007 First Light review: IO Interactive delivers a thrilling new bond origin story

007 First Light marks James Bond's long-awaited return to gaming with an engaging origin story, excellent stealth mechanics and thrilling action. Despite minor inconsistencies in interactions, IO Interactive delivers a polished and entertaining adventure worthy of the iconic spy.

Hyderabad: From the makers of the Hitman franchise comes 007 First Light, the first new James Bond game in fourteen years. Ever since the game’s reveal, and the knowledge that IO Interactive has been working on the project since June 2025, the pre-launch signs have been consistently positive.

If early indicators are anything to go by, with over 1.5 million copies sold on launch day, this is the fastest-selling IO game of all time. So how does the new Bond game really stack up?

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Hitman’s agent 47 is no 007, and while IO specialised in subtlety and stealth with Hitman, Bond is a different beast altogether. Fans of the MI6 legend demand spectacle, charisma, witty dialogue, a brilliant, cohesive plot, and end-to-end action.

With First Light, IO manages the transition with élan. By building an origin story that doesn’t draw anything from Ian Fleming’s original books or from Anthony Horowitz’s new novels, IO Interactive weaves a compelling original narrative that is replete with hints, trivia, and inside jokes.

You begin as a 26-year-old Bond, a Royal Navy aircrewman aboard a helicopter, who is part of a team investigating suspicious activity in Iceland. Within minutes of the helicopter’s takeoff, they are attacked, and Bond falls into the sea.

As he begins to drown in the ice-cold water, the game serves us with a recreation of the iconic underwater scene from Skyfall. A few seconds later, he arrives on the beach, only to find a mercenary militia has taken out all his comrades.

Fighting hypothermia and following radio instructions from MI6, you as Bond must not only survive but also ascertain the problem at a secure base and try to save all the scientists that have been taken hostage. Bond succeeds in signature Bond style with a glorious explosion underneath the Aurora Borealis. And lo and behold, you are recruited!

First Light gets most things right; the stealth is top-notch, and the game world is replete with opportunities. Combat is equally fantastic, be it hand-to-hand or 3rd person gunplay – with variety and an interesting focus mechanic, you are never going to be bored.

With Q and his lab, there is room for unique gadgets to be used in interesting ways in a non-stop main campaign that takes you from Iceland to Malta and Slovakia to the Sahara. Driving is great too, as you get behind the wheel of iconic Aston Martins and Jaguars.

However, despite the adrenaline-fueled ride, the game has a few consistency issues. Stealth is the best way to play but can be a bit challenging, as interactions with objects and NPCs are inconsistent at times.

A must-play this summer, this is a glorious return of the franchise. For lovers of stealth and action games, it’s time to be: “Bond, James Bond.”

Sneak Peek:

Title: 007 First Light

Developer: IO Interactive

Game Type: Single Player, Action-adventure with stealth and hand-to-hand combat.

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Microsoft Windows at launch. Switch 2 launch later in the year.

Price: Rs 3,499 on Steam, and 3,999 on PS and Xbox Store.

Verdict (all scores out of 10):

Innovative Gameplay: 9

Game Handling & Quality: 8.5

Value for Time: 9

Value for Money: 9

Overall: 8.88

What Stands Out:

* The entire blockbuster drama, the brilliant new origin story, and the fantastic dialogue between characters get the franchise’s signature British sarcasm just right.

* Gunplay and stealth elements, like smart cover switching, are top-notch here.

Fails to impress:

* The interaction with objects and NPCs can get a bit iffy in stealth scenarios. Door closing, for example, never happens right when you want no one to see you.

* Not much else; this is a very strong game.