'007 First Light' Debuts As One of the Best Games of 2026, According to Metacritic

007 First Lightreview scores are in, and it looks like IO Interactive, best known for its work on the Hitman series, has yet another diamond notch to add to its belt. Since its reveal in late 2026, James Bond fans have been eager to experience his origin story, and it looks like they are in for a treat.

According to Metacritic, 007 First Light is currently sitting at an impressive 87 metascore, as of this writing. That score earns the title the fifth-highest rated game release of 2026 so far, according to Metacritic's Best Games This Year list for 2026, tying with the recent April release, Saros.

Critics praise the game's faithfulness to the James Bond character, level design, narrative, writing, cast performances, combat, and sandbox gameplay segments. There have been some criticisms directed at the game's antagonists and pacing.

With that score, 007 First Light also takes the throne as the most well-received James Bond game since Goldeneye 007, a legendary game that is widely regarded as one of the most influential games ever made, particularly when it comes to multiplayer. Goldeneye sits at a 96 on Metacritic.

In Men's Journal's review of 007 First Light, I praised the game's ability to bring the player close to the story of James Bond and then let the player express how they wanted to accomplish each mission. I also called it the best game of 2026 so far.

First Light serves as an origin story for Bond, with Bond himself being just 26-years-old during the events of the game. As a rookie Naval air crewman, his plane his shot down in Iceland, and he displays heroic but reckless ambition to complete a mission, getting him noticed and recruited into intelligence agency MI6.

007 First Light releases on May 27, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. A Nintendo Switch 2 version is also in development.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 7:35 PM.