007 First Light is the stealthy James Bond game I've dreamed of

Gaming 007 First Light is the stealthy James Bond game I've dreamed of Leave it up to the Hitman developers to get Bond right. By Devindra Hardawar May 29, 2026 10:51 am EST IO Interactive 007 First Light is the perfect way to reboot James Bond. This younger version of the character isn't a misogynistic brute like he is in the novels, but he's still a cocky crusader who can kick ass with flair. And, thanks to Hitman developer IO Interactive's extensive experience making stealthy assassin games, First Light excels by letting you actually play James Bond as a spy, and not just a guy who shoots everyone in sight. The result is a thrilling espionage adventure that's only marred by a few annoying extended shootouts. While I loved Goldeneye on the Nintendo 64, I also can't deny that its single-player campaign is nowhere near as fondly remembered as its main draw: a way to murder your friends on the same TV. The games that followed never quite captured the magic of the character — they almost always tried to boil the cinematic experience of Bond with shooting and car chases. IOI's ingenious choice was to build a Bond game around Hitman's rock solid stealth gameplay and large, NPC-filled environments, then make it as immersive as possible. The focus is on interactivity, instead of chasing the specter of cinema. Welcome to spy school IO Interactive You start the game when Bond is a lowly airman with no connection to MI:6. After your plane is shot down by a mysterious private military group you have to quietly avoid soldiers while learning the game's basic stealth routine. It works like you'd expect: You can hide in or behind cover to avoid enemies, and there's a subtle awareness gauge as they see you. I appreciated the ability to run to cover, since it made Bond feel a bit more nimble than someone like Uncharted's Nathan Drake. (The game also delivers a subtle jab at Drake, joking that Bond is starting to resemble an archaeologist adventurer.) IOI doesn't rush anything in 00