REVIEW: 007 First Light: The reboot the franchise deserves

June 10, 2026 - 20:30

"I've been reading up on the 00's, and I think the programme deserves a reboot." That line, delivered by a reimagined Ms. Moneypenny, sets the stage for "007 First Light." Here, she is not just a secretary but the "girl in the chair," a tech-savvy handler who sends James Bond off to training in Malta. It is a clear signal that this is not your father's Bond game.

Developer IO Interactive has taken on a massive task. They are telling the first original Bond story since fans said goodbye to Daniel Craig in 2021 with "No Time To Die." They are also crafting the first major 007 video game since "007 Legends" in 2012. The result feels like a breath of fresh air for a franchise that had grown a bit dusty in the interactive space.

The game wisely steps back from the globe-trotting, world-ending stakes of the recent films. Instead, it focuses on the making of a legend. Watching a younger, more reckless Bond learn his trade in the sun-baked alleys of Malta gives the story a grounded, almost spy-thriller feel. The gameplay leans into stealth and clever gadget use, rewarding patience over brute force. It is a smart, stylish, and confident return to form. For fans who worried the series had lost its way, "007 First Light" is the reboot the franchise truly deserves.