Even more than his real-life counterparts! Ever since Fleming’s novels began being adapted to the big screen in 1962, a massive media empire has grown around the British MI6 agent. So it comes as no surprise that he’s starred in plenty of video games throughout the years. From the iconic Goldeneye 007 to the most recent 007 Legends, the franchise has seen several ups and downs. But there are so many worth playing. Whether you’re a long-time Bond fan who’s never played any of his games, or a Goldeneye 007 veteran wondering what else is good, you’ll find what you’re looking for here.
12. Shaken but Not Stirred (1982)
The first entry in our ranking is something a bit out of the ordinary – the first James Bond video game, and a piece of gaming history. Named after one of the English spy’s most famous quotes, Shaken but Not Stirred is what’s known as “interactive fiction”. It’s a text-based adventure that’s half novel, half game. It was released almost 40 years ago for the ZX Spectrum 8-bit PC. It follows Bond as he tries to stop Dr. Death from enacting a plot to destroy the entirety of London’s metropolitan area. It reads like a bona fide 007 novel, and it was the start of James Bond’s long list of accomplishments in gaming. To play this you’ll need to do some real searching online, but if you can find a way to play it you’ll likely enjoy yourself.
11. 007 Legends (2012)
On the other hand, there’s Bond’s latest video game adventure released in 2012 for seventh-gen consoles. This game came out to commemorate the franchise’s 50th anniversary. Developed by Eurocom, 007 Legends takes us through several iconic events in Bond’s long cinematic history. All re-told as flashbacks from the perspective of Daniel Craig’s Bond at the beginning of Skyfall. There’s a lot to say in favor of 007 Legends. The graphics look pretty good, and a lot of love was poured into making the scenes as true to the original as possible. Regrettably, the gameplay is somewhat mediocre compared to other titles. And the absolute lack of cohesive quality standards suggests that the game was rushed a bit to make the anniversary date. The result is one of the worst-reviewed Bond games so far, and one that put the franchise on hiatus ever since. Worth playing? If you’re a hardcore fan, sure. But if you want a true Bond experience just keep reading.
10. Tomorrow Never Dies (1999)
Let’s rewind back a couple console generations to take a look at Tomorrow Never Dies, developed by Black Ops Entertainment as a PlayStation exclusive. It was the first game after the original Goldeneye 007 for the N64 blew everyone’s minds, so it had some pretty big shoes to fill. Knowing that there was no way to re-create the impact of the legendary FPS, the developing studio went for something different. Tomorrow Never Dies changed the first-person perspective for that of a third-person shooter. It had some nice vehicle sections, and the graphics were pretty sweet at the time. It certainly didn’t achieve the same acclaim as its predecessor. But it was entertaining nonetheless.
9. The World is Not Enough (2000)
Often considered Goldeneye 007’s “true” successor, Eurocom’s “The World is Not Enough” for the N64 returned to the first-person perspective. It often feels like a beefed-up version of the iconic 1997 game. This title features a much meatier campaign with many varied scenarios that’ll put your spy skills to the test. The story is a slightly tweaked version of the previous year’s blockbuster Bond film of the same name. Take the fluid and engaging gameplay, coupled with great graphics and solid voice-acting, and you’ll find this game is difficult to put down. Just to clarify, all of this refers to the N64 version of the game. Which is in every way superior to the PlayStation release.
8. James Bond 007: Nightfire (2002)
Eurocom was also the studio behind James Bond 007: Nightfire, published under the EA Games label back when they weren’t as controversial. It was released for sixth-gen consoles a year after the critically acclaimed Agent Under Fire. Nightfire serves as a worthy sequel that kept the same engaging multiplayer that made its predecessor so popular. The single-player campaign is also high-quality, bringing together solid storytelling with action-packed gameplay and a lotta shooting. It features high-octane vehicle sequences, lots of explosions, and plenty of opportunities to satisfyingly pump your enemies full of lead. So much for MI6 subtlety!
7. Goldeneye 007 on Wii (2010)
When I heard Nintendo was releasing a remake of the classic masterpiece that was Goldeneye 007 on Wii, I was torn between immense excitement and substantial apprehension. As history has taught us, remaking such fabled games doesn’t usually have a happy ending. Thankfully Eurocom did a pretty good job of taking inspiration from the original to make something new, yet still familiar. It remains a James Bond FPS that more or less follows the same story. But almost everything in the campaign and the multiplayer is brand new, with a couple nods to the original here and there. Among the game’s best features is the great freedom the player is granted in choosing how to clear each scenario. You can be stealthy, sneaking past guards and leaving no traces. Or you can go in guns blazing and paint the floor red – your choice! The Wii was also an excellent fit for the game, as its motion controls go a long way to make shooters feel fresh.
6. James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire (2001)
Eurocom wasn’t the only studio pumping out Bond games in the early 2000s. There was also EA’s Redwood Shores in-house studio, which developed some of the best games starring everyone’s favorite English spy. James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire had its fair share of problems, including bad-looking weapons and a completely ridiculous plot. Still, it made up for this with intense setpieces, bad-ass vehicle sections, and some on-rails shooting sequences that kept the campaign engaging. However, the game is mostly remembered for its multiplayer. By far one of the best FPS 4-player split-screen arenas available on sixth-gen consoles. Ask anyone who owned the game and they’ll probably have stories about getting together with friends and grappling like madmen around the various maps. It was pure chaos, and it was great.
5. James Bond 007: From Russia With Love (2005)
Sean Connery’s James Bond is easily the most recognizable of the bunch. And one that fans of the franchise will remember fondly for the rest of their lives. EA Redwood Shores decided to cash-in on this love when they revisited the classic film From Russia With Love for their third James Bond game. They went as far as getting Sean Connery himself to serve as a voice actor for the game’s main character – a job he performed with passion. Sure, it’s a bit weird to hear his golden-years voice coming out of the younger-looking in-game Bond. But it’s easy to overlook. Gameplay was also fantastic here, following the same TPS formula from the previous year’s Everything or Nothing. Still, it’s really all about fanservice and enjoying the classic Bond aesthetic.
4. 007: Quantum of Solace (2008)
Once seventh-gen consoles came around, the license for James Bond games fell into the hands of Activision. Some call this event the beginning of the end for the MI6 agent in gaming. But this period also saw two of the very best Bond games so far: Quantum of Solace and Blood Stone. The former was developed by Treyarch, of Call of Duty: Black Ops fame, who put all of their CoD expertise to good use and gave Daniel Craig’s Bond one of the most exciting campaigns in 007 gaming history. As expected from Treyarch, the multiplayer was also superb. Well worth trying if you can pick up a copy.
3. James Bond 007: Blood Stone (2010)
Despite selling awfully for some reason, Activision’s second seventh-gen James Bond game was actually just as good as the first one, if not better. The first-person perspective was entirely canned in favor of a TPS experience quite similar to Uncharted. Daniel Craig looked better than ever performing cinematic melee moves and making his way around treacherous shootouts. Regrettably, developer Bizarre Creations wasn’t as successful in crafting a multiplayer experience compared to 007 Quantum of Solace. That said, it was still pretty good. Easily makes it into the top 5!
2. James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (2004)
If there’s a game in the Bond roster that’s considered worthy of comparison with Goldeneye 007, it has to be EA’s Everything or Nothing for the GameCube, PS2, and Xbox. While its multiplayer isn’t the most well-reviewed by fans, the game’s primary campaign is just non-stop classic James Bond awesomeness. And fans seem to love it. Its TPS gameplay is top-notch, melee combat is super-satisfying, and it features some of the most over-the-top scenes Bond has ever performed in a game. Everything or Nothing also features the best vehicle sections in the entire roster, all thanks to the fact that instead of developing a mediocre driving engine, EA Redwood Shores just used Need For Speed’s engine. Guaranteed success.
1. Goldeneye 007 for N64 (1997)
Even before you clicked this article, you knew what the number one spot was going to be. I also knew before I even started writing. Goldeneye 007 on the N64 is one of the most celebrated games in the history of gaming as a whole. That’s not even really an understatement. This title’s intro sequence is instantly recognizable by fans who spent hours in this game. Back when it first came out, even the concept of a 3D FPS was considered groundbreaking. And Goldeneye 007 wasn’t only one of the first ones, but remained the very best for years. When you consider its appealing graphics and stellar soundtrack, it’s easy to see why it was so successful. Its wacky split-screen multiplayer, which remains enjoyable to this day, was also one of the main reasons. If you’ve never played Goldeneye for N64 do yourself a favor and give it a shot one day. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
