007 First Light Review

by Anthony Monroe 10/3/2026 10:31 PM

Agent 007 has almost as storied a video game history as he does in books and film. Consequently, we could do a few features on that alone. His latest adventure in the video game space aims to be his best in a video game review.

For example, the last few Bond games have left more than a few gamers with bad tastes in their mouths. Perhaps, A bit too stiff a martini. IO Interactive is looking to put Bond back on the map, the way that they got their own Agent 47 back on his map.

Hot off the heels of the very successful Hitman: World of Assassination, IO wanted to do something a little different. Acquiring the Bond license was the first step to this plan. Delivering one of the best Bond experiences ever was the second. Clearly they’ve done that and I was left wanting more.

Shaken Not Stirred

Plenty have used the phrase “it’s like playing a movie” because as far as the story goes for this adventure, that’s very apt. From the set pieces, to the locations, down to the real world cast captured, this is Bond cinema.

This is a true origin story. It follows James from the RAF and documents his early weeks of 00 training, culminating in his first major mission. The narrative traces the sequence of events that begin his personal and professional development.

Through that training he will meet his two best friends, Cressida and Monroe. Their companionship grows from shared experiences in demanding situations, and these connections influence his choices and resilience. The interactions with Cressida and Monroe become foundational to his future character.

These ‘bonds’ he makes help form the man he will become, guiding his decisions, loyalties, and conduct as his career proceeds and as he faces future challenges beyond these early experiences that shape his values and approach to teamwork throughout.

You’re going to learn all the skills it will take to be a 00, one of MI6’s best. Everything from close combat, firearms training, and driving. Utilizing all they’ve learned from the Hitman series, IO Interactive put Bond through his paces in a globetrotting adventure involving former 00 agents.

A GoldenEye For Gameplay

Gameplay is king, and IO Interactive aim to be the kingmakers. Tight gun-play, intuitive stealth, and the ability to choose how you approach every problem rules the day. I found during my time a wealth of gameplay approaches, and some can be incredibly inventive. IO has definitely used the years of developing the Hitman games to its advantage in this instance.

However, I found the most enjoyment was had leaning into Bond’s swagger and confidence. Certain guards and enemies can be convinced that he belongs in off limits areas, and the way this is approached was genius. You genuinely feel like Bond, and no other game has made this attempt this successfully.

What we’ve got here is a very solid foundation for IO, and a promising future for the Bond franchise as a whole. There hasn’t been a Bond game this great since Goldeneye on the Nintendo 64, and in IO’s clearly capable hands, that could become a common occurrence for quite a while. We were happy to give this game a 9/10.