Ace Combat 8 Wings of Theve Review: Best Flight Game Yet

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, the first mainline Ace Combat game in seven years, launched on October 1-2, 2026 for PC (Steam), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S at $69.99 ($80 Deluxe). Developed by Bandai Namco Aces (Project Aces), it holds a 87-88 Metacritic — the highest-rated Ace Combat game in 25 years since Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies (89 in 2001). PC Gamer called it "a masterpiece of arcade flight action," and the Steam user score sits at 82% Very Positive from over 6,600 reviews.

What Is Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve?

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is an arcade flight action game set in the fictional world of Strangereal. Players take the role of REX, an unknown pilot who inherits the legendary call sign "Wings of Theve" after the previous ace is killed in a crash. You lead Joker Flight, a four-person squadron fighting for the Federation of Central Usea (FCU) against the invading nation of Sotoa. The game is the eighth mainline entry and the 30th anniversary celebration of the franchise. Developed by Project Aces, the team behind the entire series, it runs on Unreal Engine 5 with a proprietary Cloudly weather system.

Release Details

Critical Reception: The Best Ace Combat in 25 Years

What Critics Praised

Gameplay: Arcade Flight Perfected

Reviewers universally praised the flying itself. PC Gamer noted that dogfights "eschew the High-G Turn spam" of earlier games for "hair-raising chases" through dynamic weather. Clouds are not cosmetic — they offer tactical cover that blinds and disorients, and enemies exploit them. The Guardian summarised the core appeal as "the moment when the beautiful clouds part, the sunlight glints off your perfectly rendered fighter jet, and guitar-shredding music kicks into overdrive." Expert controls give full pitch, roll, and yaw, while novice controls offer a simplified arcade option.

Mission Design and Variety

The 30-mission campaign is the longest in series history at 25-30 hours. Polygon described objectives that range from protecting ships to hunting massive superweapons — notably the "Podarge" aerial transport craft and an enormous tank boss fight that requires multi-stage coordination. CGMagazine praised how missions "are assembled with care and very varied," including disguised ships, low-altitude radar evasion, and escort duties.

Living Skies and Visuals

The Cloudly weather system received consistent praise. Dynamic multi-layered clouds change battlefield conditions mid-mission, affecting visibility, missile lock, and enemy behaviour. The game runs on Unreal Engine 5 with hardware ray tracing required. PC performance was described as "exemplary" on high-end hardware (Ryzen 7 + RTX 5070 Ti), though Steam Deck is not supported. Storage requires 125 GB SSD.

Story, Characters and Music

The narrative follows REX inheriting the Wings of Theve legacy, leading Joker Flight (Noise, Tasha, and Baxter). The campaign deals with themes of propaganda, nationalism, and the cost of war. IGN called it "surprisingly emotional and resonant." The soundtrack was widely praised — IGN described it as "one of the year's best soundtracks," with orchestral scores layered over rock choruses and tribal chanting. A live-action prequel series stars Josh Holloway (Lost) and Brandon Routh (Superman Returns). Pre-ordering any edition also includes a ported version of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War (2006).

What Critics Criticised

The most consistent criticism is repetition in the second half. Polygon reported that the "last leg of the story feels creatively stretched out" with timed high-score chases that struggle to escalate stakes. Some reviewers found the story impenetrable — CGMagazine described it as "incoherent." Other complaints include a lack of FOV slider for cockpit view, minor performance hitches during first-person cutscenes, and the Steam user score being lower than critical reception at 82%. Multiplayer (Ace Combat Online) was not fully tested by most reviewers due to limited pre-release server access, so final impressions there are pending.

Ace Combat Online: Multiplayer

Wings of Theve ships with the largest multiplayer mode in franchise history — Ace Combat Online. It features 100-player lobbies with full cross-play across PC, PS5 and Xbox. Two main modes: Co-Op Assault (4vPvE, compete for high score) and Co-Op Warfare (4v4 PvPvE with NPC units). Limited-time events include Scramble (4-player co-op vs powerful NPCs) and Emergency Sortie (8 players vs iconic superweapons from series history). A seasonal ACE Pass (free and premium tiers) provides ongoing rewards. Because reviewers had limited pre-release access, full multiplayer impressions are still emerging post-launch.

Pros and Cons

Is Ace Combat 8 Worth It?

At $69.99 with a 25-30 hour campaign, cross-play multiplayer, a port of Ace Combat Zero as pre-order bonus, and the highest critical reception the series has seen since the PS2 era, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve offers outstanding value for flight action fans. The 87-88 Metacritic, 89 OpenCritic and 93% critic recommendation rate place it among the best games of 2026 in any genre. Buy if you love arcade flight, spectacular set-pieces, or just want the closest thing gaming has to a Top Gun fantasy. The repetitive second half and impenetrable story are the main drawbacks.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve release?

October 1, 2026 (PC early unlock) and October 2, 2026 (global) on PC (Steam, Epic), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Deluxe Edition pre-orders gained early access from September 29.

What is the Metacritic score for Ace Combat 8?

87-88/100 on Metacritic across platforms — the highest-rated Ace Combat game in 25 years since Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies (89 in 2001). OpenCritic shows 89 average with 93% of critics recommending it. Steam reviews are 82% Very Positive (6,600+ reviews).

How long is Ace Combat 8's campaign?

30 missions across approximately 25-30 hours. It is the longest campaign in Ace Combat series history.

Does Ace Combat 8 have multiplayer?

Yes. Ace Combat Online is the largest multiplayer mode in franchise history, featuring 100-player lobbies, full cross-play, Co-Op Assault (PvE), Co-Op Warfare (PvPvE), and limited-time special missions against iconic superweapons.

Who developed Ace Combat 8?

Bandai Namco Aces Inc. (Project Aces), the same team behind every mainline Ace Combat game. Bandai Namco Entertainment published the game.

What is the story of Ace Combat 8?

Set in Strangereal, the Federation of Central Usea is invaded by Sotoa. You play as REX, an unknown pilot who inherits the legendary "Wings of Theve" call sign after the previous ace is killed. You lead Joker Flight to reclaim your homeland.

What pre-order bonus does Ace Combat 8 include?

A ported version of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War (2006), the F-14A aircraft, and early access for Deluxe Edition buyers.

Does Ace Combat 8 support cross-play?

Yes. Ace Combat Online features full cross-play across PC (Steam, Epic), PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Conclusion

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is the best-reviewed Ace Combat game in 25 years, and for good reason. The flying is sublime, the dynamic weather system transforms every engagement, and the 30-mission campaign delivers spectacular set-pieces that few games in any genre can match. The repetitive second half and polarising story prevent it from being perfect, but at 87-88 Metacritic with 93% critic recommendation, this is an easy recommendation for anyone who has ever wanted to feel like an ace pilot.

Published: October 4, 2026 | Updated: October 4, 2026

Sources: Metacritic (87-88, 55 critic reviews) — metacritic.com; OpenCritic (89, 93% recommend) — opencritic.com; PC Gamer — pcgamer.com; IGN — ign.com; Polygon — polygon.com; The Guardian — theguardian.com; CGMagazine — cgmagonline.com; Bandai Namco official site — bandainamcoent.eu; Steam store page (82% Very Positive, 6,621 reviews) — steampowered.com; 80.lv (series highest rated in 25 years) — 80.lv. All scores and data as of October 4, 2026.