Ace Combat 8 is one of the best-rated games of the year and a close second within the series

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve reviews are out, and its Metacritic score places it as the tied second-highest rated game in the series and one of the best-rated games in a packed 2026 calendar. Over on Metacritic, the PS5 version of Ace Combat 8 sits at a score of 87 after 52 reviews, which places it right alongside the likes of Golden Joystick Awards contenders 007 First Light and Saros as one of the highest-rated games of 2026. Meanwhile it beats out Ace Combat 7's 86 score, but it still isn't able to unseat the PS2 classic Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies at 89, which is the highest-rated game in the series. Latest Videos FromGamesRadar+ In the GamesRadar+ Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve review, I awarded it 4.5/5 stars, with the review saying, "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.