Abstract Recent developments in Pressure Gain Combustion (PGC) technology have demonstrated its ability to achieve higher thermal efficiencies and lower carbon emissions as compared to conventional gas turbine counterpart working in Brayton cycle. Ongoing studies suggest the possibility of implementing PGC in aircraft engines by replacing the high-pressure section (HP compressor, combustion chamber and HP turbine) with a PGC system. This, coupled with research on advanced materials and cooling solutions, offers the potential for higher overall gas turbine efficiency and fuel economy, contributing towards emission reduction of the aviation sector. This paper aims at a comprehensive review of PGC technology solutions applied in the area of aero propulsion. Reported background covers the historic as well as ongoing research activities at the component level, the cycle level, and the propulsion application of Pulse Detonation Engine (PDE), Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE), Oblique Detonation Wave Engine (ODWE), Free Piston Composite Cycle Engine (FP-CCE), and wave rotor engines. The analytical, numerical, and experimental research work is reviewed, providing also a comparison of PGC engine conceptual designs with existing gas turbine engines used in aerospace propulsion.