007 First Light review

IO Interactive’s 007 First Light has launched to overwhelming critical acclaim, earning an 88/100 on Metacritic with 51 official reviews registered. The game represents the franchise’s first major video game entry in nearly 15 years—since 2012’s 007 Legends—and is widely being hailed as the best James Bond game since the genre-defining GoldenEye 007 (1997).

The game features a young James Bond in a present-day, origin story setting and blends the stealth gameplay expertise IO Interactive developed through the Hitman trilogy with cinematic storytelling and action sequences. A signature gameplay mechanic allows Bond to improvise lies and bluff his way past guards, offering an alternative to combat and gadget-based solutions. The 14-hour globetrotting adventure has been praised for its variety of global locations, satisfying stealth mechanics, seamless combat transitions, and engaging narrative with memorable characters.

IO Interactive successfully translated the Bond fantasy into a cohesive game experience that captures the franchise’s essence. Reviews consistently describe it as a triumph that proves IO Interactive was the right developer choice for modernizing Bond in gaming. The game launched May 27, 2026, with early access available for PlayStation Store pre-orders of the Deluxe Edition. A Switch 2 version is planned for Summer 2026. Due to late review code distribution, many outlets published reviews-in-progress or missed the review embargo around the long holiday weekend.

007 First Light review

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