Ace Combat has always been a franchise I have been curious about from a distance, but one that I never could quite get into for one reason or another. So, when I got some hands-on time with the newest entry, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, at gamescom 2026, I was not really sure what to expect. After about half an hour with Wings of Theve, I am thrilled to say that this is shaping up to be a fantastic game, regardless of if you’re a relative newcomer or long-time fan.
Ace Combat 8 takes place in the midst of an ongoing war against the Republic of Sotoa, an enemy force that you are slowly trying to fight back against. Unfortunately, the odds are heavily against your player squadron, Joker Squad. You, as Joker Squad, are working to retake the Federation of Central Usea (FCU) from its new occupiers. The demo I played focuses on Mission 4: a level where Joker Squad is tasked with picking off a group of naval ships in the Republic’s army. To make matters more complicated, the Sharks are an enemy squadron of fighter pilots standing in the way of completing your objective. Not only are they formidable, but the Sharks actually share some connection to one of Joker Squad’s members, Ellington Baxter.
Something I really admired about Ace Combat 8 was how much it emphasized the characters. The radio conversations during combat helped to bring each member of the team to life, from the bubbly Tasha Severskaya to the more aloof Baxter. Their personalities feel very tangible and realistic, and are realized beautifully by their respective VAs. I especially loved how they reacted to my gameplay, giving me praise that was uniquely tailored to my experience. For instance, when I targeted the naval ships before going after the Sharks, my teammates mentioned how that might now make it easier to go after the Sharks.
Speaking of gameplay, it felt absolutely fantastic. As someone who had never played an Ace Combat before today, I found my footing with ease. Firing weapons and dodging missiles all feels so natural and easy to control, while still leaving enough wiggle room for more challenging maneuvers that can both reward or punish the most daring of players. As I started to understand the gameplay loop more, there were a few times where I flew close to the water to try and hit the naval ships more efficiently. In some cases, my gamble worked out well. In others, I sadly sent my pilot to an early grave.
What stood out to me the most during my time with Wings of Theve was the sound design and new visual elements. It has now been 7 years since the last Ace Combat, and these elements help to further explain the long wait. The sound of each aircraft and the punch of each projectile now has far more weight to it than ever before. In addition, now when you fly through a cloud, condensation gathers on your windshield. There are even new perspective options, like first-person, to help further immerse you in this world.
For those wanting to try and further optimize their loadout, Ace Combat 8 has you more than covered. Before a mission starts, you can not only choose which aircraft to use, but also which selection of weapons. There are some that are better for air-to-air combat, while others are properly utilized in air-to-ground combat. Not only can you customize your own loadout, but you can also modify the loadout of your teammates. This gives you way more freedom to further optimize your gameplay, allowing you to cover any weaknesses that may emerge from your kit.
Beyond customizing your playstyle, there are also plenty of modes to sink your teeth into when the game releases, specifically with the online options. There are a slew of both PvP and PvE modes for everyone to enjoy. One of the modes I was most interested in functions like a raid where you attack superweapons from prior entries in the franchise. The deathmatch modes also seem enticing, as do the plenty of additional ways to customize your unique player character in the online mode. The massive lobby will give you the chance to see your fellow fliers’ appearances brought to life, which is already shaping up to be the most ambitious in the series’ history.
All in all, that is the core of the Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve experience—ambition. The developers have managed to enhance the experience that players have come to know and love, while adding quality-of-life adjustments that will feel refreshing to new and old fans. A week ago, I would have said these inclusions have made for a game that feels bloated or messy. Instead, if what I played is any indication, Wings of Theve has the potential to be the best entry in the franchise because of just how much it manages to stay true to the core pillars of the franchise. I cannot wait to play more when it releases on October 2 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
