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Project Wingman: Frontline 59 is the best first game to play after Ace Combat 8. It delivers the closest combination of arcade flight handling, mission-based campaign structure and fictional-war drama, while its Conquest mode, broad aircraft roster, HOTAS support and optional PlayStation VR make it useful beyond a single playthrough. If you would rather join an ongoing online aircraft game, choose War Thunder. For a story-driven alternative with spacecraft instead of atmospheric jets, choose STAR WARS: Squadrons.
This guide compares those three choices by arcade similarity, campaign strength, realism and learning curve, multiplayer model, and platform or control support. Platform availability and live-service details can change, so check your regional storefront and each game’s current service information before buying.
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At a glance: which game should you choose?
| Game | Best for | Campaign | Multiplayer model | Controls and platforms | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project Wingman: Frontline 59 | The closest Ace Combat-style substitute | Mission-based campaign; the PS5 Frontline 59 edition adds six missions | Separate Conquest roguelike mode; the available information does not establish a current competitive multiplayer population | PC, Xbox and PlayStation 5; reported comprehensive HOTAS support; optional VR on PS5 Frontline 59 | Smaller indie scope than Ace Combat 8 |
| War Thunder | Ongoing online aircraft battles and regular content updates | No Ace Combat-equivalent campaign has been established | Persistent online progression and competitive battles | PC, Mac and Linux clients are listed on the official site; platform availability should be checked for your region | Progression and monetization require more tolerance than a self-contained campaign |
| STAR WARS: Squadrons | First-person space dogfights with a story mode | Single-player campaign | First-person multiplayer space dogfights | PC, PlayStation and Xbox | Spacecraft rather than atmospheric jets; current online-service health is not established here |
1. Project Wingman: Frontline 59 is the closest match
If what you want is the sensation of launching into a scripted mission, locking onto a target, pushing through a dramatic battle and returning to a fictional war story, start here. Project Wingman is explicitly positioned as an Ace Combat-like flight-action game. Its design prioritizes arcade accessibility over simulation procedures, so an Ace Combat player can transfer familiar habits instead of learning a full aircraft-simulation workflow.
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Why it feels familiar to Ace Combat players
The important similarity is not just that both games contain fighter aircraft. Project Wingman uses a mission-based campaign framework and fictional conflict, the combination that gives Ace Combat its momentum. You can concentrate on positioning, missile timing, special weapons and objectives instead of managing real-world checklists. That makes it the strongest answer to “What game is most like Ace Combat?”
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The scale is different. The available comparison describes Project Wingman as having a smaller indie scope than Ace Combat 8. Expect the same broad arcade idea, not an identical production budget, cinematic presentation or amount of content. Treat that difference as a scope trade-off rather than a control problem: the core flight-combat appeal is the reason to choose it.
Frontline 59 on PlayStation 5
Frontline 59 is the PlayStation 5 edition. It adds six missions to the base experience and offers optional VR. If you play on PS5 and want a reason to revisit the campaign, those additional missions make this edition the most complete console-specific choice described here. VR is optional rather than required, so the game remains playable as a conventional screen-based flight game.
Storefront availability, regional pricing and whether a particular listing includes all Frontline 59 content can change. Confirm the edition name before purchase, especially if a storefront presents the original game and the PS5 edition as separate products.
Conquest mode adds replay value
After the campaign, Project Wingman has a separate Conquest mode with a roguelike structure. That gives you a different reason to fly: instead of following one fixed sequence of missions, you make repeated runs and deal with changing risk and reward. It is the clearest option in this group for a player who wants an arcade campaign first and a replayable challenge afterward.
Conquest should not be confused with a verified persistent online service. The available information identifies it as a separate roguelike mode, not as evidence of a current competitive multiplayer population. Choose it for repeatable solo play and progression within the game, not on the assumption that it is a live player-versus-player replacement for Ace Combat 8’s online features.
HOTAS and VR considerations
Project Wingman is reported to support comprehensive HOTAS input, making it the natural choice if you own a joystick-and-throttle setup. A HOTAS can give you finer control over pitch, yaw, roll and throttle than a gamepad, but it is not necessary to enjoy the arcade model. Start with a controller if you want the quickest transition from Ace Combat, then move to HOTAS after you know which aircraft and missions you enjoy.
On PS5, Frontline 59’s optional VR support adds cockpit immersion. VR changes how you look around the cockpit and battlefield; it does not turn the game into a realistic simulator. Check headset compatibility and the current PS5 edition listing before buying, because VR support is tied to the Frontline 59 release described above.
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Who should pick Project Wingman?
- Choose it if a fictional-war campaign matters more than a persistent online population.
- Choose it if you want the nearest arcade flight-combat feel to Ace Combat 8.
- Choose it if you want a separate roguelike mode after finishing the story.
- Choose it if HOTAS support or optional PS5 VR is part of your setup.
- Look elsewhere if you require a verified, busy competitive multiplayer ecosystem or a simulation-level approach to aircraft operation.
2. War Thunder is the ongoing online alternative
War Thunder fits a different need: repeated online aircraft battles backed by continuing updates. The official site lists clients for PC, Mac and Linux, and its update history includes the Sky Odyssey update in September 2026. That continuing cadence makes it the strongest recommendation here for someone who wants new aircraft-related content and an online game to return to rather than a finite story campaign.
Rank #3
- DELUXE EDITION INCLUDES: Base Game, 3 Day Early Access, Premium Ace Pass Plus Voucher [Unlock the Premium Ace Pass for the Currrent Season] (includes ADFX-02 Morgan -Pixy aircraft + Ace Pass Levels [Instant Unlock of 30 Premium Ace Pass Levels]), and Customizable Cosmetic Set (includes F-4E Mobius Squadro Skin, F/A-1BC Team Zvezda Skin, Scarlet Missile Smoke, and Tasha Costume Set.)
- ACE COMBAT 8 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. The game is developed by PROJECT ACES, the acclaimed team behind the franchise.
- AERIAL WARFARE IN LIVING SKIES. Campaign Mode showcases stunning visuals with dynamic multi-layered cloudscapes that capture the majesty of living skies. Feel the rush of a fast-paced arcade-style gameplay and deploy powerful weapons to dominate the battlefield.
- A VISCERAL JOURNEY FROM COCKPIT TO GROUND. Beyond the chaos in the air, breathtaking first-person scenes reveal your pilot’s story through breathtaking cinematics. Experience the pressure of command, the weight of decisions, and the bonds forged in battle. Between missions, bond with your squad members, rise to meet adversity, and prove yourself as a true ace.
What you gain
The appeal is persistence. You can keep playing aircraft battles after the first session instead of completing a defined narrative and stopping. Regular updates also mean the game can evolve after installation. If your question is “Which flight combat game should I play for ongoing online action?”, War Thunder is the answer among these three.
What you give up compared with Ace Combat
The available information does not establish a campaign equivalent to Ace Combat 8’s mission-driven story. Do not buy War Thunder expecting the same sequence of scripted set pieces and fictional-war drama. Its online progression and monetization structure also demand more patience from players who prefer a one-time purchase followed by a self-contained campaign. The right question is whether you enjoy working through an online progression system; if not, Project Wingman is a better fit.
Platform planning
War Thunder’s official site lists PC, Mac and Linux clients. Verify the current download, account and cross-platform details for your operating system and region before installing. The fact that a client is listed does not by itself guarantee identical features, input support or progression behavior across every platform.
Who should pick War Thunder?
- Pick it for continuing online aircraft battles rather than a traditional story campaign.
- Pick it if regular updates, including the September 2026 Sky Odyssey update, matter to you.
- Pick it if you are comfortable evaluating progression and monetization on their own terms.
- Do not pick it as a direct Ace Combat campaign substitute unless you have confirmed that its current modes meet that need.
3. STAR WARS: Squadrons delivers story-driven space combat
STAR WARS: Squadrons is the best choice when the part of Ace Combat you value most is first-person cockpit combat and a structured story, but you are happy to leave atmospheric jets behind. Electronic Arts describes it as offering first-person multiplayer space dogfights and a single-player campaign on PC, PlayStation and Xbox. It released on October 2, 2020.
Rank #4
- Innovation in the Sky: Breathtaking clouds coupled with highly detailed aircraft and photorealistic scenery makes this the most engaging Ace Combat to date.
- Return to Strangereal: The alternative Ace Combat universe composed of real-world current and near-future weapons, but with a history steeped in Ace Combat lore.
- All new arsenal of ultra-modern super weapons and formidable enemies.
How its campaign differs
The campaign gives you a narrative route through space-combat missions, so it answers the “Which flight game has a story campaign?” question better than a purely online title. The setting and vehicles are spacecraft, however. Missile behavior, visual reference points, three-dimensional engagements and faction identity are not the same as flying modern-style jets in Ace Combat 8. Choose it for the cockpit perspective and story structure, not for an exact aircraft-handling match.
Multiplayer and service uncertainty
Squadrons includes first-person multiplayer space dogfights, but the current health of its online service is not established by the information available for this guide. Before buying primarily for multiplayer, check current matchmaking reports and platform-specific activity. A campaign purchase is easier to evaluate because the single-player content does not depend on finding a full lobby.
Who should pick Squadrons?
- Pick it if you want a complete story mode in a cockpit-focused game.
- Pick it if Star Wars spacecraft are appealing rather than a compromise.
- Pick it if you want multiplayer dogfights but can verify current activity first.
- Skip it if atmospheric-jet authenticity or Ace Combat-style fictional geopolitics is essential.
Arcade similarity, realism and learning curve
These games occupy different points on the accessibility spectrum, but the evidence supports a clear ordering for an Ace Combat player:
- Project Wingman is the closest arcade match. Its purpose is to let you perform dramatic combat maneuvers without adopting a full simulator mindset.
- STAR WARS: Squadrons keeps the first-person dogfight perspective and campaign structure, but its spacecraft setting changes the spatial and tactical vocabulary.
- War Thunder is the online-focused choice. Its progression and monetization systems are the main learning and commitment considerations identified here, not a like-for-like campaign structure.
This is a recommendation for fit, not a claim that one game is universally more realistic. None of the supplied information establishes a detailed flight-model comparison, aircraft-by-aircraft simulation rating or measured learning-time benchmark. If realism is your deciding factor, inspect the current control and flight-model documentation for the specific platform and mode you plan to use.
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Control and platform decision guide
| Your setup or priority | Best starting point | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 and a conventional controller | Project Wingman: Frontline 59 | Closest arcade substitute; six additional missions and optional VR on the PS5 edition |
| PS5 with a compatible VR headset | Project Wingman: Frontline 59 | Optional VR support is specifically associated with this edition |
| PC with HOTAS | Project Wingman | Reported comprehensive HOTAS support and an arcade campaign designed for repeat play |
| Mac or Linux | War Thunder | The official site lists clients for both platforms |
| Online aircraft battles and updates | War Thunder | Continuing aircraft updates, including Sky Odyssey in September 2026 |
| Single-player story in a space setting | STAR WARS: Squadrons | Single-player campaign plus first-person space dogfights |
| Exact Ace Combat-style atmosphere | Project Wingman | It is the only option here described as an Ace Combat-like combat flight-action game |
How to choose without buying the wrong edition
- Decide whether the campaign or the service matters more. Choose Project Wingman for a mission-based arcade campaign, War Thunder for ongoing online battles, or Squadrons for a story campaign set in space.
- Confirm the platform. Project Wingman is described as available on PC, Xbox and PlayStation 5; Frontline 59 is the PS5 edition. War Thunder’s official listing includes PC, Mac and Linux. Squadrons is described for PC, PlayStation and Xbox.
- Check the exact edition name. On PS5, look specifically for Project Wingman: Frontline 59 if you want the six added missions and optional VR.
- Match the control device. A regular controller is sufficient for arcade play. If you already own a HOTAS, Project Wingman’s reported comprehensive support makes it the safest first test; verify your stick and throttle model against the current platform information.
- Separate solo replay from online multiplayer. Project Wingman’s Conquest mode is a roguelike replay mode, not evidence of a populated online service. War Thunder is the online-first choice. Squadrons has multiplayer, but current activity should be checked before purchase.
- Recheck price and availability immediately before checkout. Regional storefront pricing, stock, edition bundles and service status can change.
Price and availability notes for 2026
A PC Gamer report dated October 1, 2026 listed Project Wingman at a $12.50 Steam sale price. That was a time-specific promotion, not a permanent price, so treat it as a historical reference and check the live Steam listing for your region. The same 2026 coverage reported 93% favorable Steam reviews from more than 22,000 reviews, which is useful context for interest in the PC version but is not a substitute for checking whether its controls and presentation suit you.
No stable standard price is established here for War Thunder or STAR WARS: Squadrons. Both can vary by storefront, platform, edition and promotion. Confirm whether a purchase includes the campaign, required client, downloadable content or platform-specific features you expect.
Common pitfalls and practical fixes
Buying the original PS5 listing instead of Frontline 59
If the six extra missions or VR are important, read the full product title and feature list before paying. Frontline 59 is the edition associated with those additions; do not assume every Project Wingman listing includes them.
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Expecting Conquest to replace online multiplayer
Conquest is a separate roguelike mode for replayability. Select War Thunder when your priority is a continuing online aircraft game, and verify current matchmaking for Squadrons if you want space multiplayer.
Assuming every platform has identical controls
Platform support does not guarantee identical input options. Connect your controller or HOTAS before the first serious session, assign the essential flight axes, and run a short test flight or low-risk mission before changing advanced bindings.
Judging a live-service game by campaign standards
War Thunder is designed around ongoing online play and progression, while Project Wingman and Squadrons provide clearer campaign-led purchase decisions. Decide which loop you want before comparing prices or aircraft lists.
Relying on an old multiplayer population claim
Player activity changes by platform, region and time of day. The information summarized here does not establish a current population for Project Wingman or Squadrons. Check current service notices and recent platform-specific activity if multiplayer is the reason you are buying.
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Final recommendation by player type
- Ace Combat 8 fan seeking the nearest replacement: Project Wingman: Frontline 59.
- Player who wants a replayable solo mode after the story: Project Wingman, because Conquest adds a separate roguelike structure.
- PC player with HOTAS: Project Wingman, subject to checking your particular hardware.
- Online-focused aircraft player on PC, Mac or Linux: War Thunder.
- Story player willing to trade jets for spacecraft: STAR WARS: Squadrons.
- PS5 owner interested in VR: Project Wingman: Frontline 59, after confirming headset and storefront compatibility.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
