Ocarina of Time is coming back on November 5, and this time you can hum its songs to make Link play them. Nintendo's Switch 2 remake adds free jumping, running and voiced story scenes to the 1998 adventure. Its September 8 reveal finally shows how much has changed beyond the graphics.
The story follows Link through Hyrule as a child and an adult. Nintendo has rebuilt the scenery and recorded orchestral music, but some of the most useful changes concern how you move, look around and remember where you left off. Here's the new official trailer.
Nintendo's release-date trailer
Hyrule gets room to breathe
Link can jump with a button press, run across the field and turn the camera with the right stick. The day and night cycle now keeps moving inside towns, too. These changes should make exploring feel less restricted, especially for someone coming to this adventure for the first time.
Expanded story scenes give characters more dialogue and full voice acting. Nintendo's new Threads of Time menu also records your story progress and next objective. That's a welcome addition for anyone returning after a week away who can't remember which temple they were heading toward.
Nintendo's gameplay presentation transcript
Hum along with Link
The ocarina can recognise tunes through the Switch 2's built-in microphone. Hum a song that Link has already learned, and he'll play it in the game. You can also use buttons to play, so the microphone feature is optional.
Nintendo also plans a playable ocarina and an electronic version from HORI later this year. You don't need either to try humming. Series producer Eiji Aonuma demonstrates the remake in the official gameplay video below.
Aonuma's gameplay demonstration
Release date and preorders
Preorders opened with the September 8 announcement. These are the US prices and confirmed dates:
- Releases November 5, 2026.
- Only on Nintendo Switch 2.
- Digital edition costs $59.99.
- Physical edition costs $69.99.
- The first physical print run includes textured foil cover art, while supplies last.
- Zelda anniversary Switch 2 hardware arrives October 29, 2026.
Order through the Nintendo Store or Nintendo eShop. The physical copy costs $10 more, so the foil packaging is worth weighing against that extra cost. The changes look promising, but a reveal can't tell us how the full adventure holds up. You can watch both videos before deciding whether this is a return trip worth paying for.
