007 First Light: All Difficulty Settings Explained

007 First Light difficulty settings give every type of player a way to enjoy the game. Whether you want to focus on the story or push yourself to the limit, knowing what each mode does before you start saves a lot of frustration. This guide breaks down all three difficulties and helps you pick the right one.

TL;DR

• 007 First Light has three difficulty settings: Novice, Intended, and Purist.
• Novice is easy mode — no gadget cooldowns, weaker enemies.
• Intended is the balanced, developer-recommended mode for first playthroughs.
• Purist is hard mode — low health, scarce resources, aggressive enemies.
• You can change difficulty mid-game without losing progress.
• No achievements or challenges are locked behind any difficulty.

How Many Difficulty Settings Does 007 First Light Have?

007 First Light from IO Interactive comes with three difficulty settings. These are Novice, Intended, and Purist. You pick one at the start of a new save. Each one changes how tough enemies are, how much damage Bond takes, and how your gadgets behave.

The story, missions, and locations all stay exactly the same no matter which difficulty you choose. Only the combat feel and resource management change.

The game is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and the Epic Games Store, and all three difficulty options are available on every platform.

Novice Difficulty — Easy Mode Explained

Novice is the easy mode in 007 First Light. If your main goal is to follow the story without getting stuck on combat, this is the right pick.

Here is what changes in Novice mode:

• Bond takes much less damage in combat.
• Your attacks deal more damage to enemies.
• Enemies are weaker and take longer to spot you during stealth sections.
• Bond’s gadgets have no cooldown timers — you can use them back to back without waiting.
• Gadgets can be used more often before they need replenishing.

In this mode, you feel like a proper movie version of Bond. Enemies are not much of a threat, and gadgets like the Q-Lens, watch laser, and hacking tools are always ready to use. It is a great option if you are here for the story beats, the world-building, and the cut scenes.

This mode is also useful if you are stuck on a tough challenge and just want to push through. You can check out our guide on All the Time in the World all challenges if you need extra help getting through specific missions.

Intended Difficulty — Normal Mode Explained

Intended is the default and developer-recommended difficulty. IO Interactive designed and balanced the whole game around this setting. It is the best choice for most players on their first playthrough.

Here is what you can expect on Intended:

• Enemies are tuned for a fair and steady challenge.
• Bond takes and deals balanced damage.
• Gadgets have cooldown timers, so you need to manage them carefully.
• You need to gather items to regenerate your gadgets.
• Enemies are smart enough to flank you if you stay in one spot.

On this difficulty, the game forces you to think tactically. You cannot just run in and shoot everything. You need to use stealth, scout with the Q-Lens, pick the right gadgets, and choose your moments carefully. Mastering the espionage mechanics feels very rewarding as a result.

To make the most out of Intended, it helps to plan your best gadget loadout before each mission. Also worth checking out is the full list of all gadgets in 007 First Light so you know what tools are available to you.

Purist Difficulty — Hard Mode Explained

Purist is the hardest difficulty in 007 First Light. This mode is designed for experienced players who want a serious challenge and are willing to play very carefully.

Here is what changes in Purist mode:

• Bond’s health is extremely low — you go down fast.
• Enemies deal heavy damage and react very quickly when they spot you.
• Gadgets use far more resources to operate.
• Resources are harder to find throughout missions.
• Loud combat is almost always a bad idea — enemies will overwhelm you quickly.

On Purist, one bad fistfight against a group of enemies is usually enough to end your run. You need to scout carefully, use takedowns on isolated targets, pickpocket key items, and avoid direct confrontation wherever possible. If you enjoyed IO Interactive’s Hitman games on higher difficulties, Purist will feel very familiar.

The parry timing window also shrinks significantly on harder difficulties, so landing clean counters takes much more practice. Rushing into fights without a plan will get Bond killed very fast.

If you are going for completionist goals on Purist, be sure to review the all missions, challenges, and collectibles guide to plan ahead.

Can You Change Difficulty Mid-Game?

Yes, you can change the difficulty in 007 First Light without starting over. There are two ways to do it.

The first way is by dying in combat. When you fail an objective — meaning Bond gets killed in action — you will see three options on screen. Instead of hitting retry, you can switch to a different difficulty from that menu.

The second way is through the main menu. Go to Story, then select Chapter. Choose the chapter you are currently on, filter through the checkpoints, and you can change the difficulty setting from there.

This means you are never truly locked into a choice. If Purist becomes too frustrating on a specific section, you can drop to Intended without any penalty.

Does Difficulty Affect Achievements or Challenges?

No. There are no difficulty-related achievements in 007 First Light. You get the same rewards whether you finish the game on Novice or Purist. This is good news for anyone going for a full achievement run — you can play on whatever difficulty feels right without worrying about missing out.

Challenges also work the same way across all difficulties. You can complete any challenge on Novice if you are having trouble with it on a harder setting. This gives you a lot of flexibility.

Here are some challenge guides that may help you regardless of the difficulty you choose:

• Against the Odds challenges guide
• A New Home — all challenges
• Scorpius Disguise — Soldier Boy challenge
• Classified Papers challenge
• Hotel Manager’s Safe — Wine Connoisseur challenge

Which Difficulty Should You Pick in 007 First Light?

Here is a simple breakdown to help you decide:

• Pick Novice if you mainly want to experience the story without much resistance. Gadgets are always ready, and combat is forgiving.
• Pick Intended if you want the balanced experience the developers designed the game around. This is the best choice for most first-time players.
• Pick Purist if you are an experienced player who enjoys stealth-heavy, tactical gameplay and wants to be constantly challenged.

For most people, Intended is the right call for a first playthrough. It gives you a real challenge without being unfair, and it makes all the stealth and gadget mechanics feel meaningful and rewarding.

Tips for Tackling Higher Difficulties

If you are playing on Intended or Purist, here are a few things that will help you a lot:

• Use disguises. Blending into the environment helps you avoid unnecessary fights. Check our guides on the laundry disguise and all outfits in 007 First Light to find good options early.
• Learn how to change outfits quickly. Swapping disguises at the right moment can save you from being spotted. Here is how to change outfits.
• Get your press badge or clearance level early. Some areas require access items. See how to get the press badge and how to get intel clearance level.
• Know your mission layout. Use the chapter select to replay missions if needed. Here is how to replay missions in 007 First Light.
• Use keys and access items wisely. Check the compound basement keys guide to make sure you are not missing anything important.
• Solve environmental puzzles before fighting. Things like the dining room puzzle and the hotel laundry area code can open shortcuts that save you from combat.
• Know the room layouts. Some missions require you to navigate carefully. See the guide on how to enter rooms 206, 205, and 207.

Other Useful 007 First Light Guides

If you are just getting started or want to go deeper, here are some more guides worth bookmarking:

• How long to beat 007 First Light
• 007 First Light PC requirements
• All pre-order and Deluxe Edition items
• Twitch Drop rewards guide
• How to get the bellboy hat
• Joshua Pike investigation guide
• How to get the Press Only badge challenge

Note

The three 007 First Light difficulty settings give every player a good entry point. Novice is relaxed and story-focused. Intended is balanced and designed to be the main experience. Purist is a serious test for players who love stealth and careful planning.

The best part? You can switch at any time, and no achievements or challenges are gated behind a specific difficulty. So do not stress over your first pick. Start on Intended, adjust if needed, and enjoy the game.