The Switch 2 remake of Zelda’s most famous adventure hit a 96 on Metacritic from 80 critics Wednesday morning, a day before launch, and not one of them called it mixed.
The reviews for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Nintendo Switch 2 are in. They’re about as good as it gets.
As of Wednesday morning, Nov. 4, the remake sat at a 96 Metascore from 80 critic reviews.
Every one of those 80 was scored as positive. Zero mixed, zero negative.
That puts it at No. 1 on Metacritic’s list of the best games of 2026, ahead of the twin-stick shooter Sektori at 93. OpenCritic had it at 96 too, with 100 percent of critics recommending it.
The game launches Thursday, Nov. 5, as a Switch 2 exclusive.
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What are critics saying about the Ocarina of Time remake?
Mostly that Nintendo didn’t break the thing everybody loves. That was the big fear when the remake was announced, and the reviews say it didn’t happen.
IGN’s Logan Plant gave it a 9 out of 10. He wrote that “Nintendo skillfully melds the world and dungeon design of classic Zeldas with the movement and presentation of its more recent games.”
Eurogamer gave it 5 out of 5 stars and said “this astonishing remake has a proper ace up its sleeve.” VGC called it “a remarkable restoration of one of gaming’s most beloved adventures.”
Forbes’ Ollie Barder went with a 9 out of 10. The U.K. tabloid Daily Star gave it a perfect 100 on Metacritic’s scale and summed things up in two words: “A must-buy.”
So yeah. People like it.
What’s new in the Switch 2 version of Ocarina of Time?
A lot more than a fresh coat of paint. Nintendo’s own description promises “completely overhauled visuals, voiced cutscenes, expanded dialogue, and symphonic orchestral music.”
Voiced cutscenes are a big swing for a game whose whole cast used to talk in text boxes and the odd “Hey! Listen!” from Navi.
The controls got rebuilt too. Nintendo says you can now “jump and dash through the action with enhanced controls and modern camera movements.” Manual jumping is a huge change for a game that famously did all your jumping for you back in 1998.
Here’s a look from Nintendo:
How does the remake compare to the original Ocarina of Time?
This is the funny part. The 1998 Nintendo 64 original still holds a 99 on Metacritic, which makes it the highest-rated game on the entire site. Nothing has beaten it in almost 28 years.
So the remake scoring three points lower is not really a knock. It’s chasing a ghost.
It also beats the last few Zelda remakes by a wide margin. Ocarina of Time 3D on the Nintendo 3DS scored a 94 back in 2011. The Link’s Awakening remake on Switch landed at 87, and Skyward Sword HD got an 81, according to Notebookcheck’s rundown of the scores.
That’s a pretty clear trend line going up. Nintendo apparently decided this one had to be special, and the critics seem to agree it is.
Is the Ocarina of Time remake worth buying on Switch 2?
If the reviews are any guide, it’s the safest bet Nintendo has put out this year. A 96 with no mixed reviews at all is rare air.
There are a few things to keep in mind, though.
Most reviews went up the morning of Nov. 4, so the score can still move a point or two as more critics post. User reviews won’t open until the game is actually out.
It’s also a Switch 2 exclusive. If you’re still on an original Switch, this one isn’t coming your way.
And if you’ve already played Ocarina of Time three or four times, the big question is whether voice acting and new controls are enough to pull you back in. For a lot of longtime fans, the honest answer is probably “obviously, yes.”
When does the Ocarina of Time remake come out?
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, on Nintendo Switch 2. It’s rated E10+ by the ESRB.
It lands just ahead of the holiday rush and two weeks before GTA 6, which means Nintendo gets about a fortnight to own the conversation before Rockstar takes over everyone’s free time.
That’s a nice window to have. Grab the Ocarina, find Saria, and try not to get lost in the Water Temple again. Some things a remake can’t fix.
Article compiled and written by Thom Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Clownfish TV newsroom.
D/REZZED is part of Clownfish TV. For more news, views, and rants on gaming, tech, and pop culture, subscribe at clownfishtv.com. Watch the show on YouTube at @ClownfishTV where new episodes drop daily. Subscribe to the Clownfish TV podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, and wherever else you get your podcasts.
Hat Tips:
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Metacritic (Nov. 4): Metascore, review count, 2026 rankings, the Daily Star review and Nintendo’s game summary.
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OpenCritic (Nov. 4): Top Critic Average, recommend rate, IGN, Eurogamer, VGC and Forbes review excerpts.
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IGN, Logan Plant (Nov. 4): Review and score.
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Notebookcheck, Adam Corsetti (Oct. 30): Scores for earlier Zelda remakes and the original’s 99.
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