Ocarina of Time Remake vs N64 vs 3DS: What Changed and What to Expect

Ocarina of Time has now been released three different ways: the 1998 Nintendo 64 original, the 2011 Nintendo 3DS remake, and the Switch 2 remake due on November 5, 2026. This page compares them using only what Nintendo has confirmed for the new version, plus documented facts about the older two. For prices and pre-orders, see the release date page.

How do the three versions compare at a glance?

What did the 3DS version change from the N64 original?

The 3DS version is useful context because many people assume the Switch 2 remake builds on it. Grezzo kept the original design and changed the presentation and some convenience features:

• Real-time 3D backgrounds. Areas that used pre-rendered backdrops on N64, such as the Castle Town market, became real-time 3D.
• Touch screen equipment. Boots and items moved to the lower screen, which removed most pause-menu trips in the Water Temple.
• Gyro aiming for the slingshot, bow and boomerang.
• Sheikah Stones. Stones near Link’s house in Kokiri Forest and in the Temple of Time play short hint videos called Visions.
• Shard of Agony. The Stone of Agony relied on Rumble Pak vibration, so the 3DS replaced it with a sound cue.
• Master Quest unlocks after you beat the main game. It mirrors the world and doubles the damage enemies deal.
• Boss Challenge lets you refight bosses one at a time or in a row.
• Water Temple tweaks that make it easier to track where you are.

What does the Switch 2 remake change?

Everything in this section is from Nintendo’s own pages unless marked as press coverage. Each item is explained in more depth on the new features page.

Movement. A new dash and free jumping are the headline changes. Press coverage says A jumps on a tap and dashes on a hold. This is the first version of the game where Link jumps on command.

Aiming, items and camera. Motion aiming returns in a new form, and Nintendo promises you can swap weapons and items “on the fly”. Coverage of the Direct says the right stick now rotates the camera freely.

Time of day. Time now passes everywhere, including towns and interiors, where the original stopped the clock. Nintendo says new people and enemies may appear after sunset.

Presentation. Visuals are completely overhauled, cutscenes are fully voiced and dialogue is expanded. The score is re-recorded as symphonic orchestral music. On compatible TVs you get HDR and VRR output, and the download is about 27 GB.

Threads of Time. A new menu recaps the story and shows your current objective. No earlier version had anything like it.

Ocarina input. Songs still work with buttons. You can also hum or play an instrument into the Switch 2 microphone.

Castle Town. Press coverage reports that the market is now a freely explorable area with extra sections and minigames.

Extras. Young Link and Young Zelda amiibo unlock special masks in 2027, and the game supports Zelda Notes on your phone.

What is still unconfirmed for the remake?

As of September 28, 2026, Nintendo has not announced:

• Frame rate and resolution targets
• Master Quest, the Boss Challenge, or 3DS-style hint videos
• Difficulty options
• Whether dungeon rooms, puzzle solutions, or the counts of Heart Pieces and Gold Skulltulas changed
• The voice cast
• Any way to carry saves over from the N64 or 3DS versions

Critics have been split on the art direction since the Direct, which some outlets describe as stylized realism. That is a matter of taste rather than a feature change, so we leave it there.

Do N64 and 3DS guides still apply?

Probably for the big picture. Press coverage of the Direct says the overall structure broadly follows the original, with separate areas and some loading screens kept. The dungeon order in our full walkthrough is therefore a safe plan. Room layouts, puzzle solutions and collectible locations are a different matter. New jumping and a free camera may open routes that did not exist before, and we will check each dungeon page against the remake after launch.

If you want to play before November, how to play Ocarina of Time now compares the versions you can still get.