First launched in 2001, Ace Attorney is a series that influenced many games and other facets of pop culture after it. The series was beloved enough to get its own anime, manga, drama CDs, spin-off games, musicals, and even a live-action movie.

Those that love the Ace Attorney games tend to love games that are visual novels, particularly those rooted in the mystery genre. In terms of gameplay, puzzles are most suited for Ace Attorney fans as well. Luckily for you, there are a lot of games that follow some of the same formulas of mystery, interesting characters, and visual novel format.

Updated on February 24, 2024 by Jouanna Bondakji: The thrill that comes with solving cases, as well as seeing how it all comes together, are some of the best parts of Ace Attorney. Luckily, there are a lot of mystery games that can give you a similar feeling and potentially become your next favorites. We've added more games for you to check out, along with more information on the games already on this list.

18 The Wolf Among Us

The Wolf Among Us is based on the Fables comics, but you don't have to know anything about those to enjoy this episodic game. All you do need to know is that the characters are based on various fairytale characters, from Snow White to The Frog Prince, and the setting is much grittier.

The big bad wolf is the villain of Little Red Riding Hood's fairytale, but in this universe, he's the protagonist trying to get to the bottom of a string of murders happening in Fabletown. The comic book art style definitely adds to the whole '1980s detective' feel as you experience the series of scenarios based on your choices.

17 AI: The Somnium Files

AI: The Somnium Files mixes adventure and visual novel elements to make a murder mystery game that stands out from the rest. The protagonist, detective Date, is a 'love him or hate him' kind of character, making him anything but bland.

The game takes place in Tokyo not too far in the future, and Date is on a mission to investigate and hopefully solve a serial killer case. Though Somnium Files isn't afraid to get dark with its themes and depictions, there's a lot of humorous moments — many coming from Date himself — that ease the tension. You visit dreamscapes to get more details, and your choices changes your route and eventual ending. To know the full truth, you must obtain all endings.

16 Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

Most murder mysteries have you solve the deaths of strangers, but in Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, it's your own murder you're investigating. In losing your life and becoming a ghost, you've also lost your memory, so there are no clues there. But on the plus side, you get cool ghost powers!

You only have until sunrise to solve the case, but your ghost powers allow you to manipulate brief amounts of time, along with other fun things only the dead can do. Investigation comes with much puzzle-solving and deducing. The game was actually directed by the man who made Ace Attorney, so expect a similar kind of humor.

15 Danganronpa Series

Danganronpa is basically Ace Attorney meets Battle Royale. The series has students trapped in locations where a killing game takes place. While that story may sound quite different from Ace Attorney, its main commonalities are in its gameplay, mechanics, visual novel style, and over-the-top characters.

Every time a student is killed, you must solve the mystery of who among them is the killer, or risk execution yourself. There are trials in which you must argue your case to everyone else, presenting evidence and connecting the dots like in Ace Attorney. There's also a variety of minigames during trials that allow you to reach significant conclusions.

14 The Zero Escape Series

The Zero Escape series consists of three games in all, much like the main Ace Attorney games. However, unlike Ace Attorney, The Zero Escape series has only its three main games. If you're an escape room fan, this game will especially tickle your fancy.

The premise consists of a cast of characters waking up trapped in a giant escape room. There are a ton of puzzles, and the characters are all quite memorable and interesting to get to know. But not all is as it seems. Your choices will determine what route you go down and, consequently, what ending you get. Even the first game, which is on the older side, holds up especially well to this day.

13 Heaven's Vault

Heaven's Vault is a free-roaming indie adventure game about an archaeologist searching for a missing University colleague. As she does so, she begins discovering lost history in a space nebula. The game's setting is an interesting combination of desert and space, and the gameplay includes piecing together an ancient language and unearthing artifacts.

What you do and where you search is up to you. You'll meet many different characters along the way, but not all of them are to be trusted. Inversely, be careful what you tell them, as they won't forget it. Heaven's Vault's best traits are its graphics, voice acting, story, exploration, and its new game plus.

12 Hotel Dusk: Room 215

Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is a point-and-click game where you take on the role of former detective Kyle Hyde, who's looking for his former detective partner. He checks into Hotel Dusk and gets room 215, which people say grants wishes to those who stay in it.

Like most point-and-click games, the gameplay consists of puzzles and talking to characters to learn vital information. You even have your own notepad to take notes in, like a true (former) detective! But there's more than meets the eye; every character has a hidden past or present that may end up vital to solving the case.

The game is a cult classic and considered one of the best mystery games by many. To this day, there are those who wish there was a remake or remaster for current consoles. Like Ace Attorney, the game is word-heavy, but it has a story that hooks you to keep on reading.

11 Aviary Attorney

While it may seem like just a cute joke from its title, Aviary Attorney is a game well-loved by all who have played it. The game takes place in France during the 1840s, and you play as Jayjay Falcon, an avian lawyer.

If you want a healthy dose of mystery and silliness, Avian Attorney is perfect. It is full of bird puns, Paris landmarks, different endings based on your choices, and a unique art style. Like Ace Attorney, the game doesn't take itself too seriously, while still giving you the experience of getting to the truth behind court cases.

10 Overboard!

Overboard! is an indie game about a woman who isn't trying to solve a murder, but get away with one. That's right, you play a woman who has murdered her husband on a passenger ship.

Like Ace Attorney, the game has a lot of wit and charm. It turns out to be a lot of fun when you're the person actually trying to get away with murder. Of course, that means you'll be planting evidence and framing others. The game is full of dark humor as well. It's made by the same people that created Heaven's Vault, so if you liked that game's style, you may like this one's as well.

9 Grim Fandango

Grim Fandango actually predates Ace Attorney, having launched in 1998. But don't let its age deter you; it holds up nicely to this day. Set in the Land of the Dead, the game is rooted in film noir traditions and puzzles, and keeps the story very focused on conversation.

You play as travel agent Manny Calavera. The job should be simple enough, but Manny finds himself pulled into a case he has to clear if he wants to stay out of trouble. The game has won a ton of awards, and it is not unusual to see it listed as one of the best video games of all time. Its remastered version has done much to keep the game looking and sounding fresh, even after all these years.

8 Tangle Tower

Tangled Tower is an indie mystery game beloved for its eye-catching art style and eccentric characters. It is a point-and-click murder mystery story that involves exploring and interrogation rather than inventory-based puzzles. Mansions are a great setting for creepy murder mysteries, and this game utilizes that.

The victim may be dead, but all the game's other characters are brought to life by fluid animations that tell their story better than any words could. To get to the bottom of this mystery, get ready to put your detective cap on and search for clues that will unlock answers to well-kept secrets.

7 Disco Elysium

Disco Elysium is like Ace Attorney in that you play as a detective and interrogate characters. Except that in Disco Elysium, you have amnesia. This makes it so that you, as the player, can mold the protagonist into whatever kind of person and detective you want him to be. You have a bunch of skills that allow you to do different things, and how you put points into those skills will affect how you go about your investigation.

The game is best known for its well-written story, self-aware humor, and diverse cast of characters. If you like getting to the bottom of things while potentially messing up because of a bad dice roll, this game is for you.

6 The Trauma Center Series

With a total of five games, the Trauma Center series is another one stuck on older Nintendo hardware. Ace Attorney and most of the other games on this list deal with mysteries as their main focus, but Trauma Center is a bit different. The games are set in a futuristic sci-fi world where medical-related themes abound.

The gameplay is split into performing surgery on differing patients and going through a visual novel. While the premise sounds strange, it's actually a pretty interesting story about dealing with bioterrorism and acknowledging the importance of a person's life. Performing surgery on patients who are otherwise doomed in first-person immerses you in a way you wouldn't expect.

5 Murder By Numbers

Murder by Numbers is a visual novel and puzzle game. Like Ace Attorney, the story is a crime drama with witty banter and charming characters. In fact, the characters were designed by Hato Moa, the creator of Hatoful Boyfriend.

The game takes place in Los Angeles and the main character, Honor, is an actress-turned-sleuth who teams up with a trashed reconnaissance robot after the boss who just fired her turns up dead. But his murder isn't the only one, and together, Honor and the mysterious robot endeavor to catch the culprit. The locations you investigate all have to do with showbiz in one way or another, giving a fresh take on the detective genre.

4 Agent A: A Puzzle In Disguise

Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise is a point-and-click indie puzzle adventure game that has you take the role of Agent A, who's on a mission to capture Ruby La Rouge, a stylish and witty spy. The aesthetic is all retro with a somewhat 60s style.

The main draw of this game is its puzzles and exploration, as they'll put both your memory and observation skills to the test. If you're fond of games that have you use items in atypical scenarios, this game doesn't hold back with that. The major con is that there is no map and lots of backtracking, but if you can look past that, you'll have a fun time.

3 Paradise Killer

Paradise Killer is a game set on the enigmatic island known as Paradise. The main character, Lady Love Dies, is known for being an "investigation freak." Naturally, she's looking into a killer in what can be best described as a cryptic alternate future with a ton of worldbuilding and lore.

What makes the game stand out from Ace Attorney, and many others, is that it is non-linear and open-world. It is up to you to case whatever leads you come across and in what order. You have the whole of Paradise Island to explore, and a cast of suspiciously quirky characters you won't soon forget to interrogate and eventually build a case against.

2 Return Of The Obra Dinn

Return of the Obra Dinn is a first-person mystery adventure game. A ship, the Obra Dinn, was lost at sea in 1802, but somehow re-emerged five years later. However, none of its crew reappeared with it. You play as an insurance investigator who gets to inspect the ship to prepare an assessment of damages.

With that, you can find the answer behind the ship and crew's disappearance. The game is loved for its logic puzzles, compelling story, unique visuals, and music. It was made by a small team of people, making its high quality all the sweeter.

1 The Professor Layton Trilogy

The Professor Layton series is another batch of games that are mostly stuck on older hardware. It's been compared to Ace Attorney enough that it even spawned a crossover game between the two series in 2012 — Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney.

There are more games than the initial trilogy, but the first three games are the most renowned. Like in Ace Attorney, the goal is to solve mysteries. The difference is that you put the pieces together in a different way: by solving literal puzzles. There are different kinds of them, from logic to math puzzles, so your brain will get a workout regardless of what your strengths and weaknesses are.