Ace Combat Games Ranked by Story and Campaign

Ranking Ace Combat games by story and campaign quality, the best are Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War, Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, and Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies, with Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown close behind. These titles stand out for their narrative depth, memorable characters, and well-paced missions that integrate story into gameplay.

Formula

The campaign score is a weighted composite: Campaign Score = (Total Playtime / 10) + (Story Rating × 2) + (Campaign Missions / 5). Total playtime (t) is in hours, story rating (s) is your 1–10 subjective score, and campaign missions (c) is the number of story missions. The formula balances length, narrative quality, and mission count to give a rough ranking metric.

Worked Example

Using the defaults: t = 20 hours, s = 8, c = 18 missions. Calculation: (20 / 10) = 2.0; (8 × 2) = 16.0; (18 / 5) = 3.6. Sum = 2.0 + 16.0 + 3.6 = 21.6. The calculator shows 21.6, rounded to one decimal.

Background: The Ace Combat Franchise

Ace Combat is a long-running arcade flight combat series by Bandai Namco, known for fictional wars in the Strangereal world—a parallel Earth with its own continents, nations, and history. The series began in 1995 on the original PlayStation and has evolved through multiple console generations. While earlier entries (Air Combat, Ace Combat 2) were more arcade-like, the series gained a strong narrative focus starting with Ace Combat 04 in 2001. The games blend accessible flight controls with melodramatic war stories, often featuring a silent protagonist, a charismatic rival, and a large cast of squadmates.

How the Story and Campaign Are Judged

When ranking Ace Combat games by story and campaign, players typically consider:

• Narrative cohesion: How well the story integrates with missions, rather than being a tacked-on excuse.
• Character development: Depth of allies, enemies, and the player’s own role.
• Mission variety: A mix of air-to-air, air-to-ground, escort, and special objectives that keep gameplay fresh.
• Pacing: The balance between action, story cutscenes, and downtime.
• Emotional impact: Memorable moments, twists, and endings that resonate.

These factors are subjective, but certain games are widely praised for excelling in all areas.

Top-Tier Story Campaigns

Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War (2004, PS2) is often considered the peak of storytelling in the series. It follows the Razgriz Squadron, a group of pilots framed for treason, as they uncover a conspiracy behind a global war. The campaign is long (30+ missions), with branching dialogue and a deep cast of squadmates. The story tackles themes of patriotism, sacrifice, and the fog of war, and its ending is one of the most memorable in gaming.

Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War (2006, PS2) is a prequel to Ace Combat 5, told through a documentary-style interview with the player’s former wingman. The narrative focuses on the Belkan War and the protagonist’s rivalry with a mercenary ace named Pixy. The “Ace Style� system changes dialogue and cutscenes based on how you play (mercenary, soldier, or knight), giving high replayability. Its story is more personal and morally gray than AC5.

Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies (2001, PS2) is praised for its minimalist storytelling. The campaign is told from the perspective of a young boy who befriends the enemy ace, Yellow 13, while the player character is a silent hero known as Mobius 1. The contrast between the boy’s innocent observations and the brutal war creates a poignant, understated narrative. Missions are well-designed, and the final showdown with Yellow 13 is iconic.

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (2019, PS4/Xbox/PC) is a modern return to form. It features a more complex plot involving drone warfare, space elevators, and a mysterious pilot named Trigger. While the story is sometimes criticized for being convoluted, the campaign itself is excellent, with stunning visuals, challenging missions, and a strong emotional core. The DLC missions (SP1-3) add even more narrative depth.

Mid-Tier and Lower Rankings

Other entries have solid campaigns but fall short of the top tier:

• Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (2007, Xbox 360) has a decent story about a liberation war, but its characters are less memorable, and the “Allied Attack� gameplay mechanic, while fun, doesn’t elevate the narrative.
• Ace Combat 3: Electrosphere (1999, PS1) had a complex branching story in the Japanese version, but the international release cut most of it, leaving a confusing, truncated plot. The original Japanese version is actually one of the most story-rich in the series, but it’s not widely accessible.
• Ace Combat: Assault Horizon (2011) tried a realistic modern warfare setting with a linear story and on-rails “Dogfight Mode.� It was a departure from the Strangereal formula and is generally considered the weakest narrative entry.
• Ace Combat 2 (1997) and Air Combat (1995) have minimal story, focusing almost entirely on arcade action. They are fun but not ranked for narrative.

The handheld titles (Ace Combat X, Joint Assault, etc.) offer decent campaigns but are limited by hardware and often reuse assets from mainline games.

How to Choose Which to Play

If you prioritize story, start with the PS2 trilogy (AC04, AC5, AC0). They are available on PS4/PS5 via emulation or PS Plus Premium (in some regions). If you want modern graphics and a long campaign, AC7 is the best entry point. For a shorter, more arcade experience, AC6 is okay but not essential. Consider your tolerance for older graphics and controls—AC04 and AC5 are dated but still playable. If you can only play one, AC5 is the most complete story experience, while AC04 is the most elegant.

Common Misconceptions

One common misconception is that Ace Combat is a realistic simulator. In reality, it’s an arcade game with simplified physics and unlimited ammunition (with reloads). The stories are also not based on real-world events, despite using real aircraft names (which were licensed until AC7, where some names were changed). Another misconception is that the story doesn’t matter in an action game; in Ace Combat, the story is integral to the experience, and the best games are those that make you care about the world and characters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Ace Combat game has the best story? Most fans and critics agree that Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War has the best overall story, due to its length, character development, and emotional weight. Ace Combat Zero is a close second for its unique narrative structure.

Is Ace Combat 7 a good starting point? Yes, Ace Combat 7 is a good starting point for new players. It has modern graphics, a self-contained story that references past events but doesn’t require prior knowledge, and a well-paced campaign. However, if you want the best story, you might prefer to start with the PS2 trilogy.

Do I need to play the Ace Combat games in order? No, each game has a self-contained story set in the same world but with different characters and conflicts. You can jump in at any point without feeling lost. Some references to past events exist, but they are minor.

Are the Ace Combat games available on PC? Only Ace Combat 7 and Assault Horizon (which was delisted) are available on PC. The PS2 games are not officially released on PC, but they can be played via emulation. Ace Combat 7 is on Steam and has all DLC.

What is the hardest Ace Combat campaign? Ace Combat 7 is generally considered the hardest, especially on Ace difficulty, due to aggressive enemy AI and mission objectives that require precision. Ace Combat Zero also has challenging missions, particularly the final boss fight.

Why is Ace Combat 3’s story different in the West? The international release of Ace Combat 3 cut most of the branching story and animated cutscenes, reducing it to a linear arcade shooter. The Japanese version had a full cyberpunk narrative with multiple endings, which is why it’s highly regarded in Japan but not in the West.

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in t | Total playtime | hours | 20 | 0 | 1000
in s | Story rating (1-10) | - | 8 | 1 | 10
in c | Campaign missions | count | 18 | 1 | 50
out score | Campaign score | - | (t / 10) + (s * 2) + (c / 5) | 1