just invisible. But then again, if he does have invisible legs, then why did he need a [[spoiler:walking stick to help him walk when he lost his shoe in Rayman 2, if he could try to walk using his invisible leg?]]
** And then the US marketing for Rayman 3 hints toward him having a penis, especially the magazine ad.
* MiniGame - In ''Rayman Revolution'', collecting enough Familiar Spirits will unlock a multitude of mini-games, which will increase Rayman's health bar upon winning. In ''Rayman 3'', miscellaneous assortments of short, single-player minigames are rewards for achieving higher scores. ''Rayman Raving Rabbids'' is '''completely''' comprised of mini games.
** A cheat code in the original ''Rayman'' started a Breakout-style minigame.
* MultipleChoicePast - Rayman has always lived in a valley populated by other limbless beings and creatures, and his lack of limbs is completely normal.
** [[CanonDisContinuity No, he was first found by fishermen, washed-up on the coast of the Sea of Lums.]]
*** [[RetCon No, he was woven by the nymphs from the magnificent moonbeams of the second summer solstice.]]
**** [[WhatCouldHaveBeen No, he was a 10-year old boy named Jimmy who was sucked into his computer. Wait... forget that one.]]
***** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHxD0dCB3aQ No, he was originally some bald guy who lived with his wife before a bunch of creatures attached themselves to his head and then he fell off a cliff and... I'm sorry, what?]] (Note: [[ContinuitySnarl this origin is featured in the same game that gives the "woven by the nymphs" story.]])
* OurFairiesAreDifferent - Rayman's world has practically become the universal meeting place of ''every single freakin' type of fairy ever heard about.''
* PlotCoupon - Electoon cages in ''Rayman'' and the four masks of Polokus in ''Rayman 2''.
* PowerFist - Golden Fist in Rayman 1 and 2; Heavy Metal Fist in Rayman 3.
* RaymanianLimbs - The TropeNamer.
* RibcageRidge - The Cave of Bad Dreams in ''Rayman 2'', and the Desert of the Knaaren in ''Rayman 3''.
* RiseToTheChallenge - In ''Rayman'', ''Rayman 2'', '''and''' ''Rayman 3''.
* RocketPunch - Well, it's Rayman's standard attack. It isn't used in ''Rayman 2'' or ''Rayman Arena'', but returns from the first game in ''Rayman 3''.
* SentientPhlebotinum - The lums. They're glowing orbs of energy with enough intelligence to float towards you. The {{Backstory}} in Rayman 2 reveals that [[spoiler:They created Polokus by combining their collective thought, and Polokus created the world.]]
* SlidingScaleOfSillinessVersusSeriousness - Overall it's closer to the silliness end, but it's also got elements of seriousness in it— especially in ''Rayman 2''.
* SlippySlideyIceWorld - One part of a Blue Mountains level in ''Rayman'' features slippery rocks slicked over with icy snow, part of 'The Sanctuary of Water and Ice' in ''Rayman 2'', and The Summit Beyond the Clouds in ''Rayman 3'' is completely covered by snow and ice.
** Band Land from ''Rayman'' has slippy, slidey ''musical staff bars''. Later on, Picture City features a few slippy, slidey [[ItMakesSenseInContext erasers covered in ink]].
* SoundCodedForYourConvenience - Especially important in the first game, where a very short, specific sound indicates that you triggered something to appear. It's also possible to recognize what kind of enemy is just off-screen with this, since some of them make specific sounds when they idle or initiate an attack, like the hunters and zooming antitoons. And in ''Rayman 3'', different types of hoodlums have varying voice files that you can learn to instantly differentiate between the different types without looking at the hoodlum themselves too closely.
* SphereEyes
* SuperTitle64Advance: ''Rayman Advance'' (The original game on GameboyAdvance), ''Rayman DS'' (''Rayman 2'' for... [[NintendoDS well, you know.]]), and ''Rayman 3D'' (actually a second port of Rayman 2. Guess which console).
* [[TempleOfDoom Temple of Doom]] - Several levels in all of the games have temple themed levels. Rayman 2 even focuses on this.
* TheChosenOne
* TheWikiRule - [[http://raymanpc.com/wiki/en/Main_Page RayWiki]], the Rayman wiki.
* {{Utopia}} - When it's not under some sort of attack, Rayman's world is this.
** This is explained in several ways, such as The Great Protoon causing balance and harmony to the world, and all evil dreams (part of the series' [[{{Mythopoeia}} fictional mythology]]) being locked away in The Cave of Bad Dreams.
* {{Wackyland}} - The series is ''full'' of this, especially the first game.

* WhiteGloves - In Rayman's case, it may or may not actually be White Hands, seeing as he doesn't have any opening to get the gloves on or off... then again, some of the alternate costumes in ''Rayman Raving Rabbids'' features him with differently-colored gloves, and a few of the fingerless ones imply that he has skin underneath them. But [[MindScrew try not to think about it too hard...]]
* [[WidgetSeries WTF Series]]
* WombLevel - The Organic Cave in the GBA version of ''Rayman Raving Rabbids''. The same location was planned to appear in ''[[WhatCouldHaveBeen Rayman 4]]''...
** Rayman Origins has a boss level that takes place inside the stomach of a dragon.

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