The future of Zelda games is quite blurry as we know nothing about it or what to expect, but while we're already speculating... We cannot miss out on this one game that made the franchise so popular in the first place, and how it remains so incredibly involved to this day.
Whenever people talk about their favorite video games or the games that they have the best memories of, Zelda: Ocarina of Time will always come up in these discussions. Not just because it was a great game for its time, but because it still manages to captivate us, swallows us in nostalgia and therefore will never let us forget the way we felt playing it. It will be stuck in our heads forever.
But how in the world is it doing that? Even some of the greatest games nowadays don't do that to me. Yet, Ocarina of Time always brings back that warm feeling that I had as a child playing it whenever I pick it up again.
Let's talk about it... And since this might take a while, grab a cup of tea and put THIS on.
How Ocarina of Time touched us
Zelda: Ocarina of Time is not just an adventure game about a kingdom that is in danger, and a fairy boy who needs to save it. It is much more than that. Ocarina splits its storyline into many arcs that we don't even really see while playing it.
It is both a story about childhood and adulthood, a story about growing up. It is a story about friendship and love. A story about life and loss, fear and courage, and one about good and evil.
While many people call the Zelda games "story-less" or complain about them always having the same narrative... They probably haven't even played them. Because, if you have played Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess, while their story may seem very similar from the outside, these games feel completely different in the way they make us experience and view the world.
A big part of the emotions we feel during Ocarina of Time comes through its wonderful music score. Not only does each piece perfectly match the mood of the situation, but each musical piece in this game tells its own story. Additionally, we are the ones making the music with our Ocarina, letting us be a part of the song, and the story and the emotion that it brings to us.
Myths and Legends of Hyrule
With Ocarina of Time being the first 3-dimensional Zelda game, it was the first to really introduce the world of Hyrule to us, in the most realistic way compared to top-down Zeldas. Hyrule had always been a great world setting, but Ocarina of Time turned it into a living, breathing legend. Its narrative intertwined deeply with lore, introducing us to the Triforce's divine origins and the three goddesses: Din, Nayru, and Farore, who shaped the world.
The game doesn't merely tell a story; it makes players become part of its mythology. From the Kokiri Forest, where eternal childhood reigns, to the harsh, sun-scorched Gerudo Desert, every location carries ancient tales. The temples Fire, Water, Forest, Shadow, and Spirit are not only gameplay challenges, but relics of a lost civilization, fuelling our imagination for Hyrules history.
One of the most striking aspects of Ocarina of Time is how it mirrors real-world mythologies. The narrative of a chosen hero destined to wield power and restore balance are archetypes found in cultures worldwide, which is also why this game resonates with people of so many different origins and cultures.
Link’s journey is led by a mission for the greater good to save a whole country, but grounded in the personal sacrifice of losing his own childhood. It is just a parallel to heroes like King Arthur or even Odysseus.
When Link pulls the sword, he doesn’t just become the Hero of Time; he steps into a legacy that is being introduced to the player from the very beginning. This single moment shows the connection between the player and the myth of Hyrule, making the world feel both alive and ancient at the same time, as though it existed long before the game began.
Nostalgia and the collective memory
There’s a reason why, decades later, players still talk about Ocarina of Time. It’s not just about its innovations or its story... it’s the memories it created.
For many, this game was their first glimpse into a 3D world that felt alive, with characters they cared about and moments that stayed with them long after.
Who could forget stepping onto Hyrule Field for the first time? Or hearing Epona’s song at Lon Lon Ranch as an adult, realizing that this world has been living the past 7 years without you? These aren’t just scenes from a game, they’re part of a shared experience that we all remember. It’s a kind of magic that binds players together across generations, whether you first played it on an N64 in the late ’90s or discovered it through a 3DS remake years later.
Fans have kept this nostalgia alive, celebrating Ocarina of Time with speedruns, fan art, remixes of Koji Kondo’s unforgettable soundtrack, and even recreations in modern game engines. This collective memory, fueled by passion, ensures that the game remains part of gaming culture to this day.
Why it still matters
In 2025, we’re surrounded by games that push boundaries, from photorealistic graphics to player-driven narratives. And yet, Ocarina of Time still matters. It’s not just nostalgia, it’s the foundation. It is the power of simple, universal storytelling, combined with innovative design and a world that feels truly alive.
To talk about Ocarina of Time is to talk about how far we’ve come as gamers and creators. It’s a reminder that the best games don’t just entertain, they inspire, connect, and therefore stay alive. And that’s why we still need to talk about Ocarina of Time in 2025.