What are the best games like Ace Combat 8? Start with Project Wingman. It is the closest alternative to Ace Combat’s fast lock-on combat, modern aircraft and cinematic missions, while adding a territory-based Conquest mode for replayability. Choose Star Wars: Squadrons instead if you want the same dogfight intensity in space, with recognizable starfighters, squad tactics and team-focused multiplayer.
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve sets the baseline: accessible arcade flight, powerful weapons, dramatic fictional-war missions and online play. The comparison below separates games that genuinely match that loop from games that only share the word “flight.”
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The quick choice: which Ace Combat 8 alternative fits you?
| What you want | Best match | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Closest modern-jet combat | Project Wingman | Arcade-first handling, rapid target locks, more than 20 aircraft, more than 40 weapons and a story-led campaign. |
| Replayable combat after the campaign | Project Wingman with Conquest | Territory capture, resource decisions, bosses, ace squadrons, changing missions and roguelike/RPG progression. |
| VR or HOTAS cockpit play | Project Wingman | The Steam listing documents VR support and full HOTAS compatibility, including custom axis curves and DirectInput peripherals. |
| Space combat and squad tactics | Star Wars: Squadrons | New Republic and Imperial starfighters, a single-player story and multiplayer built around coordinated teams and Fleet Battles. |
Neither recommendation is a study simulator. Ace Combat 8 and Project Wingman are designed around immediate action rather than real-world procedures. Squadrons adds power management and team roles, but it is still an accessible action game rather than a civilian or military training simulation.
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A useful comparison starts with the loop, not the aircraft names. Bandai Namco describes Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve as “fast-paced arcade-style gameplay” with powerful weapons. Its official listing covers PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam. The Xbox store description also highlights arcade-style action and cross-platform multiplayer.
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That creates five practical standards for an alternative:
- Accessible handling: you should be able to turn, evade and line up attacks without learning real-world flight procedures.
- Missile-heavy engagements: combat should emphasize target locks, high-speed attack runs and dramatic evasive maneuvers.
- A cinematic structure: story missions, set-piece encounters or named opponents matter more here than authentic logistics.
- Large weapon and aircraft variety: switching machines or loadouts should change how missions feel.
- Replay or online value: a good substitute should offer reasons to return after the first campaign run.
Games that meet only one of these standards may still be excellent, but they are not close replacements. A realistic simulator can reproduce the cockpit workload while missing Ace Combat’s pace; a space dogfighter can reproduce the lock-on tension while changing the setting completely.
Project Wingman is the closest overall alternative
Project Wingman is the first game to try when your question is, “What is the closest game to Ace Combat’s fast, missile-heavy dogfights?” Its Steam description presents it as a combat flight-action game with an engaging single-player experience, more than 20 aircraft and more than 40 weapons. Those are the features that matter most to an Ace Combat player: a quick route from takeoff to target acquisition, a broad garage of machines and enough weapons to make loadout choices meaningful.
Why its moment-to-moment combat feels familiar
The important similarity is design intent. Project Wingman treats the aircraft as an action-game character: you can concentrate on positioning, locks, launches and threat management instead of memorizing startup procedures or navigation rules. That makes it a natural follow-up for players who want spectacular dogfights without converting to a study simulator.
Its alternate-Earth setting also keeps the tone closer to modern jet combat than a science-fiction game does. You are still reading the fight through aircraft silhouettes, missile approaches and air-to-ground targets rather than through starfighter shields or fictional space physics. The setting is not the same as Ace Combat 8’s fictional modern-war world, so expect a different lore and geography, but the combat vocabulary is familiar.
The campaign is the best starting point
Choose the single-player campaign if you want a conventional, mission-by-mission introduction. A story-led structure lets you learn aircraft and weapons while the game controls the escalation. This is the closest match for someone who enjoys Ace Combat’s dramatic briefings, changing objectives and set-piece pacing.
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Because the campaign is self-contained, it also works for players who do not need an ongoing competitive community. You can play through the story at your own pace, then decide whether the additional mode offers enough variety for another run.
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Project Wingman’s Conquest mode is not simply a second campaign playlist. It adds territory capture, resource choices, bosses, ace squadrons, changing missions and roguelike/RPG progression. Instead of following one fixed sequence, you operate inside a territory-and-resource loop and decide which challenges to tackle next.
That structure is valuable if you finish story campaigns quickly or like runs that develop differently. A fixed campaign asks, “Can you clear this mission?” Conquest additionally asks, “Which territory is worth taking, what resources can you afford, and which threat should you risk now?” The result is less cinematic continuity and more strategic replayability. If you want Ace Combat’s exact scripted progression, stay with the campaign; if you want a reason to return repeatedly, Conquest is the stronger draw.
Aircraft and weapons provide room to experiment
The Steam listing’s figures—more than 20 aircraft and more than 40 weapons—describe the scale of the sandbox, not a promise that every machine behaves like a real-world counterpart. Treat the roster as a set of playstyles. Try different aircraft when a mission’s range, target mix or threat pattern makes your current approach uncomfortable, and use the weapon count as an invitation to change tactics rather than as a checklist to complete.
Do not assume that a larger number automatically means deeper simulation. Project Wingman remains arcade-first, which is precisely why it belongs in this comparison.
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The Steam listing states that Project Wingman supports VR headsets and full HOTAS compatibility. It also documents custom axis curves and DirectInput-supported peripherals. That combination is unusual among straightforward Ace Combat alternatives and makes the game a strong choice for a dedicated cockpit setup.
Rank #3
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A HOTAS flight stick—a joystick paired with a separate throttle—is optional. The game remains playable with an ordinary controller, and you should not buy hardware merely to access the campaign. Consider a HOTAS when you specifically want physical throttle control, smoother axis input or the immersion of looking around a cockpit in VR.
If you use a stick, start with a modest setup and confirm that your device exposes standard DirectInput controls. Then adjust the game’s axis curves until small corrections are manageable; an aggressive curve can make fine aim harder, while a flatter curve may require more physical movement. The documented support means the option exists, not that every model has identical buttons or an ideal default profile.
Who should choose Project Wingman?
- Players who want the nearest modern-aircraft substitute for Ace Combat 8.
- Anyone who prefers a self-contained single-player campaign.
- Players who want a second mode with territory control and roguelike progression.
- VR owners or HOTAS users looking for documented support.
- Anyone comfortable with an alternate-Earth setting instead of Ace Combat’s world.
Star Wars: Squadrons is the best space-combat alternative
Star Wars: Squadrons changes the subject from atmospheric jets to starfighters, so it is not a one-to-one replacement. It is the better choice when the feeling you want is high-speed target locking, three-dimensional maneuvering and dramatic team fights, but the setting can be Star Wars rather than a fictional modern air force.
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What you fly and why the setting matters
StarWars.com documents multiple New Republic and Imperial fighter classes. Those classes give the game recognizable roles and silhouettes, but they also change the way you read a battle. You are managing a starfighter’s systems and team position in space, not an aircraft’s relationship with terrain, altitude and atmosphere.
That difference should shape your expectations. If the appeal of Ace Combat 8 is jets, fictional geopolitics and enormous skies over terrain, Squadrons may feel like a genre shift. If the appeal is the sensation of diving on a target, breaking a lock and coordinating an attack, the shift can work extremely well.
Single-player story for a guided introduction
StarWars.com describes a unique single-player Star Wars story. It gives solo players a structured way to learn the ships and their roles before committing to multiplayer. The story is best understood as an on-ramp to the starfighters and setting, not as a replacement for Ace Combat’s fictional-air-force campaign style.
Rank #4
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Multiplayer and Fleet Battles
The game’s multiplayer is built around starfighters and coordinated teams. EA’s gameplay briefing identifies Fleet Battles as the signature mode, while StarWars.com highlights thrilling multiplayer modes. Fleet Battles are the reason to choose Squadrons over a purely solo arcade flyer: success depends on how a squad attacks objectives, protects vulnerable ships and adapts as the battle line changes.
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This is a different kind of replay value from Project Wingman’s Conquest. Conquest varies a solo territory run through changing missions and progression. Fleet Battles create variation through opponents, teammates and tactical decisions. Choose the former for self-directed solo runs; choose the latter for team-based online combat.
Who should choose Squadrons?
- Players who value Star Wars ships and factions as much as flight mechanics.
- Anyone who wants coordinated multiplayer rather than only a solo campaign.
- Players interested in Fleet Battles and objective-based team play.
- Readers who accept space combat, starfighters and a different physics fantasy.
Ace Combat 8, Project Wingman and Squadrons compared
| Category | Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve | Project Wingman | Star Wars: Squadrons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core style | Fast-paced arcade-style flight combat with powerful weapons. | Arcade-first combat flight action. | Accessible starfighter combat with squad and objective play. |
| Setting | Fictional modern-war world. | Alternate Earth. | Star Wars space combat. |
| Solo content | Story-led missions and advertised co-op/competitive activities. | Single-player campaign plus Conquest. | Single-player Star Wars story. |
| Replay focus | Online activities, including cross-platform multiplayer advertised by the Xbox store. | Conquest territory capture, bosses, ace squadrons, changing missions and roguelike/RPG progression. | Multiplayer modes, with Fleet Battles as the signature mode. |
| Aircraft or vehicle variety | Not stated in the cited listing. | More than 20 aircraft and more than 40 weapons, according to the Steam description. | Multiple New Republic and Imperial fighter classes. |
| VR/HOTAS | Not stated in the cited listing. | VR headsets and full HOTAS support, with custom axis curves and DirectInput peripherals documented on Steam. | Not stated in the cited sources. |
| Listed platforms | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam. | Steam listing; check the current storefront for availability. | Check the current storefront for supported platforms and availability. |
Platform and multiplayer checks before you buy
Confirm the platform before choosing a game. Ace Combat 8 is listed for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam. Its Xbox store listing advertises cross-platform multiplayer, but the exact activities available to you can depend on the game’s current implementation and platform account requirements.
For Project Wingman and Squadrons, verify the current storefront listing for your hardware before purchase. Availability, editions and online-service status can change, and the supplied official descriptions do not establish a universal platform list for either alternative. Do not infer console support from a PC storefront page, and do not assume that multiplayer populations or cross-play rules are identical across platforms.
Also separate “has multiplayer” from “is best for multiplayer.” Project Wingman’s strongest documented advantages are its solo campaign, Conquest mode and hardware support. Squadrons is the multiplayer-oriented recommendation because Fleet Battles and team modes are central to its identity. Ace Combat 8 advertises both cross-platform multiplayer and co-op/competitive activities, making it the direct option if you want those features in its own fictional-war setting.
How to choose in three questions
- Do you want atmospheric modern-style jets? Choose Project Wingman. Its aircraft, weapons and arcade handling are the closest fit.
- Do you want space, recognizable factions and team objectives? Choose Star Wars: Squadrons. Accept that starfighters and space combat change the feel.
- Do you need VR or a HOTAS setup? Project Wingman has the clearest documented support. A controller remains a valid way to play, so treat the hardware as an immersion upgrade rather than a requirement.
Common expectations that lead to disappointment
Expecting a realistic flight simulator
Ace Combat 8 and Project Wingman are arcade-first. You can enjoy their speed and weapon spectacle without studying real-world checklists, but neither should be chosen for authentic flight training. Squadrons adds system and role management while remaining an action game.
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Assuming every alternative has the same campaign shape
Project Wingman’s main campaign is story-led, while Conquest is a branching territory-and-resource loop. Squadrons offers a Star Wars story and then emphasizes multiplayer. Pick the structure you actually want instead of treating every mode as interchangeable.
Buying a HOTAS before confirming your goal
Project Wingman’s documented HOTAS compatibility is a differentiator, not a prerequisite. If you mainly want quick missions on a couch, a standard controller is simpler. Buy a joystick-and-throttle setup when physical controls or VR immersion are part of the experience you are deliberately building.
Assuming online features are permanent or identical everywhere
Multiplayer depends on the platform, current service status, account requirements and the number of active players. Check the live storefront and service information immediately before purchase, especially if online play is your main reason for choosing Squadrons or Ace Combat 8.
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For the closest overall Ace Combat 8 experience, choose Project Wingman: its arcade handling, modern aircraft, rapid combat loop and campaign are the most direct match, while Conquest gives solo players a substantial alternative to a fixed mission sequence. It is also the clear pick for readers who want documented VR and HOTAS support.
Choose Star Wars: Squadrons when the setting can change from jets to starfighters and your priority is squad tactics, recognizable ships and Fleet Battles. It shares the excitement of lock-on dogfights, but it should be approached as a space-combat counterpart rather than a modern-air-force substitute.
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