The first Rayman video game was released in 1995. Developed by Ubi Pictures and published by Ubi Soft, it introduced the limbless hero, his telescopic fist, and the colorful world that became the foundation of the series.
Rayman first appeared on PlayStation in North America on September 7, 1995. Releases for the Atari Jaguar followed during September, with Sega Saturn and MS-DOS versions arriving later that year or in early 1996, depending on region. The game was designed as a colorful 2D platformer during a period when the industry was shifting toward 3D graphics.
A common mix-up is confusing the game's release year with Rayman's earlier development history. Creator Michel Ancel began imagining the character as a teenager, and early versions were planned for systems including the Atari ST and the cancelled Super NES CD-ROM. Those prototypes predate the commercial game, but they were not releases. Rayman 2: The Great Escape followed in 1999 and is a separate game.