The The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for Nintendo Switch 2 has taken the top spot in Metacritic's all-time user rankings, with a score of 9.6 out of 10 as of November 8, 2026.
The remake launched on November 5, and Metacritic opened user reviews 36 hours after release. Professional reviews had already appeared after Nintendo's embargo lifted on November 4, giving players and critics separate windows to weigh in.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the previous user-score leader, now sits behind it at 9.4. The 1998 Nintendo 64 original still holds Metacritic's all-time record for critic reviews, a separate ranking that the remake has not overtaken.
What players praise, and what is missing
The Ocarina of Time remake changes include a dedicated jump button, refined character movement, and character voice acting. Nintendo also rebuilt the visuals while preserving the original dungeon layouts and story structure.
Positive user reviews highlight the graphics, modernized controls, and less frustrating dungeon exploration. Some players describe it as one of the best-looking current-generation games available on Nintendo's handheld.
The visual response is not unanimous. Shimmering in Hyrule's open areas is one reported complaint, and the remake does not use DLSS upscaling.
Difficulty is another sticking point. Some user reviews argue that the gameplay changes make the adventure too easy, even as others welcome the smoother exploration. Master Quest, the more challenging mode, is absent, leaving players who want a tougher version without that option in the remake.
