The Ace Attorney series debuted on the Game Boy Advance in Japan on October 12, 2001, before finally reaching international audiences as a DS game in 2005. Since then, the visual novel series has risen in popularity and spawned multiple sequels, spin-offs, and an unexpected crossover.
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PostsOriginally developed for handheld devices, the Ace Attorney games are available everywhere, including home consoles, PCs, and mobile devices. If you want to get into the Ace Attorney series but don't know how many games you'll need to play to catch up, we will cover all the essentials here... unless you have any objections.
There Are Six Main Ace Attorney Games
There are currently six main Ace Attorney games that follow Phoenix Wright and his friends as they work together to protect innocent people and the judicial system. It's recommended that you play the games in the order in which they were released to understand the chronological events of the series and the character arcs as they unfold in front of you.
Each game often has two different sections that interweave elements from visual novels and adventure games. Half of your time as an attorney will be spent investigating crime scenes and interrogating witnesses, while the other half will be spent in court as you provide evidence to back up your claims.
You'll spend most of your time in the shoes of Phoenix Wright, though occasionally - and especially in the fourth game in the series - you'll play as someone else and see events through a different perspective. You'll watch the main character go from bumbling rookie to Ace Attorney throughout these six games, and it's certainly a ride worth taking.
Game
Release Date (North America)
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
October 11, 2005
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice For All
January 16, 2007
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials And Tribulations
October 23, 2007
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
February 19, 2008
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies
October 24, 2013
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit Of Justice
September 8, 2016
There Are Five Ace Attorney Spin-Offs
If you've finished the main series and still have a taste for justice, five other games take place in the same universe as Ace Attorney, though the events from these games have little to no impact on the main narrative. There are two spin-offs with two entries each under their banner and a crossover title with the Professor Layton series.
The first spin-off is the Ace Attorney Investigations series and follows Miles Edgeworth as he acts out his duties as a prosecutor. The gameplay is very different from the main series and focuses more on adventure game elements like finding items and using them correctly to advance the story. It should be noted that the second game - Ace Attorney Investigations 2 - has never been launched outside of Japan.
The second spin-off is a duology of games known as The Great Ace Attorney. These prequels take place during the early 1900s, which means you won't be able to rely on modern technology to get to the bottom of a case. It deals with heavier themes than the other Ace Attorney games, but the narrative told across both titles is excellent and worth investigating.
Being a lawyer isn't easy, so Phoenix Wright decides to partner up with the star of the Professor Layton series for an excellent crossover that combines the best of both worlds. This game is still exclusive to the 3DS, and physical copies are expensive and difficult to find.
Game
Release Date
Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth
February 16, 2010 (North America)
Ace Attorney Investigations 2
February 3, 2011 (Japan Only)
The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures
July 9, 2015 (Japan)
The Great Ace Attorney: Resolve
August 3, 2017 (Japan)
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
August 29, 2014 (North America)
There Are Three Remasters And Compilations
While you could go back to purchase the original copies of these games, most of them are incredibly rare and can cost you quite a bit to collect them all. Fortunately, Capcom has re-released or remade many of the Ace Attorney games, and you can often purchase multiple titles in a single package.
There are currently three remasters and compilations are easily found on most platforms. You can experience all six of the main games through two separate collections, and the Great Ace Attorney dualogy was ported to most consoles in 2021.
Title
Release Date (North America)
Games In Package
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
December 9, 2014
- Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
- Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice For All
- Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials And Tribulations
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
July 27, 2021
- The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures
- The Great Ace Attorney: Resolve
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy
January 25, 2024
- Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
- Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies
- Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit Of Justice
There Are 11 Ace Attorney Games In Total
Not including the compilations, there are 11 unique games in the Ace Attorney series. Each one stands on its own with compelling mysteries, memorable characters, and unexpected twists. Each entry can take you anywhere between 20 and 30 hours to complete, so you can easily spend hundreds of hours getting lost in the magnificent world of Ace Attorney.
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