Spiky balls, also known as prickly balls, are dangerous stage hazards which feature in the Rayman series.

In Rayman 1 and its spinoffs

Rayman 1

Spiky balls, also known as prickly balls, are dangerous blue objects from Rayman. They exist in various sizes. The most common kind, of small size, possesses eyes and randomly looks around itself: they are found in all worlds but the Dream Forest and Picture City. The other kind, of much larger size, has no eyes and is sometimes attached to a rocker, which is made of three small ones with blank eyes. If it is not already spinning, Rayman can knock it but he must be careful not to get hurt. They are only found in the Blue Mountains and the Caves of Skops.

 
Rayman on a sprinkler, surrounded by spiky balls
 
Rayman can punch those giant spiky balls to make them spin
 
A large spiky ball

Rayman Designer

 
Green spiky balls

In Rayman Designer, a green version of the small spiky balls was introduced in the Dream Forest. Except for the colour and location, there are no differences with the blue ones.

Rayman Junior

 
Red spiky balls must be avoided at all costs

In the Rayman Junior games, there are red spiky balls of both sizes, and if Rayman touches them, he will instantly lose a life.

The Game Boy Color adaptation

 
Yellow and red spiky balls in the Game Boy Color version of Rayman

In this game, blue, brown and yellow spiky balls appear in Airy Tunes, Rocky Peaks, Fiery Depths and Dark Legacy. They share the same function as the spiky balls which appeared in the original Rayman game.

In Rayman 2 Forever

 
The large orange spiky balls behave the same way as those in the original game

Orange spiky balls appear in Rayman 2 Forever, the Game Boy Color adaptation of Rayman 2. They share the same function as the spiky balls which appeared in the original Rayman game.

In the Game Boy Advance version of Rayman 3

 
A spiky ball in the Game Boy Advance version of Rayman 3

A different type of spiky ball appears in this game, this variation has visible teeth showing, and is of brown colouration. It appears only in the Shining Glade floating above bodies of water. Much like other incarnations of spiky ball, they cannot be destroyed, only merely dodged.

In Rayman Origins, Legends and their spinoffs

Spiky balls make a reappearance in Rayman Origins and its sequel, Rayman Legends.

They have a different appearance depending on the world they are situated in. In the Desert of Dijiridoos they are yellow and have a bird like appearance, complete with wings and a beak.

In Gourmand Land they are blue fish, similar in appearance to the Spiky balls in the original game. In the Back to Origins mode in Rayman Legends, their colour has been changed to yellow.

They last appear in the Sea of Serendipity, and reappear in Rayman Legends in 20,000 Lums Under the Sea. They are coloured pink, and have a similar appearance to puffer fish. These fish are mobile and will flee other enemies such as Murray.

 
A spiky ball in the Desert of the Didgeridoos in an early build of Rayman Origins
 
A yellow spiky ball variation

In Rayman Fiesta Run

 
A blue spiky ball from Rayman Fiesta Run.

In this game, blue spiky balls appear as obstacles in some levels, and serve the same purpose acting as invincible stage hazards that the player must avoid.