by Next week is extremely busy for new Xbox releases with the likes of The Witcher 3: Remastered, Minecraft Dungeons 2 and the early access for Gears of War: E-Day on the way, but you definitely shouldn't overlook Ace Combat 8 either!
The first reviews have just gone live for this Bandai Namco release, and they're resulting in an incredible 88 average rating on Metacritic as things stand (for the PS5 version), which makes it the 20th highest-rated game of 2026.
Here's a selection of them:
MonsterVine (5/5)
"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."
PC Gamer (92/100)
"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."
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. 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."
GamingBolt (9/10)
"Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve shows the jet-fighting franchise at its best, with a fantastic story that expands on Strangereal and a variety of fun multiplayer modes."
Day One (8.5/10)
"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."
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. 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."
Press Start (8/10)
"Ultimately, when it came time for me to eject from AC8, I was left with the impression of something fun but not flawless. Target-selection nonsense, overcooked dialogue and some not-so-novel decisions that decelerate the pacing keep it from being a perfect sortie. But when Wings of Theve is firing on all afterburners, it delivers exactly the kind of high-speed, high-altitude blockbuster nonsense I wanted from it."
As you can see, even the lowest scores seem to be sitting around the 8/10 mark for Ace Combat 8 as things stand (we've seen one 7/10 so far, but that's it), making this a strong recommendation from basically every reviewer.
The only downside is the lack of dedicated Xbox reviews, but considering how well the PS5 version has clearly fared, hopefully the same thing applies on Xbox Series X and Series S.
If you're looking at picking this one up, you're looking at paying £64.99 / $69.99 on the Xbox Store for the standard edition that launches on October 1st, or you can pay a little more for the Deluxe Edition that arrives on September 28th.
We'll leave you with more details about the game below, along with a few Xbox Store screenshots.
ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE delivers high-octane aerial action! Step into the cockpit and take flight as an elite pilot across stunning skies. Enter intense dogfights, eliminate threats, and rise through gripping missions to earn your wings in this game developed by PROJECT ACES, the acclaimed team behind the franchise.