007 First Light Review: The Best Bond Game in Years

A young 007 finds his footing

IO Interactive earned its Bond license the hard way, and 007 First Light justifies the wait. Released May 27, 2026, on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, it casts a 26-year-old James Bond as an MI6 recruit chasing his 00 status, an original origin story untethered from any film continuity. Patrick Gibson plays a Bond who is cocky, capable, and not yet the polished agent we know, and that inexperience gives the story real texture.

Rather than reuse the Hitman formula, IO builds something more propulsive. This is a third-person action-adventure built around forward momentum, cinematic set pieces, and player choice between stealth and open combat.

Momentum over the sandbox

The moment-to-moment play blends freeflow melee combat clearly inspired by the Arkham games with Uncharted-style spectacle. You can slip through an infiltration unseen, eavesdrop and investigate your way to a target, or blow the whole plan and fight your way out. Drivable vehicles, a first for IO, add a welcome layer, and the modified Aston Martin sequences are exactly the kind of showpiece a Bond game should deliver. The signature gadgets, including a custom Omega Seamaster, are used cleverly without tipping into gimmickry.

If there is a cost to this design, it is that First Light is less cerebral and replayable than IO's Hitman trilogy, where a single level could be picked apart a dozen ways. This is a more linear, directed experience, and purists who love Hitman's puzzle-box freedom will notice.

What works and what doesn't

• Pros: A charismatic young-Bond story, gorgeous globetrotting visuals, satisfying freeflow combat, and genuinely thrilling set pieces.
• Pros: Drivable vehicles and smart gadget use expand IO's toolkit convincingly.
• Cons: Less replayable and open-ended than Hitman, with a roughly 14-hour campaign that leaves you wanting a little more sandbox.
• Cons: Stealth systems, while solid, occasionally play second fiddle to the scripted spectacle.

Verdict

007 First Light is IO Interactive's best work outside of Hitman and, more importantly, the best James Bond game in a very long time. It nails the fantasy, delivering humor, romance, action, and globe-hopping style in a package that feels unmistakably Bond while carving out its own identity. The move away from Hitman's sandbox costs it some replay value, but what remains is a confident, cinematic adventure that reintroduces 007 for a new generation. If IO builds on this foundation, the franchise is in excellent hands. This is a triumphant first outing that any Bond fan should experience.