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007 First Light review round-up as James Bond's Metacritic score is finally revealed

Bond is back and better than ever.

James Bond wearing a black jacket, looking over his shoulder. To his right, we've superimposed the Metacritic logo.

IO Interactive

Published: Wednesday, 27 May 2026 at 2:55 pm

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Bond has returned to gaming, with the first major game in the series in 14 years. 007 First Light comes from IO Interactive, the team behind Hitman. It blends that series' unique formula of player creativity and espionage in large open levels with a linear, cinematic action-adventure.

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Hitman 3 was released over five years ago, although it has received several content updates since then. But has 007 First Light been worth the extended wait?

The reviews are in, and everyone seems to agree that 007 First Light is one of the best James Bond games ever made.

Here is a rundown of the Metacritic score and what the reviews are saying.

What is the Metacritic score for 007 First Light?

The Metacritic score for 007 First Light is 87. This makes it IO Interactive's highest-scoring game, tied with Hitman 3 and Hitman 2: Silent Assassin on PC. This score is based on more than 50 reviews, showing a strong consensus about the game's quality.

007 First Light review round-up

There are a host of reviews to pick from, but we have pulled together some of the best out there, highlighting some of the strongest opinions.

The Guardian - 5/5

"It’s that full Bond immersion that 007 First Light will ultimately be remembered for, more so than the odd, wonky setpiece scene. I have no doubt that this was made by excitable Bond geeks throwing “what if” moments at a whiteboard... Very few fans get to play in the sandbox of their obsession like IO has here. As far as Bond video games go, nobody has done it better." - Matthew Castle

VGC - 5/5

"007 First Light might just be the best James Bond game ever. The way IOI has translated the Bond fantasy into a 14-hour globetrotting epic is masterful. It's a game full of spectacle, humour, action, and romance. Everything James Bond should be. New Bond owners Amazon must ensure this franchise continues." - Jordan Middler

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But Why Tho? - 9/10

"IO Interactive feels like they’ve found a new home in the James Bond franchise. 007 First Light is a blast, with a tense and enthralling narrative that punches way higher and harder than anyone could have expected. The gunplay is tight, the melee combat is solid, and the sandbox levels are dense and full of possibilities." - Matt Sowinski

Eurogamer - 4/5

"First Light knows exactly when to be funny, exactly when to be serious, exactly when to deliver the right character beats. It every bit lives up to the films in this manner, and it does so consistently for five, ten times as long. It utterly sells you on IO's decision to give you their Bond rather than your Bond." - Rick Lane

Gamespot - 8/10

"In the end, IO’s take on James Bond was actually more like Hitman than I expected, but that’s not to say it’s simply Hitman by another name. As someone who has loved that series for nearly 25 years, it’s fascinating to see IO apply everything it’s learned. 007 First Light wisely repurposes what works in both universes but isn’t afraid to reimagine or ditch those parts that don’t." - Mark Delaney

IGN - Review in progress

"007 First Light has made a fabulous first impression, and I’m certainly already quite comfortable to say it’s the best Bond has been since GoldenEye." - Luke Reilly

If you are jumping in yourself, why not check out our guide on how long the game is? You can also read about how a developer of the game has teased possibilities for upcoming sequels in our interview with him.

And we've got even more pages for you to peruse below.

Read more on 007 First Light:

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Echo ApseyContributor

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