Zelda: Ocarina of Time’s Coolest Dungeon Hides a Secret Tribute to a Beloved Classic

Published Nov 9, 2026, 4:05 PM EST

[Ed. note: Mid-game spoilers ahead for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. If you haven't retrieved the Master Sword yet, turn back now!]

After Link collects the three Spiritual Stones and returns to Hyrule Castle Town to claim the Master Sword, we move forward seven years in time. Link is now an adult, and in order to thwart Ganon's terrifying reign, he must awaken six sages throughout Hyrule by visiting their temples and claiming their power for his own. The first of these is located just outside Link's hometown of Kokiri Village, land of the fairy folk. Though most of his youthful pals don't recognize the grown-up Link, they urge him to investigate the Forest Temple and rescue their dear friend Saria.

When Link ventures into the Forest Temple, he discovers something altogether unexpected: an eerie, luxurious old mansion inhabited by ghosts. As he enters a central room flanked by colorful torches, four ghostly Poes appear to snatch away the flames. Venturing deeper into the mansion, Link discovers that these ghoulish gals are actually four sisters: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy.

Sound familiar? Those are the same names (and the same birth order) as the March sisters in Louisa May Alcott's novel Little Women. It's a timeless coming-of-age story about four sisters who have very different goals and ambitions in life, one that's been adapted countless times for stage and screen. The most recent adaptation is the 2019 film by Barbie and The Magician's Nephew director Greta Gerwig, which stars Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, and Timothée Chalamet.

While you might be inclined to think this is some newfangled meddling with the localization, these were also the Poe Sisters' names in the Nintendo 64 original. (There's one exception: the second sister, Jo, was called "Joelle" in the 1998 game.) Naturally, there are plenty of "well actually" guys pointing this out in the comments of social media posts. But it's still a fun little Easter egg for players discovering it for the first time, whether or not they've played Ocarina of Time before.

If you're like me and have never played Ocarina of Time until now, be sure to check out Polygon's extensive guides and walkthroughs for the remake. Like this hidden node, there are plenty of puzzle solutions, hidden items, and valuable power-ups you can easily miss on your first playthrough.