Ocarina of Time Remake Controls and Beginner Tips (Switch 2)

By GameDrop Staff · Nov 04, 2026 · Guides · 4 min read

Link and Navi in the Ocarina of Time remake key art — Image: Nintendo

Ocarina of Time lands on Switch 2 on November 5, and the first thing veterans will notice is that the buttons are not where the N64 left them. The sword is on Y, jump is a real button, and holding A makes Link dash. Here is a beginner-friendly breakdown of the controls and the settings worth changing before you leave Kokiri Forest.

One caveat: the control map below comes from a preview build filmed by Zelda creator Zeltik and published by Nintendo Everything, as reported by Timesaver. Nintendo can still change option text by launch, so we flag anything that is not confirmed.

Y attacks, X jumps, B puts away, A is the action button, hold A to dash.
ZL targets, ZR uses your equipped item, L or R opens Quick Select.
Gyro aiming for the Hookshot and Fairy Slingshot is optional.
Hum or sing songs into the Switch 2 microphone instead of pressing buttons.

What are the Ocarina of Time Switch 2 controls?

The preview's Basic Controls screen lists these defaults:

Input	Action
Left stick / right stick	Move / rotate camera
Press right stick	Reset camera
Y	Attack
X	Jump
B	Put away
A (hold)	Actions (dash)
ZL / ZR	Target / use item
L or R	Quick Select items
D-pad left / right	Play ocarina / talk to Navi
Minus / Plus	Map / menu

What changed from the N64 and 3DS controls?

Almost every core action moved. On N64 the sword was B and targeting was Z; on the 3DS targeting was L. On Switch 2 the sword is Y and targeting is ZL. Items used to sit on the C buttons or the 3DS touch screen, and now ZR fires whatever you have equipped. Jumping used to happen automatically at ledges. Now you press X, which Nintendo describes as "jump and dash through the action with enhanced controls and modern camera movements."

Two habits will trip up veterans. B is no longer your sword, so button-mashing it in a fight does nothing useful. And according to Zeltik, ZL raises your shield once you own one, so tapping it just to recentre the camera will pull the shield out. Use the right stick instead.

Which settings should beginners change first?

The preview showed 13 options. Four deserve a look early:

Targeting Type: Hold keeps the lock while ZL is down; Toggle locks on with one press. Toggle is easier on your finger in long fights.
Motion-Control Aiming: Nintendo says the Fairy Bow and Hookshot can be aimed with buttons or motion. Turn it off if you dislike tilting the controller.
Ocarina Mic Input: It showed as None in the footage, so enable it if you want to hum songs.
In-Game Interface: Normal shows the full HUD. Pro is minimal and Master shows none, and Zeltik found Master even hides the lock-on marker. Stay on Normal for a first run.

Scene from the Ocarina of Time remake — Image: Nintendo

Can you change the jump button?

Yes. The option "Swap Jump Controls" says it assigns jump to B and moves put away to X, so it is an X and B swap. Some previews described it differently, such as jump moving to Y, so treat the exact swap as unconfirmed until launch. Reports also suggest there is no classic N64 preset among the preview's settings, though that is unconfirmed too.

What combat tricks should you learn early?

From Zeltik's footage: press Y for a horizontal swing, hold the stick up and press Y for a vertical swing, and do the same while targeting for a thrust. A jump attack can be done by targeting, then X then Y, or by tilting forward and pressing A, and he says it still deals double damage. Hold attack for a spin attack. The menu also has a Special Actions page marked New, and Nintendo Wire names Roll Attack, Backflip and Jump Attack.

Targeting still has a limit. Game Informer's preview found no simple way to swap between several enemies, so release the trigger, move the camera and lock again. Combat otherwise feels smoother, per NPR's review.

What other tips help new players?

Hold A after a roll to dash instead of rolling across Hyrule Field. Nintendo Wire notes this replaces the old trick of sprinting backwards.
Use Threads of Time, the tapestry quest log, when you forget your next objective.
Use Quick Select on L or R to swap items fast. The Water Temple has been made easier, with item toggling on the D-pad and lattice-style walls so you can see rooms beyond them, per Nintendo Life.
Revisit the Hall of Fallen Foes for rematches against enemies you have beaten.

For more, see our Hall of Fallen Foes and Threads of Time guide, the India release time and preload guide, and the launch calendar.

Verdict

The new layout is simple once the sword move to Y sinks in. Spend two minutes in Options before the Deku Tree, switch targeting to Toggle if you like, and keep the HUD on Normal.