Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake Is Finally Here

3 min read

The Zelda Ocarina of Time remake is out now on Nintendo Switch 2. It launched on November 5, 2026, and many critics call it one of the year’s best games.

Key Points

The remake holds a Metacritic score of 96, one of the highest of 2026.
It adds a jump button, modern camera controls, voice acting and a quest log.
It keeps the same dungeons and story as the 1998 Nintendo 64 original.

What Is the Ocarina of Time Remake?

Ocarina of Time first came out on the Nintendo 64 in 1998. Many fans still call it the greatest video game ever made.

Nintendo announced the Switch 2 remake in June 2026. It showed gameplay and confirmed the release date during a Nintendo Direct in September, Engadget reported.

The game is only on Switch 2. You play as Link, who travels through time to stop the villain Ganondorf.

The story moves between Link’s childhood and his adult years. Players use a magic ocarina, which is a small flute. Its songs open doors, change the weather and even move Link through time.

Good to know. Ocarina of Time was one of the first big 3D adventure games. It introduced a lock-on combat system many games still use today.

What Is New in the Remake?

The remake keeps the classic story but updates how the game looks and plays. Engadget listed these key changes.

A full visual overhaul with more detail in every area
Modern camera controls and a new jump button
Voice acting for characters
A quest log in the menu that shows your next goal
Faster item swapping during battles

The dungeons and quest items stay in the same order as the original. This is not an open-world game like Breath of the Wild.

96The remake’s Metacritic score from 82 critic reviews, per KitGuru.

What Are Critics Saying?

Reviews have been very strong since the embargo lifted before launch. The game has a Metacritic score of 96 from 82 critics, KitGuru reported.

On OpenCritic, it holds a 95 score. Every one of the 44 critics listed there recommends it.

The original Nintendo 64 version still has a slightly higher Metacritic score. That 1998 game remains one of the best-reviewed titles of all time.

Have you played the original Ocarina of Time?

Yes, on the Nintendo 64
Yes, on a later system
No, this will be my first time

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How Much Does It Cost?

The digital version costs $59.99 in the United States, LevelUp reported. Physical copies may cost a bit more at some stores.

You can buy it today on the Nintendo eShop or from major retailers.

Detail	Info
Release date	November 5, 2026
Platform	Nintendo Switch 2 only
Digital price	$59.99
Metacritic score	96
OpenCritic score	95

Should You Buy It?

If you loved the original, this remake is an easy pick for you. The new controls fix many of the old game’s rough spots.

New players also get a great starting point. The quest log makes it easier to know where to go next.

The game is long, so expect many hours of play. Most players need several weekends to finish the main story and its puzzle-filled dungeons.

Nintendo also released a Zelda-themed Switch 2 console with custom art on the Joy-Con and dock. Fans who want a matching system may want to look for it before the holidays.

Try this today. Check your Switch 2 storage before buying. Clear space for big new games so the download does not stop halfway.