GoKawiilGoogle adds 1998-style search results as Zelda Easter egg
Searching Google for "Zelda" or "Ocarina of Time" now triggers an animation leading to a retro version of the search results page styled like 1998, complete with blue hyperlinks and the old "I'm Feeling Lucky" button, timed to Nintendo's Ocarina of Time remake launch. The effect only applies to game-related searches and reverts to Google's current results page, including AI Overviews, for anything else.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The gimmick highlights how far Google's results page has evolved from simple ranked links to one filled with ads and AI-generated summaries, a shift Google itself has acknowledged is reshaping its ad revenue from traditional search. Users wanting a closer approximation of that older, link-based experience permanently can already do so via Google's Web tab, suggesting demand for a less AI-heavy search option persists.
- Google's Ocarina of Time Easter egg briefly recreates a 1998-style search results page.
- The retro effect only triggers for Zelda-related searches and does not persist for other queries.
- Google's Web tab offers a way to see traditional link-based results without AI Overviews.
Nintendo Switch 2 Zelda Edition — With Ocarina of Time's remake making waves, now's a great time to actually play it on Nintendo's own hardware. It's the perfect way to revisit the classic adventure that inspired this fun Google Search Easter egg.”
See Nintendo Switch 2 Zelda Edition on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: engadget.com — Kris Holt, 2026-11-02
Published there as: “Google's Ocarina of Time Easter egg is a link to a past when Search wasn't horrible”
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