A hidden Master Sword transforms Google’s results into a retro search page ahead of Ocarina of Time’s Nintendo Switch 2 remake.
Google has added a new Legend of Zelda Easter egg that sends its search results back to 1998, the year Ocarina of Time originally launched on Nintendo 64. With a click of the Master Sword, users can swap today’s search interface for a much simpler version inspired by the early web.
The tribute arrives ahead of the game’s Nintendo Switch 2 remake, scheduled for November 5, 2026. It connects one of Zelda’s defining ideas, travelling through time, with a nostalgic look at how searching the internet once felt.
How to Activate Google’s Zelda Easter Egg
To find the feature, search Google for “Zelda” or “Ocarina of Time.” A floating Master Sword should appear in the bottom-right corner of the results page. Polygon’s guide to the Easter egg also identifies “tloz” as a supported search term.
Click or tap the sword to trigger the transformation. The animation includes Link’s familiar shout and a Triforce effect before revealing the older-looking page. The experience has been reported on both desktop and mobile, giving fans a quick way to try it without launching a game.
Clicking the sword again restores the modern results page. That makes the effect easy to explore while looking up information about the upcoming release.
Why the Master Sword Sends You Back in Time
The choice of interaction draws directly from Ocarina of Time. In the game, Link travels between two periods separated by seven years, with the Master Sword and its pedestal central to that journey.
Google adapts that idea to its own history. Instead of moving between young and adult Link, users move between present-day search and an interface recalling 1998. The reference gives the animation a stronger connection to Zelda than a simple character cameo or decorative logo would provide.
For returning players, the sword offers an immediately recognisable cue. For newcomers, it introduces the time-travel theme before they encounter it in Hyrule.
A Retro Look, With Modern Limits
The transformed page brings back old Google branding and a sparse layout built around blue links. Against the busier modern interface, the difference is striking: the results themselves become the main attraction.
However, this is a contained Easter egg rather than a permanent alternative search mode. The retro page presents a curated selection of Zelda-related links, and running another search returns users to the current interface.
That limitation matters for anyone hoping to browse the wider web through the nostalgic design. Google has created a brief visual time capsule, rather than restored its original search engine. Even so, the effect invites an obvious comparison between the uncluttered presentation of early search and the many features competing for attention today.
Ocarina of Time Returns on Switch 2
The timing puts the spotlight on Nintendo’s upcoming release. According to the official Nintendo game page, Ocarina of Time has been rebuilt from the ground up exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.
Nintendo lists overhauled visuals, orchestral music, voice acting and expanded cutscenes among its features. Enhanced controls and modern camera movement also aim to make the adventure more approachable for a new generation.
The remake therefore provides an interesting counterpart to Google’s tribute. One updates a 1998 game for current hardware, while the other briefly gives a modern service the appearance of something much older.
Conclusion
Google’s Zelda Easter egg turns a routine search into a small celebration of Ocarina of Time. Its appeal comes from a well-chosen interaction: the Master Sword sends users into the past, just as it does for Link. With the Switch 2 remake arriving on November 5, it offers fans a playful detour while they wait to return to Hyrule.