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Google adds Zelda: Ocarina of Time Easter egg that transforms search into 1998 retro design

Google has rolled out a search Easter egg themed to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, allowing users to send their results back to the search engine's original 1998 layout.

Split image showing the 1998 retro Google Search results page alongside an animation of Link drawing the Master Sword from The Legend of Zelda.
Image: @VGC_News

Google has launched a new Search Easter egg themed around The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which allows users to travel back to the look of the search engine in 1998, gaming outlets including IGN and VGC reported.[1][2][4]

According to instructions and imagery shared by IGN, users activate the feature by typing "zelda" into Google and clicking the Master Sword. The interaction triggers a retro presentation modeled on Google's 1998 interface, complete with classic blue result links and the era's exclamation-pointed "Google!" logo.[4][2]

Screenshots shared by VGC show the retro results page generating listings referencing The Legend of Zelda's 40th anniversary, along with a snippet mentioning Ocarina of Time coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5th. In its coverage of the feature, iPhone in Canada reported that the Easter egg celebrates a remake of Ocarina of Time.[2][3]

Key facts

  • Google added a Search Easter egg themed to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time that converts search results to a 1998-era layout.
  • The Easter egg is activated by searching "zelda" on Google and clicking the Master Sword.
  • The retro interface displays the old "Google!" logo and traditional blue hyperlinks.
  • Results on the retro page include links for The Legend of Zelda's 40th anniversary and text referencing Ocarina of Time coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5th.
  • iPhone in Canada reported the Easter egg as celebrating a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Sources · 3 sources

  1. IG

    IGN@IGNPost on X ·

    Google just got a The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Easter egg that transports you back to the 1998 version of the site. https://t.co/OMSJYXggq2 https://t.co/svvOkUAlLi

    Open source
  2. VG

    VGC@VGC_NewsPost on X ·

    Google's new The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time easter egg transports users back to 1998. https://t.co/lPzDcvEN5x https://t.co/71lMydHi9s

    Open source
  3. II

    iPhone in Canada@iPhoneinCanadaPost on X ·

    Google Celebrates The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake With a Search Easter Egg https://t.co/jvkn9se0is

    Open source
  4. IG

    IGN@IGNPost on X ·

    Google just got a The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Easter egg that transports you back to the 1998 version of the search engine — complete with blue links for results. https://t.co/yQ66Csha4A https://t.co/cLijbtX112

    Open source