Zelda's Ocarina of Time Remake Tops Metacritic's 2026 Best Games List

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake now leads Metacritic's Best Games of 2026 list, according to Video Games Chronicle. Metacritic is a website that averages critics' reviews into a single score out of 100. The remake has a score of 96 from 70 reviews.

That places it above Sektori, the game that held the top spot with a score of 93.

The remake is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, which means it is available only on that console. It rebuilds the 1998 Nintendo 64 classic. Nintendo lists the release date as 5 November 2026 and describes reimagined visuals, a refreshed soundtrack and modernised gameplay.

The story is the familiar one. Metacritic's synopsis says the villain Ganondorf schemes to steal the mythical Triforce, a sacred golden relic, from the Sacred Realm to take over the world. Nintendo's own description says Link must become the Hero of Time to save the kingdom.

The critical reception has been strong across the board. Video Games Chronicle gave the remake five stars in its review. The remake also ranks No. 24 on Metacritic's all-time list of best games.

The original 1998 version sits at No. 1 on that all-time list, with a score of 99. It is the only game on the list with that score. Below it, Metacritic ranks SoulCalibur second, Super Mario Galaxy 2 third, Grand Theft Auto IV fourth and Super Mario Galaxy fifth. Earlier remakes also scored well. The 2011 Nintendo 3DS version earned a 94 on Metacritic, and the 2019 Nintendo Switch version of Link's Awakening scored 87.

Metacritic scores are averages, and they move as more reviews are added. The remake's place at the top of the 2026 list is based on the reviews counted so far.

For players, the practical details are simple. The game is out on 5 November 2026, and it is only on Switch 2.