It’s been 28 years. And on November 5, 2026, we’re going back.
Nintendo will release a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Switch 2 on November 5, 2026.
Not a port. Not an HD upscale. A full remake built for Switch 2.
And if you grew up holding a yellow N64 controller, fighting your cousin for the rumble pak, hearing that ocarina for the first time — you already know why this is the biggest game left in 2026.
Data from LevelUp names Nintendo’s upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake the most anticipated game release remaining in 2026.
Even more than GTA 6 for some. And some fans are more excited about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of TIme remake than Grand Theft Auto VI: “im so happy i got this game, never played the original so its gonna be my first time playing it. lowkey more excited for this than GTA”
Why The Original Still Matters
The announcement that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time would be getting a remake was a genuinely big moment for gamers who grew up playing the original back in the 1990s. It remains one of the greatest games of all time.
Ocarina of Time (1998) is the game that invented 3D gaming as we know it:
- First game with Z-targeting (lock-on) — every action game still uses it
- First game where time travel actually mattered — child Link to adult Link
- The game that taught us music is a mechanic — playing Zelda’s Lullaby, Saria’s Song, Song of Time on an ocarina to change the world
- The first 3D Zelda, and still, for many, the best. Metacritic 99/100 — highest rated game ever for 20 years
For millennials, it wasn’t just a game. It was the first time a game made us feel like we were in a real world.
On Tuesday, during a special Zelda-only 40th anniversary Nintendo Direct, the company revealed an extended trailer for its upcoming remake of the original Nintendo 64 classic. It is sure to activate dormant millennials who genuinely enjoy reveling in the touchstones of their past.
What’s New in the Remake (It’s Not 1:1)
With less than a month left for the launch, previews have finally started showing up. IGN has posted their preview of the game, revealing some interesting details.
Switch 2 gamers will be excited to learn that the game runs at a “crisp 60 fps.”
IGN’s Logan Plant notes that certain dialogues have been expanded, puzzles have been revamped, structural changes have been made, among other changes.
From previews and leaks so far:
1. It’s rebuilt, not repainted:
I was invited to a limited, behind-closed-doors appointment to go hands-on with the 2026 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. I was very excited to get the chance to play this game ahead of its Nintendo Switch 2 launch on November 5th, 2026. I am happy to report that it is going to be a hit.
Early footage shows Hyrule Field is no longer empty — it has monsters, travelers, side quests. Castle Town is full. Kakariko Village feels alive.
2. New items, side quests, and cutscenes:
This release is expected to be one of the largest launches in Zelda history due to the inclusion of new items, side quests, and cutscenes.
Leaks suggest new Sheikah mini-dungeons between child and adult timeline, expanded Gerudo Valley, and new ocarina songs.
3. Puzzles have been revamped:
The Water Temple — yes, THAT Water Temple — has been redesigned. Nintendo heard 28 years of complaints. The infamous water level raising puzzle is now logical.
4. Dark Link redesign and expanded lore:
Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Remake Officially Unveils Dark Link Redesign. Dark Link in the Water Temple now has his own backstory, not just a shadow.
**5. And now that Nintendo has been confirming more and more that it’s even more than a straight 1:1 remake, I couldn’t be more thrilled.
Nintendo confirmed two special midnight releases are going ahead, where people can show up in person — first time since Breath of the Wild.
Why Gamers Are Losing Their Minds
1. For veterans, it’s coming home:
You can officially stop the evil demon king Ganondorf from conquering Hyrule (again) on Thursday, November 5th, 2026.
We were 9 when we first pulled the Master Sword and watched 7 years pass. We are 37 now. We have lived 7 years. The child-to-adult time jump hits different when you are the adult.
2. For new players, it’s the best entry point ever:
Never played Ocarina? This is perfect. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is widely seen as one of the best games in the series to date. Original N64 graphics are rough today. Switch 2 version runs 60fps, with modern controls, no clunky 1998 camera.
The game recently received an official ESRB rating of Everyone 10+ (Fantasy Violence, Animated Blood), signaling that development is approaching completion.
3. It’s Nintendo’s 40th Anniversary killer app:
To mark the series’ 40th anniversary, but not a new 3D Mario. According to reliable insider NateTheHate, Nintendo is planning to release a remake of The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time ‘in the second half of 2026’.
Nintendo is treating this as the anniversary game — bigger than a Mario Wonder sequel. The title is already seeing significant commercial interest with over 100,000 physical copies preordered on Amazon.
4. The debate itself is exciting:
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake launches for Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, but its first substantial showing has already sparked a heated debate over Nintendo’s new visual direction. While many fans are excited to see the 1998 classic rebuilt with modern technology, others argue that the more realistic presentation strips away some of the original game’s personality and makes the remake resemble an Unreal Engine 5 fan project.
Some say too realistic. Some say perfect. That argument means people care.
What We Still Don’t Know
Even with the Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake release date nearly here, it’s unclear which studio developed the Switch 2 game. Then, in September 2026, a Norwegian retailer appeared to leak the company as the Ocarina of Time remake studio before editing the page.
Rumors: Grezzo (who did Majora’s Mask 3D) + Monolith Soft helping. Nintendo hasn’t confirmed.
We also don’t know if Master Quest is included, or if there’s a new hard mode.
Why This Return Matters
Breath of the Wild taught us freedom. Tears of the Kingdom taught us creativity.
Ocarina of Time taught us story. It taught us that a video game could make you feel time passing, childhood ending, world changing while you were gone.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Preview — Link is Looking Fresh 2026 — but it’s not just Link. It’s us.
On November 5th, millions of us will pick up an ocarina again, play Zelda’s Lullaby, and for a second, be 9 years old in front of a CRT TV, with no homework, no bills, just Hyrule Field and endless time.
That’s why gamers are excited. Not for graphics. For the feeling.
Are you playing it for the first time, or returning to Hyrule like Link returns after 7 years?
