Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve has arrived to a notably strong critical reception. The PlayStation 5 version holds an 87 Metacritic score after 52 reviews, placing the arcade flight game in a tie for the second-highest-rated position in the long-running series.

That number puts Wings of Theve ahead of Ace Combat 7, which holds an 86, while leaving the top spot with the PlayStation 2-era Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies at 89. It is a narrow numerical gap, but it is a meaningful one for a series whose reputation has long rested on how well it balances accessible aerial action with dramatic missions, music and storytelling.

The score also positions Ace Combat 8 among 2026’s better-reviewed releases. Review aggregates are only a snapshot, and scores can change as more reviews are added, but an 87 across 52 reviews is a substantial early sample rather than the product of a handful of opinions.

What an 87 means for the series

Metacritic averages reviews that have been converted to a 100-point scale. An 87 does not mean every reviewer awarded the game 87 out of 100; it represents the aggregate of participating critical scores. It is useful as a broad indication of consensus, but it cannot communicate every point of disagreement about a game’s campaign, pacing, controls or presentation.

In this case, the available breakdown suggests broad approval. Across platforms, only two reviews have been categorized as mixed, each carrying a 7/10 score. Six reviews awarded full marks. That combination matters more than a single headline number: it suggests Wings of Theve has earned high praise from many critics while avoiding a large cluster of sharply negative reactions.

The comparison with earlier Ace Combat games gives the figure its clearest context:

  • Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies: 89, the highest score in the series.
  • Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve: 87 on PS5 after 52 reviews, tied for second in the series.
  • Ace Combat 7: 86.
  • Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War: 75.

Those comparisons should not be mistaken for a definitive ranking of what players will personally enjoy. A one-point spread between an 86 and an 87 is especially small, and aggregate scoring methods have limits. Still, the result makes a clear statement: critics view the newest entry as one of Ace Combat’s strongest releases.

Combat, music and story are the recurring strengths

The critical case for Ace Combat 8 appears to rest on the qualities fans most associate with the series. Reviews have highlighted its intense combat, its music and a story that has drawn unusually enthusiastic notice. That matters because an arcade flight game is not simply about simulating the procedures of operating a fighter jet.

Related coverage includes Ace Combat 8 Soars to One of 2026's Best Review Scores.

Arcade flight action generally prioritizes immediate control, readable targets and high-energy engagements over the detailed systems of a strict simulation. The appeal is the sensation of commanding extraordinary aircraft in escalating encounters: acquiring targets, maneuvering under pressure and making rapid decisions while the skies become increasingly crowded. A successful arcade flight game has to make that power fantasy understandable without making it weightless.

Wings of Theve’s reception indicates that its combat has delivered that intensity. The campaign is described as rarely allowing much calm between its major encounters, which sounds well suited to a series built around dramatic sorties rather than quiet, open-ended flying.

Music is also more than a decorative extra in this context. In an aerial action game, the soundtrack helps communicate whether a mission is building toward danger, triumph or desperation. A memorable track can define the emotional shape of an encounter even after players forget individual objectives. The emphasis on Ace Combat 8’s score therefore speaks to the overall impact of its missions, not merely to a strong playlist operating in the background.

Story is the other notable point. The genre is often discussed principally through its aircraft and combat systems, so praise for Wings of Theve’s narrative is significant. The available reception suggests the game succeeds at making its dramatic material worth following alongside the action. That does not mean every scene is regarded as perfectly paced: cutscenes have been identified as moments that can slow the game down. The more important distinction is that critics still see the total package as compelling.

A strong result with a visible caveat

The most consistent reservation is pacing around cutscenes. This is a practical concern for players who want missions to flow with minimal interruption. A game can have spectacular dogfights and still lose momentum if story scenes arrive too frequently or linger too long between objectives.

At the same time, the criticism does not appear to have changed the broader assessment. The recurring description is of a thrilling game whose strongest sequences, audio and story outweigh the occasional slowdown. For prospective players, that is a more useful takeaway than treating the aggregate score as a verdict in isolation: expect an action-heavy flight campaign with cinematic ambitions, not an uninterrupted sequence of sorties.

There is also an obvious audience question. Someone seeking the procedural complexity of a dedicated flight simulator may not be looking for the same experience as the Ace Combat audience. The term “arcade” should not be read as dismissive. It describes a design emphasis: direct control and exciting combat encounters, with accessibility and spectacle taking priority over exhaustive simulation detail.

Players following other high-profile 2026 releases can see a similar focus on what games do moment to moment in the discussion around Forza Horizon 6’s player-created car designs and rules. The games are different genres, but both show how a recognizable series identity can shape expectations beyond the basic technical premise.

Ace Combat Zero returns, but access is limited

Wings of Theve also includes a newly ported version of Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War. The original game has a 75 aggregate score despite being widely regarded by fans as a favorite entry, an instructive reminder that critic averages and long-term player affection do not always match.

The port’s availability is the important detail. It is offered only as a pre-order bonus. Anyone interested specifically in revisiting The Belkan War should therefore check the purchase terms carefully rather than assume it will be included in every edition of Ace Combat 8 or offered separately later. No broader availability has been established here.

Its inclusion also creates a useful bridge between different parts of the series’ history. For newcomers, it presents an older Ace Combat campaign alongside the new release. For returning players, it adds a reason to look at Wings of Theve beyond the contemporary campaign itself. But the pre-order limitation means the bonus should not be treated as a guaranteed part of the game for all buyers.

Why this reception stands out

Ace Combat 8 has the difficult job of following a franchise with several strongly remembered entries, including the still-leading Shattered Skies. Its current 87 does not displace that PlayStation 2 classic, but it does put Wings of Theve in rare company and narrowly ahead of its immediate predecessor.

That is the headline behind the headline. The new game has not merely received generally favorable notices; it has earned a score that places it near the top of its own series while competing in a crowded 2026 release calendar. The individual reasons are equally encouraging: critics point to exhilarating aerial combat, standout music and a story with real impact, even if cutscenes can occasionally check the pace.

For a franchise defined by the thrill of its missions, that is a very healthy flight path.