The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is set to get a Switch 2 remake, but Nintendo has remained tight-lipped as to when gamers can expect it to come out. On the bright side, Nintendo has at least confirmed that this new remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will come out sometime before the year is up, but that leaves it in a tricky situation when it comes to staking its claim on a date. The 2026 calendar is quickly filling up and creating a strangely barren final quarter, so Nintendo’s release window choice is going to be fascinating no matter what month the company picks.
September is packed with games like Marvel’s Wolverine, Control Resonant, and Silent Hill: Townfall, while October features Gears of War: E-Day and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. Then there is the GTA 6 release date that has created a Q4 drought. It’s possible that the Ocarina of Time remake has what it takes to be the one game that can release in GTA 6‘s territory without it hurting its sales, but only time will tell what launch date Nintendo chooses. Even though it’s frustrating not having a date set in stone, the good news is that Blue Fire on Steam is the perfect way to pass the time.
Blue Fire Takes Ocarina of Time’s Core Mechanics and Blends It With Hollow Knight’s Punishing Platforming
There are a few platforming moments in Ocarina of Time, but it’s just a small portion of the overall experience. Ocarina of Time‘s gameplay is far more about exploration and puzzle solving. Blue Fire has plenty of this, but it also turns the platforming aspect into a central gameplay feature. That may not appeal to every Ocarina of Time fan, but it’s a great option for those who are in the mood for a Zelda-like game that has its own special Hollow Knight-inspired twist.
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Ocarina of Time has been one of the most influential 3D action adventure games of all time, and even though Blue Fire is marketed more as a Metroidvania, the Zelda influence is quite obvious. It’s a strong indie 3D platformer that boasts just as much nostalgia as it does newness. Between its world design and fast-paced, precision-based gameplay, Blue Fire is the Ocarina of Time remix that many fans may have overlooked.
Blue Fire Is Packed With Features That Give Ocarina of Time Fans Something That’s Both Fresh and Nostalgic
- Lock-on system inspired by Ocarina of Time
- Over-the-shoulder third-person perspective
- A silent protagonist who must follow their destiny
- Dungeon exploration
- Item-based progression
- Fast-paced combat and challenging bosses
- Platforming challenges
Besides the obvious gameplay similarities, one of the other main ways that Blue Fire pays homage to Ocarina of Time is by being set in a kingdom similar to Hyrule. Ocarina of Time‘s story is centered around Link fighting to save the kingdom he lives in, and Blue Fire takes this exact same approach. The kingdom is called Penumbra, and it has fallen into darkness. The Link-like hero of Blue Fire is named Umbra, and restoring the kingdom of Penumbra back to its former glory is the character’s ultimate destiny.
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Graffiti Games -
Graffiti Games -
Graffiti Games
That general summary is bound to resonate with plenty of Legend of Zelda fans. It’s a classic tale, and the gameplay feels just as nostalgic. It’s important to reassure that Blue Fire‘s gameplay isn’t clunky and outdated, though. The controls are incredibly responsive, which makes for deeply satisfying and snappy movements as Umbra bounces through various dungeons and boss battles. It has all the makings of Ocarina of Time with a wonderfully challenging platform-focused edge that gets the palms sweating a little bit more than Zelda games typically do.
Ocarina of Time’s Switch 2 Remake Has High Expectations to Meet
Even after all these years, Ocarina of Time is still seen by many as the best Legend of Zelda game. As the first 3D Zelda game, it marked a new era for the action adventure genre. It was a huge feat at the time, and that influence has continued to be felt for nearly 30 years now. Nintendo hasn’t revealed any gameplay footage yet, so it’s unclear exactly how the company plans on modernizing its gameplay for a fresh audience.
Blue Fire is priced at $20 on Steam, but gamers can also check out a free demo for those who want to make sure the game is the right fit.
Games like Blue Fire have already showcased what a modern take on Ocarina of Time mechanics look like, so it’s going to be hard to make such a classic game feel new and exciting when plenty of other games have already managed to do so. There are a lot of features that longtime fans expect to see upgraded, like the inventory system and the Water Temple, but it’s hard to say if that will be enough to really impress a younger audience that might be jumping into Ocarina of Time for the very first time.
Blue Fire’s Art Direction Is a Reminder of Ocarina of Time’s Charming Original Aesthetic
Another reason that the Ocarina of Time remake might ruffle some feathers is because of the difference in world design. Nintendo has only offered up a short teaser trailer, but it’s clear that this remake’s art style is giving the original version a huge face lift. The original blocky 3D graphics are going to be far smoother and comparable to the Star Fox remake. This isn’t surprising by any means, but there’s a special charm to Ocarina of Time‘s original design that might be missed.
Gameplay is the ultimate mark of a good game, of course, but Blue Fire‘s simpler art direction really gives it that classic 3D Zelda feel. It’s more reminiscent of Wind Waker‘s art style than Ocarina of Time, but it’s still enough to feel like a trip down memory lane for fans who have been with the series for a while. Right now, all Zelda fans can do is sit and wait to see what Nintendo chooses to do about the Ocarina of Time remake’s release date. With the year over halfway over, the clock is ticking. In the meantime, Blue Fire is well worth giving a try.
- Released
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2026
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- Number of Players
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Single-player
