Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake modernises 1998 classic for Switch 2

Summarised from 6 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 14:15 · Archive

Nintendo's remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Switch 2 features modernised gameplay and completely redesigned graphics.

Nintendo has announced a full remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Switch 2, arriving in 2026. The 1998 original is widely regarded as one of the greatest video games ever made, pioneering 3D graphics and exploration in the action-adventure genre.

The remake features completely redesigned graphics that multiple outlets praised as visually stunning. Kokiri Forest is now lush and densely populated with environmental detail, whilst Hyrule Castle Town is bustling with people and pets. Taller buildings and new alleys add depth and dimension absent from the original. The art style has been described as maximalist, with intricate textures on items and Link's clothing.

Beyond visuals, Nintendo has made significant gameplay changes to modernise the experience. Link now has a dedicated jump button, allowing manual jumping instead of relying on rolls. The camera is freely rotatable rather than fixed, and a scrolling inventory bar replaces the pause menu system for swapping items and weapons. Link can also sprint across terrain, eliminating the need for endless rolling across open plains. A new progression marker called 'Threads of Time' appears when pausing the game, and the game integrates with the Nintendo Switch app to display maps and information on your phone.

Lock-on combat has been redesigned to feel more engaging, with Link described as 'snappy to control'. The game runs at more responsive frame rates than the original. One outlet noted these improvements address frustrations from the original, such as imprecise analogue-stick aiming in minigames, now replaced with motion-controlled precision.

Multiple outlets had hands-on time with the remake at preview events. Engadget reported playing through sections of the game and found it plays 'even better than it looks'. The Verge spent approximately 90 minutes playing through chunks including the opening as Child Link and later sections as Adult Link after obtaining the Master Sword. TechRadar played for two hours, experiencing Kokiri Forest, a journey across Hyrule Field and into Castle Town, and the entire Forest Temple.

Outlets generally praised how the remake balances faithfulness to the original with meaningful modernisations. The Verge noted that whilst the remake feels similar to modern Zelda games like Breath of the Wild, its story remains a standout. TechRadar found the refinements make the remake and original feel 'worlds apart', describing the 2026 version as the definitive way to play. Some online discourse has questioned the art style's maximalist aesthetic, though TechRadar reported reassurance after hands-on time that the visual approach makes sense within the game world.

The remake represents the Switch 2's first major Nintendo showcase of its technical capabilities, coming at a time when the console's power has primarily been demonstrated through third-party ports rather than first-party Nintendo titles.

How it is being reported

• After playing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, returning to the original left me feeling more hollow than the Great Deku TreeRemakes can strike fear into the hearts of series fans; a lazy or unimaginative rehash can soil cherished memories of classic titles. I’ve spent two hours in Ocarina of Time, and I have no such fears for one of my favorite games of all time.TechRadar · 14 Oct, 14:01
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time preview – Link faces his scariest challenge yet: the 4K eraThe kingdom of Hyrule has been prettified, the soundtrack is newly orchestrated and our hero feels strikingly different under the thumbs … we play a hands-on demo of Nintendo’s Switch 2 remake of a 1998 game-changer When beloved art is revisited and revised, a familiar cry is often heard: “You’re ruining my childhood!” But with Nintendo’s Switch 2 remake of Ocarina of Time, there are also livelihoods at risk: specifically, the man running the shooting gallery in Castle Town. In the original 1998 version of the game, he’d rip off players as they funnelled rupees and fudged the then still…Guardian Technology · 14 Oct, 14:00
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake plays even better than it looksLink is getting a lot more than just a visual glow up for the new Switch 2 version.Engadget · 14 Oct, 14:00
• The Ocarina of Time remake feels remarkably modern — and surprisingly terrifyingWith its upcoming remake for the Switch 2, Nintendo might have nailed the best thing about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: its timelessness. The 1998 3D action adventure game for the Nintendo 64 that pioneered so much - 3D graphics, movement, exploration, openness - has been reengineered with changes that make it feel […]The Verge · 14 Oct, 14:00
• The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time remake preview – the once and future kingGameCentral gets to play the remake of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time and go hands-on with the entirety of the Forest Temple, in the new version of one of the best video games ever made.Metro · 14 Oct, 14:00
• Hands-on with the Ocarina of Time remake, the most ornate Zelda game ever madeWe got to play the The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time early. Here are our impressions of the remake and its elaborate new style.NPR · 14 Oct, 14:00

In this story: Nintendo · The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time · Switch 2 · Hyrule · Link · Breath of the Wild

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem