Ace Attorney is one of the top-rated adventure video game series. It’s a series that was originally released in 2001 with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. Since its inception, Capcom has managed to put out countless main games and spinoffs related to it.
You can find these games gracing nearly every platform from as early as the Nintendo Game Boy Advance to the newest Nintendo console – the Nintendo Switch.
If you are thinking about getting into the series or you are a big fan of it, you might be interested to learn more about some of the best games in it.
Below, you will find information about seven of the best game releases in the Ace Attorney series ranked based on Metacritic scores.
The ranking below goes from worst to best so keep reading till the end to get all details about each one.
#7. Ace Attorney Investigations 2
Platforms: Nintendo DS, Mobile Devices
Ace Attorney Investigations 2 is another game in the Ace Attorney series that was originally released in Japan for the Nintendo DS in 2011. This game is a fantastic one that takes you to the events that follow Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth.
Throughout the game, you are tasked with following along with Miles Edgeworth who is a prosecutor. You will also be following a detective and a teenage thief. Throughout the game, you are tasked with investigating a total of five cases.
Gameplay:
For the gameplay, you can expect the same fun elements from the rest of the series. The gameplay is divided into two distinct types of phases including investigations and courtroom trials.
Therefore, you get to use your problem-solving and puzzle-solving skills to figure out contradictions in witnesses’ testimonies and more.
#6. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
This is another visual novel adventure game released by Capcom. This is considered to be the sixth game in the mainline portion of the Ace Attorney series.
This game originally came out on Nintendo 3DS but has since been ported to both Android and iOS. This game received an 81 from critics and an 8.3 from users on Metacritic.
During this game, you are tasked with following Phoenix Wright who is an attorney. He travels to a made-up Kingdom that has a legal system that has deemed attorneys to be unnecessary. Instead, the legal system uses mystical vision to determine the outcomes of cases.
Gameplay:
This game features the same core gameplay elements that you’ve come accustomed to if you’ve played any of the predecessors.
You will be tasked with tackling investigations and cases. The gameplay elements are divided into the same two as the rest of the series including handling investigations and going through trials.
There will be plenty of puzzles along the way. You will be tasked with navigating the environment to find clues. However, this game does introduce something new for returning Ace Attorney fans.
It introduces Divination Seances that show you the final moments of the victims before they died. This can give you a lot of insight into your investigations as it can help you uncover contradictions and solve complex cases.
#5. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
Platform: Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, Xbox One, Mobile Devices
The Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy for the Nintendo Switch is the definitive version of the game. It was released in 2019 [2].
However, the game was previously released for older generation consoles like the Nintendo 3DS. It was also released on PC, Playstation 4, Xbox One, and on iOS and Android. This game received an 81 from critics and an 8.5 from users on Metacritic.
This game features three of the most beloved games in a single package. Because of this, it’s a highly rated game that is packed full of value for fans of the series. This game features a total of 14 episodes throughout the three games.
Gameplay:
In this game, you are tasked with doing much of the same things you would expect in the Ace Attorney series. You need to uncover evidence by solving puzzles.
Ace Attorney does a great job of making every decision you make matter. Every piece of evidence you gather holds importance.
Therefore, you never feel as though you are doing something as busywork. The gameplay is split into two different experiences.
You will be handling investigations and you will be delivering courtroom performances. Along the way, you will be meeting new characters.
There are new features added to the trilogy that include having checkmarks that show you where you’ve already examined and had a total of ten save slots across each game.
#4. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Trials and Tribulations
Platform: Nintendo DS
This game originally came out on the Game Boy Advance. Much like other games in the series, it’s since been ported to many different platforms.
This includes it being ported to the Nintendo DS in 2007 in North America. This is officially the third game in the mainline series. This game is well received by both critics and users. On Metacritic, the critics give it an 81 and the users give it a 90.
This game starts you off following both Mia Fey and Phoenix Wright. Each of these is a defense attorney and you are tasked with defending clients throughout five episodes.
In this particular game, there are no new gameplay elements that you didn’t experience in Justice For All if you played it. This game has a lot of Flashbacks and they take over the game throughout the storytelling portion of it.
Gameplay:
Much like the other games in the series, you will have the gameplay spliced into different courtroom sessions. Throughout the gameplay experience, you will be tasked with doing cross-examinations and gathering evidence.
This is a very important game in the series because the director and writer of the game originally wanted this to be the final game in the Ace Attorney saga [3].
#3. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Platforms: Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Wii, PC, Mobile Platforms, Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Xbox One
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is one of the most acclaimed games in the series. It is a game that has graced nearly every gaming platform due to its high grossing sales.
This is a game that was published and released by Capcom in 2001. Since its release, it’s been ported to platform-after-platform. The Nintendo DS version is the first that was ported to the USA and Europe.
Therefore, it’s the one that the majority of the world first played. This game received an 81 from critics and a 9.0 from users on Metacritic.
In this game, you follow Phoenix Wright who is a brand new defense attorney. In the game, you are tasked with defending your clients to get a “not guilty verdict. Throughout the game, you will encounter a range of different characters including your boss.
Gameplay:
You will be controlling your character through two different sets of actions. These include both doing your investigations and running through trials in the courtroom.
Throughout the investigation, you will need to acquire evidence that you can use during the trial. The good thing about the gameplay in this port is that it took full advantage of the touchscreen that was implemented in the Nintendo DS. All of the cases can be replayed after you beat them no matter the order.
#2. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
This is another stellar game released by Capcom. This game has an 81 rating from critics and an 8.1 rating from users on Metacritic. This particular game was released on the Nintendo 3DS and you can find it on the Apple and Android store.
In this game, you are set nearly a full 365 days after the latest game ended. The previous game was Apollo Justice. Therefore, it may require you to play the previous one to fully understand where you’re at concerning the story.
It sets you in a time where the court system has been dealing with excessive amounts of falsified charges and evidence. In the game, you will be tasked with taking on the role of three different attorneys.
From there, you will need to work throughout the game to restore order and the confidence the public has in the court system.
Gameplay:
The gameplay elements are similar to the rest of the series. You will have the gameplay split into different investigation sections where you will be speaking with witnesses, searching for evidence, and going on trial.
There are also character-specific gameplay elements that can be used to make controlling the different characters more unique.
#1. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
Platforms: Switch, PC, PS4
There is no doubt that this is one of the most value-packed offerings released by Capcom. This is a collection of The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures and Resolve [1].
This is the newest release from The Ace Attorney series and it was released on the Nintendo Switch, PC, and Playstation 4. The game received an 87 from critics and a 7.2 from users on Metacritic.
What stands out about this game is the fact that the game uses a setting unlike some of the others in the series. In this game, the time is set closer to the present day.
Likewise, you will find a lot of use of futuristic technology in it. This is different from other games that feature a setting in the past. You still get the same immersive experience that puts you right into the heart of a charming and witty world where you are tasked with gathering evidence and having courtroom battles.
This game is also good because it’s easy for a novice to get into. A lot of people miss out on the incredible Ace Attorney series simply because it can be intimidating for newcomers. This game conveniently includes an assistance feature that gives you some help if you run into a dead-end during an investigation.
Gameplay:
This game features the core gameplay experience you would expect from the series. You have the gameplay divided into two core elements including leading your character through investigations and courtroom battles.
Conclusion:
As you can see, the Ace Attorney series is expansive. It’s one of the biggest and best you will find anywhere. If you enjoyed a single Ace Attorney game, you will likely have fun with the entire series.
The game sticks to its roots and the core gameplay mechanics never waver too far. To date, the series has sold over 8.1 million copies worldwide across various platforms [4].
If you’re looking to get into the series or experience games you may have missed out on, the ones above should be on your bucket list.
Resources
[1] https://store.steampowered.com/app/1158850/The_Great_Ace_Attorney_Chronicles/
[2] https://store.steampowered.com/app/787480/Phoenix_Wright_Ace_Attorney_Trilogy/
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Wright:Ace_Attorney%E2%80%93_Trials_and_Tribulations
[4] https://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/finance/salesdata.html
Image Credit
By Ace Attorney Facebook page, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39147972
By https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000B69E96, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13655956
