Best Games Like Ace Combat for Arcade Flight Combat

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Project Wingman is the closest modern match for Ace Combat’s campaign-led, arcade-style fighter combat. It combines a single-player story, more than 20 aircraft, more than 40 weapons, and a separate Conquest mode for repeatable territory battles. Choose Sky Rogue instead if you prefer procedurally generated missions, aircraft and weapon customization, and two-player local split-screen co-op over a conventional cinematic campaign.

This guide compares the two games using their current store-listed features. Platform availability, regional editions, and controller support can change, so verify the live listing for your system before buying.

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		Logitech G X56 H.O.T.A.S Throttle and Joystick Flight Simulator Game Controller, 4 Spring Options,...	$191.84	Buy on Amazon
2		Thrustmaster T16000M FCS HOTAS (Compatible with PC)	$169.99	Buy on Amazon
3		Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X USB Flight Sim Stick & Throttle - PC | Detachable design, adjustable...	$74.58	Buy on Amazon
4		Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas One Flight Stick & Throttle - XBOX & PC | Detachable design, Officially...	$99.99	Buy on Amazon
5		Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog A-10C replica metal flight stick - PC	$299.99	Buy on Amazon

What makes a game feel like Ace Combat?

Bandai Namco describes Ace Combat’s foundation as arcade-style flight shooting: aircraft are designed for immediate control, dramatic combat, and accessible action rather than strict real-world simulation. That distinction matters when choosing a substitute. A technically detailed flight simulator may model procedures accurately but still feel wrong if you want quick missile engagements, cinematic missions, and a forgiving learning curve.

The series is also associated with a strong single-player identity. Its official materials describe the franchise as arcade flight combat, while the official Ace Combat 7 page says the game has surpassed seven million units worldwide. That is a historical milestone reported by the publisher, not a current sales count or a comparison of the alternatives below.

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For a practical replacement, evaluate five things:

• Campaign structure: Is there a sequence of authored missions and a story, or are runs generated from a system?
• Combat accessibility: Can you get into the air and fight without learning simulator-style procedures?
• Replay loop: What gives you a reason to return after finishing a mission or campaign?
• Multiplayer: Is co-op available, and is it local or online?
• Platform and controls: Does the listing support your operating system, VR setup, or flight hardware?

On those criteria, Project Wingman is the direct substitute, while Sky Rogue is a deliberately different, more run-based option.

Project Wingman: the closest match

Campaign and setting

Project Wingman’s Steam listing presents an engaging single-player campaign set on an alternate, scorched version of Earth. That combination—fighter aircraft, a defined story path, and an unusual alternate-history battlefield—maps most closely to what Ace Combat players usually mean when they ask for a similar game.

The game was released on Steam on December 1, 2020. The listing identifies Sector D2 as the developer and Sector D2 and Balor Games as publishers. Those credits establish who made and published the PC release; they do not guarantee that every platform edition has identical content or controls.

Arcade-oriented controls

The store description explicitly positions Project Wingman for people who do not want a simulator, while also allowing fast, challenging flight action. Its wording is: “Perfect for those who aren’t looking for a simulator experience, with the ease of pick up and play, all the way to those who want a fast-paced challenging flight action game.” This is a description from the publisher listing, not an independent difficulty or performance test.

That positioning makes it the safest first recommendation for an Ace Combat fan who wants to launch a mission quickly, maneuver through a battlefield, and focus on targets instead of real-world checklists. You should still expect the game to become demanding as missions and enemy formations grow more complex; the listing’s language supports an accessible starting point and a challenging upper end, not a specific difficulty curve.

Aircraft and weapons

Project Wingman lists more than 20 aircraft and more than 40 weapons. The numbers are vendor-listed feature counts, so treat them as the scope advertised by the Steam page rather than as an independently audited inventory. The combination gives you room to change your aircraft and loadout as the campaign develops, which is important if you enjoy experimenting with different attack styles.

The setting also supports unusual weapons and advanced fighter jets. Those elements reinforce the arcade identity: you are selecting a combat role and weapon combination for a dramatic mission, not reproducing a real pilot’s equipment and procedures.

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Conquest for repeat play

After the campaign format, the most important Project Wingman feature is Conquest. The listing describes it as a territory-capture mode with roguelike and RPG elements. In practical terms, it supplies a separate progression loop in which the strategic map and repeated battles matter, rather than ending your play when the story missions are complete.

Conquest is the reason to choose Project Wingman when you want both a campaign and an ongoing solo mode. It is not described as a co-op mode in the cited listing, so do not buy it expecting the local two-player feature advertised for Sky Rogue.

VR and HOTAS support

The Steam page lists VR support and full HOTAS compatibility for DirectInput-supported peripherals. A HOTAS (hands on throttle-and-stick) setup is optional; it is not a requirement for playing Project Wingman. A standard gamepad remains a sensible default if you want the lowest-cost, least complicated setup.

“Full HOTAS compatibility” is qualified by DirectInput support in the listing. Before purchasing a stick-and-throttle set, check that its drivers expose DirectInput on your operating system and that your chosen VR headset and PC meet the game’s current requirements. The cited material does not establish compatibility for a particular hardware model.

Sky Rogue: a replayable, lighter alternative

Procedural missions instead of a fixed campaign

Sky Rogue’s Steam listing describes a roguelite action flight game with procedurally generated islands and missions. Each run is assembled by the game’s systems rather than presented as one authored sequence, so its appeal is variety and repeatability instead of a conventional cinematic story campaign.

That structure makes Sky Rogue a poor one-to-one replacement if your priority is a long, scripted narrative. It is a strong alternative when you would rather start another run, face a different arrangement of objectives, and build progress through repeated attempts.

Customization and presentation

The listing highlights customizable aircraft and weapons. You can therefore approach each run by changing the machine and loadout you take into combat, then adapting your choices as the roguelite progression develops. The game’s presentation is described as more colorful and compact than the scorched alternate-history war setting used by Project Wingman.

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Those are differences in format and tone, not a claim that one game is universally better. Pick Sky Rogue when quick, replayable sorties and experimentation matter more to you than a serious campaign presentation.

Two-player local co-op

Sky Rogue specifically lists two-player local split-screen co-op. The cited listing does not establish online co-op, cross-play, or a larger player count, so treat local split-screen as the confirmed multiplayer feature. You will need a compatible local setup for two players; verify the current control requirements on the store page before arranging a shared session.

Operating-system support

The store listing provides requirements for Windows, macOS, and SteamOS/Linux. Because storefront support can change, check the live page for the operating-system version and hardware requirements that apply to your computer. The presence of a Linux-family listing does not by itself guarantee identical performance or feature parity across every distribution.

Project Wingman and Sky Rogue compared

The table separates confirmed listing information from assumptions. It does not rank graphics, frame rate, mission quality, difficulty, price, review scores, or overall quality because the available evidence does not establish comparable measurements for those categories.

Which game should you choose?

Choose Project Wingman if you want a direct Ace Combat-style substitute

• You want an authored single-player campaign rather than a run generator.
• You prefer advanced fighter jets, unusual weapons, and alternate-history battlefields.
• You want a second mode after the story, with territory capture and roguelike/RPG elements.
• You may use PC VR or a DirectInput-compatible HOTAS, while keeping a gamepad as an option.

This is the recommendation to lead with for the search intent “games like Ace Combat.” Its campaign focus and explicit non-simulator positioning address the central request without requiring extra hardware.

Choose Sky Rogue if replayable runs matter more than story

• You enjoy procedurally generated islands and missions.
• You want to customize aircraft and weapons between attempts.
• You want confirmed two-player local split-screen co-op.
• You prefer a colorful, compact roguelite presentation.
• Your computer runs Windows, macOS, or SteamOS/Linux and you will confirm the current requirements.

Sky Rogue should be framed as a change of flavor, not as a campaign replacement. Its value is the repeatable structure and local co-op option described by the listing.

Use both when your priorities differ by session

There is no need to force one format to satisfy every mood. A campaign-led game can provide a deliberate sequence of missions, while a procedural roguelite can supply shorter repeatable sessions and local multiplayer. If you alternate between those goals, the two recommendations complement each other rather than competing on identical terms.

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Platform and controller planning

For a conventional PC setup

1. Open the live Steam page for the game you intend to buy and confirm that your operating system is listed.
2. Check the current minimum and recommended hardware details shown for your platform.
3. Plan to start with a gamepad or keyboard-and-mouse arrangement unless you already own compatible flight hardware.
4. Launch the game once and verify that every control action you need—throttle, pitch, roll, yaw, weapons, and camera—is recognized before changing advanced bindings.
5. Keep a default control profile available so you can return to a known working layout after experimenting.

The exact menu labels and requirements can change with updates, so use the current in-game and storefront text rather than an old setup guide.

If you are considering VR with Project Wingman

1. Confirm that the current Project Wingman listing still identifies VR support for the edition you are purchasing.
2. Check your headset, graphics hardware, and connection method against the game’s current PC requirements.
3. Test the game with your normal controller before adding a HOTAS; this isolates VR setup issues from input-device issues.
4. Adjust comfort and camera options gradually, stopping if you experience discomfort.

The cited information confirms VR support but does not provide a headset-by-headset compatibility chart or performance guarantee.

If you are considering a HOTAS

1. Verify that the device exposes DirectInput on your operating system, because that is the qualification attached to Project Wingman’s listed HOTAS support.
2. Connect the device before launching the game so the operating system can enumerate its axes and buttons.
3. Bind one control at a time and test pitch, roll, yaw, throttle, and weapon inputs in a safe practice situation.
4. Keep your gamepad available as a fallback if an axis is inverted, a button is missing, or the device is not recognized.

No particular HOTAS model is established as compatible by the cited information, so a specific product recommendation would require separate model-level verification.

Common buying mistakes and how to avoid them

Expecting Sky Rogue to deliver a scripted Ace Combat campaign

Sky Rogue’s defining listing features are procedural islands and missions, roguelite progression, customization, and local split-screen. Buy it for that loop. If a story campaign is non-negotiable, start with Project Wingman instead.

Assuming local co-op means online multiplayer

Only two-player local split-screen is specified for Sky Rogue. The cited material does not confirm online co-op, cross-play, or remote multiplayer. Do not plan an online session until the live listing or current documentation explicitly confirms it.

Buying a flight stick before checking input support

Project Wingman lists HOTAS support for DirectInput-compatible peripherals, but that does not certify every stick, throttle, adapter, or driver. Check the exact device and your operating system first. A gamepad avoids that additional compatibility decision.

Treating feature counts as measured quality

“More than 20 aircraft” and “more than 40 weapons” describe the scope advertised on Project Wingman’s store page. They do not measure balance, mission variety, realism, or fun. Likewise, procedural generation describes how Sky Rogue creates missions, not how good every generated run will be.

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Using an old platform or price assumption

Storefront editions, regional availability, prices, and requirements can change. Check the live page immediately before purchase, especially if you are buying outside Windows or planning to use VR.

How these recommendations fit the wider Ace Combat context

Ace Combat’s official product catalog identifies arcade-style flight shooting as the series foundation. That explains why Project Wingman is the lead recommendation: its listing directly addresses players who want accessible, fast-paced combat without a simulator focus, then adds a story campaign and Conquest.

Sky Rogue belongs in the same broad arcade-flight conversation but serves a different need. Its procedural structure and local split-screen make it closer to a replayable action roguelite than to a chapter-by-chapter war drama. Calling it a “different flavor” is more accurate than promising an identical experience.

For readers coming from older PlayStation or PSP-era Ace Combat games, the safest approach is to compare the design loop first and platform second. A community question phrased “What are some games similar to Ace Combat?” mentions PlayStation 1, PlayStation 2, and PSP, but that post is an individual example rather than proof of current platform support. The two listings cited here are the authoritative places to check the editions available today.

Practical decision checklist

• Need a story campaign? Select Project Wingman.
• Want a territory-based replay mode after the campaign? Select Project Wingman.
• Want procedural missions and roguelite progression? Select Sky Rogue; Project Wingman also lists roguelike/RPG elements in Conquest, but its main structure remains a campaign.
• Need confirmed local two-player play? Select Sky Rogue.
• Want PC VR or DirectInput HOTAS support? Project Wingman’s listing explicitly includes both.
• Need macOS or SteamOS/Linux requirements listed? Sky Rogue’s listing includes those operating systems.
• Do not want to buy extra hardware? Start with a gamepad; HOTAS is optional for Project Wingman.
• Unsure about current availability? Open the live storefront page for your platform before paying.

Source links and attribution

Bandai Namco’s Ace Combat product catalog describes the franchise’s arcade-style flight-shooting foundation. The publisher’s Ace Combat 7 official page reports the milestone of more than seven million units worldwide; no publication year for that figure is established here.

Feature, platform, release, VR, and HOTAS details for Project Wingman come from the Sector D2 and Balor Games Steam listing. Sky Rogue’s procedural missions, customization, local split-screen, and listed operating systems come from the Fractal Phase Steam listing. A community example of the search wording appears in the Reddit question “What are some games similar to Ace Combat?”.

Quick Recap

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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.