Nintendo's remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is out now, launching on 5 November as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, 28 years after the original arrived on the Nintendo 64. I've been waiting on this one for a long time, my Switch 2 is charged and ready, and I'll absolutely be playing it.

UK fans got a head start, too: Nintendo held a UK midnight launch, with free N64-style boxes up for grabs. Here's what's new, who's back in the cast and how the reviews are landing.

What's new in the Ocarina of Time remake

Nintendo's UK page promises reimagined visuals, a refreshed soundtrack and modernised gameplay, including a new dash and motion-controlled aiming for ranged weapons. The Verge notes it's the first Zelda release exclusive to Switch 2. The modern additions include:

  • Jumping on command, with its own button
  • Spoken dialogue throughout
  • Threads of Time, a progress marker you can view from the pause screen
  • Zelda Notes in the Nintendo Switch app, for maps and other info on your phone

Series stalwart Eiji Aonuma and Breath of the Wild director Hidemaro Fujibayashi produced the remake, working with younger developers, some of whom had never played the original. Breath of the Wild is my favourite Zelda of all, and my hours in it turned into some of my core gaming memories, so it's good to see its director on this one.

Dropping the original's auto jump took real work. VGC reported on a Nintendo blog post in which Aonuma explained that free jumping meant planning for far more player behaviour in every area. Aonuma also said the infamous Water Temple has been reworked after years of complaints, with better visibility and easier item switching.

Navi's voice and the English cast

Nintendo held blind voice auditions and, without realising it, picked the same actor who voiced Navi in the original. Eurogamer reports it was a total accident, so those famous "Hey!" and "Listen!" calls come from the same performer 28 years apart.

With the game now out, IGN now has the complete list of English voice actors.

How the Ocarina of Time remake is being received

Very well indeed. According to VGC, the remake has shot to the top of Metacritic's best games of 2026 so far, and into its all-time top 30.

Japan's Famitsu gave it 37 out of 40 (scores of 10, 9, 9 and 9), VGC reports, praising the new camera, friendlier controls and the level of graphical detail. For context, the N64 original was the first game ever to earn a perfect 40 from the magazine. VGC's own review says the visual overhaul and more cinematic storytelling give it "the scale and spectacle of a modern blockbuster".

My own first trip through it was Ocarina of Time 3D on the 3DS, and carrying a game that legendary around in my hands felt incredible. The new version plays in handheld, tabletop or TV mode, so you can carry Hyrule around with you again.

Price and where to buy it

In the UK, it's £49.99 as a digital download or a download code from the My Nintendo Store. If you'd rather have it on the shelf, physical copies are on sale too, including at Smyths Toys.

Nintendo has also released a special Switch 2 and Switch 2 Pro Controller with Triforce designs. If you're weighing up physical against digital, here's what Macronix leaving ROM production could mean for Switch 2 cartridges.

I've loved Zelda for as long as I can remember, and Nintendo keeps doing brilliant things with the series, so I can't wait to head back into Hyrule with Link. Are you diving straight into the Water Temple, or saving that one for last?