Rayman Raving Rabbids
A party game spin-off that launched the Rabbids franchise.
Rayman Raving Rabbids, known in French as *Rayman contre les lapins crétins*, is a party video game from 2006. It was created by Ubisoft Montpellier and published by Ubisoft. The game launched on the Wii in 2006, with ports for other consoles and handheld systems arriving later. As a spin-off of the Rayman series, it introduced the Rabbids as a new franchise. The project originally started as a more traditional 3D platformer tentatively called Rayman 4, developed by Phoenix Interactive Entertainment after they finished the PlayStation Portable version of *King Kong*. This early concept aimed to bring back elements from the 1995 *Rayman* game, with characters aware they were inside a video game controlled by a real-world player. However, after Nintendo revealed the Wii, Ubisoft worried that a conventional platformer might struggle on seventh-generation consoles, so they scrapped the original plan and started over. A leaked source code of the Rayman 4 prototype appeared on 4chan in December 2022. Critics generally gave the game positive reviews, praising its fast-paced gameplay, humor, and use of the Wii’s controls, though other versions received less enthusiasm.
In terms of gameplay, Rayman Raving Rabbids is a party game where players control Rayman through a series of minigames. On a hub world viewed from a third-person perspective, Rayman is presented with five minigames: three random ones, a rhythm-based dancing game featuring pop songs, and a final challenge needed to advance the story. Completing three minigames unlocks that final challenge. Each minigame varies in style—from memory tests and sports to puzzles—and heavily relies on frantic use of the Wii Remote and Nunchuck. The final challenge is either a “bunny hunt,” where Rayman shoots Rabbids with plungers from a first-person view while managing hit points, or a “warthog race,” where he races a warthog over three laps with limited boosts. After each day, Rayman is taken to a cell and given a plunger as a reward. There, players can customize Rayman, listen to music, view records, or replay minigames. Collecting enough plungers lets Rayman reach the cell’s window, ending the game. Saving progress happens at the end of each day. Some minigames support up to four players competing for high scores.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Rayman Raving Rabbids
- Developer
- Ubisoft Montpellier / Ubisoft Sofia (PC)
- Publisher
- Ubisoft
- Director
- Patrick Bodard / Jacques Exertier / Yoan Fanise / Florent Sacré
- Producer
- Pierre-Arnaud Lambert
- Artist
- Florent Sacré
- Writer
- Jacques Exertier
- Composer
- Mark Griskey
- Series
- Rayman / Rabbids
- Engine
- Jade
- Platforms
- Wii / PlayStation 2 / Windows / Xbox 360 / Mac OS X
- Genre
- Party
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Rayman Raving Rabbids was initially developed by Phoenix Interactive Entertainment under the tentative title Rayman 4, after they finished the PlayStation Portable port of King Kong. The game was intended to capture elements from the 1995 Rayman, with characters expressing self-awareness of being in a video game controlled by a real-life player. Development targeted the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox, and lasted ten months before Nintendo revealed the Wii. Ubisoft members then worried that a conventional 3D platformer could negatively affect sales, leading to a restart of development. A source code of the Rayman 4 prototype was leaked online on 4chan in December 2022.
The plot follows Rayman, who is kidnapped by the Rabbids' commander Sergueï after an earthquake interrupts his picnic with Globox's children. Rayman must partake in trials to survive and rescue the Baby Globoxes. Over fifteen days, he earns plungers as rewards, eventually building a ladder to escape his cell. After escaping, he returns to the picnic site but realizes he left the Baby Globoxes behind; he attempts to rescue them through a Rabbid hole but gets stuck. A post-credits scene shows him still stuck at night while sheep lick his face.
Reader's Guide
Rayman Raving Rabbids received generally positive reviews, with praise for its frantic gameplay, humor, and implementation of the Wii's features. Other versions were less well received. IGN writer Matt Casamassina complimented the game's sense of humor and the design of the Rabbids. GameSpot praised its creativity and soundtrack but noted the Xbox 360 version was inferior due to controls. The game's legacy includes two sequels: Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 (2007) and Rayman Raving Rabbids: TV Party (2008). In October 2017, series creator Michel Ancel posted on Instagram that he wants Rayman 4 to happen. The game is significant as the debut of the Rabbids, a franchise that would become a major part of Ubisoft's portfolio, and for its pivot from a traditional platformer to a party game that leveraged the Wii's motion controls.
Did You Know?
- The game was initially developed as Rayman 4 by Phoenix Interactive Entertainment before being restarted as a party game.
- The Rabbids' commander is named Sergueï.
- The game features a post-credits scene where Rayman is stuck in a Rabbid hole while sheep lick his face.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rayman Raving Rabbids?
It is a 2006 party video game developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and published by Ubisoft. As a spin-off of the Rayman series, it was the first title to put the Rabbids front and center as the main attraction rather than a side gag.
What role do the Rabbids play and what are their 'powers'?
The Rabbids are a species of chaotic, mischievous creatures who invade Rayman's world and turn every area into a slapstick disaster zone. In actual gameplay, players can control Rayman, Globox, or even a Rabbid to complete mini-games while the Rabbids' relentless destructive antics drive the mayhem.
How does the story of Rayman Raving Rabbids end?
The narrative stays light, framing the game as Rayman and his friends fighting to stop the Rabbids' escalating takeover of their world. The heroes ultimately push the Rabbids back and restore peace, though the overall tone remains comedic and low-stakes throughout.
Why is Rayman Raving Rabbids important in gaming history?
It officially spun the Rabbids out into their own standalone franchise, separate from the main Rayman titles. The game also helped showcase the Wii's motion-control capabilities and became a defining title of the mid-2000s party-game wave.
What platforms was Rayman Raving Rabbids released on?
The game debuted on the Wii in 2006, with later ports arriving for PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, and handheld systems. Development originally began at Phoenix Interactive Entertainment as a more traditional 3D platformer before Ubisoft Montpellier reworked the project into the party game it became.
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