US — Ars Technica

Googling "Zelda" today offers a glimpse of how search worked in 1998

SoftwareNovember 3, 20261 min read

Google has hidden a retro search easter egg. Searching for "Zelda" or "Ocarina of Time" turns the results page into a 1998-style list of blue links. It is a fun nod to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

What happened

Google added a hidden surprise to its search page. If you search for "Zelda" or "Ocarina of Time," a small animated Master Sword appears in the lower right corner. Click the sword, and the page changes into a simple 1998-style page. It works on both phones and computers. The change is a celebration of the new Ocarina of Time remaster.

Key facts

The year 1998 is the time the page imitates.
Classic Google showed 10 links per page. The Easter egg shows only 7.
The list is curated, which means people picked the links by hand. It is not a real search.
Links include the official Nintendo Zelda page, Zelda on Wikipedia, and Zelda games on Amazon.

Some background

In 1998, Google and Ars Technica were new websites. Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64 that same year. Easter eggs are hidden extras that developers put in products for fans to find.

Why it matters

The Easter egg shows how much search has changed in about 30 years. It also links the look of early Google to the time-travel theme of the game. It is a playful way for fans to remember both old websites and old games.

What to watch

The release date of the Ocarina of Time remaster.
Whether Google adds more hidden retro surprises for other popular topics.

Glossary

Easter egg: A hidden extra feature in a website, game, or app that people can find on their own.
Ocarina of Time: A Nintendo 64 Zelda game from 1998. A remaster of it is coming soon.
Master Sword: A famous sword in the Zelda games. In this story it appears as an animated icon.
Ars Technica: A technology news website that also started online in 1998.
Nintendo 64: A video game console from Nintendo that released in 1998.
remaster: A newer version of an older game, with updated graphics or features.

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