AOTC actually tries to have a mystery plot, which is a new and interesting direction for a Star Wars movie. Even if it doesn’t ultimately work, it at least tries. In comparison, TPM and ROTS are much more straightforward.
I feel like the step into new territory makes ANH the most compelling prequel for me personally. I think sadly it’s ambition is part of why so many people don’t look toward to fondly too. In my opinion RotS felt too fan service focused, and TPM was very much a rehash of the beats from the original movie. Weirdly enough the prequel and sequel trilogies parallel in that way. You could say they rhyme 😉