Google has hidden a little piece of Hyrule inside its search engine, giving fans of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time a chance to travel back to 1998 with the click of a button. The interactive Easter egg celebrates the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 release of the classic adventure, and it even works on mobile devices.
To find it, search Google for “Zelda” or “Ocarina of Time.” A small Master Sword appears in the bottom-right corner of the results page, resting in its pedestal. Click or tap the sword and Google launches a short animation that transforms the modern search page into a recreation of its 1998 appearance.
The effect is a playful reference to one of the most recognizable parts of Ocarina of Time. In the game, Link pulls the Master Sword from its pedestal in the Temple of Time, triggering a journey between his childhood and adulthood. Google borrows that idea to send its own search engine into the past, swapping its familiar modern interface for the much simpler design from the year the original game arrived on Nintendo 64.
The retro page brings back the old Google logo, basic text results and the familiar “I’m Feeling Lucky” button. There are even a few extra details for fans to spot. Reports from Japanese gaming outlets note that the page displays approximately 1,998 search results and a search time of 0.64 seconds, referencing the game’s 1998 release and Nintendo 64 home. The Master Sword can also be clicked again to switch back to the modern version of Google.
The Easter egg arrives just ahead of the Nintendo Switch 2 release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on November 5, 2026. Nintendo is bringing the 1998 adventure back as a full remake, with completely overhauled visuals, fully voiced cutscenes, expanded character dialogue and symphonic orchestral music. The game also features updated camera and movement controls, giving players a more modern way to explore Hyrule.
The original Ocarina of Time follows Link as he sets out to stop Ganondorf from obtaining the Triforce and taking control of Hyrule. Guided by the fairy Navi, Link travels across the kingdom, learns songs on his ocarina and eventually discovers that the instrument and the Master Sword are tied to his ability to move between different periods of his life. The songs themselves have magical effects, opening paths and changing the time of day.
That time-travel mechanic is central to the adventure. Link begins his journey as a child in Kokiri Forest, but pulling the Master Sword from its pedestal sends him seven years into the future, where he must continue his quest as an adult. The game builds its puzzles and story around the consequences of moving between those two eras.
Released in November 1998, Ocarina of Time was the first 3D mainline entry in the Legend of Zelda series and became one of the Nintendo 64’s defining games. Its move into a fully three-dimensional world helped establish the approach that would influence later action-adventure games, while its music, dungeons and memorable characters made it a landmark entry in Nintendo’s long-running franchise.
The Switch 2 remake is also adding new ways to interact with Link’s signature instrument. Players can use traditional controls to play the Fairy Ocarina and the Ocarina of Time, or try humming and playing melodies into the console’s microphone. Nintendo is also expanding the dialogue and adding new details to the world, giving returning players some new things to discover.
This news comes quick on the heels of our first look at the Legend of Zelda movie, which I just showed you guys earlier today.
Google’s Easter egg is a small promotion, but it understands exactly what makes Ocarina of Time such a fitting choice for a trip back to 1998. The Master Sword has always been the key to Link’s journey through time. Now it can send Google there, too.
