If you’ve played Ace Attorney, chances are that you enjoy solving mysteries and losing yourself in rich, immersive stories. Ace Attorney is a legendary series of adventure visual novels that feature storytelling inspired by legal dramas.
The series comes from the team at Capcom and the first game came out in 2001, with plenty of other games following after. The gameplay essentially involves players taking control of a defense attorney and representing their clients. Each game is full of vibrant characters, tricky cases, and surprising stories.
If you like solving mysteries in video games and want to play more games like Ace Attorney, we’ve got you covered. Here are 10 games like Ace Attorney to check out, with plenty of interactive stories, dramatic legal cases, and interesting characters.
Aviary Attorney
Aviary Attorney took direct inspiration from Ace Attorney and features similar gameplay. The game comes from the indie studio Sketchy Logic. It came out in 2015 and is available for Windows, OS X, and Nintendo Switch.
The story is set in 19th-century Paris and follows a defense attorney named Jayjay Falcon. You might have guessed it from the name, but anthropomorphic animals inhabit this version of Paris. At the beginning of the game, Falcon receives his first high-profile case.
Along with your trusted eccentric assistant named Sparrowson, you have to find relevant information that will prove your client is innocent. Just like Ace Attorney, the gameplay consists of two different sections.
The first gameplay section in Aviary Attorney involves the investigations. This means exploring Paris in the hopes of finding clues and talking with various suspects. You have a limited number of days to conduct your investigation. Whenever you search an area in the city, it will take a day off your calendar.
The main difference between Aviary Attorney and the game it took its inspiration from is that you’ll have to be careful how you spend your time.
In Ace Attorney, you can go to trial only after you’ve collected all necessary evidence. On the other hand, you go to trial in Aviary Attorney as soon as your time runs out. As you progress in the game, get ready to witness some twists and turns you’d never expect. This is one of the best picks for fans of games like Ace Attorney.
Murder by Numbers
Murder by Numbers is a visual novel and puzzle video game that Mediatonic released in 2020. It got positive reviews from many publications. You can play Murder by Numbers on Windows, Stadia, and Nintendo Switch.
The soundtrack in Murder by Numbers is the work of Masakazu Sugimori, the same man who made the music for the original Ace Attorney game.
The story takes place in Los Angeles in 1996 and follows a woman named Honor Mizrahi. Honor used to be a TV actress on a popular detective show, but her boss has decided to fire her. Minutes after she is fired, her boss dies. The only way for Honor to figure out what happened is if she tries to solve the mystery herself.
To figure out what happened, you will need to investigate various areas to find information. Players also have to question suspects and witnesses. This is the same concept behind Ace Attorney. However, there is another gameplay mechanic involved. To uncover a piece of evidence, you need to solve nonogram puzzles.
You’ll often have the option to ask for hints and make mistakes without penalty when solving a puzzle. But in some cases, you will be need to complete a series of smaller puzzles without the option for hints and with a time limit.
To help you along on your journey to solve cases, a robot named SCOUT will accompany you.
This is one of the best mystery games on Steam, and fans of games similar to Ace Attorney are sure to get a kick out of it.
AI: The Somnium Files
In AI: The Somnium Files, players get to solve murder mysteries in a sci-fi setting.
The game comes from Japanese studio Spike Chunsoft. It came out in 2019 and is available for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. It received positive reviews from critics and became so popular that a sequel came out in 2022.
The story is set in near-future Tokyo and follows Special Agent Kaname Date as he investigates murders in his city. Kaname is part of a top-secret unit known as the Advanced Brain Investigation Squad.
Kaname doesn’t solve cases on his own. A powerful AI named Aiba that lives in his cybernetic left eye assists him and communicates with Date through an artificial nerve. Apart from that, Aiba can also give Date enhanced vision modes and hack electronics.
The gameplay consists of two different sections. This may already sound similar to other games like Ace Attorney, but there is a unique spin on the concept in AI: The Somnium Files.
The first section revolves around investigation while the other revolves around entering the memories of suspects to pull out valuable information.
Kaname has the ability to access other people’s memories in a dream world using a device called the Psync Machine. You can extract information from memories by solving various puzzles. Players have to think quickly when they’re in the dream world because they only have six minutes before it collapses.
Paradise Killer
Paradise Killer is a game that will transport you to a unique world with humans, ancient gods, and immortal aliens. It’s one of the best story-rich games on the Switch.
Kaizen Game Works released this game in 2020. You can play Paradise Killer on Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Paradise refers to a mysterious island that regenerates every few millennia. Paradise is like a pocket universe where aliens strive to reawaken their ancient gods by creating a perfect society. This group of aliens, known as the Syndicate allows humans to live on the island.
When the Syndicate fails to reawaken their gods, they ritually slaughter all humans on the island. Nevertheless, they always bring more humans in every next iteration of the island. The events that take place in Paradise Killer are set during the 24th iteration of the island.
You take on the role of a detective named Lady Love Dies, who has been in exile for three million days. She gets the mission from the Syndicate Judge after the entire Syndicate Council is killed.
The gameplay takes place in an open-world environment. As you explore the open world, you will find various clues that will help you solve the case. You have the option to bring characters to trial at any time, but you’ll be able to get them convicted only if you gathered enough evidence.
Zero Escape: The Nonary Games
Zero Escape is a series of visual novels and adventure games that consists of three separate games. Spike Chunsoft made the first two, while Chime made the second.
The first game, titled Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors came out in 2009. Virtue’s Last Reward is the name of the second game, which came out three years later. The Nonary Games is a remastered bundle of the two games. It came out in 2017 and is available for Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One.
The premise behind each Zero Escape game is the same. A person known only as Zero kidnaps nine different people and holds them captive.
It’s both a bizarre and thrilling premise that makes the game extremely entertaining. You’ll be on the edge of your seat when you play The Nonary Games since it contains more twists and turns than a snake with an itch.
The gameplay has two separate sections. The first section uses the style of a visual novel. Your actions in the game affect the outcome of the story. There are multiple endings in each of the two releases packaged together in The Nonary Games.
The second section is where you’ll be solving a variety of puzzles. You’ll have to escape different rooms by searching for certain items and solving puzzles, some of which can be quite complex.
This is one of the most unique interactive story games on the Xbox Series X / S, and fans of games like the Ace Attorney series will love it.
Umineko When They Cry
Umineko When They Cry is a series of visual novels that comes from the team at 07th Expansion. The episodes in the series come in two sets of four. They came out from 2007 to 2010 in Japan, followed by a worldwide release in 2016. You can play Umineko When They Cry on Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, iOS, Nintendo Switch, macOS, and Linux.
The story follows the wealthy Ushiromiya family that has come together on a private island. The purpose of their gathering is to talk about how they’ll divide the assets that belong to Kinzo, the head of the family. Konzo has recently become very ill, which is why it’s important for the Ushiromiya family to have these discussions.
Things take an unexpected turn on the secluded island when members of the Ushiromiya family start dying one by one. Fans of the mysterious and dramatic elements in games like Ace Attorney will find this story captivating.
What’s even more bizarre is that other people might not be responsible for the deaths. It may even be a supernatural force. Players will need to get to the root of the mysteries that are centered around the Ushiromiya family.
Umineko When They Cry does an incredible job of creating a chilling atmosphere through background music and sound effects. The gameplay is linear throughout most of the series. The games contain little to no interactive gameplay elements.
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is a visual novel adventure game that has amassed a huge cult following since it came out in 2010. The game comes from the team at Spike and marks the first entry in the Danganronpa series.
You can play the Trigger Happy Havoc on Windows, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, OS X, Linux, iOS, and Android.
The story in the game takes place at a high school known as Hope’s Peak Academy. It’s a school only the most gifted students attend. Everything seems perfect until a group of students can’t escape from Hope’s Peak Academy.
The students become subjects of a nefarious remote-controlled bear called Monokuma. This bear promises freedom to anyone who is able to secretly murder a fellow student. You take on the role of a student named Makoto Naegi and it’s up to you to figure out who controls Monokuma.
Just like Ace Attorney, the gameplay in Danganronpa: Trippy Happy Havoc is split into two sections. The first section is School Life and revolves around investigating different areas in the school. The second is Class Trials, where you have to figure out which person is behind a particular murder.
In case you’re looking for a strange story filled with shocking twists, this game is perfect for you.
Disco Elysium
When developers start thinking outside of the box and let their immense creativity flow into every aspect of a game, you get games like Disco Elysium.
Disco Elysium is a non-traditional RPG from the team at ZA/UM. The story in the game was written by Estonian novelist Robert Kurvitz. Disco Elysium came out in 2019 and received universal acclaim upon its release. You can play it on Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
The story is set in a large city that’s been recovering from war for decades. You play an amnesiac detective who has to solve a peculiar murder mystery. What’s particularly interesting about this role-playing game is that it doesn’t contain any combat gameplay elements. Instead, the gameplay puts a heavy emphasis on dialogue.
You have complete freedom of choice in Disco Elysium. You can intimidate witnesses, write poetry, take bribes, dance, sing karaoke, and engage in many other activities. You can even decide what type of detective you can be. You can become a hero or the worst person in the city.
There are more than 80 clothing items in the game, which will allow you to fully customize your character. There are also 24 different skills you can learn. You will have 14 items at your disposal in Disco Elysium, ranging from a flashlight to psychoactive substances.
Tangle Tower
Tangle Tower is a murder mystery adventure game from British studio SFB Games. It represents the third entry in the Detective Grimoire series. The game came out in 2019 and is available for Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Tangle Tower is a direct sequel to Detective Grimoire, which came out in 2014. It features the same main character as its predecessor. However, you don’t need any prior knowledge about the series or the events in the previous games to enjoy Tangle Tower.
In this game, you take on the role of a detective and his assistant as they visit Tangle Tower to solve the bizarre murder of Freya Fellow. What’s strange about her death is that she was apparently murdered by a painting.
Tangle Tower features point-and-click gameplay and a lot of interesting dialogue. It’s sure to captivate fans of games like Ace Attorney.
The way the two main characters (detective Grimoire and his assistant Sally) act is perfect. They exchange witty dialogue that will keep you intrigued and sometimes make you laugh extremely hard. The suspects and witnesses you’ll talk to are also well-written and have unique personalities.
To find clues, players need to investigate many different areas. It’s easy to miss an important clue, so make sure you thoroughly search every place you visit. There are also some challenging puzzles you’ll have to solve.
Return of the Obra Dinn
Return of the Obra Dinn is an adventure and puzzle video game from one-man army Lucas Pope.
It features a unique art style for modern video games, for which it got a lot of love from numerous publications. Return of the Obra Dinn came out in 2018. You can play it on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, macOS, and Windows.
The story is set in 1807, five years after the merchant ship Obra Dinn started its voyage from London to the East. The ship was declared lost at sea six months after it set sail in 1802 because it didn’t show up at its rendezvous point.
In 1807, the Obra Dinn suddenly reappears off the coast of England.
You take on the role of an insurance inspector for the East India Company. Your main task is to perform an appraisal of the Obra Dinn. When you set foot on the ship, you see a lot of passengers dead. You use a special device called the Memento Mortem to discover how each person died and who their killer was.
Return of the Obra Dinn is essentially one huge logic puzzle that you’ll have to solve. It’s one of the most challenging mystery games on the Switch, and if you like games similar to Ace Attorney, you’re sure to love it.
