The world of James Bond has transcended beyond books and movies into the exhilarating realm of video games.
Created by Ian Fleming, the character of James Bond is undoubtedly one of the world’s most famous spies in fiction. But Bond became a cultural icon only after the mega cinematic franchise that began with Dr. No (1962). Over the years, numerous James Bond video games have taken this fanfare further by captivating players with thrilling espionage, gadget-laden adventures, and intense combat sequences.
These video games not only allow players to step into the shoes of the iconic British spy but also to experience all his adventures firsthand.
With the hype for IO Interactive’s Project 007 on the rise, it is the best time for us to peek into the legacy of James Bond in gaming. Project 007 promises to bring a fresh perspective to the franchise with its new origin story and based on everything we know, it is sure to be an exciting title.
However, before Project 007, there were plenty of 007 James Bond video games that might not have had an original narrative but were faithful to the movies they were based on. Hence, they gave gamers a very authentic James Bond experience. Let’s look at 10 such titles.
‘007 James Bond’ games you should try before ‘Project 007’
1. GoldenEye 007
Release year: 1997
Platform: Nintendo 64
GoldenEye 007 set a new standard for first-person shooters on consoles. The popular game, developed by Rare, was published by Nintendo and thanks to their unique ideas, it became a landmark title in gaming history.
Gripping single-player campaign, tight controls, innovative level design and pioneering split-screen multiplayer; it is no surprise that it remains a beloved classic to this day.
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2. James Bond 007: Nightfire
Release year: 2002
Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PC
Nightfire is yet another brilliant title in the long list of James Bond video games. Released in 2002, this title offered an original storyline that saw Bond, designed after James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, travel around the world to thwart a global threat.
While Nightfire is a first-person shooter, it also features driving sections inspired by the popular Spy Hunter games. It even had a multiplayer mode, which allowed gamers to play with their friends or offline AI bots.
3. James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
Release year: 2004
Platforms: GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Developed by EA Redwood Shores, Everything or Nothing also featured the likeness of Pierce Brosnan and his voice. This was his last appearance as the legendary British spy, and it could not have been any better. It is a third-person game with a heavy focus on hand-to-hand combat and various driving sections that put players behind the wheels of vehicles like the Aston Martin Vanquish, Porche Cayenne Turbo and many more.
This game offers players tonnes of variety in gameplay, and each sequence is designed with detail. Everything or Nothing is a game that every James Bond fan should play at least once.
4. James Bond 007: Blood Stone
Release year: 2010
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Nintendo DS
Another third-person shooter James Bond video game, this one featured Daniel Craig as the popular spy. This title takes the mark-and-execute feature from Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction and third-person shooting mechanics from Gears of War, implementing them in a great way.
Blood Stone also features action-packed driving sequences alongside a multiplayer mode featuring up to 16 players in online matches. Activision was even planning a sequel to this, but they later decided to cancel it for unknown reasons.
5. Quantum of Solace
Release year: 2008
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
Quantum of Solace went unnoticed for several reasons during its launch. The fact that the movie it was based on was not well-received by critics and fans was the biggest reason. While the game does not fix any narrative misfires in the movie, it does make for an exciting James Bond title.
Featuring sequences from Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, this game is a first-person shooter that works to bridge the narrative gaps between the two movies. Some gamers might notice that it is similar to Call of Duty games in terms of gameplay; that’s because it was developed by Treyarch, a studio that primarily works on that franchise. Currently, they are hard at work, developing the latest Call of Duty: Black Ops title.
6. James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire
Release year: 2002
Platforms: PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox
This game was a first-person shooter that began development as a game based on The World Is Not Enough, but was delayed and reworked into Agent Under Fire. It’s a unique game in many ways; it is one of the first James Bond games ever to not feature any actor’s likeness. It features exciting driving missions and a story that will hold you for a few hours.
It might not be the best game on this list, but it paved the way for Everything or Nothing, one of the best James Bond games ever released.
7. The World Is Not Enough
Release year: 2000
Platform: Nintendo 64
Following the success of GoldenEye, Eurocom decided to do something similar. This game is often forgotten, given the fact that it took more than a few ideas from GoldenEye, becoming a largely similar game in every aspect. It featured some new weapons, gadgets, and voice acting for the characters, yet fans preferred the original over this.
Still, given how similar it was to GoldenEye, a game that is considered one of the best, The World Is Not Enough is not such a bad game to go back to.
8. From Russia with Love
Release year: 2005
Platforms: GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Another EA Redwood Shores production, this third-person shooter, features none other than Sean Connery as James Bond; he even did some voice work for the character. This title is mainly based on the movie it is named after, yet again featuring exciting action sequences and fast-paced driving missions.
While it tried, the game could not match the success of Everything or Nothing and nowadays it’s mainly remembered as the last James Bond title starring Sean Connery.
9. GoldenEye 007: Reloaded
Release year: 2011
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
This Activision-backed project was initially launched for the Nintendo Wii console. To hype fans of the original GoldenEye up, developers even revealed a golden classic controller for the Wii. Reloaded was a modern remake of the 1997 game. It featured Call of Duty-like first-person combat mechanics, some stealth and a bunch of gameplay mechanics that were borrowed from the Quantum of Solace game.
It is a well-made game that does not do anything mind-blowing, but nor does it disappoint; it’s just GoldenEye. Fans can pick it up for some hours of fun and once they get bored, they can go back to Call of Duty. Nothing makes this game feel like a James Bond game other than its name and Daniel Craig’s face; it’s too generic and that’s where this game went wrong.
10. 007 Legends
Release year: 2012
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC
In this game, you play Daniel Craig’s Bond. He gets shot and as he falls to his supposed demise, he re-lives his past adventure. This story device allows developers to insert missions from classic James Bond movies such as Goldfinger and Moonraker into this modern title.
It’s a unique idea and it could have worked, but developer Eurocom took the same shortcut with this one as thjJamesJamesjaey did with 007 GoldenEye: Reloaded; they made it a Call of Duty title instead of a James Bond title. It’s still a great way for fans to experience some of Bond’s most iconic scenarios.
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(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Activision)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Currently, James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing is the best James Bond video game, based on its variety of gameplay.
GoldenEye 007 is the most popular James Bond game.
007 Legends is the latest James Bond Video game.
