The reviews for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake are now live, and they’re pretty great. Nintendo’s remake has been one of the most anticipated games of the year, and the Metacritic consensus teases that the wait for a revamped Ocarina of Time was well worth it. The remake’s Metacritic score is at an impressive 96 out of 100, officially making it the highest-rated game of the year so far. Ocarina of Time is one of the most beloved Zelda games of all time, so it’s not surprising that Nintendo put in as much love and effort into the remake as possible, but its score putting it in line to be an even stronger GTA 6 competitor than expected definitely is a bit of a surprise.
When Nintendo announced that the Ocarina of Time release date was just two weeks before GTA 6‘s launch, a lot of gamers were surprised that the company had picked a spot so close to a game that is expected to be a record-breaking moment for the industry. It’s impossible to predict game sales, but it’s basically a given at this point that GTA 6 is in line to be one of the best-selling games of all time. The Ocarina of Time remake can’t compete on that end, but The Game Awards could be a completely different story.
Ocarina of Time Has the Potential to Overtake Grand Theft Auto 6 at This Year’s Game Awards
One of the biggest questions of this year was whether GTA 6 would qualify for The Game Awards or not. That recently got answered, though, and it looks like Rockstar’s upcoming game will get the chance to sweep the event. According to The Game Awards website, games eligible for nomination have to be commercially available before 9 PM PT on November 20. Since the GTA 6 release date is November 19, that makes it an eligible nominee, barely missing the cutoff.
Guess the games from the emojis.
At first, it seems a bit unfair. A game as massive as GTA 6 being eligible sounds like a recipe for Rockstar to take home every single award it qualifies for, especially the coveted Game of the Year title. There are a lot of great games that have debuted this year that feel like clear contenders to get a GOTY nomination. Games like 007 First Light and Resident Evil Requiem are real possibilities, but both titles will undoubtedly be overshadowed by a juggernaut like GTA 6. The Ocarina of Time reviews actually might signal some serious competition on the horizon, though.
The remake’s Metacritic score is at an impressive 96 out of 100, officially making it the highest-rated game of the year so far.
It’s Very Possible That Ocarina of Time Has Better Reviews Than GTA 6
This year has been rough for AAA games breaking into the 90-and-above Metacritic score. Many of this year’s AAA releases have received scores in the 80s, and Marvel’s Wolverine reviews are in the mid 70s, when that game was anticipated to be one of 2026’s best. The Ocarina of Time remake and Forza Horizon 6 are the only two new AAA games right now that have scored a 90 or higher. Obviously, many expect GTA 6 to score in the 90s, too, but nothing is set in stone.
Even if GTA 6 reviews are in the 90s, there is still the chance that it scores lower than Ocarina of Time. Rockstar’s game is destined to reign supreme when it comes to sales, but Nintendo launching a game that potentially has better reviews than the most anticipated release of the year would look incredibly good for the company. Nintendo’s lineup of new Switch 2 games has already put the company on a roll this year, and outperforming GTA 6‘s reviews would be another huge win.
Nintendo’s Ocarina of Time Remake Could Cause a Huge Game Awards Upset
The potential for GTA 6 to win tons of awards at The Game Awards is huge, but Ocarina of Time shouldn’t be underestimated. If Ocarina of Time gets better overall reviews than GTA 6, that alone would put it in a position to win the GOTY award. There is also the nostalgia factor that needs to be taken into consideration. I don’t think that a game should win such a massive award based on nostalgia alone, but it’s a powerful thing. There are enough gameplay changes in the Ocarina of Time remake that justify a GOTY nomination, and that blend of newness and familiarity might sway some Game Awards voters in Nintendo’s direction.
It definitely wouldn’t be the first time that a remake has been nominated for GOTY. However, only time will tell if Ocarina of Time actually gets that nomination and wins. Rockstar’s GTA 6 launch will undoubtedly make history, but that doesn’t secure a GOTY victory. The rest of 2026’s AAA lineup might not stand a chance against the gaming Goliath, but Nintendo could really have something special on its hands with the Ocarina of Time remake.
- Released
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November 5, 2026
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
