007 First Light Reviews
007 First Light is, ultimately, a better game for the Bond nerd than I expected it would be. The team at IO Interactive clearly love the property and have done for it what Larian Studios did for Baldur’s Gate 3; provide a level of dedication to the source material that’s so fastidious that you might argue with a decision here or there, but it’s difficult to get too cynical about a game clearly made by genuine fans of the property.
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 surprised me with its interesting story, beautiful locations, but also the Hitman-like gameplay combined with tons of action sequences.
007 First Light is a strong new beginning for James Bond in games, combining a deep origin story, varied missions, stealth, action, excellent hand-to-hand combat, precise shooting, impressive visuals and classic Bond atmosphere. A few slower sections and the lack of a body-hiding mechanic are minor issues in an otherwise excellent spy adventure.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
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.
Review in Polish | Read full review
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.
007 First Light is an excellent James Bond game: varied gameplay with intelligent approach options, a story worthy of the character's films, beautiful graphics, and great technical performance. The TacSim mode is a great way to increase the title's longevity. Although the campaign features many slow-paced moments with secondary characters and combat animations that repeat frequently, it's an adventure that deserves to be checked out by any 007 fan or action game enthusiast in general.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
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.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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.
Review in Italian | Read full review
007 First Light is a great start to what will hopefully be a new series of games. There are certainly some areas to improve upon but what's here is a lot of fun and it does a great job of delivering a game that feels worthy of the franchise while setting the stage for more. 🍸
IO Interactive have delivered their vodka Martini shaken, though it causes plenty of stirs along the way. It's a rip-roaring, globe-trotting adventure that delivers thrills galore, with a shockingly good emotional core to deliver on the premise of 007's origin story. One of 2026's best games has arrived, and what a privilege it is to have James Bond back in full, unapologetic confidence.
007 First Light is yet another example of how intellectual property from outside the world of video games can be enhanced by the unique qualities of the medium. It’s a title with room for improvement—it has some annoying shortcomings and leaves plenty of room for refinement—but despite this, the combination of its various elements manages to deliver a truly satisfying experience. It is highly recommended for any James Bond fan and anyone who generally enjoys games that blend of action and adventure.
Review in Italian | Read full review
007 First Light is a perfect blend of the espionage poise of the Hitman series and the cinematic action of Uncharted.
Review in Italian | Read full review
007 First Light successfully captures the essence of James Bond through a cinematic spy thriller packed with stylish infiltration, exciting action, and strong character performances.
007 First Light delivers an enjoyable experience for James Bond fans, successfully capturing the espionage and action that define the iconic character while laying the groundwork for a promising new beginning. However, its overly easy stealth mechanics and declining gameplay variety in the second half hold it back from reaching greater heights, despite offering plenty of enjoyable moments and memorable cinematic set pieces.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
The gaming beacon of light for Bond after decades, 007 First Light is proof that fortune favours the bold. In telling a memorable and enjoyable origin story, it has earned the licence to thrill with the promise of future outings, anchored by a well-crafted narrative, strong characterisation, and action-combat thrills.
The very thought that, among all game studios, IO Interactive was chosen to create an adaptation of the 007 franchise is a welcome sign for players. 007 First Light is undoubtedly the best game ever made based on the James Bond stories and one of IO Interactive's finest works. This title is highly recommended for all fans of Agent 007.
Review in Persian | Read full review
007 First Light feels like a new Bond film, combining superb melee combat, thrilling car chases and Hitman-style sandbox stealth into a package that is nothing short of a revelation, despite slightly imprecise shooting.
Review in German | Read full review
007: First Light succeeded strongly in its mission to revive the legacy of 007 games; it features superb narrative writing accompanied by grand cinematic direction, refined stealth mechanics, along with immense variety in scenarios and narrative events, as well as polished hand-to-hand combat. Furthermore, the game boasts a breathtaking visual style, cohesive technical performance, and a fully realized audio design. On the other hand, however, the game failed to deliver on its promise of variety, as it constantly forces you to play in a single way—which can sometimes be linear in design, and at other times features a highly varied open design, leading to a highly inconsistent experience. The game possesses a shooting mechanic where only the fundamentals were mastered, further compounded by stupid enemy AI and their lack of resourcefulness, in addition to an annoying user experience and a slow-paced narrative start.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
For those interested in First Light in the here and now, however, all this makes it a hard sell. Both Hitman fans and stealth-game aficionados will most likely find it lacking, and everyone else looking for something different that’s equally worthwhile won’t find much more than half-measures in all directions. But, if you’re looking for the latest blockbuster to tide you over until the next one, then I don’t think you’ll be able to do better for a while to come.