Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Reviews
Ace Combat series is arguably the sole survivor of a once upon a time thriving genre that spawned from Strike Commander, one that combines cinematic storytelling and exciting air combat. Ace Combat 8 is not just a worthy successor of this pedigree but one of the best games of this year regardless of genre.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve delivers an incredible single-player campaign, thrilling dogfights, and a phenomenal soundtrack, despite its underwhelming multiplayer. It wants you to experience the fantasy of being one of the greatest pilots known to man. And once you get to the credits, it’ll leave a smile on your face, leaving you wishing you could experience it for the first time all over again.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a remarkable achievement for Project Aces, with an excellent story and some of the best aerial combat the series has ever had.
One or two dud missions and an uneven story do little to dull the shine of 2026's most breathless, invigorating action game
Arcade flight action and anime melodrama refined to the highest possible level-a must play for aviation fans.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is both one of the strongest entry points for newcomers, and still a treat for longtime fans.
Whether that story is successful will likely depend on your tolerance for bright-eyed optimism. Rather than wallowing in darkness, Wings of Theve wants to imagine a hopeful future.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve picks up where Ace Combat 7 left off, underlining that the series is well and truly back to its best
Overall, Ace Combat 8 is still the immaculately crafted flight combat game we have all come to enjoy, but there is a more visceral aspect to the game now. From how you feel massive explosions to repeatedly breaking, as well as surpassing, the sound barrier. So I raise a humble hand of hope that this game will find its audience and that they will have a modicum of sympathy for the nomadic Sotoans even after all the carnage they have caused.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is everything we could have hoped for. It features a much longer, compelling story, a ton of different fighter jets at your disposal and some of the best combat in any air combat game.
Ace Combat 8 is a love letter to combat aviation in its entirety.
Ace Combat 8 refines what its predecessors did well and introduces an exceptional story and cast of characters to really add depth to this arcade series.
A new series best, that mixes fantastic graphics with impressively accessible gameplay, that you can play like a straight action game or a more open-ended simulator.
Ace Combat 8 manages to stand out as a highly recommended game for any type of player .
Review in Spanish | Read full review
This is a fantastic flight combat experience and I’m going to be shooting for high scores and multiplayer sorties well after this review.
Taking another step forward for this classic series, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve brings a truly cinematic outlook to its special brand of arcade-infused dogfighting.
Ace Combat 8 marks another pleasant surprise for 2026, and is one of the most thrilling, sharply designed action games in years.
If the other games in this series are even half as good as AC8, then Ace Combat is unquestionably the best game franchise.
The game generates blood-pumping moments as you twist, turn and weave through the skies, while your locked-on missiles speed away to obliterate an enemy plane
Ace Combat is back with Wings of Theve, and although the campaign doesn't hit all the right notes, it's still a classic Ace Combat experience.