2026 is a special year for Nintendo, as not only does it celebrate 40 years of Zelda, but it also gives us a Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake, rebuilt from the ground up, with many significant updates to the gameplay and more.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake will be special for all generations: Those who played the original as a kid, those who missed Zelda growing up, and newcomers who get to experience one of the most important and influential video games of all time—no hyperbole!
Had the core gameplay remained the same, then I fear it would be extremely dated, which is why Nintendo has made many changes and improvements.
8 Biggest The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Changes
Gorgeous Graphics
If you’re getting a remake in 2026, arriving nearly 30 years after the original, you know you’re getting a Deku Tree-sized upgrade from a visual standpoint. The Zelda Direct revealed a truly beautiful game, reshaping and reforming all the textures, levels, and designs, from character models to the world around Link and Navi.
Controllable Camera
One of many outdated and archaic gameplay designs that are a thing of the past in the Ocarina of Time Remake is the camera. You can now freely control the in-game camera, allowing you to observe the area around Link, look at Link’s face, and anything else. The original N64 controller had a striking design, but it was so unnatural to use, and to this day, it’s a wonder how it was greenlit.
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That said, a current Switch 2 or Pro Controller will give you much-needed freedom over the camera and Link’s movement.
New Dialogue
A nice touch that didn’t necessarily have to happen is new dialogue and conversational lines between Link and other characters so that, in Nintendo’s words: ‘Personalities can shine even more.’ If you had the original screenplay nailed down to a tee, you’ve got more words to learn.
Jump Button
Gen Z users must be laughing at the thought of a jump button, as nearly every game under the sun has one now. Ocarina of Time did not have a dedicated jump button, despite its array of gameplay innovations, and Link would do it automatically with the right contextual prompt, such as running toward the end of a ledge.
Imagine being excited for a jump button. What a time to be alive.
Navi’s “Listen”
This is still one of the most controversial gaming subjects ever: Is Navi annoying or not? Link’s trusty sidekick talked your ear off in Ocarina of Time, and I find the “Hey, listen” grating after a while, as Navi is very insistent. The gameplay we’ve been shown sounds like we have a tiny difference in Navi’s voice, and while it’s not a huge change, I needed to vent.
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It remains to be seen how vocal the fairy is this time around.
Faster Item Switching
From Zelda: Breath of the Wild to Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, we’ve enjoyed a more streamlined item menu bar to scroll through weapons and gadgets, and that’s also been implemented in the Ocarina of Time Remake. It should save time dipping in and out of menus and get you foraging for Rupees quicker!
‘Threads of Time’
Did you know that people used to get stuck and lost in the original OOT, causing people to phone the Nintendo-paid hotline for hints and advice? Yes, you didn’t have guides on Google or YouTube back then. Everything was off memory and exploration, but the remake helps with the Threads of Time sub-menu, which helps you track the main story objective, and there’s an impressive new tapestry feature acting as a sort of map/guide if you get stuck.
Dashing
No, not Link’s looks: Dashing is another quality-of-life improvement that allows the main character to run faster. I encourage you to check out OG Ocarina of Time speedruns and watch these absolute beasts ping around the game by rolling and flipping like accomplished Trapeze performers.
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Link can simply do one roll in the remake, which sends him into a full sprint with speed and grace.
Hyrule is Brimming With Life
Hyrule Castle Town has been worked on and expanded. From what we’ve seen, there’s greater density; everyone is moving, talking, and walking, and there are apparently new mini-games, new interactions, and much more to discover around the castle grounds. Nintendo confidently believes: ‘Players will spend quite some time here.’
Does one change stand out above the rest? Let us know on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
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Andy is Insider Gaming's Senior Evergreen Editor and has been in the games journalism sphere in one way or another for over 7 years. His video game taste is as…
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