A 96 places the remake among the highest-rated games on Metacritic. It shares that score with titles including The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, The Wind Waker, Elden Ring, Half-Life 2 and Baldur’s Gate 3. The score is also two points above Ocarina of Time 3D, which has a 94 Metascore.

The remake hasn’t surpassed the original Nintendo 64 release. Metacritic lists the 1998 Ocarina of Time at 99, still the site’s highest score for a game. Breath of the Wild also remains ahead of the remake at 97.

The high score reflects critics’ response to Nintendo’s effort to bring the familiar adventure to a new generation. Reviews have highlighted the remake’s updated presentation and modern controls while praising its care for the original game. The Guardian described the remake as “a dream come true,” while GameSpot called Ocarina of Time a wonder of game design that still shines through in this version.

The score may shift as more reviews are added, but the early results put the remake in rare company before launch. For longtime fans, the reviews offer reassurance that the return to Hyrule has made a strong impression. For newcomers, they suggest that the story of Link, Zelda and Ganondorf remains compelling nearly three decades after the original release.