After thirty years of refining their brand of arcade-style aerial combat, developer Bandai Namco Aces Inc. is ready to release the latest iteration of their hit series, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve. The latest title set in Strangereal, the series’ fictional setting that closely resembles our own Earth, brings high-flying action, intense dogfights and a beautifully detailed world that leaves you feeling like you’re fighting high up above real living cities. Publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. recently invited me to try a few missions from the game’s campaign, and I came away from my time excited to see the rest of the story when Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve launches.
From the start of my time with the game, I was engaged with the campaign. The legendary pilot, Rex, isn’t a person but a role and title thrust upon you, forcing you to lead the Wings of Theve. The titular flight unit is one of the Federation of Central Usea’s last hopes in an invasion that has sent your few remaining forces on the run. In such dire conditions, symbols of hope mean more than ever, and the early campaign conveys that desperation effectively through your squadmates’ chatter and mission objectives.
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Some may view the campaign as pointless window dressing, a barrier between the player and more high-flying action, but I always appreciate context for the missions I take on in any campaign. It also explains the diversity in the aerial battlefields, with some missions taking place in the snowy mountains, a tropical archipelago, or high above, in and around a massive thunderhead.
You are the last hope of the Federation of Central Usea in Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve and this shows in the missions you embark on.
That last example was the arena for my favorite mission; a hunt set high above the earth, where we had to find and destroy a fleet of bombers before they could escape. The twist was that they weren’t visible on radar, meaning we had to comb through the clouds to discover them. This forced me to really engage with the environment, observing the clouds carefully for any disturbances that could lead me to my target.
This eventually led to a dogfight with another squadron, requiring me to use the clouds for cover but putting me at risk of being struck by lightning! This dynamic made the environment feel as much a tool as the rockets and bombs I brought on the mission.
It wasn’t just the clouded sky – each environment felt lovingly crafted, with an absurd level of detail visible to any pilot that dared to fly close enough, and the changes in scenery certainly helped to set each mission apart. Even the view from the cockpit is gorgeously detailed, though I preferred to fly in third-person mode rather than first-person.
Diverse settings in the game offer unique challenges and opportunities in each mission.
The setting wasn’t the only thing that changed between missions. The objective of each mission also helped to create memorable encounters, whether it was defending an aircraft carrier, fighting an enemy squad, or destroying a city’s anti-air defenses, all while avoiding getting shot out of the sky.
Though the player character doesn’t speak, you often have the chance to provide input, typically in the form of a yes-or-no question. These choices don’t affect the outcome of your missions, but they’re a nice way to instill some personality into your character, whether that’s as a thoughtful leader or a sarcastic menace.
After each mission, my performance was evaluated, and I was graded. Based on my performance, including how many enemy combatants I destroyed, I received points which could be spent between missions. Starting from a single jet on a web resembling a skill tree, players can spend their points to unlock new parts, weapons, and jets, each with their own statistics. The weapons, in particular, were useful, each excelling at a specific purpose. One missile in particular worked very well at long range, allowing you to destroy stationary or slow-moving targets from a safe distance.
The evaluation system is not just for seeing how you’re doing; it also earns you points to spend.
The Ace Combat series is known for its grounded settings while also delving into more fantastical sci-fi elements, with powerful superweapons, space elevators and AI. Fans of the series need not worry, because Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is no exception, bringing a pair of massive battleships out of the ocean to turn them into mobile fortresses with long-range offensive capabilities. Your enemies aren’t the only ones with futuristic weaponry, though, because some of the jets you can unlock are closer to experimental craft than your starting setup.
Completing a mission in the campaign allows you to replay it, allowing you to bring later, more powerful equipment or jets to aim for a better score. For the gamer who just wants to fly fast and shoot bad guys, this is where you’ll be spending much of your time.
With explosive action, incredibly detailed jets and environments, and just plain cool setpieces, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve feels like the culmination of decades of work. This entry is sure to blow people away, whether they’re longtime fans or newcomers.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve releases October 2, 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S
