Yes, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown - Top Gun: Maverick Ultimate Edition is still worth playing in 2026, especially if you want an accessible flight-combat game with a superb campaign, dramatic set pieces, and a generous aircraft roster. The package is less convincing at full price for players who only want the movie-themed planes, but the complete bundle remains one of the best arcade flight experiences on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.
The key distinction is that Ace Combat 7 isn't a serious simulator. You won't be managing fuel mixtures, hydraulics, or runway procedures. You'll be threading a fighter through a canyon, locking onto a bomber formation, dodging radar-guided missiles, and listening to an entire radio cast panic while the sky turns into fireworks. That focus still works brilliantly. In fact, its straightforward controls make the game easier to recommend in 2026 than many more complicated flight titles.
The official Steam listing confirms the PC release and its downloadable content, while the official Ace Combat 7 website remains useful for the game's aircraft and campaign information. This review focuses on the complete Top Gun: Maverick bundle: its value, performance, aircraft, campaign design, and whether it deserves your time now.
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Check OfferWhat does the Ultimate Edition actually include?
The Ultimate Edition is best understood as the complete Ace Combat 7 package rather than a separate campaign or remaster. It includes the 20-mission base game, the three major aircraft and mission DLC packs, assorted aircraft and skin bundles, and the Top Gun: Maverick Aircraft Set. Content names and store packaging can vary slightly by platform, so check the exact bundle description before buying a key, but the important point is simple: this is the version for players who want the full roster.
The Top Gun set adds the F-14A TGM, F/A-18E TGM, Su-57 TGM, 5th Gen Fighter | TGM, DarkStar, new aircraft skins, emblems, and the exclusive 8-player Team Deathmatch map set associated with the movie collaboration. The aircraft are not just cosmetic swaps. They bring different weapon packages and handling characteristics to the campaign and multiplayer.
| Bundle component | What you get | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Base game | 20-mission campaign, aircraft tree, multiplayer | The essential story and progression loop |
| Aircraft Mission DLC | Unexpected Visitor, Anchorhead Raid, Ten Million Relief Plan | Three challenging missions with distinct objectives |
| Additional aircraft | ADF-11F, ADF-01 FALKEN, ADF-01 FALKEN, ADF-10F, CFA-44 Nosferatu and more, depending on bundle | Powerful endgame and experimental options |
| Top Gun: Maverick Aircraft Set | F-14A TGM, F/A-18E TGM, Su-57 TGM, 5th Gen Fighter | TGM, DarkStar | The movie-inspired planes and special weapons |
| Cosmetic packs | Skins, emblems, aircraft colors, music and accessories | Extra customization and fan-service value |
There is one practical warning. The DLC aircraft can make later campaign missions noticeably easier, particularly once you unlock high-tier parts and long-range weapons. If you want the intended progression curve, use the standard F-14D, F-15C, F-22A, Su-35S, or Su-57 first and save the fictional aircraft for a second run. The bundle is excellent value, but it can also hand you a shortcut through the game's technology tree.
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View on Steammoz Store →Why Ace Combat 7's campaign still lands
Ace Combat 7's campaign works because it constantly changes the question being asked of your aircraft. Mission 1, Charge Assault, teaches basic air-to-air combat. Mission 6, Long Day, opens a large combat area where destroying ground targets before the timer expires becomes the priority. Mission 7, First Contact, shifts toward a stormy air battle. Mission 8, Pipeline Destruction, asks you to attack a refinery while navigating low-altitude threats and weather.
The campaign's best trick is pressure. A mission might begin as a clean interception and then throw cruise missiles, drones, jamming, cloud cover, or a massive aerial fortress into the arena. Mission 9, Faceless Soldier, is especially memorable because its radar interference obscures targets and forces you to read the environment rather than simply chase lock-on markers. Mission 11, Fleet Destruction, is a spectacular naval strike that rewards careful target selection instead of mindless missile spam.
You control Trigger, a pilot whose story is delivered through radio chatter, cutscenes, and the consequences of being framed for a friendly-fire incident. The narrative can be melodramatic, but that is part of the appeal. Princess Rosa Cossette D'Elise, Count, Bandog, Avril Mead, Wiseman, and the rest of the cast give the fictional Usean war a distinctive personality. The script is uneven, yet the radio exchanges make every mission feel like an episode of a military anime with a very large budget.
The missions that make the game worth replaying
Mission 13, Bunker Buster, is a standout because you must destroy underground targets with guided bombs while dealing with a strict approach window. Mission 14, Cape Rainy Assault, turns terrain into the main obstacle; a narrow canyon run gives you little room to recover from a bad line. Mission 15, Battle for Farbanti, is a huge score-attack battlefield that finally lets your fully developed aircraft breathe.
Then comes the late-game run: Mission 17, Homeward, tests your ability to survive a chaotic defense; Mission 18, Lost Kingdom, mixes air and ground targets around difficult terrain; Mission 19, Lighthouse, builds toward the game's most cinematic technology reveal; and Mission 20, Dark Blue, finishes with an escalating duel against advanced drones. These missions are not all perfectly balanced, but they create a strong sense of escalation that many modern action games struggle to match.
The weak points are real. Several missions hide their objectives behind unclear radio instructions, some score requirements punish experimentation, and the weather system can feel like a visibility tax rather than a meaningful simulation. Still, once you understand the mission logic, the campaign becomes much more satisfying. It takes roughly 10 to 15 hours for a first clear, with higher difficulty, S-rank attempts, aircraft unlocks, and DLC missions adding substantial replay value.
Which aircraft and weapons are worth using?
Ace Combat 7's aircraft tree is a progression system, not a strict power ladder. Each plane has air-to-air, air-to-ground, mobility, defense, and speed strengths, but special weapons determine how useful it feels in a particular mission. Standard missiles are reliable, yet the right special weapon can completely change your options.
| Aircraft or weapon | Best role | Strength | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-14D Tomcat | Long-range interception | QAAM or LAAM loadouts provide strong target reach | Less agile than modern fighters |
| F-15C Eagle | Air-to-air specialist | Powerful 4AAM and UGB options | Requires careful positioning against elite drones |
| Su-35S | Flexible late-game fighter | Excellent maneuverability and versatile weapons | Its tree position delays access |
| F-22A Raptor | All-purpose endgame aircraft | QAAM, 8AAM, and XSDB cover many mission types | Expensive to unlock and easy to over-rely on |
| Su-57 | High-end air combat | Good mobility with PLSL access | Pulse lasers demand precise aim |
| DarkStar | Speed and novelty | Exceptional top-end speed and movie-inspired design | Less practical than specialized fighters in some missions |
| F/A-18E TGM | Ground attack and fan service | Useful attack options with a familiar Top Gun identity | Not automatically superior to the standard F/A-18E |
The F-22A is the safest recommendation for a first complete run. Its QAAM, or Quick Maneuvering Air-to-Air Missile, tracks agile targets aggressively, while XSDB bombs give you a useful ground-attack option without forcing a slow bombing approach. The Su-57 is another excellent choice for players comfortable with the PLSL pulse laser. Lasers do not behave like ordinary missiles: you need to hold the reticle over the target, and clouds or poor aim can waste the advantage.
For heavy ground missions, the A-10C and Su-25TM remain fun because their UGB and other strike options reward deliberate attack runs. They are slower, so don't bring one into a mission dominated by fast drones unless you already know the objective flow. The F-15C's 8AAM is excellent against formations, but it is less useful when the mission gives you one highly evasive ace.
How parts affect handling
Aircraft parts are where the real build decisions happen. Mobility parts improve acceleration, maximum speed, pitch or roll response, and maneuverability. Missile parts can increase reload speed, flight speed, homing, lock-on range, or explosive radius. Don't blindly fill every slot with attack upgrades. A faster lock-on or improved missile homing often saves more time than a small raw damage increase.
For campaign air-to-air missions, prioritize standard missile homing, reload speed, and flight speed, then add mobility. For ground missions, use bomb explosive radius or payload improvements alongside standard missile upgrades. In multiplayer, the conversation changes: high-homing QAAM builds can be dangerous, but experienced opponents know how to defeat predictable missile paths with flares, post-stall maneuvers, and sharp altitude changes.
How does it perform on PC and consoles in 2026?
Ace Combat 7 is an older Unreal Engine 4 release, and that is good news for modern hardware. The PC version is not technically demanding by current standards. The biggest visual wins come from high-resolution clouds, lighting, reflections, and anti-aliasing rather than an enormous texture budget. On a current midrange gaming PC, 1080p or 1440p at a stable 60 frames per second is generally realistic.
The game feels best at a locked frame rate. Higher refresh rates make aiming and camera movement smoother, but the campaign's missile warnings, target markers, and aircraft motion remain readable at 60fps. If your system fluctuates between 60 and 100fps, a stable cap is preferable to uneven frame pacing. Controller support is excellent, and a gamepad is the easiest way to enjoy the campaign. Keyboard and mouse work, but you'll need to tune sensitivity if you want precise pitch control.
| Setting | Recommended value | FPS impact | Visual note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Native 1080p or 1440p | High | Use resolution scaling only on weaker GPUs |
| Anti-aliasing | High | Low to medium | Reduces shimmer on aircraft and horizon lines |
| Texture quality | High | Low on modern GPUs | Improves aircraft and terrain detail |
| Shadow quality | High | Medium | Lower this first if busy missions stutter |
| Effects quality | High | Medium | Preserves missile smoke, explosions, and weather |
| Motion blur | Personal preference | Very low | Disable it for a cleaner competitive image |
| V-sync or frame cap | Match display refresh behavior | None directly | Prioritize consistent frame pacing |
On PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the game remains playable but loading times and visual clarity show their age. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles benefit from faster loading and a generally smoother presentation, though you should check the exact platform's resolution and performance modes before assuming a native 4K or 120fps option. The Nintendo Switch version is a technical achievement, but its lower resolution and reduced visual detail make it a less impressive showcase than the PC, PlayStation, or Xbox releases.
If you run into crashes or inconsistent frame pacing, the sensible first steps are updating GPU drivers, disabling overlays, verifying the Steam installation, and limiting background capture tools. Those are the same practical habits that help with older PC releases such as ELEX's crash and FPS problems. You shouldn't need an exotic fix for Ace Combat 7, but community patches and configuration tweaks can matter on unusual hardware.
Is multiplayer and DLC still worth your time?
Multiplayer is the least predictable part of the recommendation. Ace Combat 7 supports Team Deathmatch and Battle Royale modes for up to eight players. Matches are fast, missile-heavy, and often decided by who gets the first clean lock rather than who performs the flashiest maneuver. The special weapon ban option is important because unrestricted QAAM and high-tier aircraft can make lobbies feel one-sided.
Battle Royale is chaotic in the best and worst ways. You can score several quick kills by reading the radar and attacking distracted pilots, but you can also spend half a match being chased by multiple missiles. Team Deathmatch rewards target selection more than tunnel vision: break off when an enemy is baiting you toward teammates, use clouds to disrupt lock-ons, and don't waste every missile on the first aircraft you see.
Population varies significantly by platform, region, and time of day in 2026. PC matchmaking can still produce active sessions, but you shouldn't buy the Ultimate Edition solely for a thriving competitive scene. Treat multiplayer as a bonus that adds replayability after the campaign, not as the main event. The single-player DLC missions are a safer reason to choose the complete bundle.
What the three DLC missions add
Unexpected Visitor introduces the Alicorn submarine and a more tactical naval encounter. Anchorhead Raid is a demanding nighttime operation packed with targets and score opportunities. Ten Million Relief Plan is a large-scale mission where route planning, speed, and target prioritization matter. These missions are tougher than much of the base campaign, and they make your investment in aircraft parts feel meaningful.
The DLC aircraft also add interesting toys rather than simple upgrades. The ADF-11F and ADF-01 FALKEN offer the series' fictional superplane flavor, while the CFA-44 Nosferatu brings the kind of absurd firepower that fits Ace Combat's late-game fantasy. The DarkStar, meanwhile, is ideal for players who want the Top Gun connection to be more than a skin pack. It feels fast and stylish, though the F-22A remains a more practical all-rounder.
If you enjoy hunting secrets and optional rewards in space-combat games, our Everspace 2 secret locations guide scratches a similar completionist itch. For another perspective on whether older games can still hold up, see our Dungeon Siege review. Ace Combat 7 benefits from the same quality: its core loop is focused enough that age hasn't erased the fun.
Verdict: should you play Ace Combat 7 in 2026?
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown - Top Gun: Maverick Ultimate Edition is worth playing in 2026 if you want a cinematic arcade flight game, a memorable solo campaign, or a large selection of modern and fictional fighter jets. The controls are immediate, the missions have genuine variety, and the aircraft progression gives you a reason to replay stages instead of treating the campaign as a one-and-done movie tie-in.
It isn't a flight simulator, its story sometimes confuses melodrama with depth, and its multiplayer community is too inconsistent to justify the purchase alone. The campaign also has a few frustrating missions where weather, radar interference, or vague objectives obscure what the game actually wants from you. Those issues are easier to forgive because the highs are so strong: a canyon run at full speed, a missile warning screaming through a thunderstorm, or the final duel in Dark Blue with the whole sky open around you.
| Player type | Recommendation | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Arcade flight beginner | Strong buy | Responsive controls and clear aircraft progression |
| Top Gun fan | Buy the Ultimate Edition | Movie-inspired aircraft, skins, and special weapons |
| Hardcore simulator pilot | Try on sale | Excellent action, but limited simulation depth |
| Campaign-focused player | Strong buy | 20 varied missions plus three excellent DLC missions |
| Competitive multiplayer player | Buy cautiously | Fun matches, but population and balance vary |
My recommendation is to buy the Ultimate Edition during a sale, then play the original aircraft tree before unleashing the Top Gun planes. That preserves the campaign's progression, lets you appreciate the differences between the F-14D and F-14A TGM, and makes the fictional aircraft feel like a reward rather than an instant skip button. If you've already played the base game, the DLC missions and aircraft are worthwhile additions, but wait for a discount unless you specifically want the DarkStar and movie-themed roster.
Final score: 8.5/10. Ace Combat 7 remains one of the easiest flight-combat games to recommend. It looks spectacular, feels fantastic with a controller, and understands that a great dogfight is about momentum, danger, and the perfect radio line at the perfect moment. In 2026, that combination still flies.
For more performance-focused PC recommendations, browse our guides to max-FPS settings in Far Cry 6 and older PC game system requirements. Ace Combat 7 needs far less hardware than either article's most demanding scenarios, but the same rule applies: stable frame pacing beats a flashy number in the corner.