A remake of Ocarina of Time is rumored for Nintendo Switch 2, and fans of The Legend of Zelda are torn about how the developers will change elements like the game’s maps. This year marks the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda franchise, and Nintendo has been quiet about any potential plans to celebrate the occasion. It’s a big anniversary for one of Nintendo’s biggest series, but the company is still celebrating last year’s Super Mario Bros. anniversary, as well as 30 years of Pokemon. For the moment, Zelda appears to be on the back burner.
That will likely change later in the year. The Ocarina of Time remake has been rumored for months, and was first leaked alongside a Star Fox game for Nintendo Switch 2. The latter game was officially announced by Nintendo earlier this month, leading many fans to assume that a full announcement is basically a formality. Ocarina of Time is widely considered one of the best video games ever made, and a remake that takes advantage of Nintendo Switch 2’s capabilities would be a great way to celebrate four decades of the franchise.
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What Zelda Fans Want From the Ocarina of Time Remake
As rumors circulate about the Ocarina of Time remake, fans are torn about what they’d like to see from such a game. In a post on Reddit, one fan suggested that the developers should expand the regions seen in the original, making them bigger and taking advantage of the technological leaps made since the Zelda game’s release in 1998. However, some fans would prefer a faithful remake that simply builds on the improvements available in the 3DS version that came out in 2011. Ocarina of Time 3D is very well-regarded, but there are a lot of fans that would prefer to see a remake that’s more robust.
What’s That Weapon?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
If Nintendo truly is releasing a remake of Ocarina of Time, there are ways that the developers could improve on the original, without sacrificing the elements that made it so beloved. Every map doesn’t necessarily need to be expanded, but Hyrule Field in particular might feel a bit empty for players coming off Breath of the Wild. That doesn’t mean the remake needs weapon breakage or other elements from the more recent Switch games, but a modern take on an open-world could work well. Expanding some elements while leaving the original dungeons mostly intact would probably help the game feel fresh but also faithful.
Whatever happens, it will be interesting to see how Nintendo approaches the game. Star Fox on Switch 2 is a faithful remake of the N64 game, with stronger graphics and improvements like new story sequences. It’s impossible to say whether Nintendo will release two faithful N64 remakes in the same year, but there’s really no telling what the plan is for Ocarina of Time. The developers are going to have to thread the needle, offering a remake that feels authentic to a game that practically everyone already loves, while ensuring that it feels original enough that it doesn’t seem redundant.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
Whatever Nintendo has planned, fans should have some answers in the coming weeks. A Nintendo Direct is rumored for June, and that should map out the company’s plans for the rest of the year. Switch 2 has multiple games confirmed for 2026, including Star Fox, Splatoon Raiders, and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, but the holiday season is a big mystery. If a remake of Ocarina of Time really is coming out this year, Nintendo will also want to clue in fans ahead of the Switch 2 price increase coming in September. Time will tell if Nintendo can find a way to make all Zelda fans happy.
- Released
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November 21, 1998
- ESRB
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E10+ for Everyone 10+: Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- Engine
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Zelda 64 Engine
