TheAce Attorneyseries has been releasingnew games and content for over two decadesnow. Each of the series' titles has its own unique twists and turns, offering over thirty cases combined. This makes it difficult to decide which is the best one. The popular mystery game franchise has gone on to produce not only video games but spinoffs, soundtracks, Manga, movies, and even live-action theater shows.
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It is not only the great suspense and constant thrills of the Ace Attorney games that make them a great experience: the visuals are also one of the greatest in the visual novel genre. The question, then, is which Ace Attorney games are the best of all?
10Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth
When Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth released, the expectations were high. The game introduces a new investigation type of gameplay, where solving cases does not take place in the court. Edgeworth will instead investigate the crime scenes themselves. It’s a new yet familiar experience with an amazing soundtrack to boot.
You get to play Edgeworth,one of the most iconic villains in gaming, explore his backstory, and learn more about his life. While going outside to the streets to solve cases as this flamboyant character sounds exciting, however, most of the cases fall short compared to the other games. Sometimes, the endings are a bit predictable too.
9Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit Of Justice
One of Ace Attorney’s most recent releases, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit Of Justice boasts, as the name suggests, the spirit of the mainline entries. The writing is excellent and a new refreshing setting is introduced, taking players to the high-altitude Himalayas. The new characters and their customs make for all-new memorable cases and plot twists.
The backstory of Apollo Justice, however, is quite upsetting, which can sap the experience of its trademark charm. There are also a few plot holes, which see some personalities rendered rather superfluous in terms of the overall plot.
8Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
It'’s not easy to makegood game sequels, but Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney manages to softly reboot the series by introducing a time skip of seven years. For the first time, another protagonist is introduced: Apollo Justice, an apprentice of Phoenix Wright.
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An intriguing new gameplay twist is added: During trials, Justice can perceive any small twitches or reactions in the body language of a witness. This extra element made trials feel even more gripping. Unfortunately, some of the puzzles are unbalanced, and most of the individual cases are forgettable. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney did introduce some fantastic ideas, however, and implement them well.
7Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice For All
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice For All offers great character development, letting fans delve deeper into the characters' backstories. It also introduces the only female legal antagonist of the franchise: Franziska von Karma. This lovable perfectionist does not go anywhere without her trademark whip.
Justice For All could have been an even better title, as half of the cases are truly great and emotional ones. It suffers from a lack of consistency, though: the other half of them are quite disappointing. The opening is considered one of the worst, but the final case is one of the best: it twists the mechanics of the game in interesting and previously unseen ways. The main thing that holds this title back is this core inconsistency.
6Ace Attorney 5: Dual Destinies
Ace Attorney 5: Dual Destinies is a true masterpiece when played on the Nintendo 3DS, as it takes full advantage of the 3D features. It is available on Android devices as well, but playing on 3DS offers the best experience. Dual Destinies boasts fully animated cutscenes, ensuring that players are even more engaged in the story of Phoenix, Athena, and Apollo. All these new characters bring good humor and extravagant personalities to the table.
Athena remains one of the most wholesome characters in the series, as no-one can hate her clumsy personality. Sadly, the game feels stiff at times, and seems to be overwhelmingly dialogue-heavy. The added mood matrix gameplay is also a contentious feature. It does offer priceless Ace Attorney moments, however, such as the chance to defend an orca in one case.
5Professor Layton VS Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Professor LaytonVs Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is a crossover no-one knew they wanted until they got it. It utterly captivates players with its charming visuals and narrative. The main plot takes place in Labyrinthia, which is the perfect meeting point for Layton and Phoenix, as it combines serenity and darkness.
The location and concept are excellent, but the title does have its shortcomings. It feels like the developers did not blend the two franchises as successfully as they could have done. The puzzles seem rather easier than typical Professor Layton games, while the courtroom scenes are rather different to typical Ace Attorney games. A bold and enjoyable crossover, certainly, but the idea had even more potential.
4Ace Attorney Investigations 2
Ace Attorney Investigations 2 is one of the games in this franchise that has consistently good cases. There are no boring or lengthy trials, and fans get to explore what it truly means to be a prosecutor. Another huge plus is the introduction of Gregory Edgeworth, Miles' father. This intriguing new personality allows us to take a glimpse into the backstory of Miles, to a far greater extent than before.
There is also a new mechanic called logic. Logic gets activated whenever a character is trying to hide or withhold information, and Miles tries to bring the truth to the light by reading their words and emotions. Although this installment is better than its predecessor, it still offers no innovative changes. The narrative also feels somewhat weaker than in other titles.
3The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles are two games for the price of one. Both offer great visuals, a remarkable narrative, and a complex history. The package consists of The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures and The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve. The game takes place in Meiji-era Japan and Victorian England. Fans take the role of Phoenix’s ancestor, Naruhodo Ryunosuke.
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More intriguing and rather dark plots and characters are introduced, as well as many new interesting mechanics. You search for evidence while the trial is ongoing, which keeps you engaged in the plot, and you travel between Japanese and British courtrooms. The experience is rather long-winded, though: some of the cases involve over 10 hours of gameplay, which may feel exhausting.
2Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
The game that started it all: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. The original entry is over 20 years old, but is still one of the best visual novels out there. It gives a great introduction to the series and to the backstory of Phoenix and Miles.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney sets up the wackiness and supernatural elements of the franchise perfectly. With interesting and creative cases, coupled with one of the best soundtracks in the series, it remains very high on the list. The only downside to this masterpiece would be a possible lack of challenge, as the puzzles feel too easy sometimes compared to what came later.
1Ace Attorney 3: Trials and Tribulations
Ace Attorney 3: Trials and Tribulations was originally meant to be the final game of the franchise. It is the product of an experienced developing team that has become more than comfortable with what they are doing. There are no new mechanics and it is one of the least ambitious games, but Trials and Tribulations still manages to steal the heart of whoever plays it.
The deep narrative and complex plot make it difficult not to become fully invested in the characters. The game offers even more lore, and, as a plus, you also get to play as Mia. Godot makes a great villain, and his obsession with coffee makes him so relatable and delightfully quirky. The final case of Trials and Tribulations should also be mentioned, as Bridge To The Turnabout is still one of the most thrilling cases in series history.
