Nintendo Exec Says Ocarina of Time Remake Is the Perfect Zelda Entry Point

Bill Trinen recommends the Ocarina of Time remake as the ideal first Zelda game, praising its introduction to Hyrule, Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf.

Thinking about diving into The Legend of Zelda for the first time but not sure where to start? Nintendo's Bill Trinen has a pretty strong suggestion: the Ocarina of Time remake.

According to IGN, the Nintendo executive recently said the remake is a fantastic entry point for newcomers. He believes it does a great job introducing the series' core characters, world, and adventure gameplay, so even players who've never touched a Zelda game can easily grasp what makes the franchise special.

Trinen explained that Ocarina of Time isn't just a classic—it's a foundational piece of the entire series. Through it, you get to know the background of Hyrule and meet key figures like Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf. All of that laid the groundwork for the games that followed.

He also pointed out that the original 1998 release was the series' first 3D game and had a major impact on the evolution of 3D adventure games at the time. With the remake, more new players now have a chance to experience that classic for themselves.

There's a personal connection here too. Trinen has been at Nintendo for nearly 30 years, and early in his career he actually handled bug reports for the original game. When asked about his favorite Zelda title, he admitted he's previously favored Majora's Mask, The Wind Waker, and Breath of the Wild—but Ocarina of Time's influence on Nintendo, the industry, and the series as a whole makes the remake his current favorite.

So if you've been meaning to get into The Legend of Zelda, would you pick the Ocarina of Time remake as your first adventure? Let us know!