007 First Light Reviews — Critic Roundup & Aggregate Scores
This page collects the aggregated review scores and the most-cited critic verdicts for 007 First Light. For the player-facing buying guide, see Is It Worth It?. For our development write-up, see Development.
Aggregate scores
| Aggregator | Platform | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metacritic | Xbox Series X|S | 89 | Highest-scoring platform; 47+ critic reviews. |
| Metacritic | PC | 87 | Tied with PS5. |
| Metacritic | PS5 | 87 | Tied with PC. |
| OpenCritic | All platforms | 90 "Mighty" | 61 critics, 98% recommend, top 2% globally. |
That makes 007 First Light IO Interactive's highest-rated game on Metacritic — narrowly ahead of the modern Hitman trilogy. The aggregated consensus is that it is the best Bond video game since GoldenEye 007 on Nintendo 64.
Critic quotes (attributed)
"Bond's greatest game to date, this is a well-oiled spy thriller machine."
"007 First Light is perhaps the closest a game has ever come to making me feel like I'm starring in a Bond film."
"IO's first foray into the James Bond world proves the team knows this and leans into it, delivering a thrilling Bond experience worthy of the character."
"At its best, it makes for a thrilling action-espionage tale, though some refinements in certain areas would not go amiss."
"It's the best Bond has been since GoldenEye."
"James Bond returns for a dense, sexy blockbuster."
"An Arkham-Hitman mashup that evolves into a stylish, inventive and mature take on James Bond."
What critics agree on
- The melee and parry system is the standout. Most reviewers single out the close-combat layer as the best hand-to-hand fighting in a Bond game ever, and on par with the Arkham games.
- The "License to Kill" Rules-of-Engagement mechanic adds real tension. Knowing Bond literally cannot draw a gun until the situation escalates changes the way each room is played.
- Patrick Gibson nails the young Bond. Critics across outlets praise both performance and likeness; no reviewer disliked the casting.
- The Aston Martin Valhalla finale is iconic. Multiple reviewers cite the Chapter 10 chase as one of the best set pieces in any 2026 release.
Common criticisms
- Mission structure is linear, not sandbox; players coming from Hitman looking for emergent freedom may be disappointed.
- The disguise system is shallower than Hitman's — disguises are hat fragments, not full costumes.
- Some reviewers wanted more variety from the third-act villain encounters.
Sources: Metacritic, OpenCritic, GamesRadar+, TechRadar, GameSpot, Empire, IGN, Newsweek, Eurogamer. Last updated 29 May 2026.