The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of, if not the most well-regarded video games of all time. It may not have been gaming’s first foray into 3D; that would be 1980’s Battlezone, but it solidified a lot of concepts we still use in games today, like lock-on. Now, 28 years after Ocarina’s initial release, Nintendo is finally remaking it! Again! Well, the 3DS version was more of a remaster anyway, but who’s counting? We are! So here are 10 things you definitely, absolutely need to know about the remake of Ocarina of Time.
- It’ll look like the teaser
The game’s initial announcement came in the form of a one-minute and thirty-eight-second teaser trailer, which gives us a glimpse into what the game will be like when it releases this year. We see the Nintendo Switch 2 logo snap into place, hear the Deku Tree’s redone opening narration along with a slick-looking tapestry, then we finally get a look at the game. Link sleeps in his treehouse, no doubt having a nightmare of Princess Zelda being kidnapped by Ganondorf.
As the teaser comes to a close, we see the Triforce light up on Link’s hand before the logo fades in, giving us a vague window of 2026. With some simple math, we’ve got less than 4 months for Nintendo to fulfill that promise. It’ll probably be their holiday title, releasing in October or November if we had to guess.
- The game will play like Ocarina of Time
You’ve probably already played The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time at some point in your life, or perhaps any other game in the Zelda franchise, like Link’s Crossbow Training or the 20 Minute Demo for The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker included on the The Legend of Zelda: Collector’s Edition Promotional Disc game for the Nintendo GameCube system. Or maybe you’ve played one of the many 3D games inspired by the franchise, like Dark Souls. If you have, you’ll be familiar with the general gameplay loop of Ocarina of Time.
You explore a vast overworld, speak with NPCs, defeat enemies, encounter large women, complete labyrinthine dungeons, and uncover dark secrets. Sound familiar? Well, that’s not a description of Fallout: New Vegas; that’s Ocarina of Time! The game is like Kingdom Hearts without the Disney Worlds, Ephemer, or a jump button, and your command menu is replaced with various items you can assign to certain buttons. It still has time travel though, so it’s not too different.
- It’s only available for the Nintendo Switch 2 System
Last year, Nintendo released a sequel to their hit console, the Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo Switch 2 is, at its core, a more powerful Nintendo Switch. It can play almost all the same games a Nintendo Switch can, as well as a variety of games exclusive to the 2. Titles like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Cyberpunk 2077, and Trails in the Sky FC. There is a price increase for the system coming next month, though there’s also rumored to be a special Zelda edition that will release with Ocarina of Time.
If you have a Nintendo Switch, 1 or 2, you can already play Ocarina of Time on it! All you need is a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pak subscription and an internet connection to download the Nintendo 64 Classics App. This app also includes the game’s direct sequel, Majora’s Mask.
H. It will not include Majora’s Mask
Despite sharing a lot of the same DNA, it’s safe to say that the remake of Ocarina of Time will not include a remake of Majora’s Mask with it. So you won’t be able to journey to Termina after completing Link’s adventures in Hyrule. Reloading your save after seeing the credits will simply send you back to just before fighting Ganondorf.
That’s not to say that a remake of Majora’s Mask is off the table in the future. While Nintendo was reticent to do so after Ocarina’s 3DS debut, it still happened eventually. We’re early enough in the Switch 2’s life cycle that it’ll probably happen, especially since Ocarina of Time will definitely sell well.
5. It won’t have Linkle
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6. The game will have you question the linear nature of time
As the name implies, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time prominently features time travel, with Link able to move seven years into the future or past at the Temple of Time. However, certain events in the game have a paradoxical nature, like the Song of Storms. The player learns this song from the Phonogram Man in the future, who learned it from Link in the past, who learned it from the Phonogram Man in the future, who learned it from Link in the past, who learned it from the Phonogram Man in the future, who learned it from Link in the past, who learned it from the Phonogram Man in the future, who learned it from Link in the past, who learned it from the Phonogram Man in the future, who learned it from Link in the past, who learned it from the-
7. Link will get multiple outfits
From the teaser, we can tell that Link’s Kokiri Tunic has received a pretty major overhaul. The tunic itself appears to be woven from grass or other plants, and he’s now sporting a vest with spiral designs. He’s also not wearing his iconic hat or any shoes. Will Link receive his traditional hero’s clothes from the Deku Tree? Or will those be given by Raru in the seven-year time gap?
What we do know is that Link will still get two new outfits over the course of the game: the Red and Blue tunics. These allow Link to withstand scorching heat and breathe underwater, respectively. Will they also see brand new designs?
8. It’s coming out this year
Nintendo has reaffirmed that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is coming out in 2026, so there’s no need to worry about a delay to 2027. Star Fox and Ocarina of Time have always been released within a year of each other; their destinies are forever intertwined as the Arwing transcends dimensional boundaries to be used by Link as a Z-Targeting test.
We still don’t know who’s developing the remake; it could be a subsidiary like Velan Studios or Retro Studios, or it could be an internal project for Nintendo. It’s possible someone you know is remaking Ocarina of Time. They could be right behind you, at this very moment.
9. The game will have some amount of voice acting
The teaser trailer was fully voiced, and we’ve guessed that said voice belongs to the Great Deku Tree. Will this narration be in the game, as the new opening? Again, we have no idea. It could be that every NPC in the game is now voiced, or they could save VO for special cutscenes like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom did.
What we do know, what we’re absolutely, 100% sure about, is that Link will still go “HYAAAA!” when he swings his sword. Link may be a silent protagonist, but ever since he gained a voice in Ocarina of Time, he’s never been totally quiet. Even in The Minish Cap, he has some voice samples.
10. Nothing else really
I just hope you’re having a good day. Mine’s fine, thanks for asking.
For more on The Legend of Zelda and all things Nintendo, stay tuned to GamingTrend. I promise the next one won’t be incredibly stupid.
