The year 1998 was a notable period for technology and pop culture, marking the launch of platforms like Google and Ars Technica, alongside the release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64. To celebrate the upcoming release of the Ocarina of Time remaster, Google has introduced a temporary search Easter egg that takes users back to that exact year.
How to Access the 1998 Google Easter Egg
Users can activate the time machine feature simply by typing either “Zelda” or “Ocarina of Time” into the search bar. While the initial results page loads normally, an animated Master Sword appears in the bottom right corner across both mobile and desktop devices. Clicking the weapon initiates the interactive feature.
The interface transforms through a brief time-skipping animation accompanied by a familiar shout from the character Link. The resulting search page features retro Google branding and displays a stripped-down list of blue hyperlinks, mirroring the aesthetic of the late 1990s web.
A Curated Retro Experience
Although early Google typically displayed ten results per page, this curated Easter egg limits the view to seven specific links. Rather than conducting an actual search, the page directs users to selected destinations, including the official Nintendo Zelda webpage, the franchise’s Wikipedia entry, and Amazon listings for Zelda video games.
