All Ace Combat games in order: which part to start with before Ace Combat 8

Released October 2 Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, the first serialized part of the series in seven years.For many, this will be their first acquaintance with Ace Combat, and the series has about two dozen games, its own fictional world and confusion with numbering.Let's figure out which games belong to the main line, in what order they were released, and what is worth playing before the new part.

What is Strangereal

Almost all major parts of Ace Combat take place in Strangereal, a fictional world similar to ours, but with different continents, countries and history.Real planes are fighting there for Osea, Yuktobania, Belka, Erusea and other fictional states, and the plots of different games are connected by a common chronology.If a game takes place in the real world rather than Strangereal, like Assault Horizon, it is usually considered a spin-off.

Main series in order of release

• Air Combat (1995, PlayStation): home version of the Namco arcade game;in Japan it was called Ace Combat.
• Ace Combat 2 (1997, PlayStation): The series established a mission format with briefings, different classes of aircraft and wingmen.
• Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere (1999, PlayStation): cyberpunk part with corporations and a branching plot;the Western edition was noticeably shortened.
• Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies (2001, PlayStation 2): War on the Yusei Continent, pilot of Mobius 1 and one of Strangereal's key stories.
• Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War (2004, PS2): the story of Wardog Squadron against the backdrop of the Osea-Yuktobania War.
• Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War (2006, PS2): A prequel about the 1995 Belkan War and pilots Cipher and Pixy.
• Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (2007, Xbox 360): the conflict between Emmeria and Estovakia and the first part of the series for the HD generation of consoles.
• Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (2019, PS4, Xbox One, PC): return to Strangereal after a long break;the game was later released on Switch.
• Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve (2026, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC): a new story in July 2029 after Sotoa's invasion of the Federation of Central Yusei.

Portable parts and branches

The series also has games outside the number line.Released on PSP Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception (2006, Strangereal) and Ace Combat X2: Joint Assault (2010, real world). Ace Combat: Assault Horizon (2011) brought the series into the real world and relied on cinematic close combat.Released for 3DS Assault Horizon Legacy, actually a rethinking of Ace Combat 2. There was also a shareware Ace Combat Infinity for PS3, whose servers have long been closed.

Do I need to go through the old parts before Ace Combat 8

No.Each numbered Ace Combat tells an independent story, and connections between parts are manifested in the common world, the names of countries and past wars.A beginner will understand the plot of Wings of Theve without preparation.

If you want to prepare, there are three convenient options:

• Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown: The most convenient modern entry in the series.The game is available on current platforms, and its mechanics are closest to the eighth part.
• Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War: A prequel that does a good job of showing Strangereal's political history and the Belkan War.
• Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies: An option for those who want to delve deeper into Yusei and the origins of the series' modern formula.

What's next

Ace Combat 8 is released on October 2 at 01:00 Moscow time, and owners of the Deluxe Edition are playing now.We told you how to get early access and what is included in the pre-order bonuses in a separate news.Another material is dedicated to first-person story scenes between flights.