The Nintendo 64's GoldenEye 007 elevated the first-person shooter genre, bringing local multiplayer as flawless as its single-player. The story follows James Bond, a fictional British Secret Service agent who must stop a rogue agent (Alex Trevelyan) set out on revenge against the British government. GoldenEye 007 was an instant masterpiece, cult classic, and one of the few video games based on movies that worked.
There's no question that GoldenEye 007 was a hit. With a gun that looked like a misshaped pencil and character models with blurry faces, there was much to criticize. However, players saw through the game's flaws. It was a complete package, including robust multiplayer and single-player modes. "Finish the job James - If you can!" Here are ten first-person shooter games to play if you like GoldenEye 007.
Updated July 15th, 2022 by Russ Boswell: There have been a lot of incredible first-person shooters released over the years but few are as iconic as GoldenEye 007. The N64 classic has seen remakes and references over the years, with many holding it in high regard. Players will often find it creeping into top 10 lists for the best Nintendo 64 games ever made and many classify it as one of their favorite FPS experiences of all time. Although there hasn't been another GoldenEye 007, there are still some great story-driven FPS experiences out there that will give players a different yet somewhat similar experience. To better highlight some of these story-based FPS gems, the following list has been updated with more entries for games like GoldenEye 007.
13 Far Cry 3
Although it's much more polished than GoldenEye 007 in terms of its visual aspects and gameplay, Far Cry 3 is very on point with the Nintendo 64 classic in terms of its story-driven campaign. Considered by many fans to be one of the best Far Cry games ever made, players will be on the edge of their seats as they make their way through the open world of the fictionalized Rook Islands.
Thanks to stellar character design, some pretty entertaining conflicts, and some seriously fun gunplay, Far Cry 3 sticks out as one of the best story-driven FPS titles ever made and is a ton of fun for anyone who enjoys the franchise or is looking for something to keep them engaged as they battle through tons of enemies and other dangers.
12 Spec Ops: The Line
Spec Ops: The Line is perhaps one of the most jarringly different titles on this list when compared with GoldenEye 007 as it's a third-person cover-based shooter rather than a traditional FPS adventure. What helps Spec Ops stand out among the crowd is its absolutely gripping story, which has players stepping into the shoes of a military man on a mission in a strange and seemingly warped area buried among the sands of Dubai.
Players will find a lot to love about Spec Ops narrative, with interesting characters, mind-bending twists, and some truly tense moments.
11 Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Those looking for something from the same era as GoldenEye 007 should definitely check out Turok: Dinosaur Hunter. The rather unorthodox FPS from developer Iguana Entertainment became a cult classic with fans and sold quite well for the company. In fact, it was well-received enough to spark its own trilogy, with the second game being held in high regards thanks to the addition of a multiplayer mode.
Although the over-arching story is a bit up in the air thanks to a lack of much narrative, the gameplay is stellar and feels on-point with the James Bond classic that fans have come to know and love. Anyone who has not had the opportunity to check out the interesting and engaging dinosaur-hunting FPS is missing out on a grand experience that spans three games.
10 Metro Exodus
These two first-person shooter games were developed years apart, yet there are similarities to identify. Both Metro Exodus and GoldenEye 007 take place in a Russia, with the latter being set in the Soviet Union before it was dissolved.
Metro Exodus is a game that relies on stealth, a gameplay mechanic that was virtually unheard of in the '90s. First-person shooters have come a long way, yet a GoldenEye 007 remake might not look so different from Metro Exodus.
9 Halo 2
Back in its heyday when GoldenEye 007 was one of the most prominent first-person shooters, it took a while to be unofficially dethroned. Arguably, Perfect Dark was a better game, but it took most of what GoldenEye 007 did and tried to make it better.
Meanwhile, Halo 2 was a unique first-person shooter that made online gaming on consoles relevant for the first time in history. Xbox Live might have been a failed venture by Microsoft if it weren't for this game.
8 TimeSplitters 2
The original TimeSplitters was a PlayStation 2 exclusive, but TimeSplitters 2 also released on the GameCube and Xbox. This sequel wasn't regarded as impactful when released, but it did take after GoldenEye 007 in many ways.
Members from the GoldenEye 007 development team formed the company Free Radical Design and created TimeSplitters and TimeSplitters 2. The location of the health and ammo on the HUD (head-up display) make TimeSplitters 2 reminiscent of GoldenEye 007.
7 Half-Life 2
This story-intensive game has resonated with players worldwide because of its immersive gameplay that never ceases to surprise. Multiple sources, including PC Gamer, labeled this as the "Best PC Game Ever."
The facial animations are noticeably better than previous first-person shooters. GoldenEye 007's character models were one of its weak suits. If you're in love with couch co-op multiplayer, go for GoldenEye 007. But if you're in the mood for a story-centric game, please play Half-Life 2.
6 Prey
This hidden gem is from the creators of Dishonored and Dishonored 2. The gameplay is along the lines of games like BioShock because of its first-person gameplay and different ways to progress.
Prey is meant to be a spiritual successor to System Shock, but it could be compared to GoldenEye 007. In Prey, you wake up aboard a space station named Talos 1, only to find out that aliens occupy the station.
5 F.E.A.R.
F.E.A.R. is a first-person shooter like GoldenEye 007. Both games make an arsenal of weapons available to the player. Taking on horrific themes, F.E.A.R. is more action-packed than GoldenEye 007.
The antagonist of F.E.A.R., Alma Wade, is a little girl set out on revenge against the Armacham Technology Corporation. As it turns out, she has psychic powers and is able to use them against her foes. Her elusive nature makes her a powerful antagonist.
4 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas
Tactical first-person shooting went a step-up when Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas hit store shelves in 2006. This game was released nearly a decade after GoldenEye 007, but some parallels exist between the two instant-classics.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas' setting made it truly stand out. Also, a phenomenal online multiplayer mode made this a hit. Had GoldenEye 007 contained an online multiplayer mode, it would have had immense replay value. GoldenEye 007's local multiplayer needs remake treatment.
3 Metroid Prime
Nintendo GameCube's Metroid Prime was a knockout first-person shooter when it was released, and it remains relevant today. GoldenEye 007 and Metroid Prime differ in the sense that Metroid has more puzzle-solving and exploration.
It's tough to say which game is better. GoldenEye 007 does have more memorable weapons like the Golden Gun, RC-P90, and KF7 Soviet, yet Metroid Prime is unique on so many levels. It's best to say they are both masterpieces that dominated an era and leave it at that.
2 James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire
The best James Bond game is GoldenEye 007—and it's not even close. Although games like James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire had more advanced gameplay mechanics, they fell short in other respects. According to screenrant.com, "Where Agent Under Fire really shines, however, is in its four-player split-screen mode."
Agent Under Fire has improved environment textures and character models, but the rate of enemy fire in the campaign was a step off. You are continually being shot, yet your player lives on. Aside from a few frustrating flaws, James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire is an otherwise excellent James Bond game.
1 Perfect Dark
Everything that GoldenEye 007 pioneered was made obsolete when Perfect Dark released. Perfect Dark expanded on the multiplayer, adding a Counter Operative mode in which players could play two-player split-screen.
You can love the games for either their weapon variety or polish. Perfect Dark featured a strong female protagonist named Joanna Dark. With a high degree of similarity to GoldenEye 007, this game is a must-play for fans of the first-person shooter classic.