IO Interactive’s 007 First Light has opened to a strong critical reception, making it one of the better-reviewed licensed games in recent years and the best start a new Bond game could realistically ask for.
The game releases on May 27, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with the Nintendo Switch 2 version coming later. It’s a standalone Bond origin story following a young, resourceful, and reckless James Bond during his MI6 training.
007 First Light review scores
On Metacritic, 007 First Light currently sits at 88 on PS5, based on 47 critic reviews. The split is heavily positive, with 96 percent positive reviews, four percent mixed, and no negative reviews at the time of writing. The PC version is close behind at 87, based on 24 critic reviews.
On OpenCritic, the game currently has a score of 89, based on 35 reviews, and the “Mighty” status. It’s also recommended by 100% of the critics.
Most critics expected a good game based purely on the pedigree of IO Interactive, but many were surprised by just how good it is. Far better than any licensed project has any right to be.
What critics are praising
The strongest point of consensus is that 007 First Light understands Bond. Critics repeatedly praise the game’s tone, spy fantasy, performances, gadgets, hand-to-hand combat, and cinematic pacing. IO Interactive was always the obvious studio for a Bond game because of Hitman, but the reviews suggest it did not simply reskin that formula, it deeply understood the approach James Bond would have in every given situation.
Several reviews also praise Patrick Gibson’s version of Bond. The younger Bond was what many people were worried about, but it turned out to be one of the game’s strengths.
Combat and stealth are also getting strong marks. Critics highlight slick close-quarters fighting, useful gadgets, strong mission pacing, and a mix of improvisation and spectacle. The game appears to keep some IO DNA, but it’s more of an action-adventure game and not at all the studio’s signature assassination sandbox.
What are the criticisms
The main criticism is that 007 First Light can play things too safe. Some reviews describe it as polished and entertaining, but not quite bold enough to fully escape familiar blockbuster design. Some even go as far as to say that it was denied true greatness by not taking the necessary risks.
Linearity is another recurring complaint, and some critics enjoyed the tighter cinematic structure, but others found it too guided compared to IO Interactive’s more open-ended work.
Some of the car segments were also unconvincing and not very interesting.
Overall consensus
The early consensus is that 007 First Light is a strong Bond game, a confident action-adventure, and a successful start for IO Interactive’s take on the franchise. It’s not perfect by any means, but it delivers more than what anyone could have asked for.
