Critics are overwhelmingly positive for Nintendo's Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, with the game achieving the highest review scores of 2026. Aggregate scores currently stand at 96 on Metacritic and 95 on OpenCritic, surpassing all other releases this year. While not quite reaching the original N64 version's 99 Metacritic score, this remake significantly improves upon the 2011 3D re-release, which scored a 94.
Reviewers note that the remake largely preserves the spirit of the original while incorporating thoughtful updates. Some minor inconsistencies in art style and a few less-than-ideal changes were mentioned, but the general consensus is that the game is more accessible and resonant than ever, with its themes of change and the passage of time enhanced by the modernization.
A Masterpiece Reimagined
Keza MacDonald of The Guardian awarded the game a perfect five stars, stating that Nintendo's team has transformed a 1990s masterpiece into a 2020s essential. MacDonald found the game's divisive art style to be "not so much realistic as hyperreal," and praised the new cutscenes for amplifying the original's narrative depth. She described the game as retaining an "understated melancholy" and a "dark fairytale" that remains unpatronizing despite its mature themes.
Christian Donlan writing for Eurogamer also gave a five-star review, admitting initial apprehension about revisiting a classic. He found the gameplay tweaks "quietly transformative," leading to a game that "races along at an astonishing clip." While he noted that some visual updates occasionally made the game resemble other modern titles, he ultimately found the remake's vibrancy and clarity made it feel freshly created, enhancing the timeless quality of the original.
Technical Excellence and Timeless Design
Digital Foundry's analysis highlighted the remake's technical prowess. William Judd described it as "of incredible quality, delivering a surprisingly dark, atmospheric experience that fully leverages Switch 2 hardware while still honouring the timeless structure of the original masterpiece." A significant improvement noted was the performance leap from the original's 20fps to the remake's consistent 60fps target in both docked and handheld modes, greatly enhancing the fluidity of gameplay.
Polygon's Giovanni Colantonio emphasized how Ocarina of Time's remake underscores the original's enduring design. He noted that "not a moment feels wasted," with each element feeling deliberately crafted and unique, standing in contrast to the "hour-eating busy work" found in many contemporary adventure games. Colantonio concluded that the remake powerfully illustrates why Ocarina of Time has long been considered one of the greatest games ever made.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is set to launch exclusively for Switch 2 on November 5.