The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a complete remake of the Nintendo 64 classic for Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo reworks Link's journey through Hyrule technically and in terms of gameplay, while keeping the familiar basic structure of the original.

The remake releases on Nov 5, 2026, exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo lists around 27 GB for the digital version and gives it a USK rating of 12 and up in Germany.

This remake is exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. TV, tabletop and handheld modes, amiibo, cloud save data and HDR on compatible displays are supported.

The adventure takes Link through a connected world of settlements, forests, mountains and dungeons. Along the way, conversations with residents, new items and learned melodies help open paths or solve puzzles. In the temples, exploration, battles and multi-stage tasks alternate, often requiring tools found earlier.

Switching between Link's childhood and adulthood affects which characters he meets and which equipment he can use. The remake keeps this basic structure. The specific changes to the camera, movement and weapon handling are described separately.

The new version offers reworked graphics, voiced cutscenes, additional dialogue, orchestrated music and modernized camera and motion controls.

Link's journey leads from the Kokiri Forest across Hyrule Field to places such as Death Mountain, Zora's Domain and the Gerudo Desert. Switching between childhood and adulthood remains the core of the adventure: characters, places and usable items change with each era.

The remake adds details to the reworked environments. Unlike the original game, the day-night cycle continues in towns too, according to Nintendo. This links the time of day and exploration more closely, without Nintendo announcing a new open world or a fundamental reorganization of the dungeons.

The direct jump button and the sprint function are meant to make paths through Hyrule smoother. With the right stick, you can freely aim the camera, rather than relying only on the camera angles of the Nintendo 64 original. Nintendo also mentions faster actions and shorter loading times as improvements to the remake.

Slingshot, bow, bombs and other equipment keep their roles when exploring and solving puzzles. Items should be quicker to switch. With suitable tools, motion controls can optionally be used for aiming.

The Ocarina is still a tool Link uses to play learned melodies, change the time of day or open new paths. Button controls remain possible. Nintendo also describes input via the Switch 2's built-in microphone: players can hum melodies or try to play them on a real ocarina.

The reworked music includes orchestrated pieces and refreshed sounds. The microphone function is an additional way to interact with the familiar songs, not a sign of a new music game outside the adventure.

If you can't remember where Link should go next after a long break, you can open the "Trail of Time". This feature summarizes the story so far, shows current goals and visualizes progress on a tapestry. It complements exploration rather than solving the puzzles automatically.

The Nintendo Switch app for smartphones also lets you use ZELDA NOTES, for example for game statistics, quiz questions and creating or sharing your own Ocarina melodies. According to Nintendo, this requires a compatible smartphone with internet access, but no Nintendo Switch Online membership.

The remake is announced as a single-player adventure for Nintendo Switch 2 and supports TV, tabletop and handheld modes. The German Nintendo product page lists German, English, Japanese, French, Italian and Spanish, among others, as languages. Cloud save data, surround sound and HDR output on compatible TVs are also listed.

Compatible Zelda amiibo can be scanned to unlock additional game content. Nintendo mentions special masks for the characters "Young Link" and "Young Zelda", scheduled for release in 2027. Amiibo support does not bring a separate game mode or an additional native platform version.

The Switch 2 remake adds a special area for already defeated enemies, the Hall of Fallen Heroes. In the current overview trailer, Nintendo shows statues of the defeated monsters. Players can view more information about them there and challenge powerful boss enemies again.

The location is a permanent extra feature of the remake. Its exact location, how to unlock it and possible rewards have not yet been sufficiently explained. Therefore, no specific details are listed.