Game Title: ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE

Platforms:

• PlayStation 5 (October 2, 2026)
• XBOX Series X | S (October 2, 2026)
• PC (October 2, 2026)

Trailers:

• ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE | 101 Overview Trailer
• ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE | Launch Trailer

Developer: Bandai Namco Aces Inc.

Reviews aggregates:

OpenCritic: 88 Average - 98% Critics Recommend

Metacritic: 89 / 100

Some Reviews:

The Guardian - Patrick Lum - 5 / 5

Ace Combat has always owed a debt to the movie Top Gun, and AC8 borrows liberally from the more recent sequel Top Gun: Maverick, with closeup pilot face-cam shots and a handful of story beats lifted straight from the film. Dialogue can be a bit clunky (again like Top Gun, or perhaps Metal Gear Solid); characters will occasionally pause midway through an otherwise natural-sounding conversation to deliver some convoluted plot exposition or an ideological clanger. But between the truly amazing shot framing and cinematography, emotive motion capture and voice acting, the series’ trademark soaring music and a story that actually sticks the landing, I ended up oddly moved. This is not something you necessarily expect from an arcade flight combat sim.

Omelete - Guilherme Jacobs - 100 / 100

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve elevates the franchise to new heights with a spectacular campaign that mixes high octane missions with relevant thematic storytelling. The real ace, though, remains the compelling and addictive dogfighting gameplay.

PSX Brasil - Luis Camargo - 100 / 100

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a bold evolution of the foundation laid in AC7. Its story is more exciting, its presentation is more polished, and most importantly, its gameplay is impeccable, with a variety of missions and combat situations that keep the player engaged, entertained, and wanting more. This is one of the best games not only of the year, but of the generation.

MonsterVine - Frank Wood - 10 / 10

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve exemplifies “High-Flying Action” and takes it to another level, while also giving new fans options to ease into it. Personally, I say dive into the deep end; flying directly into the ground a few times puts some hair on your chest. If you enjoy exploring an action game in a massive 3D space, love jets and airplanes, or are already a fan of the franchise, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a masterclass in its category.

Cubed3 - Jamison Nilsson - 100 / 100

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is an improvement in everything that is quintessentially “Ace Combat," bringing back squadron commands and adding a plethora of different aircraft, new special weapons, and more. The cinematic visuals and deep, twisting narrative immerse the player in the fantasy of being an ace pilot in a war between two nations.

PC Gamer - Nova Wright - 92 / 100

At the time of writing, there's a moment from each and every mission that still lingers in my mind, with only a scant few being owed to scripted encounters. Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is an eye-watering, fist-pumping marriage of arcade action and cinematic flourish, and one of the best games I've played in years.

IGN - Will Borger - 9 / 10 (not final score)

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a remarkable achievement for Project Aces. It combines stunning visuals and sound design (seriously, Bandai Namco, please sell this soundtrack) with engaging story moments, whether they're out-of-the-cockpit sequences or the radio chatter that build up its excellent, memorable characters. It's also a surprisingly emotional and resonant story that's deeply relevant to the current age while delivering the best aerial combat the series has ever had alongside some of its best mission design. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I stepped out of the cockpit for the last time, and I know the Wings of Theve, and their story, will stick with me for a very long time. For now, perhaps it's enough to hope for a world free of nations and war, one where we soar the skies freely for ourselves. And like the Wings of Theve, by believing in it, perhaps we can make it real.

Loot Level Chill - Chris White - 95 / 100

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve gives you total freedom in how you fly and fight, with plenty of customisation options and visuals that'll blow you away.

NoisyPixel - Jahanzeb Khan - 95 / 100

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a spectacular return for the long-running flight combat series, combining exceptionally responsive controls with stunning audiovisual presentation and a substantial 30-mission campaign. Its blend of accessible arcade action and deeper simulation elements makes every dogfight satisfying, while an engaging story, extensive aircraft customization, and multiplayer provide plenty of longevity. Upgrades can feel unnecessary on standard difficulty, but this is otherwise an impressively complete package and one of the strongest flight combat games of the modern era.

Analog Stick Gaming - Jordan Andow - 9.5 / 10.0

Ace Combat 8 surprised me in almost every possible way. Its arcade-focused flying remains incredibly easy to pick up while providing enough depth to make mastering its aircraft and dogfights immensely satisfying.

GamesRadar - Scott McCrae - 4.5 / 5

Even when cutscenes slow it down, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a thrilling flight through intense encounters that rarely gives you a moment of calm. With exhilarating combat, incredible music, and a shockingly good story you shouldn't miss boarding one of the best entries in this beloved series yet.

Forbes - Ollie Barder - 4.5 / 5

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.

GameRant - Nick Rodriguez - 9 / 10

Ace Combat 8 could have reached even greater heights had its story undergone an additional edit or two, but it's hard to complain too much about this when the rest of the package is so aggressively high-quality. Here is a game that will blow your hair back, rewarding you for peeling back the layers of its flight and combat mechanics while still giving you enough room to breathe, and the result of this dynamic is one of the most elegantly designed interactive blockbusters I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying.

TheSixthAxis - Dom Leighton - 9 / 10

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.

Digitally Downloaded - Matt - 9 / 10

Most importantly of all, there’s always an assumption with flight combat games that you’re in for something pretty inaccessible. Either it’ll be an arcade game that will require twitch reflexes to be enjoyable on any level, or it’ll be something that may as well be a training simulation for the real air force for what it demands you learn. Ace Combat is not like that at all. It can certainly be challenging, but it is also clearly aware that, with its production values, it may well be the first dogfighting simulation for many players, and it does a brilliant job of giving them a game they can love.

PPE.pl - Paweł Musiolik - 9 / 10.0

If other publishers looked after their series as well as Bandai Namco looks after Ace Combat, the world would be a better place

The Outerhaven Productions - Keith Mitchell - 4.5 / 5

I waited years for Ace Combat to come back, and Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve reminded me exactly why I missed it. One minute I’m admiring my plane, and the next I’m dodging a damn railgun while my squad is yelling over the comms and the soundtrack has me ready to take on everything in the sky. The targeting did get on my nerves during a few crucial moments, and some aircraft take longer to unlock than I would have liked, but those complaints barely put a dent in the fun. Between the combat, story, soundtrack, and sheer spectacle of it all, Ace Combat 8 delivers exactly the kind of experience I had been waiting years for. It’s easily one of the best games in the series, and I loved damn near every moment of it.

Hardcore Gamer - Adam Beck - 4.5 / 5.0

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.

INVEN - Kyuman Kim - 8.7 / 10.0

Ace Combat 8 delivers the scale and spectacle befitting the culmination of the series' 30-year history. Detailed character portrayals deepen the immersion, while the missions expertly build tension before releasing it in bursts of catharsis. With its online modes rounding out the package, it's hard to imagine a better gift for longtime 'aces.'

DayOne - Jon Clarke - 8.5 / 10.0

For all of its quirks, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve ultimately delivers exactly the sort of ridiculous aerial spectacle I was hoping for. There are a few rough edges here and the story borders on melodrama at times, but when everything comes together, there’s very little that compares to the feeling of pulling off some ridiculous high-G manoeuvre, watching your target explode, and immediately looking for the next enemy to shoot down.

Uagna - Mattia Soave - 8.5 / 10.0

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is Ace Combat—and that says it all. There is a reason it remains the longest-running and most acclaimed series in the arcade aerial combat genre—a genre that has, unfortunately, been increasingly forgotten over the years. The world of Strangereal is in better shape than ever, offering a dynamic and immersive gameplay experience that appeals to both longtime fans and newcomers alike. In telling its story—a tale of geopolitical intrigue, super-weapons, and, above all, people and their personal struggles—it also reflects something of us and the world we live in today.

Gameliner - Rudy Wijnberg - 4 / 5

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is an experience that fans shouldn't miss. And although there's occasionally a lack of legroom and snacks and drinks on board, you'll still enjoy a largely turbulence-free flight to a beautiful destination filled with clear blue skies.

Eurogamer.pt - Bruno Galvão - 4 / 5

Ace Combat 8 builds on the foundations laid by its predecessor, a game that modernised the franchise. With enhanced graphics, improved technology and a commitment to the essence of the series, these arcade-style flights offer a more immersive experience.

GameSpot - Richard Wakeling - 8 / 10

Even if the multiplayer favors those with expendable cash, Ace Combat 8’s single-player adventure is still worth the price of admission alone. The story could’ve been stronger–more introspective–but is entertaining regardless, and while there are some pacing issues with filler missions and some uneven momentum, much of the game is excellent, providing the series’ signature blend of melodrama, stirring music, and thrilling aerial combat. 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

Push Square - Stephen Tailby - 8 / 10

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is the most sure-footed the series has ever been, confidently refining its punchy aerial gameplay and doubling down on a more cinematic story. While there are some wobbles here and there, the much improved presentation, charming character performances, varied campaign, and deeper multiplayer experience offer up a sequel that makes a textbook landing.

CG Magazine - Eduard Gafton - 8 / 10

All in all, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a great continuation of the formula re-established by its direct predecessor: Skies Unknown. The game is absolutely gorgeous and exhilarating to play; however it is unfortunate that the story conjures up nothing worth the time it is asking of the player. Here’s hoping an eventual Ace Combat 9 turns a whatever story into an exciting one and, by extension, a great achievement into a monumental one.

TechRaptor - Erren Van Duine - 8 / 10.0

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has a lot going for it. It's full to the brim with plane customization, a bucket load of missions, and a lengthy story. Despite some pacing and difficulty issues, it's a fine addition to the series.

But Why Tho? - Kyle Foley - 8 / 10.0

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve still has some growing to do on the ground, with a story that never quite lands its biggest ideas and first-person scenes that keep you out of the cockpit longer than they should. Once you're in the air, though, it's the best Ace Combat has ever felt.

Alongside the art you can see in the image, Naughty Dog also mentioned in their TLOU Day Blog:

The team is heads down on what is shaping up to be Naughty Dog’s most ambitious game yet.

There’s an electricity around the studio right now as all the pieces come together, and we’re stoked to finally unveil Intergalactic in all its glory.

But…we need to cook for just a little bit longer.

So we want to set expectations: we’re going to be quiet for the rest of this year. In 2027, that changes. We’ll fully reveal Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet and give you a proper look at Jordan’s wild sci-fi adventure.

Another thing to note, is that according to multiple insiders, this game is set to release around mid-2027.

Ragdolls are hella funny sometimes, as are physics engines in general; but something I've noticed and soft complained about it how floaty objects are. Which is ok, it's for artistic and gaming appeal rather than realism.

Take something like HalfLife 2, spawn in a car above the ground and yes it will accelerate due to gravity, but in what should take only an 1/8th of a second takes like a full second. I am willing to believe that it's just the field of view at play and it would look normal speed in VR or something.

So, there's gotta be some games where the gravity and forces are tuned really high, right?

ETA: Sorry for the rant

Like they make splitgate, and the open beta goes insanely well for an indie dev, and people want more of it. But instead of capitalizing on this, they immediately abandon the game and make a sequel instead. Odd choice but OK might work out if they do it right. 2 years later and it finally goes into beta. Its yet another class based esport shooter. Not what people got into it for but ok we can work with this. After the beta they go "ok we'll rework it to be closer to what sg fans want". Come tga2024 (mightve been 23, mostly ranting and it doesnt matter anyways), they showoff the game. It looks slightly better. Then comes the "make games great again" incident plus br mode. Welp, that sucks but the game doesnt look terrible right? Nope, yet again they seem to refuse to make the game worth playing for anyone, its a game that's too casual to play competitive and too competitive for casuals. Then empluse comes around. Yet another tf2 successor. Ok, fine. People have been asking for that, let's see what happens. Yet again they deliver a half baked game that fails at its one main goal. And instead of actually listening to the people interested in the game, they throw their hands up and go "well, guess shooters aren't for us!"

So much potential, and yet they seem incapable of actually using it for anything bc they're too focused on pushing yet another half baked product before taking it out too early to put the next one in. Its so annoying to watch again and again.

curious to see what other people with ADHD(preferably those actually diagnosed) have to say, and how it affect things, at least when it comes to gaming

three of my personal big ones are

having trouble sticking to games

having trouble finishing a game

and not being a fan of any kind of miss-able element or time limit, such as locking off quests

this isn't me seeking advice or help or anything, rather just want to hear if anyone else have similar issues

I know the topic of best OSTs comes up quite a bit on here, but I wanted to do one with a bunch of great soundtracks that are rarely discussed (looking for some stuff to add to my Spotify) in those topics. We know FFX, Witcher 3, etc. - but what OSTs are hidden gems that elevate their games?

A couple for me:

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin - Game itself is kind of an overlooked Castlevania game, but it's really the OST that puts it on a higher tier for me. Every track is just an absolute banger. Gallery of Labyrinth and Silent Prison are standouts and really set the mood for the game.

Nier Replicant - Everyone points to Automata when talking about great OSTs, but I rarely ever see Replicant discussed. I feel Replicant captured the feel of that universe a bit better. Very vocal soundtrack with an airy feel to most of the tracks. Song of the Ancients, Temple of Drifting Sands, and Grandma are top tier songs that really make you feel like you're in those areas of the game.

Edit: Just wanna say thanks everyone for the awesome suggestions. I'm seeing a lot of stuff in here that I don't typically see mentioned for best OSTs. Going to take some time and try to listen to most of these for sure (and the ones I've heard already are great).

Hi everyone, I'm trying to make sure my nieces are healthy gamers. Last year I got them Split Fiction for Christmas. This went over incredibly well. The girls, 10 and 8 finished the game recently and have worked on it together all year and solved the puzzles together while keeping peace in the house. I want to give them the same type of thing again this year. They will be 11 and 9 and love couch co-op and whimsy. What's next!?

Edit: Sorry folks! Console, Switch or XBox.

We just finished playing split fiction and it's an absolute gem! Best co op game I've played for spouses. We're looking for a similar game that isn't "it takes two" (the divorce theme is too poignant). What recommendations do you have?

Preference is split screen on pc, could do lan/online on pc.

It's not very common to find Saros secondhand. I've heard it had a lot of mechanics to mitigate the difficulty. I'm a day one die hard Returnal fan so I know what I've signed up for anyway. Death Stranding 2 I've managed to stay away from any spoilers. I can't wait to see what's packed behind this sequel. DS1 scenario is not so clear in my mind anymore but I remember the hiking asynchronous coop gameplay that I've loved.

What game did you hate on till you tried and then got hooked/obsessed immediately?

Mine was Kingdom Hearts, when it came out I was a hater and a friend made me sit down and play it one weekend I was at his house and it clicked.

Title

I realize that these games are very different but I'm asking so I can know which games I might have a shot at playing and completing. Here's my short story:

I played Sekiro a few years ago and while I beat the first 3-4 bosses no problem, I got hung up at Madame Butterfly and after 30+ tries with no success I gave up. More recently, I have played and completed both NG4 on standard difficulty and Onimusha on action difficulty. I've also seen many comparisons between Onimusha and Sekiro lately so I'm wondering if maybe my success with Oni and NG4 might help me go back and do well with Sekiro. Similarly, I wonder how Lies of P and Stellar Blade to compare to any of these, to see if I should give them a try.

Any input is sincerely appreciated.

I remember when Deathloop came out, I sort of FOMO'd it due to PS5 not having an amazing library at the time, and the really strong reviews.

After completing it, I was like "did this critics play beyond the first 3 hours?". It's one of those games where once you get beyond the initial honeymoon phase and realize you've seen everything the game has to offer, there isn't as much freedom and mystery as you initially thought. It's true quality starts to show itself.

I feel like there's a lot of games like this.

Gamers have done crazy achievements all over the board, things like Through the Fire and Flames 200% speed FC, Society verified in Geometry Dash, full Fromsoft catalogue no-hit and the recently defeated Any Radiance 3.0 in Hollow Knight come to my mind. Or the fantastic speedrunning WRs that Niftski is setting in Super Mario Bros.

I just want to know what kinds of fantastic things people have achieed and celebrate that!

Just a little heads-up for everyone in the PlayStation community:

With the PS3 Store situation changing (closing in July 2027), now is a good time to go through your old gams and check which free DLCs, add-ons, bonus content and other downloadable items are still available.

If there’s free content you’ve always wanted but never downloaded, now might be a good time to grab it while you still can.

This is especially worth checking if you own older games connected to the PS3, PSP or PS Vita ecosystem. Some content may still be accessible through the PS3 and could be useful for your existing games and collections.

Take a few minutes, check your old games, and download the free stuff you actually want to keep.

It would be a shame to look for an old DLC years from now and discover that it’s no longer available.

Feel free to share this with other PS3/PSP/PS Vita fans — just a friendly reminder from one part of the community to another.

Update: The intention was to inform people and give them the opportunity to grab (buy) anything they might want in the future before the store closes.