The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is responsible for influencing the franchise in a multitude of ways, from popularizing Z-targeting in the series—as well as other 3D games in general—to becoming the central turning point of Zelda‘s official timeline. It is, by and large, one of the most important games ever made for how its design still impacts the industry even today, but it is also equally important to the series itself, as many of the entries that followed have it to thank for some of their ideas. In fact, in one way or another, the legacy of Ocarina of Time can be seen, felt, and experienced in every Zelda game from Majora’s Mask (2000) on, whether through the gameplay mechanics it helped establish, the characters and cultures it introduced, or even the musical traditions that have continued to find their way into the series nearly three decades later.
And speaking of musical traditions, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake on Switch 2 will be bringing one of those traditions back home to the game that started it all. The musical tradition I’m referring to is none other than the “House” theme by Koji Kondo, the mastermind behind many of Nintendo’s most iconic game franchise soundtracks, including Mario. The reason I call it a tradition, though, is ultimately because that specific track became a recurring addition to a whopping eight succeeding Zelda games, with Tears of the Kingdom being the latest to use it. However, on November 5, 2026, the Ocarina of Time remake will officially be the latest game in the series to feature it, only rather than being a brand-new inclusion, it will be returning to the very game where it first made its mark, bringing nearly three decades of Zelda‘s musical history full circle.
Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Brings the ‘House’ Theme Full Circle
In the original Ocarina of Time, “House” would play almost anytime Link entered a house, whether it was his own or someone else’s, or an otherwise ordinary building interior. It is undoubtedly one of the N64 classic’s most recognizable music numbers, if not simply because of how often it actually plays throughout the original 30-hour adventure. It’s also incredibly easy to remember, as once it starts, it’s basically the same 12-second melody played over and over again. Plus, it’s one of Ocarina of Time‘s more comforting melodies, since it essentially kicks off Link’s journey from the warmth of his home and then triggers that feeling of warmth every time players set foot in someone else’s home thereafter.
Every Zelda Game That Has Featured ‘House’ in Some Form
- Majora’s Mask (2000): Reuses the original arrangement, including at the Stock Pot Inn.
- The Wind Waker (2002): A rearranged version plays inside homes, including Grandma’s house.
- The Minish Cap (2004): Features a new arrangement in houses throughout Hyrule Town.
- Twilight Princess (2006): Brings back the melody with a new arrangement.
- Skyward Sword (2011): Reuses the theme in another arrangement for indoor locations.
- A Link Between Worlds (2013): Features an arrangement titled “Venturing Indoors.”
- Breath of the Wild (2017): Hides a dramatically slowed-down, fragmented version in Link’s house. The Hateno Village daytime theme also quotes it.
- Tears of the Kingdom (2023): Uses BotW‘s arrangement of “House” around Link’s homes and in Hateno Village.
“House” may not be the most celebrated piece of Zelda‘s musical history (even Ocarina of Time‘s Hyrule Field theme is more celebrated than “House”), but it is nonetheless one of the most familiar. And, of course, one could argue that it’s so familiar because Nintendo just kept using it throughout the series. But as someone who played the original Ocarina of Time, I can tell you it was already stuck in my head long before Majora’s Mask came out just two years later. Truthfully, it’s the track’s composition and the way it was utilized in Ocarina of Time that made it such a memorable theme—not its constant recurrence throughout the entries that came after.
And I think that’s going to make hearing “House” in the Ocarina of Time remake even better, especially for those of us who played the original when it first came out. After all, there’s already going to be plenty of nostalgia involved in returning to Hyrule nearly three decades later, and I would imagine that hearing some of the game’s most iconic music again will only add to that. But “House” has always been a little different for me, primarily because of the sense of comfort it brought whenever Link stepped inside a building. No matter what was happening outside, there was something about that same 12-second melody playing every time I entered a house that made me feel like I could just hang out there for a while.
What’s interesting, though, is that the remake will now have two different kinds of nostalgia working in its favor. Not only will it be bringing players back to one of the greatest games ever made, but it will also be bringing back a piece of music that has accompanied them through eight other Zelda games since 1998. And considering how much Nintendo has changed Ocarina of Time for its Switch 2 remake, I think having something as simple as “House” there to remind us of the original will be important. It’s a small detail, sure, but one that I can’t imagine the game without.
- 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
