Ocarina of Time Remake: Everything the Previews Revealed, and Why It's Making Me Buy My First Switch
Hands on previews for Nintendo's Ocarina of Time remake are in, and the game launches November 5 on Switch 2. Here's everything the previews revealed, from the new art style to the new jump button, and why this is the game that's finally getting me to buy a Nintendo Switch.
By Matthew Joiner, Editor in Chief
I've never owned a Nintendo Switch. Not the original, not the Switch 2. That changes on November 5, and there's exactly one reason: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, rebuilt from the ground up for Nintendo Switch 2.
I played the original. Everybody who grew up with it has a moment they remember: stepping out into Hyrule Field for the first time, pulling the Master Sword, hearing Saria's Song. Now the press has gone hands on with the remake, and the early impressions are in. Here's what we know before launch.
The Basics
| Release date | Thursday, November 5, 2026 |
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2 only (it does not run on the original Switch) |
| Price | $59.99 digital, $69.99 physical (as reported by Forbes) |
| File size | About 27 GB (Nintendo's estimate) |
| What's new, per Nintendo | Overhauled visuals, voiced cutscenes, expanded dialogue, symphonic orchestral music, jumping and dashing, modern camera controls |
| TV features | HDR and VRR on compatible TVs |
Nintendo describes it as "built from the ground up" for Switch 2. This is a full remake, not a remaster with sharper textures.
The New Art Style: Love It or Hate It (I Love It)
The biggest conversation around this remake is the look. Instead of the bright cartoon style of Wind Waker or the painterly look of Breath of the Wild, Nintendo went with a highly detailed, almost handcrafted style. Previews describe characters that look like detailed puppets or dolls, with stitched fabric textures, and a world with realistic lighting and a more earthy color palette.
The reaction online has been split. Some fans call the character faces uncanny, and Young Link's face has gotten the most heat. Others, including several previewers, say it looks much better in motion than in screenshots.
Put me firmly in the second group. I love the new art style. Kokiri Forest looks like a fairy tale now. The light coming through the trees, the fireflies, the detail on Link's tunic. This is how the game looked in my head when I was a kid, even if the N64 could never actually draw it.
And look, Zelda fans have been here before. People hated Wind Waker's look in 2002, and now it's one of the most loved styles in the series. The same thing happened with the Link's Awakening remake. Give it time.
Then vs. now
The original 1998 Nintendo 64 version. It blew our minds at the time.
Princess Zelda's New Look
Zelda keeps her iconic look from the original, the pink and white royal dress with the Triforce crest and the headdress, but everything is more detailed now, with real fabric textures, gold trim and expressive eyes. Coverage of her redesign also points out one small, funny fix: the slightly odd green eyebrows from the N64 version are gone.
She now also speaks in voiced cutscenes, which is a big change for a character who only ever spoke through text boxes in 1998. Some previewers called the voice acting a little cartoony, so that's one to judge for yourself on launch day.
How It Plays: What the Previews Revealed
The good news for longtime fans: according to previews from outlets like Polygon, The Verge, NPR and Mashable, the story and structure are faithful to the original. It's still the linear adventure you remember, not an open world. But a lot of small things have been modernized:
- A jump button. In the original, Link jumped automatically off ledges. Now you can jump whenever you want. Previewers said it takes some getting used to if you know the original by heart, but it opens up new shortcuts.
- A sprint. No more rolling across Hyrule Field to move faster.
- Full camera control with the right stick.
- Faster item swapping without opening the full pause menu every time.
- "Threads of Time", a new log in the pause menu that tracks story beats and objectives. Great if you put the game down for a week and forget where the next temple is.
- Better atmosphere in the dungeons. Previewers singled out the Forest Temple, with new lighting, mist and color that lean into how creepy it always was.
- A more lived in world, with more reactive characters around Hyrule.
Extras
- ZELDA NOTES: a companion feature in the Nintendo Switch App on your phone. Nintendo says it shows your daily accomplishments, gives you challenges to find in game locations from photos, and even lets you play an ocarina on your phone.
- amiibo: any Zelda amiibo gives in game extras. New Young Link and Young Zelda amiibo arrive in 2027 and unlock masks with a retro graphics look, which is a fun nod to the N64 original.
- Nintendo is also selling a special edition Zelda themed Nintendo Switch 2 system. If you're a first time buyer like me, check Nintendo's store for the price and whether the game is included before you order.
Our Take
This is the remake I've been waiting for. I played the original, I love what Nintendo did with the new art style, and this is the game that finally got me to buy a Nintendo Switch. Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 will be my first Nintendo Switch game ever, and honestly, I can't think of a better one to start with.
The previews make it sound like Nintendo got the balance right: the same adventure we remember, with modern controls and a world that finally looks the way we imagined it. If you've never played Ocarina of Time, Nintendo is calling it an excellent entry point into the series. If you have, this is your excuse to go back to Hyrule.
We'll be playing it on November 5, and a full scored review will follow.
Do you love the new art style, or do you miss the N64 look? Let us know on Instagram.
