007 First Light Review — The Best James Bond Game Ever Made
14 years without a Bond game. Now IO Interactive — makers of Hitman — have proven they know exactly what James Bond should be in video games.
Patrick Gibson is a real frontrunner for the best Bond portrayal across any media.
007 First Light released on May 27, 2026 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. It is the first Bond game since 2012, and without exaggeration, the finest interactive representation of Agent 007 to date.
Story: The Origin of a Legend
The game tells the story of how a young MI6 agent earns double-0 status. The narrative spans multiple countries — London, Tokyo, Morocco, Rome — showing Bond's character shaped by player choices. Patrick Gibson is exceptional: charismatic, vulnerable, and sharp. VGC calls him "a real frontrunner for Game of the Year for the performance alone."
Gameplay: Hitman's Heir
Missions are open-ended: every objective can be reached through action, stealth, or negotiation. Yes, you can literally talk your way through the game — that's not a joke. The combat system blends gunplay with hand-to-hand, gadgets, and spy tools. Nothing feels extraneous.
Weaknesses
Nearly every reviewer identified one weak point: the driving sections. Controls feel rigid and nearly linear — a jarring contrast to the open-ended on-foot missions. A minor but noticeable flaw.
Verdict
007 First Light is a Game of the Year contender. IO Interactive created a spy genre masterpiece, leveraging everything great about Hitman and adding their own vision of Bond. This is exactly the Bond game fans have been waiting for.