Review: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake - One of Nintendo’s Best-Looking Games Ever

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for Nintendo Switch 2 has achieved a Metacritic score of 96 from 81 reviews, making it the highest-rated game of 2026. The score places it above competing titles like Sektori (93) and the Switch 2 Deluxe Edition of Resident Evil 2 (93), positioning it as the critical frontrunner ahead of November releases like GTA 6.

Critics praise the remake as a ground-up recreation that balances reverence for the original 1998 Nintendo 64 classic with thoughtful modernization. Reviewers highlight the visually striking, atmospheric presentation and refined gameplay updates that feel naturally integrated into the original design. The technical performance on Switch 2 offers improvements including resolutions up to 1440p when docked and up to 1080p in handheld mode, though some handheld optimizations include texture downgrades and adjusted level-of-detail distances.

The consensus emphasizes that Ocarina of Time’s design proves timeless—longtime fans rediscover why they loved the original, while newcomers now have access to the definitive version of this landmark adventure. Most critics note only minor quibbles regarding art style consistency and select design choices. The remake ranks comfortably high on Metacritic’s all-time best games list and appears likely to maintain 2026’s top-reviewed position.

Review: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake - One of Nintendo’s Best-Looking Games Ever

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