Ocarina of Time remake launches on Switch 2 with 96 Metacritic score
By Rhea MalhotraDigital Life Writer, Peepals Yuva
Representative image: ponumenon / Pixabay
Nintendo's Ocarina of Time remake launches on Switch 2 on 5 November 2026 with a 96 Metacritic score, the highest of any 2026 game so far.
What Happened
The Ocarina of Time remake, Nintendo's new version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, launches on Thursday, 5 November 2026, exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2. Reviews published on Wednesday, 4 November, gave it an average score of 96 on Metacritic, the review-collecting website, making it the highest-rated game released in 2026 so far. It still falls short of the 1998 original, which holds a 99, the only such score in Metacritic's history.
Key Facts
- Game: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, a full remake for the Nintendo Switch 2 only.
- Release date: Thursday, 5 November 2026.
- Announcement: Nintendo first showed the remake in a Nintendo Direct presentation on 9 June 2026; it did not name the studio making it at the time.
- Metacritic score: 96, reported on 4 November, the top score among 2026 releases on Metacritic; it is also reported as the highest-rated 2026 game on OpenCritic, a similar site.
- All-time ranking: one games outlet placed it at number 24 on Metacritic's all-time list.
- Earlier versions: the original Nintendo 64 game from 1998 scored 99, and the 2011 Nintendo 3DS remake scored 94.
- Review count: reports gave between 42 and 83 critic reviews on 4 November, as more reviews were added through the day.
- What critics said: reviews praised smooth performance, while some raised concerns about the new art style.
Why It Matters
The original Ocarina of Time is the only game ever to hold a 99 on Metacritic, a record that has stood since 1998. Remaking it is a risk: fans compare every change with a game they remember fondly, and a new art style is always the first thing they argue about. A 96 shows that critics broadly think Nintendo has handled that risk well, even if the remake does not quite match the original's reputation.
For young gamers, the remake is also a test of the Switch 2's library. Big exclusive releases are what usually push people to buy a console, and a Zelda title with the year's best review score gives Nintendo a strong case in the busy end-of-year season. It arrives in the same weeks as other major releases, including Grand Theft Auto VI, so players with limited budgets will have to choose.
There is also a lesson in how review scores are reported. On launch eve, the number of reviews behind the 96 changed from hour to hour, from 42 in one report to 83 in another. Early averages can move as more reviews come in, so a score on day one is a guide, not a final verdict.
Peepals calculation: The remake's 96 is 3 points below the original's 99 (99 − 96) and 2 points above the 2011 3DS version's 94 (96 − 94). The remake arrives 28 years after the 1998 original (2026 − 1998) and 15 years after the 3DS version (2026 − 2011). Our calculation from the reported figures.
| Version | Platform | Year | Metacritic score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | Nintendo 64 | 1998 | 99 |
| Ocarina of Time 3D | Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | 94 |
| Remake | Nintendo Switch 2 | 2026 | 96 |
Impact
Short-term: The strong reviews are likely to drive launch-week sales for the Switch 2 version and keep the game near the top of search trends, as it was in the United Kingdom this week.
Long-term: If the remake sells well, Nintendo has a clear model for rebuilding other classic games for its new console. It also sets the bar for other 2026 releases chasing game-of-the-year awards.
Who is affected: Nintendo Switch 2 owners and buyers; long-time Zelda fans who played the original; younger players meeting the game for the first time; and other publishers releasing big games in the same season.
Key Takeaway
The Ocarina of Time remake launches on Switch 2 on 5 November 2026 with a 96 Metacritic score, the best of 2026 so far but still three points below the 1998 original's record 99.
Questions and Answers
When does the Ocarina of Time remake release?
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake releases on Thursday, 5 November 2026, as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.
What is the Ocarina of Time remake's Metacritic score?
It had a Metacritic score of 96 on 4 November 2026, the highest of any 2026 game, though early review counts were still changing.
Is the remake rated higher than the original?
No. The 1998 Nintendo 64 original holds a 99, the only game with that score on Metacritic. The remake's 96 is higher than the 2011 3DS version's 94.
Can I play the Ocarina of Time remake on the original Switch?
No. Reports describe it as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Rhea Malhotra, Digital Life WriterCovers Digital Life and more for Peepals Yuva. All stories by Rhea Malhotra
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Rhea Malhotra is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
