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Metro 2039007 First Light vs Hitman
007 First Light plays like a more guided, cinematic Hitman: IO Interactive's Glacier engine, social stealth and several routes to each goal carry over, but the levels are more linear, the hero is a named Bond, and set pieces and chases replace Hitman's open sandboxes.
007 First Light is like Hitman in its stealth and in being built by the same studio on the same engine, but it is more linear and more cinematic. Reviewers describe IO Interactive's social stealth, disguises and "multiple solutions" from modern Hitman, set inside guided missions with fixed outcomes, Uncharted-style set pieces and a scripted story around a named hero; Game Rant summed it up as "Hitman meets Uncharted" (Game Rant; Metacritic). In gameranx's May 26, 2026 Before You Buy, Jake Baldino calls it "a Hitman game mixed with Uncharted cinematic action". Its TacSim mode, with Escalations and online challenges, is the part closest to Hitman's replay loop.
Quick facts
| Same studio | IO Interactive |
| Same engine | Glacier, used by every IOI game since Hitman: Codename 47 (2000) |
| Shared ideas | Social stealth, disguises, several routes, challenges, Escalations |
| Biggest difference | Guided, linear missions with set pieces instead of open sandboxes |
| Hero | James Bond, a voiced, written character, where Hitman has Agent 47 |
| Story length | About 15 to 20 hours by reviews and guides (see How Long to Beat) |
What carries over from Hitman?
The engine and the studio's habits. Glacier has run every IOI game since 2000 (IO Interactive). Shacknews found that "every problem has multiple solutions", as in modern Hitman: to reach a club's VIP room, Bond can carry a tray of drinks past the guard or sneak through the bar and a vent (Shacknews). PlayStation LifeStyle traces the game's social stealth to Hitman (PlayStation LifeStyle), and in the London gala Bond poses as various people to get in, in social stealth GamingBolt likens to Hitman's (GamingBolt). Eavesdropping turns up "Opportunities", leads the player can choose to follow (TheSixthAxis). IGN's Luke Reilly, a longtime Hitman player, found the look and feel "immediately familiar" in his May 29, 2026 video review.
Story missions carry challenges tied to how you get past obstacles, to encourage replays (Shacknews), and TacSim adds three-tier Escalations, modifiers IOI calls Game Changers, and leaderboards, which need a connection as Hitman's online features do (IO Interactive; COGconnected). Since Oct 1, 2026, New Game+ and the 00 difficulty add more reasons to replay (IO Interactive); see New Game Plus and 00 Difficulty.
How is 007 First Light different from Hitman?
It is guided where Hitman is open. TheSixthAxis says First Light evolves the Hitman formula but trades its non-linear levels for a more guided, cinematic experience (TheSixthAxis). Hardcore Gamer found the Hitman-style areas usually offer only 2 or 3 approaches, leaning on gadgets, with fixed outcomes (Hardcore Gamer). Between those areas come chases, a freefall from a plane and other scripted set pieces (PlayStation Blog), and the story has a single, predetermined ending (GamingBolt).
Stealth is lighter. Bodies cannot be moved or hidden, and Hardcore Gamer calls the stealth less deep than Hitman's (Hardcore Gamer; Can I Play That?). Getting caught "is rarely a death sentence" (Game Rant): Bond can bluff his way out, or fight with fists, gadgets and guns (Shacknews). COGconnected puts it plainly: Hitman rewards patience and precision, while First Light is "more approachable" and less punishing (COGconnected).
The hero is a character. Bond is a 26-year-old recruit with a mentor, rivals and a story arc, voiced and captured by Patrick Gibson (see James Bond), and he has Q Branch gadgets that Agent 47 never carried (see Gadgets). He also drives: cars, a bin lorry and boats appear in the story, and the armed Aston Martin Valhalla in TacSim (PowerPyx; IO Interactive); see Driving and Chases.
What do reviewers say about the comparison?
| Outlet | Score | On Hitman |
|---|---|---|
| Game Rant | 4/5 | "Hitman meets Uncharted" |
| Eurogamer | 4/5 | "less cerebral and replayable" than the World of Assassination trilogy |
| TheSixthAxis | 9/10 | Evolves the formula, trades non-linear levels for a guided experience |
| Hardcore Gamer | 4/5 | Stealth less deep; share line "James Bond tries to put Agent 47 to shame" |
| COGconnected | 85/100 | "More approachable" and less punishing than Hitman |
| PC Gamer | 65/100 | IO's Bond world shines, but not enough to lift a very familiar game |
Sources: Game Rant, May 26, 2026; OpenCritic reviews, read Nov 4, 2026; TheSixthAxis, Jun 4, 2026; Hardcore Gamer, Jun 2, 2026; COGconnected, Jun 2, 2026.
Should Hitman fans play 007 First Light?
The reviews above point the same way, and so does Skill Up's May 26, 2026 video review, which warns that anyone "hoping for Hitman with a Bond skin" will be disappointed: Hitman players will know the stealth and disguise play, but should expect fewer routes and less replay than in the World of Assassination trilogy, and more story and spectacle. It is IOI's fastest-selling launch, ahead of the biggest Hitman games over their first 24 hours (Shacknews). See Reviews and Beginner's Guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is 007 First Light like Hitman? Partly. 007 First Light comes from Hitman's studio, IO Interactive, and shares its Glacier engine, social stealth and several routes to each goal, but its missions are more linear and cinematic.
Is 007 First Light made by the Hitman developers? Yes. IO Interactive, which makes the Hitman series, developed and published 007 First Light.
Does 007 First Light have sandbox levels like Hitman? Smaller ones. 007 First Light's missions are more guided than Hitman's, with 2 or 3 approaches in most areas and fixed outcomes, by Hardcore Gamer's count.
Can you hide bodies in 007 First Light like in Hitman? No. In 007 First Light guard bodies cannot be moved or hidden, one of the ways its stealth is simpler than Hitman's.
Does 007 First Light have Escalations like Hitman? Yes. 007 First Light's TacSim mode has three-tier Escalations with modifiers called Game Changers, and online challenges and leaderboards.
Sources
- 007 First Light Review, Game Rant (Dalton Cooper), May 26, 2026
- 007 First Light, Metacritic
- About, IO Interactive, official site
- 007 First Light review: Tomorrow Never Dies, Shacknews (Donovan Erskine), May 26, 2026
- 007 First Light Review, PlayStation LifeStyle (Shaan Joshi), May 27, 2026
- 007 First Light's Stealth, Action, Set-Pieces and Gadgets Detailed in Hands-On Preview, GamingBolt (Joelle Daniels), May 1, 2026
- 007 First Light Review, TheSixthAxis (Jim Hargreaves), Jun 4, 2026
- Review: 007 First Light, Hardcore Gamer (Adam Beck), Jun 2, 2026
- 007 First Light Review, Target Mostly Acquired, COGconnected (Rhett Waselenchuk), Jun 2, 2026
- 007 First Light accessibility review, Can I Play That? (Josh Straub), Jun 9, 2026
- Watch over 30 minutes of 007 First Light gameplay, PlayStation Blog (Yann Roskell, IOI), Sep 3, 2025
- 007 First Light, 15 More Things to Know Before Launch, GamingBolt (Ravi Sinha), May 26, 2026
- 1.1.0 Game Update, IO Interactive, Jul 24, 2026
- 1.3.0 Game Update, IO Interactive, Oct 1, 2026
- Valhalla Protocol missions playable now, IO Interactive, Oct 5, 2026
- 007 First Light Trophy Guide & Roadmap, PowerPyx, May 26, 2026
- 007 First Light reviews, OpenCritic
- 007 First Light becomes IOI's fastest-selling game with 1.5 million in one day, Shacknews (Donovan Erskine), May 29, 2026
- 007 First Light - Before You Buy, gameranx, May 26, 2026 (video)
- 007 First Light Review, IGN, May 29, 2026 (video)
- 007 First Light - 007 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting, IGN, May 27, 2026 (video)
- Beyond the Light Episode 3 - Story Dev Diary, 007 First Light, Apr 7, 2026 (video)
- I recommend: 007 First Light (Review), Skill Up, May 26, 2026 (video)
Moments
007 First Light - Before You Buy
gameranx
007 First Light Review
IGN
007 First Light - 007 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting
IGN
Beyond the Light Episode 3 - Story Dev Diary
007 First Light
I recommend: 007 First Light (Review)
Skill Up
Related
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IO InteractiveIO Interactive, the independent Copenhagen studio behind Hitman, made and self-published 007 First Light on its own Glacier engine, with Amazon MGM Studios as its Bond partner.
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James Bond Games in OrderThe major James Bond games run from GoldenEye 007 (1997) through the EA and Activision years to 007 Legends (2012), then a 14-year gap until IO Interactive's 007 First Light on May 27, 2026.
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Cast and CharactersPatrick Gibson plays a 26-year-old James Bond in 007 First Light, with Lennie James as his mentor John Greenway, Priyanga Burford as M, Alastair Mackenzie as Q, Kiera Lester as Moneypenny, Gemma Chan as Selina Tan and Lenny Kravitz as the Pirate King Bawma.
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John GreenwayJohn Greenway is James Bond's mentor in 007 First Light, a former 00 agent who runs the revived 00 program's training, played by Lennie James.
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M, Q and MoneypennyIn 007 First Light, Priyanga Burford plays M, the head of MI6 who recruits Bond, Alastair Mackenzie plays Q, who runs the Q-Lab and its gadgets, and Kiera Lester plays Eve Moneypenny, M's right hand.
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Music and Theme Song007 First Light's theme song is "First Light", sung by Lana Del Rey and written by Del Rey with David Arnold, released Apr 16, 2026; the game's score is by the composer duo The Flight.
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Nicholas WebbSpoiler warning. Sir Nicholas Webb, CEO of Webb Industries and creator of MI6's AI THEIA, is the real villain of 007 First Light with his son Damien; Anthony Howell and Bart Edwards play them.
See also
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How Long to Beat007 First Light's story takes about 15 to 20 hours; reviewers finished in 13 to 18.5 hours, IO Interactive pointed to about 20 for an average player, and everything, the platinum included, takes about 20 hours by PowerPyx's count or 30 to 35 by Beebom's.
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New Game Plus007 First Light's New Game+ arrived free on Oct 1, 2026 with update 1.3.0. It unlocks after you finish the campaign on any difficulty and lets you replay from the start or any completed checkpoint with your outfits and gadgets, using Mission Warderobe and Gadget on Demand.
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00 Difficulty00 is 007 First Light's hardest difficulty, added free on Oct 1, 2026 in update 1.3.0 and unlocked by finishing the campaign. Enemies spot Bond faster and hit harder, guards get tougher variants, gadgets are limited, and combat has two-hit kills.
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