Google search for Zelda turns into 1998-style page
A hidden Master Sword animation marks the Ocarina of Time remake, which Google is celebrating with a nostalgic search page.
Key facts
Story- Searching "Zelda" or "Ocarina of Time" on Google triggers a 1998-style results page
- The feature celebrates the Ocarina of Time remake and the game's original 1998 release
- A Master Sword icon in the lower right corner starts the animation on mobile and desktop
Google has added a hidden feature to its search engine to mark the upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Searches for "Zelda" or "Ocarina of Time" now bring up a version of the results page styled as it looked in 1998, the year the original game came out on the Nintendo 64.
The effect is an Easter egg, a hidden feature that users find by accident or by hunting for it. A standard 2026 results page loads first. An animated Master Sword then appears in the lower right corner on both mobile and desktop. Clicking the sword starts a short animation with a time-skipping effect and a Link shout, after which the page changes into a plain list of blue links with old-style Google branding.
The year was a busy one for pop culture and the web. Britney Spears topped the charts, and Bill Clinton was impeached. Google was also a young search engine that year. Ocarina of Time was a landmark title, and the time-travel theme of the game suits the nostalgic look of the page.
The feature needs no download or sign-up. Anyone with a browser can try it by searching one of the two terms. The remake is the main reason for the stunt, and the search trick is a way to bring attention to it.
It is not yet known how long the feature will stay live. No release date for the remake has been given beyond it being imminent.
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