The 10 BEST James Bond Video Games

10 Best James Bond Video Games

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re looking at the very best games to give us James Bond’s license to kill!

“GoldenEye: Rogue Agent” (2004)

Technically, “Rogue Agent” is a spin-off where you don’t even play as Bond. But it’s still a decent game that deserves its inclusion. You play as a different MI6 agent who’s dismissed for his volatile behavior, and teams up with the bad guys. It’s a fun spin on established canon, bringing in famous characters from across the film franchise’s history, like Goldfinger and Judi Dench’s version of M, as well as some famous locations. It’s far from perfect; outside of its premise, it doesn’t really bring anything new to the table gameplay-wise. Still, it’s a pretty solid shooter both in single and multiplayer. And I think critics compared it a bit too unfairly to the games that came before it.

“James Bond 007: Blood Stone” (2010)

It’s a shame “Blood Stone” sold so poorly, causing its developer to close and its sequel to be canceled. Because what’s here is genuinely fun, if not a bit generic. The story closes the gap between “Quantum of Solace” and “Skyfall,” following Daniel Craig’s Bond as he hunts down a terrorist. Here’s where the game falters the most, as neither the story nor the villain are particularly memorable. However, when it comes to missions and action, this is a blast. Sure, it’s a mix of elements from better games, but it still does everything fairly well enough to keep your attention. And if you’re a fan of Bond, you’ll likely have a good time with it.

“007: Quantum of Solace” (2008)

Arguably better than the movie it shares a name with, “Quantum of Solace” retells the movie’s story while also including some elements from “Casino Royale,” which didn’t get a game. It’s a little awkward having those plotlines condensed and smushed together. But it’s still a lot of fun to play through set pieces that wowed us on the big screen. Four developers took charge across different platforms, but the best versions were on PS2, developed by Eurocom and played mostly in third-person, and PS3 and Xbox 360, developed by “Call of Duty” mainstays Treyarch, and played mostly in first-person. Regardless, it’s a bit short and focuses too much on gunplay over anything else in Bond’s repertoire. But that isn’t to say what’s here isn’t done well.

“GoldenEye 007” (2010)

As a remake of the N64 classic, which we will obviously get to later, the Wii’s “GoldenEye 007” had big shoes to fill. Thankfully, for the most part, it filled them. It placed Daniel Craig in the role of Bond over Pierce Brosnan, redesigned levels and reworked story elements, and included some surprisingly solid motion controls that worked well with the action. Although, FPS purists had the option of traditional controls as well. Both its single player and multiplayer were a joy, revamped for the then-modern era. And it would become one of the best shooters on the platform. Non-Nintendo players weren’t left out of the action either, as PS3 and Xbox 360 received a remastered version the following year.

“From Russia With Love” (2005)

Most Bond game adaptations featured the actor and stories of the time they were released in; hence a lot of Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig on this list. However, EA chose to revisit one of Sean Connery’s best adventures when it adapted “From Russia With Love.” This was a really fantastic way to re-experience the movie, and it’s something I wish we had seen more of. Not only was the plot and action expanded on to fit the video game format, but Connery also returned to voice Bond, marking his last performance as the character. It had its issues, some level design a bit dull in places, enemy AI not all that impressive, which co-director Michael Condrey has attributed to a lack of time and resources during development. Still, it holds a special place in our hearts.

“James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire” (2001)

Far be it from us to praise EA, but the Bond license did receive some of its best video games under the publisher. “Agent Under Fire” is an original story that follows Bond uncovering a conspiracy to replace world leaders with clones. That’s just the right amount of silly we expect from older Bond adventures. Plus, there’s a nice balance of gunplay, big bombastic set pieces, and driving sections to keep you entertained throughout. It also introduced a cool mechanic called Bond Moments, where using the environment or different gadgets to clear objectives would earn you higher ratings for each level. And that made you want to play around with your options to see what you were capable of pulling off.

“James Bond 007: Nightfire” (2002)

The follow up to “Agent Under Fire” improved on what we had seen in pretty much every way. Everything was just a bit more finely tuned. Bond Moments returned, bringing with them the same satisfying customization of completing missions. Or, as customizable as they could be in a linear action game from 2002. The plot was a bit more standard, following Bond as he tried to stop an industrialist’s world takeover. But the action was grander, whether you were utilizing a variety of firearms and gadgets against goons, or blasting your way through one of several combative vehicular sections. As had come to be expected from the series, multiplayer was also a damn good time.

“The World is Not Enough” (2000)

Specifically, the N64 version of this Pierce Brosnan tie-in was a lot better received than the PlayStation one. And for good reason; it actually had multiplayer and its level design was far superior. Although there was no escaping living in the shadow of “GoldenEye,” released a few years prior, “The World is Not Enough” was, and still is, worthy of any Bond fan’s time. The visuals were highly impressive for the console thanks to its Expansion Pak, making for some of the best graphics on the N64. More importantly, developer Eurocom did a great job of transitioning the action of the movie into the palms of our hands, more so than most other Bond movie tie-ins.

“James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing” (2004)

Most of the best Bond games are fun because they’re so good at translating the movie experiences into video games. Nowhere is that more true than “Everything or Nothing.” Even though it features an original plot, there are all the thrills, espionage, and bravado of Bond films packed into a neat package. It’s by far the most cinematic game to use the license, with all manner of tense shootouts and the best driving sections with tricked-out, gadget cars in any of the games. That’s not to mention a cast of Hollywood A-listers, making it a must play for all Bond fans. As an added bonus, you could play through the story in co-op, something absent from most other Bond games.

“GoldenEye 007” (1997)

This game has long been considered the gold standard for James Bond games. And honestly, that’s unlikely to change. “GoldenEye” did everything right at a point in gaming history where all of it was extremely impressive. Its single player mode was a fantastic representation of Pierce Brosnan’s first outing as the character. In 1997, playing through these missions was unlike anything we had seen on consoles. But the main reason so many players have such fond memories of it is its multiplayer. If you had an N64 and some extra controllers, this was a must-have for your library. Those who love this game do so because they poured countless hours into running around its maps, and unloading buckets of bullets into their friends. It definitely shows its age today, but it remains an essential Bond game.

Which Bond adventure is your favorite to play through? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments, and we’ll see you next time!