Ocarina of Time Remake FAQ: Length, Link’s Age, Dungeons

The Ocarina of Time remake came out on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026. These are short answers to the questions new and returning players ask most, checked against the released game. Each answer links to the page with the full details. Question 6 contains a story spoiler about Saria; skip it if you want to avoid that.

How long is it, and how hard?

1. How long does it take to beat the Ocarina of Time remake?

About 20 to 25 hours for the main story on a first playthrough. Doing everything (every Piece of Heart, Gold Skulltula and bottle, plus the side quests) takes around 30 hours, and longer if you take your time. Players who know the original finish noticeably faster. To plan the route, start with the 15-chapter walkthrough; for the collectibles, see Pieces of Heart and Gold Skulltulas.

2. Is there a hard mode?

No. The remake has no separate harder difficulty, and Master Quest is not included. For an extra challenge, the Hall of Fallen Foes opens after the Forest Temple and lets you rematch bosses, record your best times and take on three boss runs, the last of which opens after the ending.

3. Do I need to play another Zelda game first?

No. Ocarina of Time introduces its own world, characters and conflict, and knowing the series timeline is optional. The introduction to Ocarina of Time explains what kind of game it is without spoilers.

Story and characters

4. What does OoT mean?

OoT is short for Ocarina of Time, from the full title The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The game first came out on the Nintendo 64 in 1998; the Switch 2 version is a full remake of it. The Ocarina of Time is also an item in the game: the ocarina Link recovers outside Castle Town and plays, with the Song of Time, to open the Door of Time. See the Temple of Time chapter.

5. How old is Link in Ocarina of Time?

In Nintendo’s official setting, Link is 10 years old as a child and 17 as an adult. The game itself does not state his age. What it shows is that drawing the Master Sword in the Temple of Time moves the story forward seven years. The beginner tips explain how the two eras work.

6. Where is Saria?

As a child, Saria lives in Kokiri Forest. She gives Link the Fairy Ocarina just past the forest exit as he leaves, and later teaches him Saria’s Song in the Sacred Grove, at the far end of the Lost Woods. Once you know the song, play it anywhere to talk to her; she often has a hint about where to go next.

As an adult (story spoiler): Saria has gone into the Forest Temple. After you defeat Phantom Ganon there, she awakens as the Sage of the Forest and gives Link the Forest Medallion. See the Forest Temple walkthrough.

Dungeons and progression

7. How many dungeons are in Ocarina of Time?

It depends on how you count. There are nine main dungeons: three as a child, five temples as an adult, and Ganondorf’s Castle at the end. There are also three smaller dungeons: the Ice Cavern, the Bottom of the Well and the Gerudo Proving Grounds. The first two are on the main route because they give the Iron Boots and the Lenses of Truth; the Gerudo Proving Grounds are optional.

8. What is the dungeon order?

The order the story leads you through, as in our walkthrough:

Between dungeons the story also takes you to Hyrule Castle, the Temple of Time, Gerudo Fortress and the desert. Not everything is locked into one absolute order, but items and story events set the main path.

9. How do you switch between child and adult Link?

In the Temple of Time. Put the Master Sword back in its pedestal to return to childhood, and draw it again to become an adult. The main story asks you to switch several times, for the Bottom of the Well and the Spirit Temple. The walkthrough marks every age change.

10. Is Ocarina of Time open world?

No. As in the original, Hyrule is made of separate areas such as Kokiri Forest, Kakariko Village and Lake Hylia, joined by Hyrule Field, with loading between most of them; Lon Lon Ranch is one exception that now joins the field without a loading screen. The developers kept this structure on purpose instead of making the world seamless. You can go back to places whenever you like, but items and story events decide where you can go next. The comparison with BotW and TotK explains the difference in more detail.

11. Can you jump in the Ocarina of Time remake?

Yes. In the remake jumping has its own button (X by default), and holding A makes Link dash, with no stamina limit. In the Nintendo 64 original he only jumped automatically off ledges. Climbing is still limited to places such as ladders and vine walls. See every change in the remake and the controls in the beginner tips.

12. Do you need Epona?

Not for the main story. At the broken bridge in Gerudo Valley you can use the Longshot from the Water Temple instead of jumping the gap on horseback, as the Gerudo Fortress chapter shows. Epona is still worth getting for faster travel and optional activities: learn Epona’s Song at Lon Lon Ranch as a child, then win her in two races as an adult. See the Epona guide.

13. Do you need the Ice Arrow?

No. The Ice Arrow is the main prize of the optional Gerudo Proving Grounds, a training course in Gerudo Fortress that opens once you have freed the carpenters. The story can be finished without it. See the Gerudo Proving Grounds guide.

Versions and platforms

14. Is the Switch 2 version a remake or a remaster?

A full remake. Characters, places and cutscenes are rebuilt, the dialogue is rewritten and partly voiced, and some areas and dungeons are laid out differently. The story and the order of the main quest follow the 1998 game. The remake features page lists the changes, and N64 vs 3DS vs Switch 2 compares the three versions.

15. Can you play it on the original Switch?

No. The remake is exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2, and there is no Nintendo Switch version or upgrade pack. On an original Switch, the Nintendo 64 version is available through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. See how to play Ocarina of Time now.

16. Does the remake have Master Quest?

No. Master Quest is not included and does not unlock after the ending, and Nintendo has not announced it as an update. The versions that have it are Ocarina of Time 3D and the old GameCube bonus disc. See Master Quest.

17. How many save files are there?

One per user profile. The game autosaves and resumes where you stopped. Starting a new game overwrites that file, so be careful on the title screen. Cloud backup is available with Nintendo Switch Online. See every change in the remake.

18. How much does it cost?

In the US, $59.99 for the download and $69.99 for the physical copy. In Japan it is 7,980 yen and 8,980 yen. There is one standard edition, and no bundle includes the game. Other regions and store bonuses are on the release date and price page.

19. What languages does it support?

Thirteen, including English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. Many cutscenes are voiced; Link stays silent. The full list is on the release date and price page.

Starting out? Read the beginner tips, then follow the walkthrough from chapter 1.