Ocarina of Time Remake Launches on Switch 2 With Mario Portraits Removed
The Switch 2 version swaps Hyrule Castle's hidden Mario, Yoshi and Peach portraits for a tapestry players can complete, producer Eiji Aonuma said.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake launched for Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026, and it ships without the Super Mario character portraits that were hidden in Hyrule Castle's courtyard windows, according to gamerant.com.
The windows in the remake instead display a tapestry that players can gradually complete. Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma said the team removed the portraits to avoid an unrelated reference interrupting players' experience of the world.
Not every Mario nod is gone: Talon and Malon still wear Bowser emblems in the remake. The Skyward Sword artwork that appeared in the 2011 Nintendo 3DS version is also removed.
In the original 1998 Nintendo 64 release, players could see portraits of Mario, Yoshi, Peach, Bowser and Luigi through the courtyard windows near Princess Zelda. The 2011 Nintendo 3DS remake replaced them with an image of a Super Mario level, and that version also added Skyward Sword artwork referencing the then-upcoming Wii game.
The remake adds a freely controllable camera, a dedicated jump button and streamlined Iron Boots controls in the Water Temple. It holds an OpenCritic Top Critic Average of 95/100, with 100% of critics recommending it.
Quick answers
When did the Ocarina of Time remake come out?
It released for Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026.
Why were the Mario portraits removed from Ocarina of Time on Switch 2?
Producer Eiji Aonuma said the team removed them to avoid an unrelated reference interrupting players' experience of the world. The windows now show a tapestry players can complete.
What new features does the Ocarina of Time Switch 2 remake add?
A freely controllable camera, a dedicated jump button and streamlined Iron Boots controls in the Water Temple.