
Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War is a first-person aerial combat and flight simulation game. Similar to other titles in the Ace Combat series, each mission is guided by a mission briefing and specific objectives. The main campaign consists of 32 missions, while an extra "arcade" mode casts the player as Mobius One (from Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies), battling through continuous waves of enemy forces. No matter which mode is selected, players take full control of their aircraft’s speed, direction, altitude, gun, missiles, and special weapons once airborne. A new addition to the series is the inclusion of Wingmen, allowing players to give them simple in-air commands. This feature enhances team coordination during attacks and adds unique personalities to each wingman. In addition, as the squadron leader, the player will be prompted to make on-the-fly decisions with "Yes/No" choices while in flight. The story unfolds between missions through a series of cinematic cutscenes.