Ocarina of Time Amiibo Breakdown: How Zelda Figures Work in the Switch 2 Remake

When Nintendo announced the Switch 2’s 40th‑anniversary Direct back in September, the buzz was all about the special‑edition console. Yet tucked between the flashy slides was a quieter surprise: brand‑new amiibo of Young Link and Young Zelda, styled after the freshly rendered characters from the Ocarina of Time remake.

Both figures are more than shelf‑warmers. Each one shows the hero or princess perched on a little platform—Link with his ever‑faithful fairy Navi perched on a tree stump, Zelda cradling the iconic ocarina on a stone slab. The sculpting is crisp, the paint bright, and you can almost hear the music in the background.

If you’re the type who buys amiibo just to stare at them, great—you’ve got a nice set of collectibles. But the real magic lies in the NFC chip hidden inside. Tap either Young Link or Young Zelda to the Switch 2’s built‑in reader (the right Joy‑Con’s thumbstick, or the top‑middle spot on a Pro Controller) and you’ll instantly unlock a special mask.

Here’s the fun part: the masks don’t just give you a fresh look for the remake. They’re nostalgic throwbacks to the original 1998 Nintendo 64 version, giving Link and Zelda the classic polygonal faces fans still remember. In fact, you can even swap them—new Link can wear Zelda’s retro mask and vice‑versa, which feels like a little secret handshake for longtime fans.

These two newcomers join a long line of Zelda amiibo. To date Nintendo has released 33 Zelda‑themed figures, including 14 different Links and five Zeldas, ranging from Smash Bros. versions to Skyward Sword renditions and even allies like Daruk or villains like Ganondorf.

Good news: every one of those older amiibo is compatible with the Ocarina of Time remake. Nintendo confirmed in the gameplay‑overview trailer released in mid‑October that tapping any of those 33 figures will grant you something—extra bombs, hearts, Deku Sticks, you name it. They haven’t published a full list of rewards, but the promise is clear: dust off that boxed‑up Link or that Goron statue, you’ll get a helpful boost for your quest against Ganon.

For newcomers who have never used amiibo before, the process is painless. The NFC sensor on the Switch 2 is built right into the right Joy‑Con’s analog stick, so a quick tap while the game is in the “amiibo” menu does the trick. If you prefer the Pro Controller, the sensor sits beneath the Switch 2 logo on the top‑middle of the controller—hard to miss.

All told, you now have 35 Zelda‑specific amiibo you can bring along on your Hyrule adventure: the two fresh Young figures plus the existing 33. Whether you’re after consumables, decorative masks, or just the joy of seeing a beloved character’s old‑school face, these little toys still have a lot to offer.

So, grab your new amiibo, tap that thumbstick, and let the nostalgia‑filled masks guide you through one of gaming’s most iconic journeys, now reborn on the Switch 2.