Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve Review Roundup

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve (Image: Bandai Namco)

The reviews are in for Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, which launched October 2 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. We're a few days late with this one, but the verdict hasn't changed since the review embargo lifted: if you've been waiting seven long years for a new Ace Combat, things are looking really good. Larger outlets are praising Bandai Namco Aces' polished dogfighting, a varied 30-mission campaign, the new layered cloud tech that actually changes how fights play out, and (as usual) a fantastic soundtrack. The most common complaints are long, melodramatic cutscenes, a story that can get tangled in its own lore, and a few filler missions, but the consensus is that this is one of the best entries in the series.

Aggregate Scores

• OpenCritic: 87 Top Critic Average, 99% of critics recommend ("Mighty" tier, 90 critic reviews) – opencritic.com
• Metacritic: 88 Metascore (61 critic reviews), 8.4 user score – metacritic.com

What the Critics Are Saying

• IGN (no score yet; campaign-only review, final score pending multiplayer): "It marries exceptional air combat with a melodramatic but moving story, one of the year's best soundtracks, and incredible visual design to make a war game that never lets you forget how terrible everything happening here is." – https://www.ign.com/articles/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve-review
• GameSpot (8/10, review in progress): "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." – https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/ace-combat-8-is-utterly-absurd-and-better-off-for-it/
• Polygon (unscored): "But at this moment, where despair is in high supply, I find myself willing to embrace Wings of Theve's radical optimism." – https://www.polygon.com/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve-review/
• PC Gamer (92/100): "Arcade flight action and anime melodrama refined to the highest possible level—a must play for aviation fans." – https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve-review/
• GamesRadar+ (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." – https://www.gamesradar.com/games/action/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve-review/
• The Guardian (5/5): "AC8 is a triumph, a perfectly composed symphony of fire and steel that absolutely soars." – https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/sep/25/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve-review

• Destructoid (9/10): "Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve does everything well. It has a great cast of characters, an amazing soundtrack, and iconic gameplay that did not need much changing whatsoever." – https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/ace-combat-8-review/
• Shacknews (9/10): "This is a fantastic flight combat experience and I'm going to be shooting for high scores and multiplayer sorties well after this review." – https://www.shacknews.com/article/150819/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve-review-score
• TheSixthAxis (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." – https://www.thesixthaxis.com/2026/09/25/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve-review/
• TheGamer (4.5/5): "Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is both one of the strongest entry points for newcomers, and still a treat for longtime fans." – https://www.thegamer.com/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve-review/
• Hardcore Gamer (4.5/5): "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." – https://hardcoregamer.com/review-ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve/
• Push Square (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." – https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps5/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve
• CGMagazine (8/10): "Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is a great action game and one of the best entries in the franchise so far, with the only major caveat being the incoherent and impenetrable story told in the 30-hour-long campaign mode." – https://www.cgmagonline.com/review/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve-pc/
• TechRadar (4/5): "A great, gorgeous game, but one that likes the sound of its own voice just a little too much." – https://www.techradar.com/gaming/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve-review

One note for PC players: on Steam the game is sitting at "Mostly Positive" from players, and Bandai Namco opened an official PC crash report thread on launch day while it works on fixes, so you may want to keep an eye on patches.

More Reading

• OpenCritic: https://opencritic.com/game/20762/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve/reviews
• Metacritic: https://www.metacritic.com/game/ace-combat-8-wings-of-theve/
• Polygon review roundup: https://www.polygon.com/ace-combat-8-review-roundup/
• Kotaku review roundup: https://kotaku.com/ace-combat-8-wings-of-thieve-review-roundup-2000737168