Despite leading Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, it’s Ocarina of Time that Eiji Aonuma comes back to

Eiji Aonuma says he often returns to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time when reflecting on the series. The game was his first Zelda project as a director and, despite later leading Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, its development continues to shape how he thinks about the games.

Ocarina of Time was the series’ first 3D entry and is described by remake producer Hidemaro Fujibayashi as a turning point. Aonuma says its development helped the team focus on encounters with people and enemies, alongside exploration and discovery, as central parts of Zelda’s appeal.