Ocarina of Time Remake Scores 96 on Nintendo Switch 2
Ocarina of Time Remake Scores 96 and Brings Back Midnight Launches
The Ocarina of Time remake arrived on Nintendo Switch 2 on 5 November 2026 with a 96 Metascore and midnight launch events in North America. The score put Nintendo’s remake at the top of Metacritic’s 2026 games list when reviews went live. Then came the launch itself, with hundreds of fans lining up in New York and Toronto for a chance to take Link’s adventure home. See the launch announcement and the review roundup.
It was a big week for a game that first appeared on the Nintendo 64 in 1998. This time, Hyrule comes with rebuilt visuals, an orchestral score and reworked controls. Yet the adventure still sends Link and his fairy companion Navi into dungeons, across Hyrule and between two points in time. For returning fans, the fun is seeing how familiar places feel on new hardware. Read the official game overview.
How Ocarina of Time Earned a 96 Metascore
On 4 November, as reviews went live, the remake took first place on Metacritic’s list of the year’s best games. One snapshot that afternoon showed a score of 96 based on 81 critic reviews. It also placed the game 27th on the site’s all-time list at that moment. Those rankings can shift as more reviews come in, but it was an impressive start for Link’s return.
The original Nintendo 64 release still held the all-time lead with a Metascore of 99. Meanwhile, the 2011 Nintendo 3DS version earned a 94. Each score reflects a different release and its own set of reviews. Still, all three results show how well the same adventure has landed with critics across three generations of Nintendo hardware.
Critics singled out the rebuilt graphics, soundtrack and controls. Those changes matter in a game that asks players to pay close attention to their surroundings. Looking around a dungeon is part of figuring out how it works. The new camera gives players more control over what they see as they move through those spaces. Read the launch review coverage.
Why Ocarina of Time Brought Fans Out at Midnight
At Nintendo’s New York store, about 500 people queued for the midnight release. The store required advance reservations for its two-hour opening and limited game purchases to one per customer. Fans could also pick up anniversary hardware and accessories while stocks lasted. In Toronto, hundreds gathered at the EB Games flagship store for a midnight event of their own.
The anniversary gear gave collectors an extra reason to show up. Nintendo offered a special Switch 2 console and a themed Pro Controller, alongside a carrying case and screen protector. Best Buy also announced late openings at nearly all its stores, timed to midnight Eastern. That gave fans outside the flagship cities a chance to pick up a boxed copy as the game went on sale. Check the New York event details and the retailer’s opening plans.
A download gets you into Hyrule quickly. A midnight launch gives fans time to talk about the game before anyone has even opened the box. Someone in line might remember getting stuck in a dungeon as a kid, while the person beside them is about to meet Link for the first time. That shared excitement was part of what made the launch feel like an event.
What Ocarina of Time Changes on Switch 2
Nintendo rebuilt the visuals, recorded a symphonic soundtrack and added fully voiced cutscenes and expanded character dialogue. It also reworked the camera and movement controls. These changes reach beyond the opening scenes. Players spend much of the adventure exploring rooms, testing routes and switching between tools, so how Link moves and how the camera follows him matter throughout the game. See the remake’s announced features.
The central quest still follows Link and Navi as they try to stop Ganondorf. Along the way, they explore dungeons, find weapons and solve puzzles in two different periods of Hyrule’s history. The time travel gives familiar places a second life. Returning to a spot later in the adventure can reveal how much has changed since Link first passed through. Read the official story overview.
The game is exclusive to Switch 2 and supports TV, tabletop and handheld play. Nintendo lists the download at 24.9 GB on its US store. That gives digital buyers a concrete figure to check before making room on the console. See the official technical details. For more on the console, read our [Nintendo Switch 2 sales coverage](/nintendo-switch-2-sales/).
Why Ocarina of Time Still Feels Like an Event
For players who know Zelda through its recent open-world games, this trip through Hyrule offers a different rhythm. The dungeons set the pace, and each new tool gives Link another way to interact with the world. There’s a particular thrill in remembering a blocked route and realising you finally have what you need to get through it. That small moment explains a lot about why players still talk about the original.
The remake also arrived during Zelda’s 40th anniversary year, alongside plans for concerts and other celebrations. That timing gave longtime fans another reason to revisit a game they first played in 1998. For newcomers, the rebuilt adventure offers a chance to find out why so many players remember their first trip through Hyrule. Explore the anniversary announcements.
The 96 Metascore captured the strength of the opening reviews. The midnight queues told a different part of the story, one about people making time to pick up a game together. Now the best part happens back at home, when the box opens, the music starts and Hyrule comes into view. For more gaming news, see our [coverage of GTA 6 features on PS5 Pro](/gta-6-ps5-pro-features/).
