IO Interactive’s 007: First Light has finally been released, and it appears to be going down a storm. Commercially, it sold 1.5 million units in the first 24 hours and is already one of the biggest-selling games of 2026.
Critically, the game is sitting at 87/100 from critics, and 8.8/10 from players. This is via Metacritic.
The game reimagines Bond’s origin into the current era, and allows you to play as Bond, earning his 00 number following his recruitment by MI6. It blends the developer’s Hitman approach with Uncharted, and a touch of stealth games such as Metal Gear Solid. The result is the third-highest review scores of the year so far.
Here is a selection of those reviews:
“James Bond is back, in his best, most polished, and most immersive form yet—and all without relying on an existing movie, instead rewriting his history and origins. The visual experience is mind-blowing, the game is technically top-notch, and the gameplay is so addictive that you’ll go back for more without a second thought.”
IGN France
“With this origin story, the new James has earned his number. Despite my affection for GoldenEye, the charms of this revamped spy are irresistible. First Light is the finest Bond experience ever seen in a video game—polished, true to the character’s essence, modernized, and incredibly fun to play. 007 is ready for duty.”
Hobby Consolas
“007 First Light is all things a Bond game should be. It’s exciting, unpredictable, and delivers a jet-setting adventure full of that hallmark intrigue. As a spy game, it’s expectedly solid. But as an action game, it’s somehow even better as IOI declare themselves the go-to for spy thrillers, and Patrick Gibson, in a time where new blood is badly required, declares himself Bond, James Bond.”
Press Start Australia
“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.”
GameSpew
Meanwhile, Dark Horizons reports that a cadre of gamers have taken to the usual forums to label the game “woke trash” because… wait for it… the game has the temerity to feature a female M.
007: First Light is now available for PS5 and other current-gen consoles.
