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Hyrule has never looked this good. Nintendo’s ground-up remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launched exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026, as the centerpiece of the series’ 40th anniversary. A week in, the verdict from critics is about as close to unanimous as it gets: Nintendo pulled it off.
What critics are saying
- Video Games Chronicle gave it a perfect 5/5, calling it the definitive way to play one of gaming’s most essential adventures.
- TechRadar said the remake delivers on every front, with plenty for both longtime fans and newcomers.
- Dexerto called it the best-looking Switch 2 game yet and the most detailed Zelda ever made.
- Siliconera described it as a stunning, more elaborate retelling than any previous version.
- NPR was positive but more measured, praising it as superb and streamlined while noting it plays things fairly safe.
The common thread: the remake respects the 1998 original while removing the friction that makes N64 games feel dated today. The one recurring criticism is that it doesn’t take many risks with the core design. For most reviewers, that’s a feature, not a bug.
What’s new in the Ocarina of Time remake?
This isn’t a simple remaster. Nintendo rebuilt the game from scratch, and the changes go well beyond graphics:
- Completely rebuilt visuals for Switch 2, with far more detailed environments
- Full voice acting, a first for this story
- A fully orchestrated soundtrack
- Modern movement: manual jumping and sprinting
- Free camera control instead of the original’s fixed angles
- A new quest log so you always know where you’re headed
- Microphone ocarina: you can play songs using the Switch 2’s built-in microphone
Series producer Eiji Aonuma oversaw the project, with Shigeru Miyamoto credited for the original game design.
The Zelda 40th anniversary celebration
Ocarina of Time was revealed at Nintendo’s Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct in September alongside a special Zelda-themed Switch 2 console, which launched a week earlier on October 29, and a gold-and-green Pro Controller. It also sets the stage for the live-action Legend of Zelda movie coming next year.
Is it worth buying?
If you’ve never played Ocarina of Time, this is now the obvious place to start. If you have, the quality-of-life upgrades and the new presentation make it feel fresh without changing what made it special. The timing is tricky, though: GTA 6 arrives November 19, so Switch 2 owners may want to make their trip to Hyrule this week.
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Sources: VGC, TechRadar, Dexerto, NPR, 80.lv.