You know what? I wanted my screen to feel like Hyrule. I’ve been replaying Tears of the Kingdom at night. So I changed my mouse cursor to a Zelda set on my PC and in Chrome. It sounded silly. It wasn’t. It made everything feel like a tiny quest.
If you’re curious how another fan fared, I found this detailed diary of the experience right here.
Why I Wanted It
I grew up on Ocarina of Time. That green hat, the music, the whole vibe. I wanted a little bit of that during my day. School notes. Work email. Late-night YouTube. A small sparkle helps.
I even fell down a rabbit hole of classic game tunes—someone went deep into Ocarina’s soundtrack using MIDI and shared the adventure in this write-up.
What I Actually Used
- On Windows 11, I installed a Zelda cursor pack with .cur and .ani files.
- In Chrome, I used the “Custom Cursor for Chrome” extension and picked a Zelda set with a little sword and a Triforce pointer.
- On my MacBook, I tried Mousecape for a day. It worked, then flickered on my 4K monitor, so I stopped.
If you’d like to try the exact same browser add-on, you can snag it on the Chrome Web Store here: Custom Cursor for Chrome.
Honestly, the Chrome one was the fastest. But it only changes the cursor in the browser. The Windows pack changed it across the whole system, which felt better.
If you're still searching for the perfect pixel-clean Master Sword or Navi pointer, the fan-made archives on Zelda Sanctuary are a treasure chest of ready-to-use icons.
Setup: Not Hard, Just One Tricky Bit
- Windows 11: Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse > Additional mouse settings > Pointers tab > Browse.
I picked each icon one by one. Normal Select, Text Select, Busy, and so on. Then I saved the scheme. - Chrome: Add the extension, click the puzzle icon, choose the Zelda set. Done.
Tip: Keep your default Windows scheme saved. I messed up once and had to redo it.
How It Looks and Feels
Mine had:
- Normal pointer: a tiny Master Sword with a soft blue edge.
- Busy spinner: a Hylian Shield that spins. It’s cute, not annoying.
- Link select: a tiny Navi. Yes, she’s back.
- Text cursor: a slim Sheikah eye line. It’s readable.
At first, the sword felt too big. It covered small buttons in Google Docs. Day two, my brain adjusted. I clicked fine. Funny thing: the shield spinner made waiting feel less… boring. Busy still means busy, but I didn’t mind it.
Real-Life Moments
- School notes in Google Docs: Text cursor was clear on white. No eye strain.
- Excel and Sheets: Navi helped me point at small cells. The sword tip is sharp enough to aim.
- Photoshop: The triforce precision pointer looked cool, but I switched to the default for pixel work. I needed exact edges.
- Gaming: Most games use their own cursor, so it switches back. No big deal.
- Emulator test: I ran an emulated version of Ocarina of Time, and the cursor setup behaved differently. For anyone considering that route, this honest breakdown is gold (source).
Little Hiccups I Hit
- On my 4K screen, one icon looked a bit jaggy. I swapped to a higher-res version in the pack.
- Chrome-only mode felt odd. Browser had Zelda. Desktop didn’t. I fixed that with the full Windows pack.
- Mac with Mousecape glitched when I used display scaling. The pointer blinked in apps like Figma. I bailed.
The Good and the Not-So-Good
Pros:
- Feels fun. Every click has character.
- Clear shapes and colors. Easy to see in dark mode.
- The shield spinner makes wait time less annoying.
- Kids loved it. Grown-ups noticed it and smiled.
Cons:
- Not great for exact design work. I switched back for that.
- Some packs have low-res icons that look rough on 4K.
- Chrome-only cursor can feel mismatched.
- Mac tools can be fiddly and glitchy.
Tips to Make It Better
- Pick a pack with high-DPI icons. Your eyes will thank you.
- Keep default cursors saved as a fall-back. One click and you’re safe.
- Use a slimmer text cursor. Thick ones hide letters.
- Turn off “pointer trails” on Windows. It made my sword look blurry.
- If you stream, set the cursor to “capture” in OBS. People will notice it, in a good way.
Thinking more broadly about on-camera creativity, I also explored how professional cam platforms optimize their interfaces for audience engagement—this in-depth Jerkmate review breaks down the site’s interactive tools and UI decisions, offering inspiration you can borrow to make your own streams (and even your cursor choices) feel more dynamic.
Who It’s For
- Zelda fans who want a tiny joy while they work.
- Students who like a desk that feels personal.
- Streamers who want a subtle theme.
- Not so great for folks who do pixel-perfect design all day.
If your love of playful themes extends beyond the screen and you’d like to meet fellow pop-culture enthusiasts face-to-face, the themed mixers at Speed Dating Meridian can help you connect with new friends (or more) in quick, fun rounds—and their event page lays out upcoming dates, sign-up details, and tips for making the most of your IRL encounters.
My Take After Two Weeks
I thought it would slow me down. It did on day one. Then I got used to it, and it just made me smile. Small thing, big vibe.
Score: 4 out of 5.
Keep a default scheme handy. Use the high-res icons. And if Navi shows up to help? Let her.
—Kayla Sox