Ace Attorney Series

Ace Attorney series – what is it about?

The Ace Attorney series is a courtroom adventure game franchise developed and published by Capcom. The games combine investigation, logic puzzles, and courtroom cross-examinations where players must expose contradictions and defend their clients. The franchise is best known for its iconic protagonist, Phoenix Wright, a rookie defense attorney who fights seemingly impossible cases to uncover the truth.

The series blends legal drama, over-the-top characters, and emotional storytelling with mystery-solving gameplay. Over time, it introduced new protagonists, timelines, and historical settings while keeping the classic trial format that fans love.

When did Ace Attorney come out?

The first game, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, was originally released in 2001 for the Game Boy Advance in Japan and later for the Nintendo DS worldwide in 2005. It quickly gained a cult following and led to multiple sequels and spin-offs. The series has since expanded across platforms, including mobile, PC, and consoles, with both remakes and brand-new titles.

Full Ace Attorney game series in order of release

There are 11 main titles in the Ace Attorney game series, which includes the original trilogy, direct sequels, spin-offs featuring prosecutors, and prequel games set in historical eras.

1. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (2001/2005)
2. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Justice for All (2002/2006)
3. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Trials and Tribulations (2004/2007)
4. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney (2007/2008)
5. Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth (2009/2010)
6. Ace Attorney Investigations 2 (2011 – Japan only)
7. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies (2013)
8. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice (2016)
9. The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures (2015 – worldwide release in 2021)
10. The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve (2017 – worldwide release in 2021)
11. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Remastered Collection, 2024)

If you want to play them today, you just need to pick the remastered collections. They are available on all major platforms, so don't wait and check out this belevod IP.

How many Phoenix Wright games are there?

There are 5 mainland games where you play as a Phoenix Wright and one Layton Crossover. The original trilogy, Dual Destinies, Spirit of Justice, and Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. You can enjoy all of them on modern platforms, aside from the spin-off that's still exclusive to the 3DS as of March 2025.

What order to play Ace Attorney?

The Ace Attorney timeline can be a bit tricky due to the presence of spin-offs and prequels. That said, the most rewarding way to experience the game series in order is by following the chronological timeline. Here’s how to play the games in the correct story order:

Chronological Ace Attorney series in order:

1. The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures
2. The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve
3. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
4. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Justice for All
5. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Trials and Tribulations
6. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
7. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies
8. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice

The Ace Attorney Investigations games run parallel to the original trilogy and can be played after or between those entries. The Great Ace Attorney duology is a standalone prequel series set in the 19th century and is ideal to play first or separately.

The best Ace Attorney games

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Trials and Tribulations is widely regarded as the best Ace Attorney game, thanks to its emotional storytelling and epic final case. Apollo Justice introduced a new protagonist and evolved the courtroom mechanics, while Spirit of Justice brought the series to new heights with international law systems and mystical elements.

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is praised for its writing, atmosphere, and classic detective feel, while Dual Destinies refined the visual style and introduced new gameplay twists like mood analysis.

Who are the most iconic Ace Attorney characters?

The most iconic Ace Attorney character in the franchise is Phoenix Wright, the blue-suited defense attorney known for his signature shout: “Objection!” Other beloved characters include:

• Miles Edgeworth – Phoenix’s childhood rival and brilliant prosecutor
• Maya Fey – Phoenix’s loyal assistant and spirit medium
• Apollo Justice – A younger defense attorney who carries on the legacy
• Athena Cykes – A psychology expert introduced in Dual Destinies
• Barok van Zieks and Ryunosuke Naruhodo – The stars of The Great Ace Attorney games, set in a Victorian-era version of the legal world

Each game is filled with quirky witnesses, eccentric prosecutors, and dramatic twists that keep players hooked.

What’s next for the Ace Attorney game series?

Capcom recently released the Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy in 2024, remastering three major titles for modern platforms. This has sparked renewed interest in the Ace Attorney franchise, and fans are hopeful that a new mainline entry, potentially Ace Attorney 7, is in development.

With the success of recent remasters and growing global popularity, Capcom will likely continue expanding the Ace Attorney universe. Whether through a new protagonist, a return to Phoenix Wright, or another historical arc, the courtroom drama isn’t over yet. If you want to be the first to know about any new announcements, check our gaming news section regularly to stay up to date.