The remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 this Thursday (5) as the highest-rated game of 2026 on Metacritic. The new version of the 1998 classic reached 96 points out of 100 after the first reviews from the specialist press were published on Wednesday (4).
The result placed the title at the top of the aggregator's annual ranking, surpassing Sektori, which held the lead with 93 points. According to Video Games Chronicle (VGC), Ocarina of Time's average already comprised 70 reviews when the outlet published its survey, as well as securing the remake a place among the 30 highest-rated games in Metacritic history.
Despite the reception, the new version did not surpass the original Nintendo 64 game, released in 1998, which maintains 99 points and the all-time Metacritic record. The remake also surpassed the average of 94 points recorded by The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, released for Nintendo 3DS in 2011.
Among the praised aspects are the visual reconstruction of Hyrule, the orchestral soundtrack, and the gameplay improvements. Some reviews, however, note that the remake preserves much of the original structure, offering fewer new features for those already familiar with the adventure.
Developed exclusively for Switch 2, the new version features a modernized camera, updated controls, voice-acted scenes, and expanded dialogue. The game also incorporates moves such as jumping and running through specific commands, in addition to offering support for Brazilian Portuguese.
The release is part of the celebrations for the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, a franchise started by Nintendo in 1986. The score of 96 represents the average recorded at the opening of reviews and can still change with the publication of new reviews, as can its position in the annual ranking.
