REVIEW: 007 First Light (PS5)

John Reilly, June 5, 2026

IO Interactive spent five years working on 007 First Light after wrapping up Hitman 3, and for a good stretch of that time it felt like a genuine gamble. Bond games have a patchy history, and asking the studio behind a methodical stealth sandbox to reinvent one of pop culture’s biggest icons was either inspired or foolhardy.

Thankfully, it lands firmly on the right side of that line. First Light is a confident, well-executed origin story that earns its 00 status without trying too hard to justify it.

Story

Rather than adapt any of the existing film takes on Bond, IO has built its own version from scratch. This is a younger James, impulsive and not yet a fully fledged MI6 agent, working his way through training and early missions that gradually reveal his particular set of instincts.

It is an approach that pays off. The character feels grounded without being stripped of the charm you expect, and watching him develop across the roughly 15-hour campaign gives the story a reasonable arc to hang on to.

The plot itself is not especially surprising. It hits the expected beats of a Bond story: exotic locations, a credible villain, a supporting cast that includes some interesting characters alongside a few familiar archetypes. What it does well is pacing.

The game rarely drags, moving you between set pieces and quieter story moments at a rhythm that keeps things moving without feeling rushed. There is a clear cinematic influence throughout, and comparisons to Uncharted are not unfair, though First Light has enough of its own personality to avoid feeling like a clone.

Patrick Gibson’s performance as Bond is worth noting. He is not doing an impression of any previous iteration. There is a rawness to the portrayal that suits the origin story format, and the writing gives him enough material to actually work with.

Gameplay

This is where IO’s DNA is most visible. First Light is not a Hitman game in disguise, but the studio’s instinct for designing spaces that reward observation and flexibility carries over. Levels tend to be structured around a main objective with enough room to approach situations from different angles.

Stealth is available and functional, though it is less developed than in Hitman, and the game is generally happy for you to mix approaches depending on the encounter.

Combat is satisfying. The mechanics are responsive and the encounters are varied enough to keep things interesting across the campaign. There are gadgets, there are vehicles, and there is an Aston Martin that is put to appropriate use. The game also introduces a separate TacSim mode for players who want additional tactical challenge outside of the main story, which adds some replay value.

A few rough edges are worth mentioning. Loading times when restarting checkpoints are longer than you would expect from a current-gen title, and in a game that asks you to retry encounters and experiment with different approaches, those delays do stack up.

Visuals

IO has built First Light on their in-house Glacier engine, and the results are impressive. On PS5 Pro, the game looks fantastic, with the framerate holding steady throughout the campaign. The environments span a range of locations and each one is rendered with a good level of detail, particularly in interiors.

The cinematics are well produced and mesh naturally with the gameplay, which keeps the Bond atmosphere intact from scene to scene. The audio design is largely strong, with a score that reacts to what is happening on screen in a way that feels deliberately cinematic.

Lana Del Rey contributes the theme song, which fits the tone of the game well. One minor criticism is that the soundtrack can occasionally get lost under the noise of busier action sequences, though it is not a consistent problem.

Conclusion

007 First Light is the most complete James Bond game in a long time.

It is not trying to be Hitman, and it is not trying to be GoldenEye. It builds its own version of Bond, tells a focused story with it, and backs that up with gameplay that is enjoyable from start to finish.

Some pacing issues crop up with longer load times, and the stealth system could have been pushed further given who made it. But these are relatively minor complaints against a game that delivers on the core promise: a Bond adventure that actually feels like one.

For fans of the franchise it is an easy recommendation. For everyone else, it is a well-made action adventure game built around a genuinely likeable lead.

007 First Light Pricing & Availability

007 First Light is available now. Physical copies for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S start at €64.99 from Smyths. If you prefer digital, the game is available from the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and Steam, where it is priced at €69.99.

REVIEW: 007 First Light (PS5)

• Story
• Gameplay
• Visuals

4.5

Summary

007 First Light is the most complete James Bond game in a long time.