10. GoldenEye 007 (DS)
Sheesh, how many GoldenEye games do we want? There’s never enough, apparently. The DS entry of the 'reimagining' showcased some solid gameplay for the most part, though we mentioned some rather maddening blemishes in our review, including some ridiculous pinpoint enemy accuracy. Still, this is a solid entry that Bond fans will likely enjoy.
9. 007: Quantum of Solace (Wii)
Motion controls and first-person gameplay is always a good pairing, even if some games do it far better than others. Quantum of Solace for the Wii is certainly one of the poorer examples, with choppy frame rate and bugs galore throughout, making this game an easy pass for fans, particularly if you’ve got access to the PS3 or Xbox 360 versions.
8. James Bond 007: From Russia With Love (GCN)
From Russia With Love is a fascinating entry in Bond's gaming catalogue, ditching the first-person perspective in favour of third-person, as per Everything or Nothing — which means you get to enjoy the likeness of an official Bond actor on screen 99% of the time. This one is based on Sean Connery's second outing as 007 from 1963 — often cited as the best Bond film ever — and happens to be the last game developed by EA before Activision took over the franchise reins.
It has some redeeming elements and decent gameplay, but also some rather uninspired levels. Overall, it’s a flat and flawed game, but a fascinating one too, with Connery reprising the role that made him a star for the very last time.
7. James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire (GCN)
Another first-person Bond game, huzzah! Agent Under Fire was originally meant to be a tie-in to the The World Is Not Enough movie, but thanks to delays, it eventually became its own thing. Although a short game with limited potential for replayability, it’s nevertheless a fun entry that keeps you sufficiently entertained for the duration.
6. The World Is Not Enough (N64)
The World Is Not Enough for the N64 was always kind of doomed to be compared to GoldenEye 007. Rare passed on making a follow-up, instead focusing on expanding its possibilities away from the Bond licence with Perfect Dark. The unenviable task of making the next Bond FPS fell to Eurocom, and the team did an admirably good job with TWINE — especially if you had played Black Ops' terrible Tomorrow Never Dies on PlayStation hoping for a GoldenEye equivalent.
While it was never going to be held in such high regard as its Rare-developed forebear, The World Is Not Enough is surprisingly solid, with satisfying shooter gameplay and crisp visuals (for the N64). Perhaps not 007, but a solid, non-traitorous 006.
5. James Bond 007 (GB)
There are a few problems such as invisible barriers blocking bullets, and visually it's not the most ambitious Game Boy game, but the simple look works well, as does the music in this 8-bit take on ol' JB. James Bond 007 is an exciting, fun little game that provides plenty of pocket-sized entertainment.
We're also suckers for its classic gun barrel, blood-soaked cover. Diwww-di-di-diw diwwwww diw-diw-diw...
4. GoldenEye 007 (Wii)
This 'new', reimagined GoldenEye 007 certainly isn’t perfect, but Eurocom hit enough high points to make a really enjoyable, modern Bond game while honouring the legacy of the N64 original. With Brosnan booted here in favour of Craig, the campaign is a bit short but fun while it lasts, and the local and online multiplayer modes are strong enough to carry the game for a good while. GoldenEye doesn't capture the same intense adoration its predecessor managed to — it does nothing to advance the genre in any notable way — but it's still a robust, enjoyable experience and a prime example of a film game (and reimagining) done right.
Even if we still bristle at the cynical use of the name once again.
3. James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing (GCN)
Everything or Nothing was positioned as an original movie-style production in its own right, just without the accompanying film. A third-person shooter, it boasted a full 'Hollywood' cast, including the then-current JB, Pierce Brosnan, plus Bond regulars John Cleese, Judi Dench, and Richard Kiel, plus Shannon Elizabeth, Heidi Klum, and the ever-wonderful Willem Dafoe.
While the production isn't as slick as you might hope in places, it boasts some very solid vehicular-based levels (thanks to its borrowing the Need For Speed engine for those sections) and several awesome set pieces (the motorcycle-based Portchartrain Bridge mission was particularly breathtaking).
2. James Bond 007: Nightfire (GCN)
Arguably Eurocom’s best Bond game, Nightfire is another game that aims for Bond filmic scale and actor talent without the foundation of an actual film or Fleming novel. It's an excellent first-person shooter, with a suitably slick feel and impressively cinematic visuals.
Oh, and it also did a snowmobile section way before Call of Duty, thank you very much. If you’re going to play a Bond game that isn’t N64's GoldenEye, you’d best make sure it’s this one.
1. GoldenEye 007 (N64)
The best movie tie-in ever made? Not only was Rare's game (which has finally broken out of its Nintendo 64-shaped cell onto Switch and Xbox) hugely influential on the console FPS genre, but it also gave N64 owners a proper 'adult' experience to sink their teeth into. At a time when PlayStation was too cool for school, GoldenEye 007 provided some real ammo in the console wars, and its four-player deathmatches — remarkably, a last-minute addition before the game went gold — led to some of the best multiplayer memories we have, for any system. You Only Live Twice>Bunker>Power Weapons? How about Licence to Kill>Facility>Pistols?
We're easy, but whatever you do, make sure you've got 'Sight ON Auto-Aim OFF'. And no Odd Job.
What a turn up for the books, eh? Whodathunkit? GoldenEye 007, the best James Bond game ever. It leaves us stirred, if not shaken.
Very interesting to see the top five, though — we think it's time to dig out the GameCube! Feel free to let us know below your thoughts on the ranking above.
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Comments 53
The split-screen multiplayer in From Russia with Love (GCN) was actually a lot of fun.
From Russia With Love and Goldeneye 64 are the best
anyone would think there was a goldeneye 007 announcement coming soon
I really liked Goldeneye Wii's multiplayer a lot. It was not the most impressive or bold online multiplayer shooter, but it was rock solid and being able to actually use pointer controls for an online shooter (which sorry, is better than gyro) was an incredibly smooth experience that I'm sad did not become the norm for console FPS. I played a ton of it the first few months it was out. I dare say if the campaign was actually notably good at all it would've lived up to the hype of being a Goldeneye "remake".
Amusingly, I'm actually more familiar with majority of the console shooter Bond games EXCEPT for the original, and most of them are good. Considering Goldeneye gets all the attention, always, I dare say games like Nightfire and especially Everything or Nothing are underappreciated nowadays.
NightFire was robbed! GoldenEye is a classic though. Plus the Wii version was great too.
To be fair, I've only played GoldenEye 007 N64 and Wii. I'm not really into shootong games, but I enjoyed those. If I ever come across the rest I'll give them a try.
The Wii GoldenEye 007 has the honor of being the cheapest brand new game I've ever bought at 100 Mexican pesos (about $5). However it's not the cheapest game I've ever bought, that honor goes to a second-hand Pokémon Black Version priced at 30 Mexican pesos (about $1.50). No joke.
the best James Bond game on nintendo systems is actually Super James Pond, for the snes.
License to kill, but no IP license, amazing.
I had a ton of fun with Nightfire back in the day. It was my first fps, so I couldn't beat the campaign at the time, but I'd spend hours playing capture the flag with my friend on the map with the ski lifts.
"Nightfire did a snowmobile section way before Call of Duty." Umm yeah, but so did TWINE.
I fogot the Gamecube had 5 Bond games!
I can agree with that top 3 list. Best 007 games
The Gamecube actually did well with Bond games. Good set there. I only played maybe two of those though and not all the way through, sadly. Also, never played the GB JB which looks like it's a lot of fun. Wii Goldeneye is my fav of what little I have played
Happy to see everything or nothing so high. My favorite bond game hands down. As it nailed what I wanted from a bond game which is to play a bond movie, not to be bond.
Wonder how many have actually played GoldenEye in the last 10 years because it has aged VERY poorly. Keep waiting for it to hit NSO to see all the extremely disappointed people that won't be able to deny the massive rose colored glasses effect it has and once they're off it's hard to praise it so highly.
Best movie tie-in ever? No chance, that belongs to Ocean Softwares Robocop.
I think there was never any doubt that Goldeneye 007 for the N64 was going to be #1 on this list. Not only is it one of the best Bond games, but one of the best N64 games, one of the best Rare games, one of the best Nintendo games, and indeed, one of the greatest video games of all time. Never played it myself, but even I know it's legacy.
wow, what a pile.
ive known better tham to get my hopes up about any bond game, but goldeneye and (to a lesser extent i suppose) 007 GB were both welcome surprises.
the GB one specifically was just right for the time, i spent some real time with that game, beat it, and for whatever reason still reflect upon it, fondly and randomly.
@Orokosaki excuse me, that title clearly belongs to Ocean's Waterworld on Virtual Boy.
❗️My thoughts on the:
✅️N64 Games
Even though you don't need to, whenever I play the GE story mode, I destroy EVERYTHING, whether it is a chair to a desk, probably because there is too much ammo around and need/want to get rid of it.
Any ammo left at the end of the mission is shot at a wall
As regards TWINE, I remember preferring it over GE but a more recent playthrough has changed my mind.
🏅GameCube Games
Even now, I can't decide which I prefer AUF or EON as I enjoyed both. (I thought EON had the better shooting parts but thought AUF had the better driving parts)
I played FRWL on the PSP (which I did like) so not sure how different it is on the Home Console versions.
☑️Wii Games
GE RL was fine but hadba TERRIBLE Omline Multiplayer system.
Each Round lasted ten minutes and one of the other real players was the Host of the Server.
If the player rage-quit or lost connection, the Round would end and all XP gained would be lost which is highly annoying as this happened to me more than a few times. XP unlocked things a la COD so you can understand my frustration.
❌️DS Games
Up until last year, I had all the DS 007 Games but didn't like them due to their controls. Still, I commend the Developers for trying something different.
✔️GBA Games
I have these but haven't played then proper. I only tested them to see if they work after buying them off E-Bay.
〰️GB/C Games
I didn't get very far in TWINE and don't recall liking it much if at all.
The GB Game is a nice little RPG-like Game but has no replayability once finished.
Certainly can't argue with the top 5. I am so proud of this community for recognizing the greatness that is Nightfire and Everything or Nothing; both games rock and they made the Gamecube era a great time to be a 007 fan.
Excellent sub header. I still have my GB 007, love it.
Where's Sly Spy? Easily better than most the games on this list.
Goldeneye is obviously a classic but I probably still prefer nightfire. The Wii version was also enjoyable.
I wish I could get EVERYTHING OR NOTHING on Switch. That game is a lot of fun. I am hoping this August we get to celebrate the 25th anniversary of GOLDENEYE for N64 in style......
Golden Eye from N64 didn't get old very good. Quantum of Solace on Wii should be in Top 3. And why is a Gameboy Game ranked so high?
@AcridSkull
Was thinking the same thing. It’s unofficial, but it’s basically a James Bond game. It at least deserves an honourable mention.
Well done NintendoLife. Keep up the good work.
I'd love a return of the Gamecube-era Bond style games. They were diverse and incredibly fun, that blend of genres in a single title is sorely missing these days.
Everything or Nothing is a great game.
Fantastic single player campaign, and also one of the first unique separate co-op campaigns!
Massively underrated.
Nightfire is really good. One of the best licensed games period. The World is not Enough on the 64 is seriously slept on. It was a glimpse of what next gen games would be like. Also 007 on the gameboy is awesome. Obviously Goldeneye is amazing.
I’m I the only one who’s circle (rightly) refused to play GoldenEye multiplayer without Tubo Mode turned on?
Get used to that and it’s hard to play normal speed.
Those were some intense matches with a ton of skill. Especially with Golden guns only (honor system). You could actually have a chance of zigzagging your way to victory if you found yourself without a gun or out if ammo… good stuff, can’t wait for the remake. They better include Turbo for online multiplayer…
@HammerGalladeBro No kidding? Wow! Where did you found those games?
I played GoldenEye 64 a lot back in the day. I played the PS3 remake, which it was good, and the Wii version sounds interesting.
BTW, greetings, I am also from Mexico
@HarmanSmith Well, that was a couple of years ago. Pokémon Black was on 2017 and GoldenEye 007 from 2018.
I don't know what part of Mexico you are, but I got GoldenEye 007 Wii for 100 pesos from an H-E-B in Monterrey, and the 30 pesos second hand Pokémon Black I got it from a Gamers in my dump called Saltillo. I must have a photo of the receipt of the latter somewhere.
What's weird is that they also had a second hand copy of Pokémon White that day and that was priced 499 pesos. Even the cashier was confused as the system threw the price of 30 pesos. On the other hand, a couple of years before that (around 2013-2015), they had second hand copies of Advance Wars: Days of Ruin, also for the DS, for just 15 pesos.
That's weird ive never heard of everything or nothing
I remember buying james bond jr on snes when i first started collecting retro games. It was probably the game that taught me that it's usually a good reason if a nintendo game is really cheap. It's one of the worst
Beat Goldeneye for the first time last year playing with two controllers at the same time. It's both stupid and amazing
Nightfire on GBA was actually quite impressive. I had only Game Boy's back then, and I played every fps on the GBA. This was a good one by GBA standards. I think I played the Wii games the most. I liked that fps with tps cover shooting with blindfire and some stealth gameplay from Quantum of Solace, but technically Goldeneye was obviously better, and Rainbow Six Vegas did the fps tps thing much better, but that didn't have the Wii's pointer shooting which I liked as well.
@SteamEngenius. The only thing that will stand in GoldenEye's brilliance is Nintendo's awful, laggy, online service and piss poor emulation. Still play multiplayer and it's just as fun today as it was yesterday.
Other than that looking forward to challenging myself to open up the time cheats.
Nightfire is my number 1
Loved the Wii version. With Oddjob
🤩I WISH they could be somehow bring back:
*Agent Under Fire and
*Everything Or Nothing
I love those Games on the GameCube.
I had GoldenEye: Reloaded but don't really remember much of it past the first two missions so maybe a port to refresh my memory.
Then again, I could just watch a YouTube video...
🎵He learned the game from his uncle James. Now, he's their to the name, James Bond. James Bond Jr.🎵
Haven't heard that in forever. Being a licensed property, some titles are good, and others simply aren't.
Nice to see TWINE and Nightfire up there. Great games.
Goldeneye 64 will always be my favorite, but Everything Or Nothing really felt like you were in a James Bond movie, especially if you knew how to pull off the "Bond moments".
It's a shame Bond has become dormant as a gaming franchise now, I think now would be a great time to make another FPS or TPS game that doesn't try to copy COD which is no longer the big fad anymore.
@retroman64 IO Interactive creators of Hitman, are developing a Bond game. Can't wait to see what they do.
Everything or Nothing was a fantastic game, but it was an action game, hopefully this upcoming one will be a true spy game.
Only ever played GoldenEye 007 (N64)
Where's Moonraker? That's right, no such game was ever made. Shameful! It's my favourite Bond movie. Also shameful is Switch owners will get the lowly N64 version of GE via NSO, rather than an updated version that XB owners will get.
Any Bond game on the GameCube is awesome. Also Goldeneye DS is pretty good if you use the stylus to look.
@Aispen It seems that using two controllers is the way to go with Goldeneye 64, lol.
BTW, love your profile pic (is it Maui Mallard/Donald Duck? I loved that game as a kid!).
@HarmanSmith
Yup, that's maui mallard. Replayed it recently and it's still great. Also one of my favorite soundtracks. So jazzy!
I remember enjoying Agent Under Fire and the Wii Remake of Goldeneye. I might check out some of the other games on the list as I'm intrigued now.
@ketrac in all fairness, James Bond was not the best at being stealthy in the movies aha.
But I do look forward to that project you mentioned.
I just remember playing Nightfire with my friends. That thing was.. well, lit.
It’s sad to see the most recent 007 game, 007 legends, which was supposed to be most successful game of the franchise ends up being one of the worst rated…
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