Ocarina of Time remake lands on Switch 2 on November 5
Key takeaways
- The Ocarina of Time remake launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026.
- It is a full remake of the 1998 classic, with new visuals and voice acting.
- Previews praise the look and feel, and call it a strong remake.
One of the most loved games ever is coming back. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time gets a full remake. It launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026.
That is less than a month away.
Nintendo showed the game to press this week. Previews went live on October 14. Writers played about one to two hours of the game.
Their verdicts are warm. The game looks new, but it still feels like the old classic.
What happened
The original game came out in 1998. It was made for the Nintendo 64. It helped shape 3D action games.
Many fans call it one of the best games of all time. It got a 3D remaster in 2011. That version was for the Nintendo 3DS.
This new version is more than a remaster. A remaster polishes an old game. A remake builds it again from the ground up.
Nintendo rebuilt the game with new visuals. The world looks rich and full of detail. The characters move in new ways.
The cutscenes now have full voice acting.
A cutscene is a short movie inside a game. It tells part of the story. In the remake, these scenes have real voices.
Navi and the Great Deku Tree speak their lines. Saria has more lines too. Link stays silent, as in the old game.
Nintendo also released a new overview trailer. The trailer shows gameplay and new features. Nintendo Life called it a strong look at the game.
The trailer shows the new Hall of Fallen Foes. That is a museum in the game. It shows statues of enemies you have beaten.
The trailer also shows a fun ocarina feature. You can hum a tune in real life. You can also play a real ocarina.
Link will copy the tune in the game. That is a neat touch for music fans.
The game is rated Everyone 10 and up. That rating comes from the ESRB. The ESRB rates games in North America.
The game has animated blood and fantasy violence. Fantasy violence means cartoon-style fights.
Why it matters
Ocarina of Time is a huge name in games. It set the bar for 3D adventures. Many later games copied its ideas.
Its lock-on targeting was new at the time. Lock-on lets you focus on one enemy. Its puzzles set a high bar too.
The remake matters for the Switch 2. The console is still new. It launched less than two years ago.
A big Zelda game can sell consoles. It can also bring back old fans. It can win new fans too.
Game Informer played the remake for over an hour. The writer explored Kokiri Forest as Young Link. He also played as Adult Link in the Forest Temple.
He said the visuals are stunning. He praised the new jump button. He praised the free camera.
A free camera lets you look around with ease.
The writer also liked the small changes. Lon Lon Ranch now sits level with Hyrule Field. In the old game, it sat on a plateau.
Kakariko Village has a new layout. These changes are small. But they show care from the team.
One new tool helps lost players. It is called the Threads of Time. It shows a story timeline in the menu.
It tracks what Link has done. It also shows what lies ahead. If you get lost, it can give hints.
That is useful for new players.
GameRant also played the game. The writer said the remake keeps the spirit of the old game. He said the visuals are gorgeous.
He said the music is still moving. He felt like a kid again while playing. He called the game a must-play for 2026.
What happens next
The game launches on November 5, 2026. It will be only on Nintendo Switch 2. It will not come to the old Switch.
Fans need the new console to play it.
Nintendo will share more news before launch. The company often posts trailers in the last weeks. Fans should watch for more clips.
More previews may also appear. Each one will show more of the game.
Players can plan their time now. The game is a long adventure. It has dungeons, puzzles and boss fights.
A dungeon is a maze-like area with traps. A boss is a big enemy at the end. The Forest Temple is one such dungeon.
The Phantom Ganon fight stays true to the old game.
Some small flaws remain. Game Informer noted one issue with combat. When you fight many enemies, it is hard to switch targets.
You must release the lock-on button. Then you must move the camera. Then you must lock on again.
The writer said this felt old. It is how the old game worked too.
Still, the previews are very positive. The game looks polished. The world feels alive.
The music is back in full force. New players will get the best version of a classic. Old fans will get a fresh trip to Hyrule.
Hyrule is the kingdom where the game takes place.
Searches for the remake spiked this week. Google Trends logged about 2,000 searches in the United States. Fans want the release date.
They want to know what is new. This article answers both questions.
For more gaming news, read why Xbox denied a GTA 6 streaming report. You can also learn why software updates say bug fixes and improvements. Both stories explain tech in plain words.
November 5 is close. The wait is almost over. Link is ready to return.
The ocarina is ready to play.
Related stories
Apple plans two October launches: smart home hub, OLED MacBook Pro
Apple set October 13 for a smart home launch with a new hub, Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini, then October 27 for OLED MacBook Pro models
How to Check If Your Phone Supports eSIM in 30 Seconds
Dial *#06# and look for an EID number to confirm eSIM support in under 30 seconds. This guide also walks through the iPhone and Android
eSIM vs iSIM: what is the difference?
An eSIM is a dedicated chip on the phone's board, while an iSIM lives inside the processor itself. Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen