The 2021 Bond film, No Time to Die, has awoken the secret agent in us.
From Goldeneye on the N64 to I Expect You To Die in virtual reality, we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to a bit of fantasy espionage. In this post, we’re breaking down our favourite spy-based video games and some choice hardware to use when playing.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Released September of 2015 to high praise from the press and fans alike, MGSV is a highlight in the franchise.
From cruising with our buddy DD, the best doggo in the gaming world, to riding a horse into battle, the open world provides an unprecedented amount of freedom for the series. Exploring the map during, and on the way to, missions was what made this game so great. Strapping a balloon, sorry, “Fulton surface-to-air recovery system” to anything and everything just to see what happens is a great way to pass the time.
Whilst hardcore Metal Gear fans might find the lack of focused story a turn off, the ability to make the story our own made this game awesome. From choosing how to approach missions to staffing and outfitting Mother Base in the brilliant base management system. The Phantom Pain offers a seemingly endless choice in gadgets, guns, and special abilities to equip yourself and your companions throughout the game.
Excited for the next instalment in the Metal Gear Solid franchise? Us too! Check out our full breakdown of METAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATER.
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist
The entry into the Splinter Cell Franchise, Blacklist, dropped in 2013 and saw Sam Fisher’s return to ceiling panels and shadowy corridors.
The graphics may no longer hold up as anything special, but this game still provides some great spy gameplay. Splinter Cell: Blacklist takes us on an action-packed espionage adventure to stop terrorism in the USA. The stealth gameplay is what made this entry into the franchise so memorable, with level designs that ranged from mansions to bunkers, all creating an atmosphere where stealth seemed necessary.
Blacklist’s interactive menu is what really stood out back then, and today still. From the Paladin, your base of operations inside a giant plane, you can check your stats, launch CO-OP and multiplayer, and speak to your crew between missions. The Paladin not only serves as a great way to immerse us into the game world but as a much-needed plot break in between countless stealth takedowns.
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell has crossed over into new mediums, including books and now a radio play. Learn more about Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Firewall.
I Expect You To Die – VR
It takes a super spy – or an afternoon in VR – to topple Dr Zor and the Zoraxis organisation. I Expect You To Die, Schell Games 2016’s VR spy puzzle extravaganza is, without a doubt, the most fun I’ve had in single-player virtual reality.
From brewing chemicals to defusing bombs and dodging lasers, this escape-room-esque title is notorious for its witty narration and awe-inspiring Bond-styled intro. Although a relatively short experience, this game has plenty of mistakes ready for you to make, such as dropping a grenade or eating a mouldy sandwich. Expect to die a lot.
Ready to take on Dr Zor and a whole host of other Virtual Reality experiences?
HTC VIVE PRO 2 Full Kit
- All-in-one VR set
- Includes headset, controllers, and base stations
- 5K fidelity
- 120-degree field of view
- 120Hz refresh rate
HTC VIVE Cosmos Elite HMD VR Headset
- Premium VR headset
- 2880 x 1700 combined pixel resolution
- All-new LCD panels
- Integrated on-ear, form-fitting headphones
- Refined inside-out tracking
We got a copy of I Expect You to Die 3 to review, which certainly got us in the espionage mood all over again!
Hitman 3
The Hitman franchise has a long history of great games with plenty of replayability. Moreover, who doesn’t like killing someone in as many different ways as possible…?I’m sound of mind, honest. But the latest entry is by far more spectacular than ever before, with level design and story that seems more akin to cinema than gaming.
Hitman 3 feels familiar to the most recent entries into the series in a good way. Notably, Hitman 3 brings all the great parts of 2016’s Hitman and 2018’s Hitman 2, such as a genuinely psychotic number of ways to murder people.
Gameplay hasn’t changed too much, with Agent 47’s throwing distance still smaller than an 8-year-olds’. But one addition to the gameplay, and the most notable, is the new camera which is used to hack switches and gather intel. Whilst the camera adds some new gameplay mechanics, it mainly falls seamlessly into the background.
Hitman 3 brings together all the best gameplay from previous games whilst adding new ways to assassinate your victims targets. Level design is once again what absolutely sells this espionage extravaganza as brilliant. From the Dartmoor mission with its murder mystery to Berlin’s strobe light rave where you become the target, Hitman 3 is everything that’s good about the franchise.
Hitman 3 is an insanely beautiful game and if you’re looking to play it at max settings, we have a great selection of systems designed for just the task.
OcUK Gaming Eagle Configurable PC
- Customisable gaming PC – configure the PC case, cooler, and more
- Pick a 14th Gen Intel Core CPU
- Your choice of AMD Radeon RX 7000 GPUs
- Up to 64GB DDR5 RAM
- Flexible storage – up to three high-speed SSDs
Refract Gaming Celeste Pre-Built PC
- Pre-built gaming PC – fully tested and ready to ship!
- AMD Ryzen 7 7700X CPU
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU
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Hitman III can be experienced in VR. Check out everything you need to know in our dedicated article.
GoldenEye 007
Number one on this list was a close call between Secret Agent Barbie, the 2001 classic and the grandaddy GoldenEye 007. Of course, everyone’s favourite Bond game launched itself into the number one position, at least in my heart, after 5 seconds of that iconic soundtrack.
August 1997 saw GoldenEye 007 release on the N64 to extremely high praise, with the majority of popular review outlets at the time giving it a 9/10. 24 years later, and those reviews still hold up. We might be looking at this game through nostalgia-tinted glasses, but the iconic Bond soundtrack and gun sound effects still put a childlike smile on my face.
The graphics might not hold up today, especially the low poly NPC faces, but the gameplay still provides that super spy feel. The game created this atmosphere of espionage in exciting ways. Such as, the games character selection screen which was made up of dossiers of your secret agent’s info and, of course, the gun sound effect when you select something within the menu itself.
Level Up Your Takedowns with the Corsair M65 FPS Gaming Mice
No matter what you’re playing, having a great mouse can help you get those kills ethical government-approved takedowns. Corsair M65 Series mice are perfect for FPS and stealth games with high DPI, modular control, and outstanding build quality. What’s more, the built-in DPI lowering snipe button makes headshots easy.
If these don’t meet your espionage needs, then you can explore our full range of FPS gaming mice with the click of a button.
Corsair Gaming M65 PRO RGB FPS Gaming Mouse
- 8 Fully Programable Buttons
- 12,000 DPI
- 3 Zone RGB
- Adjustable Weight System
- Ergonomically Placed DPI Reducing Sniper Button
Corsair M65 RGB ULTRA WIRELESS Tunable FPS Optical Gaming Mouse
- 8 Fully Programable Buttons
- 26,000 DPI
- 1-Zone RGB
- Hyper-fast SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS technology
- Ergonomically Placed DPI Reducing Sniper Button
More Time to Spy
Whether there is a new Bond film to watch or not, we do love playing spies! Check out more espionage-filled games on the Overlockers UK blog.
Did We Miss Your Favourite?
Whether you’re dodging bullets in VR, sneaking around in ceiling panels, or just strapping giant helium balloons to sheep, there is an excellent selection of espionage adventures out there. Let us know your favourite espionage and murder adventure below.
PC specs are subject to change.
- 8 min read
Robert Mullane
Author
When not working, you'll find me in VR or losing in bottom-tier Valorant matches. I write about all topic's tech and gaming with a particular focus on representation in gaming, virtual reality, and LGBTQ+ themes. If you're still not fed up with me, you can also catch me over on the Overclockers UK TikTok and YouTube accounts.
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