45 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Memes That Are Like a Trip Back in Time (November 5th, 2026)

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Nov 5, 2026 8:30 AM EST

The latest remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has arrived on Nintendo Switch 2 today, November 5, 2026, bringing Link's legendary adventure back as part of Zelda's 40th anniversary celebrations. 

I thought this would be the perfect opportunity for us, too, to revisit the things that we love most about the storied series. In the form of memes, of course, in true Cheezburger fashion.
 

Is it possible for a game to be the best game ever made more than once?

 

There have been an untold number of memes and formats shared involving the series, consisting of Navi, "Well, excuuuuse me, princess!", the infamous CD-I games, and, of course, "It's Dangerous to go Alone! Take This." In this collection, I have specifically tried to go back and grab memes that themselves are a trip back in time to an internet from long ago. 

No spoilers, but I think this quote from Sheik in the Temple of Time is fitting here…

"The flow of time is always cruel... its speed seems different for each person, but no one can change it... A thing that does not change with time is a memory of younger days..."

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  • 01
    Link rides Epona in Hyrule Field in the original game and the new Switch 2 remake.
    via nerdvana - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

    Link rides Epona in Hyrule Field in the original game and the new Switch 2 remake.

  • The original Ocarina of Time launched for Nintendo 64 in November 1998, reaching Japan on November 21 and North America on November 23. I cannot believe (or maybe I can) that here we are, almost 28 years after the game's original release, all excitedly waiting to play the game again… 

    For me, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was where it all started. I don't necessarily remember where I was the first time I laid eyes on the game. I was probably at my cousin's house, or maybe my grandparents', as I didn't yet have an N64 of my own. 

    But I remember how I felt. I remember feeling mesmerized and awestruck by the world that I saw on that old CRT TV.

    I was already a big fan of many fantasy series, including “The Lord of the Rings”, and since Peter Jackson's adaptations hadn't yet been released (or even started filming), to me this was a fantasy world like the books I loved so much brought to life on screen for the first time.

    For anyone who played it back then, stepping onto Hyrule Field felt enormous. The game offered a rich, expansive world that fueled our wildest imaginings.

    Over time, of course, games built on the foundations that games like Ocarina of Time laid. This has made the game feel smaller and more outdated, possibly unappealing and clunky to those whose memory of the game isn't bathed in a healthy glow of nostalgia.

    I have played the original many times over the years (I still have my N64), though even in my head the graphics are those of the 3DS version. Notable updates like being able to take the Iron Boots off without menu-diving in the Water Temple made going back to the original harder too, once I'd tasted the other side.

    I have played a few minutes of the Switch 2 rerelease of Ocarina of Time, and my copy of the game sits looking longingly at me as I write this. Let me tell you: It is breathtaking, like playing it again for the first time. I've only played long enough to get through the intro and run around Kokiri Forest, but I've got a weekend of ignoring all of my real-life obligations and reliving old memories waiting for me.

     

    Anyway, that's enough rambling from me. Enjoy this sizable collection of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time memes from way, way back in time, and may it bring those who stumble upon it joy for many years to come.

  • 02

    We're starting with this old meme, because now it's 2026 and the game somehow actually looks like this now

    How Ocarina of Time actually looks 39 CAMING How it looked to me when I was 12 The nostalgia gets me everytime
    via TG Staff - thegamer
  • 03

    Every time!

    TALKS TO OWL ACCIDENTALLY CLICKS ON DO YOU WANT TO HEAR WHAT I SAID AGAIN.
    via gamesradar
  • 04
    Open Treasure Chest in Legend of Zelda MEMEBASE.com It's a Map!
    via gamesradar
  • 05
    INK IN PARK
    via gamesradar
  • 06
    MAKES YOU FIGHT THROUGH A DUNGEON TO SAVE HIS LIFE DES ANYWAY
    via gamesradar
  • 07
    IT'S DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE! TAKE THIS. I'm still alone....
    via Legend of Zelda Memes
  • 08
    HERO You caught a Fairy in a bottle! Your new friend will give you life energy the moment you completely run out. VILLAIN made on imour
    via Legend of Zelda Memes
  • 09

    I still think like this

    What Legend of Zelda taught me... LIFE- 125 29 45 0000000♡♡♥
    via Legend of Zelda Memes
  • 10
    You put the Deku princess in a bottle!
    via Legend of Zelda Memes
  • 11
    SAYS SHE'LL HELP INTERUPTS ADVENTURE EVERY 5 MINUTES
    via Kyle - Zelda Dungeon
  • 12
    "HEY!" I just met you So this is crazy But I'm a fairy So "LISTEN!" maybe?
    via Kyle - Zelda Dungeon
  • 13
    Beat the final boss in a Legend of Zelda Dungeon Accidentally ran past the heart container into the portal
    via Kyle - zeldadungeon
  • 14
    Le me playing "Ocarina of Time" "This is so fun!" Me playing "Master Quest" RAGE BUILDER.COM FFFUU UUUU บบบบ UUUU UUUU UUUU- ELDA PRESS START © 1998 Nintendo LEGEND OF ELDA VA OF THE MASTER QUES ©1998, 2003 Nintendo HON.COM
    via Kyle - zeldadungeon
  • 15
    PLAY THE FIRST SIX NOTES IMMEDIATELY KNOW THE REST OF THE SONG HALOLZ.COM
    via Kyle - zeldadungeon
  • 16
    just me and my little bro he is dressed as Link. im going to do something you cant do in the zelda games! what? jumps NOT BAD Watch out, we got a bada over here. い
    via Kyle - zeldadungeon
  • 17
    O RLY!? Do you want to hear what I said again? YA RLY! NO WAI!!!!
    via Kyle - zeldadungeon
  • 18
    RuRES! LINK What my friends think I do What my mom thinks I do What society thinks I do What Ganondorf thinks I do SMOSH What I wish I did What I actually do
    via Matt Bradford - GamesRadar
  • 19
    YOU HAVE 45 OF THESE You got an Amber Relic! It's an amber-colored chunk of precious stone. LET'S LEARN ABOUT IT AGAIN quickmeme.com
    via Matt Bradford - GamesRadar
  • 20
    AFTER SEVEN YEARS, MY SLINGSHOT AND BOOMERANG HAVE BOTH ROTTED... OH SWEET, I STILL HAVE SOME MILK
    via TG Staff - thegamer
  • 21
    The nugget of time!
    via TG Staff - thegamer
  • 22
    THE WORLD IS SUBJECT TO UNRELENTING PAIN AND SUFFERING I SHOULD GO FISHING
    via TG Staff - thegamer
  • 23
    LAWFUL GOOD NEUTRAL GOOD CHAOTIC GOOD "Let's get the Triforce before Ganondorf does, and then defeat him!" "HEY!!!! LISTEN!!!!!!" LAWFUL NEUTRAL "I am responsible for protecting Princess Zelda." TRUE NEUTRAL "No matter how hard it is, just don't get discouraged. Ho Ho Hoo!" LAWFUL EVIL "I am Ganondorf. And soon, I will rule the world!" NEUTRAL EVIL "You... you're late! What took you so long? You're useless" CHAOTIC NEUTRAL "Oh! Oh-oh! C'mon! Come on! Come on! Come on! HOT! What a hot beat!" CHAO
    via TG Staff - thegamer
  • 24
    SORRY TO SAY THIS EVERYONE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STOP PRODUCING BOTTLES. HYRULE BE COMPANY "Use in Is of things!" BUT WE JUST STARTED AN HOUR AGO. WE'VE ONLY MADE 4 BOTTLES! HYRULE BOWLE COMPANYE "Use in Is of things!"
    via TG Staff - thegamer
  • 25
    e Don't you not wish for me not to not repeat myself never again? No. Yes.
    via TG Staff - thegamer
  • 26
    When Playing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Actually playing the Game Fighting Enemies for fun Breaking Pots for Rupees Getting attacked by Chickens Rolling through Hyrule Field
    via TG Staff - thegamer
  • 27
    WARNING: Playing this game will make every game you play following this a slight disappointment. THE LEGEND OF ® ELDA OCARINA OF TIME TH PRESS START 1998 Nintendo
    via TG Staff - thegamer
  • 28
    It's like having a whole game THE LEGEND OF ZELDA OCARINA OF TIME MASTER QUEST PRESS START made of Water Temples
    via TG Staff - thegamer
  • 29
    I used to be an advernturer like you, then I took an arrow in the knee.
    via TG Staff - thegamer
  • 30
    94 Return If you break the curse on my family, we will make you very rich... Collect all 100!? Ain't nobody got time fo dat!
    via TG Staff - thegamer
  • 31
    TOO YOUNG FOR MILK BAR BUY BOMBS INSTEAD
    via TG Staff - thegamer
  • 32
    Undo Change Flag Z Redo Z Cut X Copy C Paste HV Delete H Select All Complete A PC Add Link... K Attachments Special Characters...
    via TG Staff - thegamer
  • 33
    PLAYING OCARINA OF TIME SINCE 1998 STILL STUCK IN THE WATER TEMPLE
    via TG Staff - thegamer
  • 34
    the difference between the artwork of the lizalfos and the actual lizalfos model in ocarina of time was, and is still, so funny to me
    via u/nikkipdx15
  • 35
    This is Zelda This is Luigi Get it right.
    via bilgamesofuruk
  • 36
    8.0/10 The Shape of Water (2017) ★8.0 R | 2h 3min | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy | 8 December 2017 (Canada) 21,874
    via u/Gashenkov
  • 37
    Zelda pulling the Soul Calibur from the Philosopher's Stone (Skyrim, 1993)
    via bilgamesofuruk
  • 38
    Naming Link "my dude" turns everyone you meet into a very chill bro my dude... Welcome... I knew that you would leave the forest.. someday, my dude. This is my dude... He is under my orders to save Hyrule."
    via MysteryScienceForester3000
  • 39
    Mat & @MatttGFX people think the german language is silly just wait until you learn about the very real german title of ocarina of time THE LEGEND OF TM ELDA DAS FLUTEN DUTEN
    via MysteryScienceForester3000
  • 40
    86 33 Help! I Need Money for Repairs After Some Ah le ucked up My Pottery Store 1,498 backers 28,246 out of 40,000 rupees raised
    via MysteryScienceForester3000
  • 41
    *LINK LOSES MASTER SWORD ME WHO DID SIDE QUESTS: OH NO! ANYWAY
    via u/INotZach
  • 42
    HEL STE
    via omfwog
  • 43
    Remember Saria from Kokiri Forest? This is her now. Feel old yet?
    via cheezburger
  • 44
    what a cute game.
    via cheezburger
  • 45
    69 Navi Attack 18 The most distressed 3 seconds of my childhood
    via cheezburger
  • 46
    Though your valiant efforts to break the curse were successful, I was doomed before you started... REALLY? VIDEOGAMES.MEMEBASE.COM
    via n1chris

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the legend of zelda ocarina of time nintendo switch gaming fandom gaming memes switch 2 video games zelda
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