The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake takes roughly 25 hours to beat the main story, going by reviewers who finished it on review code from Nintendo. Getting 100% of the collectibles took one reviewer 55 hours. The remake launches Thursday, November 5, on Nintendo Switch 2 ($59.99 digital), and there’s no Master Quest in it.
Reviews went live on November 4. Here are the playtimes reviewers gave, with what each one covered:
| Outlet (reviewer) | Playtime | What it covered |
|---|---|---|
| TechRadar (Josephine Watson) | 25 hours | Main story plus “a vast majority” of side quests and secrets |
| Destructoid (Scott Duwe) | 25+ hours | A first run through the game |
| GamesRadar+ (Anna Koselke) | 55 hours | Story plus 100% of collectibles |
All three played review code supplied before launch; Destructoid and GamesRadar+ say it came from the publisher. We only used playtimes from reviews published when the embargo lifted. Nintendo hasn’t given an official play time.
Playing Zelda's Lullaby in the remake, which reviewers finished in about 25 hours. Image: Nintendo
Table of Contents
How long is Ocarina of Time remake’s main story?
Plan on about 25 hours. TechRadar’s Watson finished the story in a 25-hour save and still found most of the side content in that time. Destructoid’s Duwe said his first run took “25-plus hours”. If you skip side quests, it could be quicker, but neither review gives a story-only figure.
You may also spend less time stuck than on the N64. In Nintendo’s Ask the Developer interview (Part 3), producer Eiji Aonuma said fixing the Water Temple was “overdue homework” and that the team adjusted it because it was so well known for its difficulty. Director HokWai Ng said dungeons keep their original mechanisms, but some layouts were changed so players can work out which way to go. Reviewers also say the game is easier overall. Destructoid called combat “a breeze”, and TechRadar pointed to the new Business Deku Seed, which summons a shopkeeper selling supplies, potions included.
How long to 100% Ocarina of Time on Switch 2?
GamesRadar+ is the only review with a completion figure: Koselke stopped at 55 hours, after finding every collectible. A few changes make the cleanup faster than it was on the N64:
- Echo Gem: per Nintendo Life, this reward from the House of Skulltula replaces the Stone of Agony. It shines and vibrates near any Gold Skulltula.
- Golden webs: TechRadar says they now show where overworld Gold Skulltulas are.
- Missing-item map: GamesRadar+ says the map shows where you’re still missing collectibles once you reach the end of the game.
- Moved collectibles: GamesRadar+ also found that some heart pieces and Gold Skulltulas are in new places, so old N64 guides won’t always help.
One catch: Destructoid lists “needing to re-load an old save to 100% the game after final boss” as a con. Nintendo Life says you only get one manual save, plus several autosaves. So if you’re going for 100%, collect what you can before the final fight, or make a manual save right before it.
Story artwork from Nintendo's official Ocarina of Time site. There is no Master Quest to replay after the credits. Image: Nintendo
Is Master Quest in the Ocarina of Time remake?
No. Master Quest, the harder remixed dungeons released on GameCube and included as an unlockable in the 3DS version, isn’t in the Switch 2 remake. Nintendo Life, TechRadar and GamesRadar+ all list it as missing. Nintendo’s US store page doesn’t mention it, and Nintendo hasn’t announced plans to add it. That leaves the Hall of Fallen Foes and the other new features as the main extras for replaying. The Hall of Fallen Foes lets you look at statues of beaten enemies and fight bosses again.
What’s next
The game unlocks on November 5. Our Ocarina of Time release time guide has the time in every region, and our editions and prices rundown covers the physical and digital versions. Before launch, Nintendo pushed version 1.1.1, which Nintendo Life says brings the install to 24.8GB, without patch notes so far. We’ll update this page if Nintendo gives an official play time or adds Master Quest. For everything else out this week, see games coming out this week.
Sources: TechRadar, Destructoid, GamesRadar+, Nintendo Life (all reviewed with publisher-provided code, published November 4), Nintendo Ask the Developer Vol. 24 Part 3, Nintendo US store. Checked November 4, 2026, 11:30 UTC.
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