The Ace Attorney series has been entertaining wannabe detectives, prosecutors, spirit mediums, and defense attorneys for the last 20 years while also becoming one of the most popular and recognizable visual novel titles of all time.
Phoenix Wright, Apollo Justice, Ryunosuke Naruhodo, and even legendary prosecutor Miles Edgeworth have all allowed us to join their investigations of a plethora of cases; examining crime scenes, cross-examining witnesses, and sifting through evidence before going toe-to-toe with some of the best and most feared prosecutors Ace Attorney had to offer.
Across eleven titles, some of these cases have become more memorable over time for their jaw-dropping reveals, questionable decisions, and emotional conclusions. While every case in the Ace Attorney franchise offers a riveting look inside the world of law and order, some are remembered more than others for their compelling characters and unpredictable twists and turns.
Updated August 30, 2022, by Kyle Chamaillard. It’s been a minute since Capcom developed a new entry in the legendary Ace Attorney series. Still, we’re lucky enough to finally receive localized versions of both Great Ace Attorney games in 2021. We decided to update this list with some of the best cases across both of those games, and a few others from the series past that have stuck with us since we first played them.
15 Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth - Turnabout Ablaze
Turnabout Ablaze is the final case in Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth, and puts his assistant Kay Faraday at the center of a murder investigation when the body of a man is found in a burnt-out embassy office.
It’s the conclusion the game’s been working towards, and one of the most complex and exhilarating cases to solve in the series. It ends with Miles Edgeworth resolving the mystery of the Great Thief Yatagarasu, and ending the smuggling ring’s reign of terror. It also includes iconic throwbacks, with characters Larry Butz and the ever Edgeworth-smitten Wendy Oldbag making surprising cameos.
14 Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies - Turnabout Reclaimed
DLC for the Ace Attorney series was first introduced in Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright and returned throughout following entries as self-contained cases with zero impact on the main narrative. Turnabout Reclaimed was the only DLC for Dual Destinies, but it’s become a fan-favorite for its unique storyline and characters.
In almost every other case in the series, you must defend someone from a wrongful accusation, but Reclaimed subverts the usual formula once you meet your client. Instead of defending a human, you must defend an orca whale that’s under arrest for killing its captain. Phoenix Wright, Athena Cykes and Pearl Fey must work together to get to the bottom of this fishy case and find enough evidence to prove that killer whale is just a nickname for orcas.
13 Phoenix Wright: Justice For All - Reunion, And Turnabout
The second case in Justice for All shows you how Maya Fey eventually reunited with Phoenix Wright. In this case, Maya is accused of the murder of Turner Grey, after using her powers to channel his former employee and try to get her to admit responsibility for damaging his clinic’s publicity before she committed suicide.
This locked-room murder case was the first to introduce the Psyche-Lock mechanic during cross-examination. It lays the groundwork for one of the game’s biggest cases in Bridge to the Turnabout. It remains a firm fan-favorite for giving us our first look into the inner workings of the Fey clan, alongside the introduction of prosecutor Franziska Von Karma and Pearl Fey.
12 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Rise From The Ashes
Rise From The Ashes is the longest case to date and contains the most evidence in any Ace Attorney case ever. It’s set two months after Turnabout Goodbyes and features Phoenix investigating a mysterious confession to murder from Lana Skye, a friend of his late mentor Mia Fey.
Featuring a hunt for a serial killer, police corruption, and evidence tampering, it also allows you to work with Miles Edgeworth to sift through a mountainous pile of evidence and tough cross-examinations to learn the awful truth of what really happened. Rise From The Ashes was a truly legendary case to signal Phoenix Wright’s return to law after his break.
11 The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve - The Memoirs Of The Clouded Kokoro
The Memoirs of the Clouded Kokoro is the second case in the second Great Ace Attorney game, but it’s also the direct sequel to one of the cases from the first game. Set only a day after The Adventure of the Clouded Kokoro, this case has you defending Soseki Natsume once again, as he finds himself wrongfully accused of murder — again.
After spending the night drinking tea and debating with his neighbor — the unforgettable William Shamspeare — Natsume is accused of murdering him when he is found unconscious the next morning. What ensues is a baffling case full of liars, the return of John Garrideb, and so much more, as Ryunosuke tries to wrap his head around this theatrical mystery.
10 Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney - Turnabout Succession
The final case in Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney saw a change in courtroom dynamics, with a Jurist system that would eventually become a staple in later entries. It also involves a key link to Wright’s infamous final trial before he became disbarred for forging evidence.
Turnabout Succession sees Apollo succeeding Phoenix as the game’s main protagonist. It continues to give us everything we love about Phoenix Wright, with courtroom chicanery and humorous anecdotes. It’s the final case of the game, and it goes out with a bang — introducing the new MASON system that allows you to take control of the jury and decide how it all ends.
9 Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies - Turnabout Academy
Athena Cykes is the newest member of Phoenix Wright’s legal team in Dual Destinies. She eventually rises to the occasion in Turnabout Academy, when her childhood friend is accused of murder. The case finally pulls back the curtain on some of Athena’s background and history, and helps make her a much more compelling character.
Beyond Athena finally having the time to show growth and development, Turnabout is a riveting case set at a school full of young prosecutors and defense attorneys. It contains a love triangle, a haunting opening cutscene, and plot lines that reach their conclusions during Dual Destinies epic climax. It might be one of the more meta cases, but Turnabout Academy could teach some of the more forgettable ones a thing or two.
8 Phoenix Wright: Spirit Of Justice - Turnabout Revolution
The fifth and final episode of Spirit of Justice is a two-part finale, seeing Apollo Justice facing Phoenix Wright on opposite ends of the court before heading to Kjura’in, where Dhurke Sahdmadhi — the leader of the Defiant Dragons and Apollo’s foster father — is being tried for murder.
It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, as we see Phoenix and Apollo battle it out, then dive into investigating a moving and unjust murder together. It’s a conclusion with an engaging and well-written narrative, one that strikes a more supernatural feel than we’ve seen in previous titles.
7 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Turnabout Sisters
The iconic second case in the original Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Turnabout Sisters sees the death of Phoenix’s mentor Mia Fey, with the suspect being her younger sister Maya Fey — someone who can’t seem to catch a break.
This case is the introduction to many of the household names in the Ace Attorney series, including Maya Fey, Miles Edgeworth, Dick Gumshoe, and Marvin Grossberg. It throws just the right amount of curveballs and dramatic reveals to keep you guessing. It gracefully shows first-time players that Ace Attorney always delivers on the unexpected.
6 Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies - The Cosmic Turnabout
The penultimate case in Dual Destinies sees Apollo’s friend Clay Terran — an astronaut at the Cosmos Space Centre — murdered while escaping a sabotaged rocket launch. It’s a complex plot that features the appearance of a mysterious phantom and Apollo’s emotional resignation, leaving Phoenix to handle the case alone.
This case gave us the background and depth we needed from Apollo’s character. It’s also unique in being interrupted by the events of Turnabout Countdown, before being resolved in Turnabout for Tomorrow. It finishes dramatically, whilst tying up the loose threads from previous cases in a way you won’t see coming.
5 The Great Ace Attorney - The Adventure Of The Unspeakable Story
Not only does the final case in the first Great Ace Attorney close out the game with a captivating case, but it also sets up many important clues and threads to the sequel’s excellent story. The Adventure of the Unspeakable Story follows Ryunosuke and Susato as they attempt to clear one of their friends for murder, while also putting other important characters on the precipice of life or death.
A series of misunderstandings ultimately lead up to this case, and trying to unravel it will be Ryunosuke’s biggest challenge so far. Between learning about stereoscopes, the introduction of a mysterious man named Eggert Benedict, and a pair of bumbling thieves, you will have to sort through a slew of clues to eventually crack this case and prove that you deserve a spot in the British courtroom.
4 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Turnabout Goodbyes
The original game’s gripping conclusion saw Miles Edgeworth arrested for the murder of former defense attorney Robert Hammond, with Phoenix stepping in as his defense against the inscrutable prosecutor Manfred Von Karma.
The case featured the first investigation using a police dog, fishing pole, and metal detector, as well as the first introduction of Lotta Hart, a staple character in future games. It’s full of twists and turns, ultimately concluding in a connection to the unsolved DL-6 incident of Edgeworth’s father. It also reveals to you the relationship between Larry, Miles, and Phoenix, and what ultimately led Phoenix to become an attorney in the first place.
3 Phoenix Wright: Justice For All - Farewell, My Turnabout
The final case of Justice for All features the suspicious murder of an action star, and eventually the kidnapping of Maya Fey to blackmail Phoenix Wright into getting the suspect acquitted.
This is a case that moves away from the lighthearted humor of previous investigations, and into a more intense storyline that sees you questioning your motives when defending a guilty suspect you’ve been forced to assist. The ethical and nail-biting decisions keep you on edge until the dramatic conclusion, and are a great example of how this series’ engaging and compelling narrative have kept players coming back after all these years.
2 The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve - The Resolve of Ryunosuke Naruhodo
The epic conclusion to the Great Ace Attorney duology of games ties up loose ends from both titles in an eloquent and satisfying final chapter, one that is the culmination of everything that came before it. The way everything comes together throughout the case is shocking, but it ultimately ends on a heartwarming note — and helps establish The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve as one of the best entries in the series.
While The Resolve of Ryunosuke Naruhodo is technically the second half of the finale, after the Twisted Karma and His Last Bow chapter, it’s the case that draws everything to its proper conclusion. It’s a well-written and dramatic ending, one that will be hard to beat if the series ever receives a new chapter.
1 Phoenix Wright: Trials And Tribulations - Bridge To The Turnabout
It’s not surprising to find Bridge To The Turnabout remaining a firm fan favorite, and making Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations arguably the best game in the series. It brings everything from the past three games full circle, with a trip to Hazakura temple for Maya to train her spirit-channeling, and Phoenix to investigate a girl who looks an awful lot like Dahlia Hawthorne.
This case wraps up every loose thread in the original trilogy, alongside a throwback cast of characters from all three games. It’s an emotional ending, and arguably features the franchise’s most dramatic moment — a final face-off with the prosecutor Godot. It’s the case that sticks the most with fans, and the one that more often than not has them reaching for their copy to come back for more.
