This page explains the links between the Mario series and the Rayman series.
Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 (Nintendo DS)[]
November 13, 2007
A Warp Pipe in the Lunch Time minigame.
Mario
Rayman
The Nintendo DS version of Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 features a minigame called "Lunch Time" that takes place in a construnction site and consists in tapping the touch screen to make the player's Rabbid walk on a girder to reach a packed lunch at the end before the two rival Rabbids. The player must stop tapping to make the Rabbid cower and avoid swinging objects that would knock him down.
One of the swinging object is a green pipe likely shaped after a Warp Pipe from the Mario series.
Additionally a preview image of the game featured a Rabbid dressed like Mario, possibly indicating that there was originally intended to be one, but was later scrapped.
Rayman Legends (Wii U and Nintendo Switch)[]
August 29, 2013
Mario
Rayman
The Wii U and Nintendo Switch version of Rayman Legends features exclusive costumes for Rayman and Globox based respectively on Mario and Luigi.
Since in promotional material these costumes are specifically called "Mario & Luigi", it's possible that they were intended to be based specifically on the Mario & Luigi series.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope[]
2023
Mario
Rayman
Rayman will appear as a playable character in the third DLC pack for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope.
License[]
The creators of Rayman Raving Rabbids, had no right to use elements from the Mario series, so they only included a subtle reference in a minigame. Also the Mario-Rabbid was possibly removed from the game to avoid issues with Nintendo.
When creating Rayman Legends, however, they got the license from Nintendo to include the Mario costumes, as a form of double way marketing.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is published by Ubisoft with a license from Nintendo to use Mario characters.