how critics rate the Ocarina of Time remake

Critics almost all say yes: the Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time holds a Metascore of 96 out of 100, based on 87 critic reviews, on Metacritic. Players are just as positive so far, with a user score of 9.6 from 5,908 ratings on the same site as of 8 November. Nintendo released the game on 5 November 2026 for Switch 2.

How the review scores compare

On OpenCritic, the remake currently lists a Top Critic Average of 95 and 100% Critics Recommend from 53 critic reviews. OpenCritic’s 4 November report said 96 from 30 reviews. It is still reported as the highest-rated game of 2026 on OpenCritic, and it also led Metacritic’s list of the year’s best-reviewed games, according to that report.

• TheGamer: 5/5, according to its round-up
• Destructoid: a perfect score
• GameSpot: 9/10, the lowest of the scores TheGamer listed

Scores can still move as more reviews come in. TheGamer’s round-up counted 48 published reviews on November 4, the day before release; Metacritic now lists 87 for the Switch 2 version.

What critics praised

TheGamer’s Collin Macgregor called it “a beautiful, engrossing fantasy adventure” that keeps the original’s combat, puzzles and charm, the site’s round-up shows. Destructoid described it as one of the best examples of how to “properly reimagine an enduring masterpiece”, according to the same round-up.

If you want to know exactly what Nintendo changed from the 1998 Nintendo 64 game, our piece on what’s different in the Ocarina of Time remake goes through it.

What critics criticized

Criticisms vary. GameSpot, which gave the lowest score in TheGamer’s list, said the remake “smooths over some rough edges, leaves others intact”, as quoted by TheGamer. According to Notebookcheck, GameStar (92/100) points to low difficulty, and RPG Site (80/100) criticizes item management and says the boss fights are simpler than the original’s. Notebookcheck also noted that some veterans question the near-perfect scores.

So is it worth buying?

If you have a Switch 2 and have never played Ocarina of Time, the reviews could hardly be stronger: it is the best-reviewed game of the year so far. If you know the original well, the question is whether a faithful remake is enough for you, since critics say it keeps some of the original’s rough edges and is easier in places. How long it takes to finish is in our guide to how long the Ocarina of Time remake is, and whether you can play it anywhere other than Switch 2 is answered in is the Ocarina of Time remake on PC.

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