Game Information
Game Title: 007 First Light
Platforms:
- PlayStation 5 (May 27, 2026)
- Xbox Series X/S (May 27, 2026)
- PC (May 27, 2026)
- Nintendo Switch 2 (May 27, 2026)
Developer: IO Interactive
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 88 average - 98% recommended - 52 reviews
Critic Reviews
Atarita - Atakan Gümrükçüoğlu - Turkish - 93 / 100
Centering on James Bond’s origin story, 007 First Light blends action and stealth elements with flawless pacing, delivering that long-awaited, glorious return to the franchise. With its impactful melee combat mechanics, cleverly designed spy gadgets, and stellar acting performances, it places the player directly in the lead role of a breathtaking blockbuster movie.
But Why Tho? - Matt Sowinski - 9 / 10
IO Interactive feels like they’ve found a new home in the James Bond franchise. 007 First Light is a blast, with a tense and enthralling narrative that punches way higher and harder than anyone could have expected.
CGMagazine - Marcus Kenneth - 8 / 10
The best moments in 007 First Light are the ones where everything aligns for a few minutes, and you stop thinking about mechanics entirely.
Cinelinx - Caleb Gayle - 5 / 5
007 First Light features a slew of unforgettable moments, cinematic jaw-dropping scenes, amazingly smooth combat, and one heck of a story. With all this stacked up, 007 First Light it is a brilliant action adventure title, and my top pick for game of the year!
Cloud Dosage - Jon Scarr - 4.5 / 5
007 First Light turns a young Bond campaign into a spy adventure built around bluffing, gadgets, and recovering when missions fall apart. MI6, Q-Branch tools, and close-range fights keep the campaign moving, but the shooting, driving, and limited replay value hold it back. It’s a good fit if you want a story-led Bond game focused more on spy work than giant stealth sandboxes.
ComingSoon.net - Tyler Treese - 9.5 / 10
As stylish as the films themselves, 007 First Light is a brilliant depiction of Bond.
Daily Mirror - Aaron Potter - 4 / 5
James Bond’s video game return is a delight from start to finish, with Hitman develop IO Interactive expertly lending its spy expertise to a new breed of interactive spy thriller.
DayOne - Jon Clarke - 9 / 10
With a great cast of characters, tons of imagination, and just the right amount of player agency and replayability, there is a delightful playground full of gadgetry and spycraft that players will want to return to again and again. A confident return for the Double-O program, and - sorry Goldeneye - this is, without a doubt, the best James Bond game ever made.
Digitec Magazine - Philipp Rüegg - German - 5 / 5
After 30 years, ‘GoldenEye’ is finally retiring. With ‘007 First Light’, IO Interactive – the masterminds behind ‘Hitman’ – delivers the ultimate Bond experience that fans have been waiting for since the N64 classic.
DualShockers - Christian Bognar - 9 / 10
With superb writing, top-notch acting, beautiful cinematography, and expressive gameplay, 007 First Light is as sleek as it is engaging.
007 First Light is less cerebral and replayable than IO’s World of Assassination trilogy, but makes up for it with excellent fistfights and oodles of charm.
GAMINGbible - Olly Smith - 9 / 10
007 First Light is an exquisite taste of slick spy action and blockbuster storytelling, and is fully what a Bond game should be, but rarely is.
GamePro - Annika Bavendiek - German - Unscored
IO Interactive delivers a magnificent gaming comeback for James Bond with 007 First Light, which proves worthy of the source material.
GameRant - Dalton Cooper - 8 / 10
It’s not perfect, but 007 First Light is a mostly great start to IO Interactive’s all-new take on the James Bond universe.
GameSpot - Mark Delaney - 8 / 10
007 First Light wisely repurposes what works in both universes but isn’t afraid to reimagine or ditch those parts that don’t.
Gfinity - Alister Kennedy - 10 / 10
007 First Light is, for me, an absolute masterpiece that shattered all pre-release anxieties and is, in fact, the greatest Bond video game of all time. IO Interactive masterfully balances explosive action with “Hitman”-inspired stealth, all brought to life by Patrick Gibson’s breathtaking, definitive performance as a young James Bond. Equal parts thrilling and cinematic, this incredible experience is a gorgeous love letter to the franchise and a sure-fire Game of the Year contender.
Hobby Consolas - David Rodriguez - Spanish - 85 / 100
First Light is the best Bond experience ever seen in a video game —a complete package, true to the essence of the character, updated, and incredibly fun to play.
IGN India - Rayan Sayyed - 9 / 10
007 First Light understands what makes James Bond interesting beyond the suits and gadgets. This younger Bond is reckless, emotional, and still figuring out his fundamentals, making his story feel more personal. Pair that with flexible stealth, solid hand-to-hand combat, strong production values, and Hitman-style mission design, and you get a Bond game that feels cinematic that gives players plenty of freedom. Plus, the variety in mission design and the satisfying spy fantasy make 007 First Light gives James Bond the best debut in this generation.
IGN Italy - Silvio Mazzitelli - Italian - 9 / 10
The James Bond saga could hardly have ended up in better hands. IO Interactive has crafted an adventure that perfectly captures the spirit of the 007 movies with an engaging story, stunning settings, and gameplay that’s polished in every detail.
IGN Portugal - Pedro Pestana - Portuguese - 9 / 10
While cinema is still searching for a new Bond, the studio IO Interactive has already found its virtual version. Rebellious and arrogant, Patrick Gibson does a fantastic job in the shoes of Her Majesty’s secret agent without needing to wear a tuxedo, in a well-crafted adventure that marks the beginning of a new era for 007 in video games. With gameplay that cleverly distances itself from what we already know from Hitman to embrace a stronger narrative and the cinematic moments immortalized on the big screen, 007: First Light didn’t need a license to dazzle.
IGN Spain - Mario Seijas - Spanish - 8 / 10
007 First Light features a sophisticated and comprehensive infiltration system, as well as solid hand-to-hand combat mechanics. The lackluster cover system does not detract from what could mark a new era for 007 in the world of video games.
INFINITY AREA - Florian Prache - French - 9.5 / 10
James Bond 007 First Light is a huge surprise from IO Interactive. Far from being just a Hitman clone in disguise, the game establishes its own identity with rich gameplay, smart stealth mechanics, and explosive action. Despite disappointing driving sequences and the lack of English voice acting, the game manages to keep players engaged from start to finish thanks to its atmosphere, visuals, and great freedom of approach. An essential adventure for James Bond fans.
Loot Level Chill - Mick Fraser - 9 / 10
007 First Light is a superb adventure game that does so much more than simply coast on the popularity of its franchise.
Multiplayer First - James Lara - 8.5 / 10
If there is one thing I’m even more certain of than when we first learned that IO Interactive was making a 007 game, it’s that they are still the perfect studio to be making a Bond game. As many have called it, it’s a match made in heaven, and, as the first entry in what is hopefully a long-running series, I think the franchise is in safe hands. It’s one thing to make an experience on an established IP; another to actually understand what makes that experience so great. IO has captured the soul of a Bond experience in 007 First Light.
With a strong foundation to build upon, a new era for MI6’s finest is upon us, and I cannot wait to see where IO Interactive takes the franchise next.
PCGamesN - Paul Kelly - 8 / 10
While it doesn’t pull up any roots, 007: First Light is a beautiful, cinematic action game that makes clever use of the IO formula. From the performance of Patrick Gibson to the iconic score, this is a game that tells a new story and basks in nostalgia in equal measure, giving James Bond a fresh angle in the process.
PCMag Middle East - Ali El Sayed - 5 / 5
First Light feels like a true Bond game, a strong IO Interactive game, and the best blueprint 007 has had in video games for decades. It balances story, action, stealth, gadgets, and style better than any Bond game before it.
PPE.pl - Wojciech Gruszczyk - Polish - 9.5 / 10
007 First Light is the best James Bond game ever – brilliantly written, superbly acted and brimming with that unique atmosphere we’ve come to expect from stories about Agent 007. IO Interactive has combined its own experience from Hitman with a cinematic adventure in the style of Uncharted, throwing in gadgets, spectacular missions, interesting characters and a very well-crafted story of the young Bond. Not everything works perfectly, as the game sometimes holds your hand (a bit too tightly!), but ultimately it’s a brilliant start to a new era of 007 in gaming.
Push Square - Stephen Tailby - Unscored
I’m not quite finished with 007 First Light just yet, but overall I’d say it’s exactly what I was hoping for. The characterisation of this young Bond and his associates is really strong, and the globetrotting story lets you explore some great locations. It really shines in its sandbox missions, but shootouts have their moments too, and the whole thing weaves together really quite nicely. I’m really interested to see how the final few missions shake out, but beyond some technical quibbles and uncertainty on the driving, I’m pretty happy with IOI’s new vision for James Bond.
Region Free - Joonatan Itkonen - 4 / 5
I don’t think we’ve seen a better example of Bond as a genuine character in gaming. This isn’t just a replica of what we have on the screen, either. In First Light, Bond is his own character, as important a part of the canon as Brosnan, Connery, or Craig. This is one of the most thrilling Bond adventures to date.
República DG - Ruancarlo Silva - Portuguese - 9.6 / 10
007: First Light is not only the best 007 game ever made, but it also easily rivals the best games in the genre. IO Interactive delivers a special experience that honors the legacy of the greatest spy in entertainment history.
Restart.run - Imran Khan - 3.5 / 5
It is likely the best James Bond game ever, but there’s some qualifiers that drag 007 First Light down from being a complete knock-out.
Screen Rant - Kyle Gratton - 9 / 10
007 First Light brings James Bond back to gaming in an innovative story that celebrates the character’s legacy, alongside franchise-best gameplay.
Shacknews - Donovan Erskine - 9 / 10
007 First Light is a crowning achievement for IO Interactive and the culmination of the studio’s growth over the years.
The Nerd Stash - Julio La Pine - 9.5 / 10
007 First Light is not only the best James Bond video game to date, but also one of the greatest action-adventure titles of this generation, full of jaw-dropping action sequences, a compelling narrative, and superb acting.
The Outerhaven Productions - George Yang - 4 / 5
007 First Light delivers a strong Bond origin story with solid stealth, gadget use, and plenty of spy-thriller energy.
Tom’s Guide - Rory Mellon - 5 / 5
007 First Light is the finest James Bond video game in nearly 30 years. Its cinematic single-player campaign is remarkable, offering a gripping, quintessentially Bond story, packaged together with some of the best action-adventure set pieces I’ve ever experienced. Whether you’re a longtime Bond fan or a newcomer, 007 First Light is unmissable. Check Amazon Check Best Buy
Tourens - Mert Tuna - Turkish - 8.5 / 10
Despite its slow pace at the start and a few minor AI glitches, this is an experience that keeps players locked to their screens with its rich level designs, freedom oriented stealth mechanics, and satisfying cinematic action. A game that’s definitely worth a try.
VGC - Jordan Middler - 5 / 5
007 First Light might just be the best James Bond game ever. The way IOI has translated the Bond fantasy into a 14-hour globetrotting epic is masterful. It’s a game full of spectacle, humour, action, and romance. Everything James Bond should be. New Bond owners Amazon must ensure this franchise continues.
Worth Playing - Cody Medellin - 8.5 / 10
007 First Light shows that the Hitman developers have a good handle on how to make a James Bond game work within their wheelhouse. The emphasis on less flashy espionage alongside multiple avenues to accomplish your given goal works to this game’s favor in helping to differentiate it from past 007 games. There’s still enough action to prevent the game from feeling like a complete tonal shift from common expectations. The quality of the stealth helps compensate for the combat, which is good but can feel lacking in areas. The adventure remains fun but familiar, while the presentation is top-notch. The game is another good example of how to do a licensed game well, and the hope is that we’ll see IO Interactive do more in this universe, whether that’s DLC or a full-on sequel.
Xbox Achievements - Dan Webb - 92%
For well over two decades, IO Interactive have become synonymous with their Hitman series. Since 2000, the Danish studio has released twelve games, w…
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