Ocarina of Time is out on Switch 2 for $59.99 with a 96 Metacritic score. Here is the size, the Costco deal, the bonus and who should wait.
As of Nov. 8, 2026, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is out on Nintendo Switch 2, it costs $59.99 for the digital version on Nintendo's U.S. store, and critics have scored it higher than any other game released this year. The remake launched Thursday, Nov. 5, and it runs only on Switch 2, not on the original Switch.
That is the short version. The rest of this page covers what the game costs right now, how much space it needs, what the reviews say and who should hold off.
How much does Ocarina of Time cost on Switch 2?
The digital edition is $59.99 on Nintendo's U.S. store, which lists no discount. The Verge reported on Nov. 7 that Costco members can get $5 off the digital version online, which brings it to $54.99. The Verge also pointed out that an annual Costco membership runs $65, so the saving covers about a month of the fee. Nice, but small.
Nintendo's store page also carries an early purchase bonus. Buy the digital version before 11:59 p.m. PT on Nov. 23, 2026, and you get a Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary digital wallpaper. Nintendo says the download link comes by email, through My Nintendo, after the promotion period ends. So no instant gratification there.
How big is the download, and what does it run on?
Nintendo lists the file size at 24.9 GB. Check your free space before you buy. The game is single player and supports TV, tabletop and handheld modes. Nintendo Account family-group lending is supported, and the store page lists amiibo support and cloud save data through Nintendo Switch Online.
The ESRB rating is listed as Animated Blood and Fantasy Violence. The ocarina itself can be played with button controls, or by humming or playing a real instrument into the Switch 2 microphone, according to Nintendo. Ranged tools like the Fairy Bow and the Hookshot can be aimed with buttons or motion controls, and you can switch between them in the Options menu.
What do the reviews say about the remake?
Video Games Chronicle reported on Nov. 4 that the remake held a Metacritic score of 96, based on 70 reviews at the time, which put it first on Metacritic's best games of 2026 list. Metro reported the same score and noted that it sits ahead of Sektori at 93. Metro also noted that the original 1998 Nintendo 64 version still holds a 99 on the site, so the remake has not passed it. Polygon wrote on Sunday that the current score is still 96.
The Verge's review, by Andrew Webster, praised the changes. According to the review, the remake keeps the original story and puzzle-filled dungeons while adding free camera control and the ability to jump whenever you want. It also adds quick item equipping on the D-pad and a quest tracker called the "threads of time." The Verge said the redesign makes the infamous Water Temple far less tedious. It also noted that some areas are frustratingly dark. The score and verdict there belong to The Verge and the other critics, not to Savvy VibeZ, and we have not played the game ourselves.
The look is the part people will argue about. The Verge described realistic scenery paired with characters styled after puppets and stage shows, and said the game mostly pulls off that balancing act. If you hate that style, no amount of camera polish will fix it.
Who should buy it now, and who can wait?
Our take: if you own a Switch 2 and have never finished the 1998 game, this looks like an easy call. The scores are about as good as scores get, and the changes target the exact things that made the original feel dated.
If you already know the game by heart, it is a harder call. The Verge noted that the original is still easy to play through a Switch Online subscription, and that the 2011 3DS version remains a good port. The remake is the better way to play, but you are paying $59.99 for a game you have beaten before. Waiting for a sale is reasonable, and Nintendo's own prices tend to move slowly, so a discount may be a while off.
And if you only have the original Switch, this one is off the table. Nintendo's store page lists it as a Switch 2 exclusive.
What is still unconfirmed?
We did not find any official Nintendo sales figures for the launch yet. Posts on X say the game topped sales charts, but we could not confirm that on a chart or from Nintendo, so treat it as unverified. Physical and digital pricing can also vary by retailer, so check the price on the day you buy.
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Picture credit: Nintendo
