The 12-year wait is finally over. Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is here, sending flying fans jetting to their game consoles and/or retail establishments. Pilots rarely get the spotlight in games, always acting as a support crew to facilitate the hero’s adventures. They carry cargo to and from the base, ship protagonists out to the battlefield and provide valuable vehicle drops. They’re usually also ready with a smooth quip to ease the situation after a tense firefight.
Of course, there are plenty of games where you take on the pilot’s seat as well. Outside of Ace Combat, there are the giant mechs of Titanfall and MechAssault. Your nameless soldier can pilot a tank or jet in any number of Battlefield titles. Vehicular-focused games aren’t common but they’re always a thrill, especially if you can master the skill and provide unique assets to your team. Having a great VTOL pilot in a game of MechAssault 2 was pretty much a requirement.
Considering all of this, they deserve a celebration. So, we picked out 10 of the most skilled pilots in gaming history and gave them their due. Whether they’re the star of the show or the star of the support crew, they’re also the stars of this list. While you wait for Ace Combat to download, take a scroll through gaming’s ace pilots.
So, is it better to be out on the front lines calling in the dropship? Or is it better to be piloting a giant warbird in and out of danger? Gaming lets us experience both, so the preference is really up to the player. Whatever you choose, know that you have the back of plenty of signature pilots, with many more to come. After Ace Combat 7‘s stellar debut, here’s hoping for many more entries in Bandai Namco’s storied dogfighting series.
Gaming's Ace Pilots
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Gaming's Ace Pilots
Pilots are the unsung heroes of any adventure. They're always shipping supplies to the hero, providing a timely rescue and ready with a witty comeback. They live in the background of your favorite games, but they deserve a spotlight. So, he's a breakdown of some of our favorite ace pilots in gaming. -
Carol Rawley
Also known as "Foe Hammer," Carol was the Master Chief's companion during the Alpha Halo landing during Halo: Combat Evolved. An efficient marine behind the controls of a Pelican, Carol always got the job done and gave her life in order to ensure that John made it off the ring. -
Jack Cooper
Pilots in Titanfall take center stage, trading planes for giant robots called Titans. Titanfall 2's protagonist shares that spotlight with BT, a walking mech that he pilots. Throughout the story, the two share a bond that grows as the game progresses. Jack also shows a great mastery of his craft, hopping from Titan to Titan with ease. -
Juno Eclipse
She was assigned to Starkiller's employ as he hunted out the last remaining Jedi in the galaxy in Force Unleashed. Eventually becoming Starkiller's love interest, she turns her back on the empire and joins the burgeoning rebellion. At least, that's how it happened before Disney wiped away the Star Wars extended universe. -
Kei Nagase
Flying under the callsign "Edge," Kei has flown many missions as a part of Wardog and Razgriz Squadron. She rose from the rank of Second Lieutenant to Captain since her debut in Ace Combat 5. Despite her prowess as a soldier, she hopes for a world without war and supports various disarmament treaties. -
Lakitu
Lakitu may not be fighting in wars, but he has mastered the art of flying on a cloud. Whether he's throwing turtle shells at plumbers, holding up a basketball hoop or operating the camera at the local kart race, he floats around with the greatest of ease across the Mushroom Kingdom. -
Launchpad McQuack
Appearing in all versions of Capcom's legendary DuckTales game, Launchpad ensures that Scrooge gets to where he needs to go to secure his treasure. Flying the Sunchaser in both versions of DuckTales, he's a close family friend. Known for crash landings, his ace skills come in surviving crashes rather than preventing them. -
Marcus Lampert
Marcus "Shamrock" Lampert flys as part of Garuda team as Talisman's wingman in the operations to retake Khesed Island in Ace Combat 6. He eventually sustains injuries that confine him to a wheelchair, but not before performing a brave stunt during the Battle of Sonne Island. -
Pequod
While playing Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, you likely heard Pequod mention his name more than a few times. The helicopter pilot ships Big Boss across Mother Base, getting him out of jams and firing on enemies when necessary. He'll also play whatever music the Boss wants to hear, much to his chagrin. -
Pilotwings 64
Nintendo's premier flying franchise once had a cast of characters before Miis took over the controls. From the Nintendo 64 entry, we've got Goose, Hawk, Kiwi, Lark, Hooter, and Ibis. They've got the typical Nintendo personality and are more than overdue for a comeback in a Switch entry in the series. -
ROB 64
While all of Team StarFox (and StarWolf) deserve a spot on this list, let's give a special shoutout to ROB 64. The unsung hero of the team, ROB pilots the Great Fox while everyone else is out on the battlefield. He also deploys the Landmaster tank when needed and has a pretty cool name.
