Nintendo Releases The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake for Switch 2

Nintendo has officially released The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for the Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026. The launch coincides with the release of a limited-edition Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 console. The remake is available digitally through Nintendo’s eShop and in physical formats at retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and GameStop. According to CNET, the digital version is priced at $60, while the physical version is priced at $70.

Gameplay and Visual Updates

The remake introduces several modern features to the classic 1998 Nintendo 64 title. According to The Verge, the game includes a dedicated jump button, a way to sprint, full voice acting, and a quest-tracking system called "Threads of Time." Art director Aya Shida stated that the visual style was inspired by puppet shows, noting, "Neither puppet shows nor practical effects films reproduce reality exactly as it is. Even so, both create a convincing sense that the characters truly exist within their respective fantasy worlds."

In an interview with The Verge, producer Hidemaro Fujibayashi explained that the development team, which included younger developers who had never played the original, focused on "elegance." Fujibayashi said, "I feel confident that they weren’t necessarily pursuing something new for the sake of novelty when it might be unneeded and clutter the experience. They’re looking for elegance. Only what is needed, only what was important in the original, and how to carry that forward as their focus."

Critical Reception and Performance

The remake has received high critical marks, earning a Metascore of 96 based on 82 reviews, according to 80 Level. This score makes it the highest-rated release of 2026 so far, surpassing titles such as Resident Evil Requiem, Phantom Blade Zero, Forza Horizon 6, and The Witcher 3 Remastered. While it has exceeded the 2011 Nintendo 3DS remake's score of 94, it has not surpassed the original N64 version's average score of 99.

Emulation and Jailbreak Reports

Following the release, reports have emerged regarding the game running on PC via emulators. According to Wccftech, the Lichii emulator was able to boot the game a few hours after it was dumped, following a jailbreak known as ns2jb. Performance in the Lichii emulator has been reported as inconsistent, with frame rates swinging between 15 and 30 FPS according to Wccftech, while Notebookcheck reports frame rates varying from 20 to 60 FPS. Notebookcheck also noted that colors appeared "washed out" in some instances.

Additionally, a native PC port developed by Remarkable-Net6962 has been identified, though Wccftech reports it currently only plays the introduction before crashing when gameplay begins. The ns2jb jailbreak targets a vulnerability in the console's file system, allowing for game dumps and modifications.

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Sources

• wccftech.com: Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Already Runs at 15 to 30 FPS on PC in the Lichii Emulator, Hours After Its Release On Nintendo Switch 2
• cnet.com: The Wait Is Over. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Is Available Now - CNET
• 80.lv: The Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake is the Highest-Rated Game of 2026
• theverge.com: All the news about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake | The Verge
• nintendolife.com: Reminder: Zelda: Ocarina Of Time - Playable Ocarina Available Now On The Nintendo Store | Nintendo Life
• notebookcheck.net: Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake runs on PC with Switch 2 emulator before release date - Notebookcheck News

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.