007 First Light Reviews
This is the James Bond game fans of the franchise have been waiting for. The most well-rounded, visually stunning and thematically engaging 007 game of the 21st century.
007 First Light tells an authentic and highly entertaining origin story of the well-known MI6 agent, taking the best ideas from the Hitman series and perfecting them with franchise-typical elements. This worked best for me in the more open missions, but the shootouts, car chases and explosion-filled action sequences are absolutely essential to James Bond and I thoroughly enjoyed them. In some places the game could have used a bit more technical polish but I hope we'll see much more of this version of James Bond in the future.
Review in German | Read full review
It’s a good thing that we hadn’t reviewed the game so quickly, too, because we just learned that new missions are on the way in the form of DLC, and I can’t wait to get back into Bond’s shoes. If you’re even remotely a fan of James Bond or secret agent flicks, you owe it to yourself to play 007 First Light. This game made me a fan, and now I’m considering exploring all of the 007 media to see if there’s anything I can predict, now that this game has set a new standard for future Bond experiences.
First Light instead shines by blending the influences it has together into a cohesive Bond experience. IO Interactive shows an incredible understanding of what 007 should be. From the way the story is written and structured to the way they seamlessly transition from gameplay into their Action setpieces, it is simply superb in every aspect of being 007.
007 First Light is one of the most pleasant surprises of recent years and, without a doubt, a successful return for James Bond to the gaming world. Fully aware of the weight of the name he carries, IO Interactive retains the key elements of the hero that made him famous, redefining him without undermining him, while offering compelling gameplay that will satisfy fans of action games with a strong cinematic flair.
That is precisely why, after years away from the world of video games, First Light feels like more than the return of a famous name. It is an attempt to rediscover the essence of James Bond: a man who chooses to pursue the impossible precisely because everyone else believes it cannot be done.
With 007 First Light, IO Interactive has pulled off a true tour de force. The studio doesn’t just deliver a decent adaptation of the James Bond universe. The game crafts an experience that perfectly captures what has made the character so popular for so many years. Between its excellent storyline, charismatic characters, stunning environments, solid stealth mechanics, and spectacular presentation, the game checks nearly every box. Granted, the driving sequences could have been more ambitious, and managing gadget resources can sometimes be frustrating, but these flaws are minor compared to the game’s overall quality.
Review in French | Read full review
007 First Light is not only the best Bond game ever made, but a frontrunner for the best game of 2026 so far.
007 First Light is the best James Bond game in years because it understands the full fantasy of the character: observing, bluffing, improvising, and turning every mistake into action.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
007 First Light is a potent cocktail of stealth, immersive sim, high-octane action, and brutal hand-to-hand combat, with a splash of high-speed driving thrown in a mix that's best served shaken, not stirred. The first Bond game in over a decade attempts to walk the line between multiple genres, and while the game is not without its issues, for the most part it does this successfully. A lack of consistent pacing, with fast-paced action segments stunted by extended walking sequences, does not do much to diminish the overall experience. Patrick Gibson's performance as the famous British spy perfectly captures the cocky, confident essence that fans would expect from the character in his early days, and fans of James Bond who have been starved of a new movie for several years will find themselves well satiated by IOI Interactive's ambitious offering.
007 First Light stands out as the best James Bond video game since GoldenEye, and succeeds in the far-from-certain feat of honoring the legend without merely imitating it. The origin story crafted by IO impresses with its narrative maturity and mechanical depth, leaving room for future developments. There are, however, aspects where the game could have been more daring. In fact, a certain underlying caution hangs over every aspect—a choice to play it safe that holds the game back just as it reaches the threshold of absolute excellence.
Review in Italian | Read full review
07 First Light is a AAA title. A full-fledged blockbuster that brings the essence of a James Bond movie to the world of video games.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
007 First Light is exactly what a modern-day James Bond game should be. Action-packed set pieces, decent combat, fun shooting, a story that feels like you’re responsible for the world and a smattering of sex appeal. All wrapped up in a beautiful, globe-trotting adventure that makes you stop and stare, whilst Bond, played by Patrick Gibson, spits out some snarky, witty comment to anyone that’ll listen. Great fun, great first entry in the IP and a game that’ll be up there come award season.
Entertainium Editors Eduardo and Gareth sit down to discuss their thoughts on James Bond’s latest outing, 007 First Light.
Diverse locations, great gameplay, excellent technology, and plenty of variety make 007 First Light a fantastic game. Even for me as a stealth-averse player, the stealth segments were enjoyable; a dash of Uncharted-style shooting, nice chase scenes, and a very interesting story round out the game nicely.
Review in German | Read full review
IO Interactive delivers a confident Bond origin story with 007 First Light, which balances social stealth, cinematic action, and improvisational combat, even if weak driving, forgiving AI, and slow early pacing stop it from reaching true elite-agent status.
Undeniably, 007 First Light’s biggest accomplishment isn’t the fun gameplay, although that’s no slouch. It’s the creation of a new James Bond who wears the mantle with the same brash confidence of his movie counterparts. He slots right into the pantheon like he’s always been there.
IO Interactive delivers the James Bond comeback fans were waiting for, blending espionage, player freedom and cinematic spectacle in an adventure that respects the legacy while opening an exciting new chapter.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
"A Modern Bond Redefinition" 007 First Light delivers a powerful reimagining of the James Bond identity by seamlessly blending cinematic storytelling with fluid gameplay that relies on stealth, combat, and Bond's iconic gadgets. The experience is cohesive and polished visually, sound, and mechanically, successfully providing a compelling origin story. Despite some pacing issues and a less-than-punishable QTE system, it remains a well-rounded and high-production-value espionage game.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
007 First Light is a good Bond game, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say it is a game-of-the-year contender. Did I have fun with the experience? Absolutely, i had fun time, playing as Bond, but it could have been better in several areas. IO Interactive has done a great job with the presentation, voice acting, and the overall feel of the adventure. If you’re a James Bond fan, or even a fan of games like Uncharted and Tomb Raider, this will be right up your street. I was pleased with the length of the game, clocking it at just under 20 hours, and I did take my time, dying on multiple occasions during my playthrough. Whilst I had some gripes with the lazy AI, clunky combat and some of the repetitive nature of the game, I’d love to see IO Interactive continue with the series. From what I’ve read, additional content is likely en route, and that is fantastic news. For a studio that has mostly had its toes in the Hitman franchise, though, it’s a bloody good attempt at diving into the world of Mr Bond. If you fancy picking up a copy on Xbox Series X/S, then you can do so HERE.