Ace Combat 8 is one of the most pleasant surprises of 2026, and one of the most thrilling, sharply designed action games in years.

The Ace Combat games never really appealed to me—many of these classic airplane-combat games always came across as too technical, motion-sickness-inducing, and impersonal for my taste. Revisiting some older titles over the past few weeks, I think some of those beliefs hold true, but I'll say this: they most certainly do not apply to Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, which might very well be one of the most glorious and thrill-inducing games I've ever played.

Ace Combat has always been relatively niche, but Ace Combat 8 could be the entry that changes that. It's not without flaws, which mostly come down to story presentation and pacing, but given how nearly flawless the game's encounter design, controls, and setpieces are, I'm left wondering how much these flaws really matter. Because when it comes down to fundamental, hands-on-sticks quality, Ace Combat 8 is about as good as it gets, and a gripping reminder of what AAA gaming can accomplish when done right.

At the same time, this is most definitely an Ace Combat game , top to bottom. Ace Combat 8 doesn't feature any out-of-airplane gameplay, strongly punishes ignoring build-crafting and mission briefs, and often places excessive emphasis on story details like battle tactics, technological specifications, and miscellaneous aero-minutiae. The whole package may not appeal to every fan of action games or military shooters, but if you can fully embrace the pilot's seat, you'll be in for an exceptionally captivating ride.

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