Master Quest isn’t in the Ocarina of Time remake, but files found in the game point to it arriving later as paid DLC. Nintendo hasn’t announced it. I’d pay for it as DLC. I never had a GameCube, so I only watched someone else play it.
Key takeaways
- There’s no Master Quest in the Switch 2 remake at launch, and finishing the story doesn’t unlock it.
- Dataminers found Master Quest strings in the game’s code, and one says the mode is unlocked by owning DLC, not by a free update.
- Nintendo hasn’t confirmed Master Quest, and producer Eiji Aonuma said there’s nothing specific to announce yet.
- I’d buy it as DLC. I didn’t own a GameCube, so I only ever watched someone else play it.
Is Master Quest in the Ocarina of Time remake?
No. The remake came out on Switch 2 on 5 November at $59.99 digital, and there’s no Master Quest mode in it, and finishing the story doesn’t unlock one. The new extra is the Hall of Fallen Foes and its boss rematches, not a second quest.
That’s a change from the last time Nintendo remade the game. Ocarina of Time 3D on the 3DS in 2011 included Master Quest, so a lot of players expected it this time too. The remake rebuilds the dungeons with new visuals, and our dungeons guide covers what changed in each one.
What did dataminers find about Master Quest?
Dataminer MrCheeze found Master Quest references in the remake’s code within two days of launch, on 7 November. The strings include “HasMQ”, “IsMQModeExist”, “NewGameMQ” and “ReleaseMQ”, and the game’s file listing has entries marked MQ alongside Dodongo’s Cavern, which he shared on Bluesky.
The names suggest a way to start a Master Quest file and a switch that releases the mode, but none of it is playable. The files show traces of a Master Quest mode, nothing more.
Reports disagree on how much of it is there. Some say the Master Quest files cover reworked dungeons only, with no changes to the overworld, which matches the original Master Quest. Others describe a mirrored world as well. Nintendo hasn’t confirmed either version.
Will Master Quest be paid DLC?
Probably, going by the files. Another dataminer, OatmealDome, found that the mode is unlocked by owning DLC rather than by downloading an update, which points to a paid add-on, not a free patch.
That’s still a reading of code, not an announcement. Nintendo could price it, bundle it with something else or never release it. Datamined features sometimes stay unused, so treat the DLC as likely, not confirmed.
What has Nintendo said about Master Quest?
Nothing firm. Asked why Master Quest isn’t in the remake, producer Eiji Aonuma wouldn’t announce anything yet: “I don’t think that we would announce anything specific at this time.” Hidemaro Fujibayashi, the remake’s other producer, was in the same interview.
He didn’t say no, and he didn’t say yes. Nintendo hasn’t announced Master Quest, paid DLC, a free update or any other post-launch plan for the remake. Some headlines have called the DLC confirmed, but Nintendo hasn’t announced Master Quest, a price or a date.
What is Master Quest?
Master Quest is a harder version of Ocarina of Time with the same story and overworld but reworked dungeons and puzzles. It first came out on a GameCube bonus disc, given to people who pre-ordered The Wind Waker in Japan and North America, and sold in a limited bundle in Europe. Japan got it first, on 28 November 2002, North America in February 2003 and Europe in May 2003.
The same disc also had the original Ocarina of Time on it. In Japan, Master Quest was titled GC Ura, ura meaning the reverse side, which fits a second quest through the same world.
It uses the same engine and story, with altered dungeons and puzzles and some content that was cut from the original for time and storage, so knowing the original doesn’t carry you through. It was Master Quest’s first official release, and the 3DS remake brought it back in 2011.
What would Master Quest change in the remake?
If it follows the original, Master Quest would keep the same story, characters and overworld and change the dungeons. The original altered dungeon layouts and puzzles, made the game harder, and brought back content that was cut from Ocarina of Time for time and storage reasons.
That’s why it’s worth caring about even if you’ve just finished the remake. The overworld is the same, but the dungeons you’ve learned play differently, so it isn’t a straight replay of the story. The Dodongo’s Cavern entries in the files fit that dungeon-first approach.
What does the remake add instead of Master Quest?
The remake’s new content is in the base game. Nintendo lists rebuilt visuals, voice acting, jumping and a dash, a new camera, amiibo support and the Hall of Fallen Foes, in a download of about 27 GB. It’s $59.99 digital and $69.99 for the physical edition.
That’s a lot of change to the game itself, and the dungeons were rebuilt along with everything else. Our list of remake changes goes through each one. A Master Quest DLC would mean reworking those rebuilt dungeons a second time.
Did I play Master Quest?
No. I never played Master Quest on the GameCube, because I never actually managed to buy a GameCube. I watched someone else complete it on theirs instead. I’ve watched someone complete every single Zelda game ever made, so Master Quest was one of those.
I’d pay for it as DLC.
What can you do after finishing the remake now?
The Hall of Fallen Foes is the remake’s main new extra: boss rematches and gauntlets you reach by sleeping in a glowing bed. Our Hall of Fallen Foes guide covers how to unlock it and what’s in it.
After that, it’s collectibles: Gold Skulltulas, Heart Pieces and the fishing pond. If Master Quest does arrive as DLC, it would add a full second playthrough with harder dungeons.
FAQ
Is Master Quest in the Ocarina of Time remake? No. It isn’t in the game at launch, and finishing the story doesn’t unlock it.
Will Master Quest come to the Ocarina of Time remake as DLC? Files in the game point to a DLC unlock, but Nintendo hasn’t announced it.
Who found Master Quest in the remake’s files? Dataminer MrCheeze found the Master Quest strings, and OatmealDome found that the mode unlocks through owning DLC.
Does finishing the Ocarina of Time remake unlock Master Quest? No. Finishing the story doesn’t unlock it, and there’s no Master Quest mode in the game at launch.
How much will Master Quest DLC cost? Nintendo hasn’t announced a price, or the DLC itself.
What was Master Quest originally? A harder version of Ocarina of Time with reworked dungeons, first released on a GameCube bonus disc in 2002.
Was Master Quest in Ocarina of Time 3D? Yes. The 3DS remake in 2011 included Master Quest.
If you like Ocarina’s dungeons, Anuchard on the GAMES.GG store is a top-down dungeon adventure in the same vein.
