Zelda Chronology: The Game Order Defined by Nintendo 25 Years After Franchise Launch

The gaming industry uses nostalgia to create great anticipation around new releases. Among remakes and remasters, revisiting an adventure can be an opportunity to recover old memories.

The game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will receive a new version for the Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5th. For those who experienced Hyrule in childhood, this return raises the question: what is expected to be found in that world after all the changes that have occurred in our lives?

In Ocarina of Time, this inquiry connects with a narrative that addresses themes of growth and return. Originally released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64, the title follows Link on a mission to protect the kingdom of Hyrule against the threat of Ganondorf. The protagonist must explore forests, villages, and temples, solving challenges to advance.

At a crucial point, by removing the Master Sword from its pedestal, Link advances seven years and awakens older, allowing him to travel between the two eras. While the character in the game travels through time, the player perceives the time passed outside of it, although the ability to return to the game's initial state is considerably more difficult.

Growing up and finding the transformed world

Upon waking up seven years later, Link discovers that Hyrule has been altered by Ganondorf's dominion. Familiar locations present new conditions of existence, and this familiarity intensifies the perception of change. The player can make comparisons, which is possible due to environmental recognition. If everything were completely unknown, it would just be discovery; but since part remains, there is a chance to notice a loss.

The game's manual emphasizes the metamorphosis of Hyrule during this period and the consequences of childhood actions in adulthood. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the experience of maturing. A childhood setting still exists, but its physical presence does not guarantee that it can be inhabited as before. People evolve, relationships change shape, and the visitor themselves develops unprecedented concerns.

In the game, this alteration is presented drastically. In real life, this often becomes evident upon returning: the comparison reveals the transformations accumulated over the years. The option to switch between ages generates a philosophical tension. Link returns to a previous moment, retaining, for the player, the knowledge acquired later. Although the action may restore a configuration of the world, the player's experience already incorporates what happened in the other era. Furthermore, when replaying, we discover paths that previously required exploration, and this knowledge alters the nature of the journey. A known route may bring comfort, but loses the original surprise; the return gains meaning in this difference.

The uniqueness of a first time

Remembering how a game works differs from evoking the moments lived during gameplay. When resuming Ocarina of Time, one can identify commands, predict solutions to puzzles, or traverse paths easily. However, one can also recall a specific occasion in that setting, who was present, or how one felt upon discovering something after a playthrough. Familiarity with the game and the memory of its presence in our lives may approach each other, but one does not necessarily imply the other.

This distinction helps in understanding why repeating a playthrough can generate unexpected feelings. We know the path, but we miss the person who walked it with us. We recognize the music and remember a time with different concerns. The setting remains accessible, but the circumstances that gave the first experience its special character have changed. Even reproducing every movement, the encounter occurs at a different moment in our history.

The years passed also alter what we can grasp from the work. A scene once seen as a mere stage of the adventure can gain new weight after experiences of separation or major changes. By following Link in a modified world, someone returning to the game in adulthood may recognize issues ignored in childhood. Prior experience influences this reading, along with everything lived after it.

From this point arises a paradox of return: the more we recognize a passage, the greater we perceive the distance separating us from the first time. Nostalgia can emerge from this closeness to something dear and the awareness that its original conditions remain in the past. Returning to the game allows us to revisit a valued experience and observe how our relationship with it has transformed. Hyrule remains available, and the reunion with its landscapes can aid in understanding the course of our own lives.

What science shows

A meta-analysis study, published in 2026 by Evan Weingarten of the University of Southern California, USA, analyzing over 400 experiments on the triggers and benefits of nostalgia, indicated that psychological threat situations can provoke nostalgia, and that this emotion can contribute to well-being.

The explanation presented in the article is that recalling personally significant events provides resources to cope with current challenges. In scenarios of loneliness or loss of purpose, for example, memories of shared experiences can restore feelings of connection and belonging to one's own story. The individual finds again, in memory, bonds and experiences that remain valuable to them. This process helps understand why a difficult situation in the present can evoke longing for past moments. However, the benefits vary according to individual characteristics and the way nostalgia is evoked.

Also in 2026, Michael Mask of the University of British Columbia, Canada, released two experiments demonstrating that remembering a nostalgic experience can increase the perception of the psychological richness of one's own life. The results indicate that people who write about a nostalgic memory tend to evaluate their trajectory as richer in interesting and diverse experiences capable of changing their worldview, compared to those who wrote about an everyday event.

The main factor highlighted in the findings was the atypical nature of the recalled episodes: nostalgic memories drew attention to events that differed from routine. By recovering them, participants evoked experiences that made their story more varied and meaningful, favoring a new appreciation of what has already been lived, including its emotional complexity.

Returning with the life that continued

These results suggest that the value of a memory can encompass the complexity of what it makes us perceive. In the context of Ocarina of Time, the satisfaction of recognizing a setting can coexist with the awareness of time passed. The memory of playing with someone can be both affectionate and painful. The same game allows these nuances to coexist, without requiring the past to be portrayed as an entirely happy period.

By navigating the eras, Ocarina of Time allows us to experience the nostalgia of a fiction about transformation, where knowing a place implies perceiving what happened to it. Upon encountering the game again after years, this perception can be applied to one's own life trajectory. The distance between play sessions becomes part of the work's experience.

The remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will be released for the Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026. While it maintains the structure of the original 1998 title, it features changes in visualization and gameplay. After playing for approximately 90 minutes, the first impression is that the game does not appear dated or outdated. For those new to Ocarina of Time, the difficulty level was considered high.

The author of the text, who had never played Ocarina of Time but had played Zelda II: The Adventure of Link on the NES, discusses the experience without resorting to nostalgia and avoids spoilers, including those that might not surprise experienced players. Comparisons with the original version were made based on reports from colleagues who tested the same demo.

Olhar Digital invited the author to experience this firsthand, which led him to Mexico along with other influencers and press members. During the session, three distinct sections were played, selected to showcase various mechanics, items, and moments. Initially, the gameplay started in the Kokiri Forest, followed by an exploration of Hyrule Field and Castle Town, culminating in the Forest Temple, where the player reported facing difficulties.

Originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998, Ocarina of Time received its first remake on the Nintendo 3DS in 2011. The new version of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is exclusive to the Switch 2 and coincides with the franchise's 40th anniversary.

In Brazil, the digital version of the game is available on the official Nintendo store for R$ 329.90 and has an approximate size of 27 GB. It can be played in TV, semi-portable, or handheld modes, and already comes with audio and texts in Brazilian Portuguese.

Users familiar with other Nintendo releases, such as Mario Kart World, know that the Switch 2 has robust processing power. In the case of Zelda, this is reflected in the excellent graphical quality. Colleagues who know the original stated that the character details are faithful to the 1998 version, but with an addition of modernity.

When playing on TV, the cinematic scenes (cutscenes) presented fluidity and charm. The most striking aspect was the integration between the graphic art, the soundtrack, and the Portuguese dubbing, creating deep immersion. In one specific scene, the Great Tree Deko asks Navi to find Link, allowing one to feel the weight of Deko's voice, the fairy's urgency, and the atmosphere of anticipation.

Although a trailer has already revealed more details about the scenery and crisp outfits running at 60 FPS, Nintendo has not provided official resolution or frame rate numbers, and the Brazilian store page also does not display such data. In TV mode, the player observed fluid movement and scenes.

Link's controls are relatively simple, encompassing running, jumping, and aiming using the gyroscope for projectile weapons, such as the slingshot. Original players will notice the inclusion of a jump button, as Link previously jumped automatically on edges, in addition to the implementation of free camera. These two modifications were communicated by Nintendo.

The combat system has a strong visual and auditory impact. It is possible to ask Navi for help in various situations, at which point she points out monster weaknesses. Colleagues who know the original commented that Navi is less intrusive than in the 1998 version, a useful feature to prevent freezes. The player advised using this assistance.

The experience was conducted with the Pro Controller, although it was mentioned that the Joy-Con should also offer a good experience. The full report on handheld mode will be presented later.

The first stage consisted of the tutorial in the Kokiri Forest. Link needs to collect initial items to locate the Great Tree Deko and begin the journey. Mido prevents Link from advancing until he has a sword and shield. For those who already know the game, this segment is a direct path to challenges.

Due to time constraints, the player hesitated to explore excessively, prioritizing objectivity and not talking to all the villagers, since the tutorial already served to learn basic movements.

After the tree, Link is directed to his adventure in the forest. Here, the player found the first carnivorous plants and was startled by giant spiders descending from the cave ceiling. In addition to other initial items, the most crucial was finding the slingshot.

A warning was issued to people with arachnophobia: this phase contains many spiders. The player managed to control themselves, despite not looking for options to change this aspect, due to the fantastic nature of the creatures.

Hyrule Field offered a moment of exploration, but it was brief due to the time available. The field is extensive, and the player's focus was more on Hyrule Castle Town than on the field itself.

The town was described as beautiful, with people interacting and details reminiscent of films. The player visited some shops, dedicating himself mainly to the insect shop mission.

The final section was the Forest Temple. This dungeon contains multiple rooms, each requiring the solving of a puzzle to progress. There were four doors, and the player managed to solve one and a half.

The puzzles are considered challenging and engaging, covering area block movement, hitting strategic spots, collecting minor keys, and navigating corridors, characteristic of a traditional dungeon. This is why the game demonstrated it aged well, reviving the challenge of old titles.

In personal opinion, the use of the ocarina constitutes the most captivating challenge. The player can play for the console, whisper, or use a musical instrument. The Switch 2 microphone captures the sound, identifies the melody, and makes Link play it in the game. Nintendo confirmed that the songs learned by Link in the remake work, keeping the control buttons available. This functionality was demonstrated by producer Eiji Aonuma in a Nintendo Direct, and the author believes it makes the game more dynamic, facilitating the pace for those who struggle with controls.

Official ocarinas are planned for this year, including an electric model from HORI.

The Portuguese dubbing was praised for being very well adapted and accessible, highlighting Nintendo's team's care for localization. Details such as iconic phrases, spellings, and adapted names contribute to immersion and ease of understanding. Nintendo Brazil confirmed the presence of Brazilian Portuguese text and dubbing since launch.

The announced cast includes Flávia Narciso (Navi), Sicília Vidal (Saria), Bianca Lua (Zelda and Sheik), Junior Nanneti (Darunia), Mayara Stefane (Ruto), Fábio Azevedo (Ganondorf), and Fernanda Keller (Impa). Link remains without dialogue. Voices of other iconic characters yet to be announced are expected.

Colleagues who know the original noted that the structure underwent few changes. However, for those who already have experience, the remake offers more than just enhanced graphics and PT-BR localization.

For those experiencing the adventure for the first time, like the author, the Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake does not appear obsolete or irrelevant in the current context. This is due not only to its fantastic nature but also to generational changes. The game incorporates old puzzle mechanics, such as pushing blocks, jumping in specific places, and rhythms with the ocarina; unlike more modern games, it does not constantly require repetitive actions. It is fun and enjoyable to play, promising many hours of exploration and enjoyment.