Ocarina of Time Switch 2 Remake: What's New in Combat, Dungeons and Controls

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is being rebuilt for Nintendo Switch 2, and according to Nintendo and outlets that played early hands-on builds, the remake changes more than its 1998 original's graphics. The game releases November 5, 2026, for $59.99, Nintendo said on its official site.

What Nintendo has confirmed

Nintendo describes the Switch 2 version as a 'completely reborn' edition with enhanced visuals and new gameplay elements, fully voiced cutscenes with expanded dialogue, and a full symphonic orchestral score, according to the game's official overview page on nintendo.com.

One of the headline features is microphone-based ocarina play: players can hum a melody Link has learned, or play it on an actual instrument, and the Switch 2's built-in microphone will recognize the song, Nintendo said. The release also adds a 'Hall of Fallen Heroes' room for rematching defeated bosses, a companion service called Zelda Notes through the Nintendo Switch app, and compatibility with existing Zelda amiibo alongside two new Ocarina of Time amiibo planned for 2027.

Movement and combat changes seen in previews

Journalists who played preview builds reported that Nintendo added a dedicated jump button and a sprint option, features the 1998 original did not have, according to Engadget's hands-on report. The same preview noted full camera control, an upgraded Z-targeting lock-on system, faster swimming, quicker inventory menus, and a new 'Threads of Time' system that offers story recaps and contextual tooltips.

Combat pacing has also changed: enemies attack faster than in the original game, and Link can now chain combo attacks, CBR reported after reviewing early preview coverage. Some boss fights have new attack patterns — CBR cited the Poe sisters gaining distinct combat stages as one example.

Dungeons, side quests and new items

Preview coverage compiled by CBR pointed to several structural additions beyond combat. The remake reportedly adds three new inventory slots, including an additional empty bottle and a Deku Business Scrub seed item that lets players summon a Business Scrub character on demand, plus a dedicated amiibo button.

New side content includes a quest in which Link collects a bug in a bottle for a Castle Town shopkeeper in exchange for a bottle of Red Potion, according to the same report. Dungeon layouts have also been adjusted: the Forest Temple's atmosphere was described as shifting toward a more haunted feel compared with the original's abandoned-castle tone, according to CBR.

Visual changes

Engadget's preview described Kokiri Forest as more lush and overgrown than in the original, with Hyrule Castle Town shown with crowds and new architectural detail not present in the Nintendo 64 version. The report also noted finer character modeling and new particle effects during sword combat, alongside the addition of a day/night cycle across the overworld. The same preview flagged water effects as one area that still looked less convincing than other visual upgrades.

What is still unclear

Preview access so far has been limited to short hands-on sessions, and outlets covering the builds have noted that a full assessment of how deeply the new systems affect the complete game will depend on a full playthrough after launch. Full details on every dungeon change, the complete side-quest list, and post-launch amiibo functionality have not been published by Nintendo as of this writing.