Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Hits Record Metacritic User Score on Switch 2
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is already making a massive impact with players. Just days after its Switch 2 release, user reviews have gone live on Metacritic, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Despite a wave of suspicious low scores, the remake is currently sitting at an impressive 9.6 user rating, making it one of the highest-rated games by players on the platform.
That score places the new Ocarina of Time remake ahead of several recent fan favorites, including Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Silent Hill 2. While the original Nintendo 64 version still holds a legendary 99 critic average, the Switch 2 remake’s 96 critic score and record-setting user rating show that Nintendo’s return to Hyrule has clearly resonated with modern audiences.
User reviews opened 36 hours after the game’s November 5 release date, following the lifting of the review embargo on November 4. Since then, thousands of players have submitted scores, with the total already passing 3,900 reviews. The 9.6 rating may shift as more players weigh in, but for now, Ocarina of Time remake is enjoying a remarkable early lead.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 currently follows with a 9.4 user score based on a much larger pool of over 27,000 ratings. Other highly rated titles, including Silent Hill 2, Splatoon Raiders, Resident Evil Requiem, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, are also sitting near the top with 9.3 user scores.
Much of the praise for Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake focuses on its upgraded visuals, refined controls, and smoother dungeon exploration. Many players are calling it one of the best-looking games available on Switch 2, especially in handheld mode. The revamped presentation brings Hyrule to life with richer environments, improved character models, and a more cinematic feel while preserving the atmosphere that made the original game a classic.
However, not every technical detail has been praised. Some players have pointed out shimmering in open areas of Hyrule, with a few arguing that the game could have benefited from DLSS-style upscaling. Even so, most user reviews suggest that the overall visual upgrade is strong enough to outweigh those issues.
The updated controls have also become a major talking point. Many fans appreciate how the remake modernizes movement, aiming, and interaction without completely abandoning the feel of the original. Dungeon exploration is reportedly less frustrating, making the game more accessible to new players who may not have experienced the Nintendo 64 version.
Still, some longtime fans believe the remake may have gone too far in streamlining the experience. A common criticism is that certain changes make the adventure feel easier than expected. That concern has made the absence of Master Quest mode more noticeable, as many players hoped for a tougher optional challenge to balance the more approachable design.
The game’s strong reception has also survived what appears to be an attempted review-bombing campaign. A noticeable number of zero-score reviews appeared shortly after user ratings opened, with some making unusual claims, including accusations involving generative AI. Others criticized Nintendo for not adding enough new content or for leaning too heavily on remakes for Switch 2.
Metacritic can remove reviews that appear to be spam or coordinated attempts to manipulate a game’s rating. Some users on social platforms have claimed that dozens of questionable low-score submissions have already disappeared, though the overall rating remains extremely high.
For now, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake stands as one of the biggest Switch 2 success stories so far. Its combination of nostalgia, modernized gameplay, and polished visuals has helped it capture both longtime fans and a new generation of players. Whether the 9.6 user score holds over time remains to be seen, but its early performance proves that this return to Hyrule is already one of the most talked-about gaming moments of the year.
