3DS versus N64

Play Majora's Mask 3D first if you want the saves, the notebook alarms, and the reworked bosses. Play the N64 original, including Switch Online, if you want the 2000 clock and the 2000 boss rooms.

Majora's Mask 3D, developed by Grezzo, shipped on 13 February 2015 in North America and Europe and on 14 February 2015 in Japan and Australia. The version guide records a new save system, gyro aiming, fishing, boss reworks, and seven bottles. Both versions still have 24 masks, 52 Pieces of Heart, 13 songs, four temples, and the Moon.

Changes I will name because two sources support them: Shiro and the Stone Mask move from the Road to Ikana to the Pirates' Fortress. Koume's boat cruise swaps a Piece of Heart for a bottle, and Dampé's dig swaps the other way, so the total stays 52. The Keaton Mask moves from 13:00 to 06:00 on the Final Day. The Circus Leader's Mask is renamed the Troupe Leader's Mask and also starts a seventh-bottle errand. The Giant's Mask is taken during the Twinmold fight instead of from the second Eyegore. Great Fairy rewards at Woodfall and Snowhead trade places. Zora swimming gains an optional slower speed. The bank moves from West Clock Town to South Clock Town.

Question	N64 / Switch Online	3DS	Status
First play	The 2000 timing and bosses	Saves, alarms, gyro aiming	2 sources
Stone Mask	Road to Ikana	Pirates' Fortress	2 sources
Boat cruise	Piece of Heart	Bottle	2 sources
Bosses	Original rooms	Reworked	2 sources
Save states on NSO	Not stated on the official NSO page	Not applicable	Gap, not a feature

Majora's Mask box artwork showing the mask and the moon

North Clock Town on the first day, with the clock tower ahead

Questions

Which one should I buy?

3DS for a first play, if you can find the cartridge. The eShop stopped purchases on 27 March 2023. NSO is the legal N64 path without a cartridge.

Did they remove any masks?

No. The set is still 24.

Are save states part of Switch Online?

The official NSO page I read does not document save states or rewind for this game. I am leaving that cell empty.

Switch OnlineRemake statusPC portHeart pieces

Sources

Zelda Central — Version Differences https://zeldacentral.com/games/majoras-mask/version-differences/
Zelda Wiki — Majora's Mask 3D https://zelda.fandom.com/wiki/Majora%27s_Mask_3D
Wikipedia — Majora's Mask https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Majora%27s_Mask
Nintendo US — Switch Online https://www.nintendo.com/us/switch/online-service/

Checked 2026-11-11.