One of the most hyped games of 2026 is none other than "007 First Light." Previews of the game amped up the excitement, especially that of "James Bond" fans.
But the question is, did the game live up to the hype that came even before it was released?
'007 First Light'
Released on May 27, 2026, "007 First Light" is developed and published by IO Interactive. It is based on the "James Bond" franchise, specifically the novels and short stories by Ian Fleming. Despite being inspired by these works, the game offers an original narrative.
"007 First Light" serves as an origin story for James Bond. The young Bond starts of as a Navy aircrewman who survives an ambush, and his actions lead him to being recruited by the MI6.
The game follows Bond's training in the revitalized "00" program as well as subsequent missions he is assigned to.
Here is the game's official gameplay trailer to give you a closer look at what "007 First Light" has to offer.
What Do the Critics Say?
For many critics, the hype that preceded the release of "007 First Light" is justified. IGN, for example, gave the game a score of nine out of 10.
"Demonstrably obsessed with bringing the 'Bond' fantasy to life in a way no game has ever managed before, developer IO Interactive has found a highly successful home for the more curated action-stealth formula of 2012's 'Hitman: Absolution,'" IGN said in its review.
On Metacritic, the game holds a score of 87 based on 84 critic reviews as of press time.
VGC gave "007 First Light" the perfect score of 100, stating that "It's a game full of spectacle, humour, action, and romance. Everything James Bond should be."
GAMINGbible gave the game a score of 90, commenting that "'007 First Light' is an exquisite taste of slick spy action and blockbuster storytelling, and is fully what a 'Bond' game should be, but rarely is."
'Very Positive' Reviews on Steam
Over at Steam, "007 First Light" has more than 34,000 user reviews that have been collectively categorized by the platform as "Very Positive."
"The game is brilliant and the story is fantastic. Visually, it's stunning and the cut scenes leave you feeling like you're watching a 'Bond' movie," fayemariella said in a Steam review. "My only criticism, if you can call it that - is that I wish the game was slightly longer."
Steam user thePoodle summarizes their opinion of the game by saying in a Steam review, "Is this the best game ever made? No. Is it a really enjoyable Bond experience? Yes.
