007: First Light Reviews

007 First Light Review - The Name's Bond

Final Weapon's review of 007 First Light, available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

It's Bond, baby

007 First Light is a tour de force for IO Interactive, who surpass the Hitman series with a brilliant action adventure for the world famous spy.

Although there hasn't been a new James Bond movie in almost 5 years, the franchise proves it's still strong with IOI's take on becoming 007.

No, 007 First Light isn’t a perfect game. The AI needs a ton of work. The audio issues are hard to overlook. And the online connectivity requirements remain one of IOI’s dirty, bad habits. But when it clicks, it’s a hell of a lot of fun. The combat is fluid and hard-hitting, the gunplay is super satisfying, the level design is impeccable, and it’s all wrapped up in a fun, Bond-origin story. It feels great to be a 00 again.

You know his name

007 First Light successfully reimagines James Bond with strong stealth gameplay, exciting action sequences, and an excellent performance from Patrick Gibson.

IO Interactive's 007 First Light is easily the best Bond game we've seen. Rare's GoldenEye 007 was momentous when it launched, and it's stuck around the zeitgeist because it was a portal into Ian Fleming's world of shaken martinis and spy thrills we'd never seen before. What 007 First Light feels like is a playable, limited spy series that transports the player into a gripping and memorable espionage story. 

The game's Bond, James Bond

IO's Bond-iverse story shines, but not enough to compensate for the very familiar game around it.

007 First Light is easily one of the best Bond experiences in gaming, combining cinematic storyteling, great gunfights, incredible music, and solid Steam Deck performance into one package.

Check out our review of IO Interactives first foray into the James Bond universe with 007 First Light on the PS5 right here.

007 First Light might be one of the best Bond games made, warts and all.

IOI’s latest is no Hitman game with a James Bond skin, it’s a bona fide 007 classic…

Bond's return to gaming is worth the 14-year wait.

007 First Light has everything you could want from a Bond game: fist fights, shootouts, epic set-pieces, car chases, subterfuge, and more. There are some minor issues, such as the game's cover system being a little finicky at times, but on the whole this is a must-play for Bond fans as well as those who simply enjoy a good action game.

007 First Light does a great job of making the player feel like they are embodying James Bond. Gadgets, shoot-outs, stealth and an amazing cast really make this stand in the hall of 007 greats.

007 First Light is perhaps the closest a game has ever come to making me feel like I’m starring in a Bond film. IO Interactive takes the stealth sandbox of Hitman, the intense thrills of Uncharted, and experimental spycraft of Batman: Arkham, and reshapes them into a globe-trotting cinematic spy thriller filled with covert missions, explosive action, and cool gadgets. While the immersiveness of the campaign occasionally lags, this stylish origin story still feels like a triumphant return for the most iconic secret agent.

While the James Bond franchise has been active in movies, the same can’t be said for the brand in games. The last game based on the IP was 007 Legends, which was released in 2012 to mediocre reviews, essentially sinking the brand.

A modern spy adventure from IO Interactive that blends stealth, action, and cinematic chaos into one shifting experience.

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.

007 First Light does justice to James Bond as the combination of incredible stealth gameplay and thrilling setpieces make it an incredible game

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.

007 First Light is IO Interactive at their best, blending together dense sandboxes, huge set pieces, and a fresh take on Bond.

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.

Put on your sharpest tux and make yourself a martini (you know the right way), as there’s finally another James Bond game. 007: First Light has everything you’d want in a Bond adventure, with all the gadgets, cheesy puns, classic cars, and daring missions you’d expect.

007 First Light is a superb adventure game that does so much more than simply coast on the popularity of its franchise.

IO Interactive's James Bond origin story mostly excels as a playable movie but struggles under the weight of some grander ambitions

Creating a new James Bond game after a 14-year hiatus was a risky endeavor by IO Interactive. This is one of the most iconic characters in all of entertainment, and doing him justice is not easy. Somehow, however, IO Interactive pulled it off and not only produced an amazing video game, but also created a story that is worthy of the Bond pantheon. With superb writing, top-notch acting, beautiful cinematography, and expressive gameplay, 007 First Light is as sleek as it is engaging. James Bond is back, baby, and he's never been this cool.

Smart design decisions make this a well-rounded spy adventure

Sit down agent. We've pulled the files, and the top name on the list for a reboot is one we're all quite familiar with. The name's Bond - James Bond. It's

Taking a swing at James Bond's origin story, 007 First Light shows us how the eponymous spy finds his feet and how he gets his start at MI6.

007 First Light delivers a polished Bond origin story that blends stealth, combat, gadgets, and setpieces into a near-total triumph for IO.

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James Bond makes a grand return to gaming at the masterful hands of IO Interactive.

There are certain moments in life when it’s difficult to refute the existence of destiny, or a similar guiding phenomenon.

Moneypenny’s finest

007 First Light ushers in a new era of James Bond video games, and it does so in the most spectacular and engaging way possible.

IO Interactive delivers a strong James Bond origin story with 007 First Light, blending stealth, gadgets, shooting, replayability, and some rough performance issues.

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Fantastic storytelling that captures the fun of the classic spy hero helps this new adventure shine bright.

James Bond's triumphant return to gaming in 007 First Light proves to be one of 2026's best titles.