A List Of Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Worldwide Preorder Bonuses America Will Not Get

November 5 is going to feel like 1998 all over again for middle-aged gamers all around the world as the much-anticipated remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time releases on the Nintendo Switch 2. While previews from various outlets say that the remake retains the spirit of the original with updated visuals, it will also include quality-of-life improvements that modern gamers who never played the original can appreciate. Yes, Link did not have a dedicated jump button in the Nintendo 64 original. Yes, it was weird. Yes, I did get over it quickly because the game’s design never made you feel that you actually needed it. And yes, while there might be sequences in the original that could be broken with a free jump mechanic, Nintendo probably accounted for that in the remake because they’re Nintendo and they’re not going to suffer fools gladly.

In a nice callback to the original, people who purchase the first run of the physical cartridge edition of the game will get a textured foil cover treatment that looks and feels like Pokémon Full Art of Special Illustration Rare cards. It’s a big change from the 1998 preorder bonus that included a chromium cover that had a Topps Chrome feel to it and a gold cartridge, which was a throwback to the original Legend of Zelda gold cartridge on the original NES. With the resale value of a complete-in-box used gold edition N64 Ocarina of Time going for hundreds of dollars and sealed copies going for thousands, it won’t be shocking to see fans take a one-to-stock, one-to-rock approach with the Switch 2 remake*.

Besides the textured foil cover, some overseas retailers are offering physical items as incentives for preordering the physical edition. While Nintendo is offering a $10 discount for people who purchase the digital version - dropping the price from $69.99 to $59.99 - and some big box retailers are doing the same for the physical version, the preorder gifts are getting the Zelda fandom worked up. Why? Because it will be very expensive to collect them all, especially for fans in the USA. The reason? There are no special physical items for preordering the game early from Amazon, Best Buy, or GameStop. The flagship Nintendo stores in San Francisco and New York are offering an unspecified special gift to those who participate in their reservation-only late-night drop of the game on November 4th, but everybody else stateside is shut out. It’s causing FOMO among the Zelda fandom, both real and ironic.

As resale prices for the Ocarina of Time-branded Switch 2 consoles and accessories continue to rise, the next wave will come when the overseas exclusive baubles and tchotchkes are listed on your platform of choice. While this is certainly frustrating the fans who just want to be able to live like it’s 1998 again and buy the games they want and maybe enjoy a trinket or two with their preorder, there is also plenty of speculation as to why the US is being shut out. The sympathetic sentiment is definitely not being reciprocated by fans across Europe and Asia, as they gloat about their holographic box sleeves and replicas of the Spiritual Stones because the situation is often the opposite, as they are shut out of American exclusive items. +

Speculation as to why the US is being shut out has ranged from the banal to the easy targets to the more reasonable explanations.

• Amazon and Walmart offered a $10 discount for the physical copy to price match Nintendo’s price for the digital version instead of handing out a preorder bonus
• With even preorders for the physical copy being sold out at some retailers, the idea of offering people an incentive to do something they were already going to do may have felt like burning money to Nintendo or the retailer who paid for the swag
• The preference for digital copies - making physical preorder gifts pointless - is much more prevalent in the US compared to other countries
• Retailers who may have wanted to offer a preorder incentive possibly declined because of the potential tariffs they might have to pay

In time, the frustration over these items will fade as the game gets into the hands of the people and the discourse shifts towards whether or not Nintendo honored the legacy of Ocarina of Time properly. Only the completionists who have a spot in their homes dedicated to the iconic franchise with memorabilia beyond the games will be chasing these items that we will be listing here for years to come.

*Collector’s Hot Take: Depending on how long the first run with the textured foil cover lasts, it’s possible that the non-foil version ends up becoming the more valuable version, as fewer people keep them sealed. It’s not common, but some second and further prints of certain comic books and other media have become more valuable because fewer were made or they came with visual differences that made them more appealing.

United States: Nothing*

*To be fair, Amazon and Walmart offering the $10 discount for the physical copy with the textured foil cover is not nothing. For people who just want a cart to put into their Switch 2, the $10 off is worth sacrificing a preorder bonus and the special cover is enough for them.

As of this post, Nintendo has not revealed what the special gift that attendees of the San Francisco and New York flagship stores' midnight (9 PM in SF) launches will receive. It could be everything that’s being offered overseas, or it could be something that has yet to be revealed.

Japan: Art Cards, Stickers, Diorama, Tissue Box Cover, Digital Wallpaper

Depending on where you pick up the game, your preorder incentive could have just the special art cards that appear to be exclusive only to Japan, or it could include a special extra sticker (Amazon Japan), or it could have all of the previously mentioned goodies, an acrylic coaster, and a unique wooden diorama display (Rakuten Japan). And those who purchase the digital version by November 23 will get a special wallpaper designed for desktop and mobile.

South Korea: Tote Bags!

Much like Japan, South Korea is loading up on exclusive bonuses that won’t be found anywhere else, including an exclusive slipcover featuring the artwork found in the game intro, acrylic character stands, coins, and tote bags. As someone who has seen firsthand the power and hype behind Trader Joe’s tote bags, the first person to show up with a Korean-exclusive Ocarina of Time tote bag stateside might as well be the coolest gamer alive*.

*Not really, but there’s a non-zero number of people who would much rather have that tote bag than the upcoming Travis Scott and GTA 6 Nike Air Force 1 collab.

Canada: Holographic Slipcover

EB Games Canada, which is a separate brand not owned by GameStop, is bringing back the nostalgic vibes with a special holographic slipcover that mimics the look of the 1998 Collector’s Edition cover. Previews of the cover have started to pop up online at EB Games locations in Canada, and so far, none of them have shown off a holographic shine. It’s possible they are saving the actual special shiny treatment for the actual release of the game on the 5th.

Europe: Spiritual Stones Replica, Ocarina Keychain

Nintendo’s European online stores in the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands were offering replicas of the three Spiritual Stones Link has to acquire in the game. It’s “was” because preorders are sold out and the game is launching in two days. They were also offering an ocarina pin for an extra £2.99. It’s unclear, however, whether this promotion was available in all European territories.

France: Different Retailers, Different Incentives

Several French retailers got in on the fun by offering different preorder bonuses that range from wallets to coasters to ocarina keychains. Nintendo’s French online store was also offering the same Spiritual Stones and ocarina pin bonus, but France’s FNAC and Micromania also included a 10 Euro promotional credit. Imagine if Amazon and Walmart not only offered the $10 discount, but also your choice of free Zelda swag, and you have an idea of how good our French counterparts have it in this case.

Micromania is also in a race with EB Games Canada for what will likely be the most desired preorder incentive, as they have the slipcover that replicates the PAL version of the Ocarina of Time box art that was in black and gold.

Spain: Sticker Sheets

Nintendo’s Spanish online store had the Spiritual Stones preorder bonus, and GAME Spain had the ocarina keychain, but retailers like FNAC and MediaMarkt had sticker sheets. Not exactly the most inspiring incentive, but there’s a very good chance this becomes a highly desired collectible that Zelda completists will be chasing years from now. Chances are the kids who get these stickers either throw them away or use their stickers, while older fans will be selling them for insane amounts of money to American collectors.

Israel: Take Your Pick

If you preordered the game on Nintendo’s Israel website, they gave gamers three options that are already available elsewhere, not named the United States of America (Spiritual Stones replicas, ocarina keychain, sticker sheets) and a fourth option in the form of a double-sided poster. Is it possible someone preordered four copies of the game to get all four items? If you don’t think, you are underestimating the dedication of a hardcore Nintendo or Zelda fan.

New Zealand: Ceramic Ocarina (But It’s Not Free)

Technically, this doesn’t count because you have to pay extra for it, but New Zealand’s Mighty Ape is selling a slightly pricier version of the game that comes with a ceramic ocarina replica.

Juan Martinez

From video game journalism to veteran of the sneaker blog era to podcasting about well, everything, Juan is smiling through it all and can't believe this is his life. His current hot take is that people are really underrating the Psyduck trading card market. Email: juan@soleretriever.com Instagram | Twitter | Bluesky | Threads : @ezyville