Zelda Notes app makes Ocarina of Time collectible hunt easier

A map for Hyrule's hidden things

Players working through the Ocarina of Time remake can use the Zelda Notes companion app to track down the game's many collectibles, according to The Verge. The app lives inside the free Nintendo Switch app and does not require a Switch Online subscription. It presents a large map of Hyrule that can be tapped for a closer look at individual areas.

When zoomed in, the map places icons showing where different collectibles are located. Tapping an icon brings up a popup that lists any items or special requirements needed to obtain that collectible. Filters let players switch between the maps for child and adult Link and toggle categories of icons on and off.

Why the Skulltulas are such a chore

Ocarina of Time hides 100 Golden Skulltulas across Hyrule, and finding them all has long been one of the game's more demanding side quests. The Verge's writer notes having played the N64 original extensively without ever collecting the full set, or wanting to. The remake adds an Echo Gem Skulltula tracking item that chimes to help, but the chimes alone do not explain how to reach a spider that is out of reach.

The app fills that gap. In one example from the Shadow Temple, a Skulltula visible from an elevator could not be reached until the map icon revealed that the Scarecrow Song was needed to create a hookshot point. The writer made getting that song the next priority after finishing the dungeon.

Heart Pieces and helpful birds

The same approach works for Pieces of Heart, which increase Link's health once enough are collected. While travelling along Zora's River, the writer kept spotting two Pieces of Heart on distant ledges with no obvious route to them. Tapping the icons on the Zelda Notes map showed that a Cucco was required, which explained why one of the birds was waiting near the zone entrance.

That kind of nudge is the app's appeal: it gives just enough direction to point a player toward a pickup without spelling out a full walkthrough. The writer reports having found more than 70 Golden Skulltulas so far and now intends to hunt down all 100.

Phone fatigue versus guide fatigue

The trade-off is real. Opening a phone and digging through an app is not ideal for someone who plays games partly to get away from screens, The Verge notes. The alternatives are not much better: online guides vary in quality, AI summaries require trust, and YouTube videos take time to scrub through.

In practice, the writer says sessions with Zelda Notes are short, with the phone put down again after a clue or icon points toward the next target. The app is a companion to the remake rather than a replacement for playing, and its usefulness depends on how much a player wants to complete the collection.