Steam's New Freebie Is A GoldenEye 64 Successor Retro Gamers Can't Ignore

GoldenEye 007 is highly-regarded as one of the best first-person shooters of all-time, and its inspiration on future games is clear to see.

It adapted a beloved James Bond film, came with a timeless multiplayer mode and bonus levels that were somehow better than the main story.

Plenty of games have taken notes from GoldenEye 007 but the one we’re talking about today feels like a true spiritual successor, and there’s a free demo for it on Steam right now.

A Nintendo 64-Inspired Shooter

Tearing its way onto Steam later this year is a game called SOE 64, which would have absolutely slapped had it been released on the actual Nintendo 64 in the ‘90s.

This first-person shooter looks gorgeous and is going to be a must-play for those who love a good retro revival.

Its Steam description says it’s a “retro-inspired WWII FPS built in the spirit of 90s console classics. Operate behind enemy lines, from Alpine railways to undercover dinner parties; shoot, explode and dismantle the German war effort one mission at a time. Work alongside the resistance and unlikely allies as you liberate Europe.”

Basically, it’s GoldenEye 007 with a hint of the early Call of Duty games for good measure, which sounds awesome.

You’ve got your standard on-foot gameplay where you’re gunning down enemy soldiers but as you’ll see in the gameplay footage, you can also take the fun behind the wheel.

Hatchett Studio

In one part of the game, you’ll ride on the back of a jeep as you unleash carnage on the area around you. It looks comparable to the tank level of GoldenEye 64 but we’re also getting some Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater vibes as well.

While we’d love to share a release date with you, there unfortunately isn’t one. In fact, there’s no mention whatsoever of when we might expect the game, not even a vague release window.

Chances are it’ll launch later this year though so you’ve probably not got long to wait.

Those who just can’t bear waiting though will be glad to hear that you can try the game for free right now. A demo is currently alive on the game’s Steam page and will take you through one of its many levels.

We’d love to see more games try to emulate the style of GoldenEye 007. It was a monumental achievement for its time and it still holds up today. It deserves the love it gets.

If you’re yet to play GoldenEye 007 or fancy a replay, it’s currently available on modern platforms. It’s also included in your Xbox Game Pass and Nintendo Switch Online subscription, but we’d recommend the Xbox version of the game as the controls are much better.

For more James Bond, check out our preview for the upcoming release of 007 First Light. It just might be the best Bond game yet.

READ MORE: 007 First Light Could Be The Best Bond Game Since 'GoldenEye', We Played It