The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake has reached the top of Metacritic's list of the best games of 2026 with a score of 96 based on 70 reviews, surpassing twin-stick shooter Sektori with a score of 93. This places it at the top of the site's Best Games This Year page. The remake also entered the site's Best Games of All Time list at number 24, behind the original Nintendo 64 version of Ocarina of Time with a score of 99.
The remake's position on the list may change as more reviews come in, but its top spot on the 2026 list appears more stable with a three-point gap. The release of Grand Theft Auto 6 in two weeks may impact its ranking at the end of the year. VGC praised the game in a five-star review, highlighting Nintendo's decision to add thoughtful modernizations to the original game rather than completely overhauling it.
The reviewer concluded that the remake is a remarkable restoration of a beloved adventure, creating the definitive way for a new generation to discover it and returning players to fall in love with it all over again.