Licence to Kill: The Best James Bond Video Games

When it comes to fictional characters that seem a perfect fit for video games, it doesn’t get much better than James Bond. The man does it all; he abseils down buildings, drives cars at breakneck speed, has saved the day a seemingly infinite amount of times, and he even actually has a genuine licence to kill. No need to feel bad about mowing down hoards of henchman, it’s literally his job, and he’s doing it for both Queen and country.

You’d think, then, that making a video game about him would be the simplest thing ever, but you only have to look at some of the attempts to see that that’s definitely not the case. I mean, remember what went wrong with 007 Legends?

There have been, though, some hit games down the years, so let’s have a look at some of the best James Bond video games.

Agent Under Fire 

What could be more James Bond than blowing up the environment around you? Not much, that’s what, and that’s something Agent Under Fire realized. It was a first-person shooter released in 2001 by developers Electronic Arts for PS2, Gamecube, and Xbox, and quickly became a huge hit. The story is not based on any Bond movie, but has a good story that finds 007 flying all over the world to complete his missions.

The best bit about the game wasn’t simply just blowing things up (though that was great) but it was how the game incorporated it, having destructible environments that allowed you to slickly navigate your way around levels. For example, if there were a group of enemies standing too near a rather flammable looking barrel, no worries, just shoot it and watch the fireworks. It’s become a staple of most first-person shooters now, but it was one of the best incorporations of it seen in a video game, and it made you feel pure Bond.

Everything or Nothing 

The other games on this list are first-person games, but Everything or Nothing plonks you straight behind 007 in the third-perspective, and it’s a lovely change of pace. You get to witness Bond doing everything, and because of this, it lends it a real movie vibe. It’s as if you’re controlling 007 in one of your favourite Bond movies, and makes everything feel more cinematic.

The game was made by developers EA Redwood Shores, and came out in 2004, for Gamecube, Xbox, and PS2. It has an original story that nicely incorporates all the big Bond moments needed, including lots of explosions, car chases and shoot-outs. One of the best levels in the game has you stealthily entering a nightclub called The Kiss Kiss Club, and silently trying to locate an informant. There’s lots of distractions trying to vie for your attention though, like big scary bouncers, confusing corridors, and night life galore.

Bond loves living dangerously, but he should never indulge in it whilst on a mission. What he needs to do when he gets some downtime, is log onto an online game site to get the best online roulette available in 2021. It’s a place where safe and trusted game sites are listed, with all the greatest bonuses and welcome offers around. It’s also a place where you can learn the rules, plus discover the best variants, so you hopefully have the winning edge. Indulge your inner Bond. 

Goldeneye 007 

This entry is always going to make the list, as it’s not only agreed to be the best James Bond video game ever, but one of the most important titles in the evolution of video games. Goldeneye 007 was released on Nintendo 64 back in 1997 and changed first person shooters forever. The game was developed by Rare, and was based on the 1995 Bond movie that was the first entry in the Pierce Brosnan era. The movie was good, but the game was beyond great.

The single-player mode used levels and set-pieces straight from the screen, and had shooting mechanics that were state of the art for consoles at the time. Yet, the standout feature of the game was its multi-player mode, which truly revolutionized how people played first person shooters. Being able to play against up to four of your friends in a chaotic death-match was something that had never been seen before, and was responsible for many lost evenings, and possibly even more lost friendships.