Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the joint highest-rated game of the decade as rave reviews pour in

Nintendo’s risky decision to remake what is widely considered to be one the greatest games of all-time has undoubtedly paid off.

Reviews are in for the remade The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - and it’s the joint highest-rated game of the 2020s with an impressive Metacritic score of 96.

That score of 96 is correct at the time of publication as Ocarina of Time’s score could fluctuate as additional reviews are added.

For now though, no game has scored higher from 2020 to the present day in 2026, but Ocarina of Time is equalled by four other titles.

Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023), The House in Fata Morgana - Dreams of the Revenants Edition (2021), Elden Ring (2022), and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023) all also hold scores of 96.

At the time of publication, Ocarina of Time’s score of 96 comprises individual scores of 80, 90, and 100 from reviewers, with no publication yet to rate the game lower than that, so let’s see what the critics said.

Critics have described Ocarina of Time as “a remake for the ages” and “astonishing”

Nintendo

Dexerto, 5/5

“Whether you're a returning player or a newcomer, Ocarina of Time remake is the definitive way to play Link’s legendary adventure.”

GamesRadar+, 5/5

“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a remake for the ages, blending the charm and whimsy of the original with more digestible gameplay and stunning visuals. It's as timeless as it ever was, managing to recreate one of the most beautiful games to date without compromising the magic of its 1998 predecessor – only adding to it. Between newly voiced dialogue, revamped dungeons, fresh puzzles, and more, Hyrule has never felt so alive.”

VGC, 5/5

“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’s Switch 2 remake is a remarkable restoration of one of gaming’s most beloved adventures. Rather than reinventing a masterpiece, Nintendo has carefully refined what made it special, creating the definitive way for a new generation to discover it and returning players to fall in love all over again.”

Eurogamer, 5/5

“Alongside great judgement and clever tweaks, this astonishing remake has a proper ace up its sleeve.”

Game Informer, 9.25/10

“The 2026 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a fairly straightforward recreation. But an admittedly very good one.”

Nintendo

Nintendo Life, 9/10

“Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 is a stellar reimagining of the original, one that completely revamps the experience with stunning visuals, modernised gameplay, and vastly improved audio. Despite some minor blemishes, this is comfortably the most visually stunning work Nintendo has ever put out, and it’s unquestionably the best way to play one of the most seminal games of all time. That said, it is a very safe remake.”

IGN, 9/10

“It’s in our nature to pass old stories down, and I think there’s meaning in the ones we choose to revisit. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is both an exceptional remake of an incredible game and a rich adventure that stands on its own. This remake proves there’s still so much value in the traditional Zelda formula: the dense, intimate world of Hyrule is stuffed with charming characters and fascinating secrets.”

RPG Site, 8/10

“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake feels designed for new players first and foremost, letting new generations see what made us fall in love with it back in the day, and in that regard, it succeeds with flying colors. While some decisions and directions in this remake may keep me from reaching for it again anytime soon, Ocarina of Time is a classic tale and remains a standout among the pantheon of the Zelda titles, and this remake is a great showing of why, even with its blemishes.”

READ MORE: Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom successor gets first brief tease ahead of Ocarina of Time launch

Here at GAMINGbible, we rated Ocarina of Time a perfect score of 10

“The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64 is an undisputed masterpiece, with the Nintendo Switch 2 remake being the sleeker, sexier new version with a few extra tricks up its sleeve,” said GAMINGbible’s Sam Cawley in our review.

“While I’d have still liked the remake to explore some of that cut content from the Nintendo 64 era, I’m more than satisfied with this upgraded port.”