Google has introduced a new interactive Easter egg celebrating The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, allowing users to transform their search results into a recreation of Google’s 1998 interface. The feature appeared on November 2, 2026, ahead of the game’s Nintendo Switch 2 remake, which launches November 5.
Searching Google for “Ocarina of Time,” “The Legend of Zelda,” or simply “Zelda” brings up a small Master Sword icon in the bottom-right corner of the results page. Clicking or tapping the sword activates an animation inspired by the game’s time-travel mechanics.
The Master Sword moves into its pedestal, accompanied by Link’s voice and a visual transition featuring the Triforce. Once the animation finishes, Google’s modern search interface is replaced by a retro design resembling the search engine as it appeared in 1998.
The transformed page features Google’s original exclamation-mark logo, traditional blue underlined search links, a simplified layout, and the classic “I’m Feeling Lucky” button. Additional details reference the Nintendo 64 era, including a search result count of approximately 1,998 and a copyright notice displaying 1998.
Users can activate the Master Sword again to return to the modern search interface. The Easter egg has been documented on both desktop and mobile devices, although the retro presentation applies only to the relevant Zelda search results rather than permanently changing Google’s appearance.
The choice of 1998 directly references the original release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo 64. In the game, Link uses the Master Sword and the Temple of Time to move between childhood and adulthood, with returning the sword to its pedestal allowing him to travel back to his younger self.
Google’s animation recreates that central mechanic through the search interface, taking users back to the year when both Ocarina of Time launched and Google was founded.
The Easter egg also arrives during the final days before the November 5 release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake on Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo’s renewed focus on the franchise has also extended to special-edition hardware, with the company recently confirming restock plans for its Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 following preorder shortages.
Google has previously incorporated interactive gaming references into its search results. Searching for “do a barrel roll,” a reference to Star Fox 64, rotates the results page, while a Super Mario Bros. Easter egg lets users interact with a familiar Question Block.
Unlike those simpler interactions, the Ocarina of Time feature changes the appearance of the entire results page and includes animation, audio, and visual references to the original game’s time-travel system.
Google has not announced how long the Zelda Easter egg will remain available.
