The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Earns 96 Metacritic Score, Becomes 2026’s Highest-Rated Game and Ranks Among All-Time Greats

Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake has made an exceptional debut on Metacritic following the publication of its first wave of reviews. The Nintendo Switch 2 release currently holds a Metascore of 96, making it the highest-rated game of 2026 on the review aggregation website.

The remake achieved its score from 81 critic reviews, putting it ahead of several other acclaimed releases. Its strong critical reception has also secured an impressive position in Metacritic’s all-time game rankings, renewing attention around one of Nintendo’s most celebrated adventures.

Ocarina of Time Remake Leads Metacritic’s Best Games of 2026

The remake currently sits above Sektori, which holds a score of 93, followed by Resident Evil 2: Deluxe Edition with 93, The Witcher III: Wild Hunt – Remaster with 92, and Big Walk with 91.

Its all-time ranking is equally impressive. The Switch 2 release has entered Metacritic’s top 30 highest-rated games, placing it ahead of several celebrated titles, including The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Half-Life, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and The Wind Waker.

However, the 1998 Nintendo 64 original remains unmatched. It continues to hold a Metascore of 99, making it the only game to achieve that rating on Metacritic’s all-time chart. The remake’s position could also change as additional critic reviews are published.

The remake has also become the highest-rated Nintendo Switch 2 game on Metacritic, surpassing The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Hades II, both of which have scores of 95. Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition follows with 94.

The remake’s 96 score also reflects strong critical reception across more than 80 reviews. However, its position as 2026’s highest-rated release could face competition from Rockstar’s highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI. With GTA 6 approaching its release, the battle for the year’s highest Metacritic score could become one of gaming’s biggest talking points.