The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is out today, November 5, 2026, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 — and it arrives as the best-reviewed game of the year.

The remake of the 1998 Nintendo 64 classic unlocked at midnight ET, and the reviews that landed a day before launch are about as strong as they get: a 96 on Metacritic from 84 critic reviews, every single one of them positive, and a 95 Top Critic Average on OpenCritic, where 100% of critics recommend it. That makes it the highest-rated game of 2026 so far — and the first game to reach 96 since Baldur’s Gate 3 in 2023. For context, the original Ocarina of Time still holds the all-time Metacritic record at 99.

This is a full remake built from the ground up for Switch 2, not a simple port: reimagined visuals, a refreshed soundtrack, and modernised gameplay, including dedicated movement commands and right-stick camera control. It targets 60fps in both docked and handheld modes — the N64 original ran at 20fps. Japan’s Famitsu scored it 37/40.

The remake is $59.99 digitally and $69.99 for the physical edition, and it is only available on Switch 2.

Also out today on Switch 2

Ocarina of Time isn’t the only big Switch 2 release today. Stellar Blade Complete Edition also launches today for $59.99, bringing Shift Up’s stylish action-adventure to Nintendo’s console with the previously released NieR:Automata and GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE collaboration content bundled in. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Encore Edition arrives the same day for $39.99, a Switch 2-exclusive edition of the story-driven Marvel adventure with a new set of outfits for Star-Lord, Drax, Gamora, Rocket, and Groot.

On Xbox: Escape Academy 2 hits Game Pass

Over on Xbox, Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School is out today on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, and it joins Game Pass from day one. The sequel to the co-op escape-room puzzler costs $19.99 standalone.

It is a stacked day for new releases — and the hits keep coming, with Grand Theft Auto VI landing November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Sources: Gadgets 360, Polygon, Metacritic, Nintendo, GamingRoute