- Publisher: Io Interactive
- Release Date: May 27, 2026
- Also On: PC, Xbox Series X
Buy Now
| Buy on |
|
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
- Unscored
-
May 26, 2026007 First Light is the best James Bond game ever made. IO Interactive has done a commendable job adapting their Hitman formula to fit the iconic spy franchise, with stealth mechanics that feel tighter and more focused than their inspiration. The game plays it too safe, however, and 007 First Light stops just short of true greatness by not taking enough risks.
-
May 26, 2026First Light is a solid adventure—though one shouldn't set one's expectations for the story too high. The blend of action and exploration works well, and 007 fans will delight in the abundance of tongue-in-cheek references to the films and novels. As for the Bond atmosphere, however, there is still room for improvement. Hitman fans should bear in mind that Agent 47 and Agent 007 appeal to very different audiences; those who primarily seek freedom, dark humor, replay value, and a challenge would be better off sticking with the piano wire.
-
May 26, 2026If you do decide to take up First Light, I expect what you will find is a fantastic foundation for future updates and a likely sequel that will truly impress, nestled within a sincerely fun and well-designed stealth game that takes what Hitman provided and improves upon it. What you will not find is a game that is able to conceal or minimize all its flaws. It instead presents them to you fully emblazoned on its chest and at often interminable length. And all that left me shaken, not stirred.
-
Jun 8, 2026First Light largely waters down all of the complexity that IOI Interactive has come to be known for through Hitman, and with cinematic action redolent of Uncharted.
-
May 29, 2026There are high-tech gadgets and delightful moments in 007 First Light. But too often it becomes an action hero’s linear journey.
| This publication does not provide a score for their reviews. | |
| This publication has not posted a final review score yet. | |
| These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation. | |
-
May 26, 2026First Light’s biggest problem is its own scale and form. It’s a game from an incredible team playing against type, one which has a tendency to obscure its own strengths and overplay its weaknesses. Sometimes it wants to sand down its rough edges and be everything to everyone, but all of its best moments are where it stalwartly refuses to where other studios would fold. It’s too expensive for its own good, it’s smarter than it has any right to be and so much dumber than you wish it actually was. It’s not going to change your life, but it’s still a fun time at the movies, or rather, in front of your PS5 for a weekend or two. It is, for good and for bad, a James Bond film that you can play. Mission accomplished.
-
May 26, 2026007 First Light is an incredibly shiny, well-polished game that truly lives up to its name. In fact, it's tough to argue against it being the best Bond game of all time. That doesn't mean it isn't flawed, however, and I spent the opening third wondering exactly when it was going to properly kick into motion. I wish it leant more into its Hitman side, with more solutions for each level, and rewarded exploration with more than just world-building, as neat as that is. As an incredibly solid foundation for a sequel, however? It's an absolute blast.
-
May 27, 2026First Light’s variety kept me on my toes, never once allowing me to guess where the game would go. The spectacle and set pieces rival even Uncharted, without ever once making me feel like I was merely a spectator. It’s not the Hitman-like game I initially expected given its developer; instead, it’s one of the best action games I’ve ever played, one that leans into the elements that have made Bond so enduring. And with the future of the film franchise up in the air, First Light is coming at exactly the right time and clearly in the right hands.