Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is a 2001 handheld visual novel developed by Capcom, in which players take on the role of a rookie defense attorney determined to prove his clients innocent against overwhelming odds. Originally released for the Game Boy Advance in Japan, it later reached wide international audiences on the Nintendo DS.

Gameplay splits between investigating crime scenes to gather evidence and testimony, and dramatic courtroom trials where players cross-examine witnesses, press them for details and present evidence to shout "Objection!" and expose contradictions in their statements. Its blend of mystery, over-the-top humor, tense reversals and a cast of memorable, eccentric characters made its logic-driven detective work compelling and often surprisingly emotional.

Ace Attorney grew into a cherished franchise with numerous sequels, spin-offs and crossovers. The original has been repeatedly re-released and gathered into remastered trilogy collections, keeping its courtroom drama easy to enjoy on modern devices.