A C172 pilot reported complete electrical failure and return to their departure airport.

Narrative

While in cruise flight to ZZZ1 on VFR flight following with ZZZ [ARTCC]; I had a complete electrical failure. I lost all comm and nav capability. The ammeter indicated normal the whole time I was in flight. Fortunately it was VFR conditions. After trouble shooting for a few minutes and going through the checklist all to no avail; I tried to contact ZZZ [ARTCC] but was unable to hear anything. I noted that the time was XA:00; and that the tower back at home base (ZZZ) was closing for the evening. I then decided it best to divert back to ZZZ. After turning on a heading to take me to ZZZ; I once again tried trouble shooting. I tried contacting ZZZ [ARTCC] on comm 1; and on comm 2; but I wasn't receiving or transmitting anything. I then decided to try once more but this time with ZZZ [TRACON]; but the results were the same. I knew I was no longer transmitting ADS-B out; and knew that ZZZ is located within the Mode C vail; but I decided to continue for safety purposes. I no longer had a landing light so I did not want to divert to an unfamiliar airport where there may be obstacles that I'm not able to illuminate on short final. I also no longer had use of flaps since they're electric; and that it would result in a shallower than normal glide path; putting me closer to obstacles farther out. And I wanted to be assured that the runway lights would be on since pilot controlled lighting was no longer an option with no radio. I made sure to descend down to 3;000 feet when I was starting over the north end of Location X; so as to not bust into Bravo airspace. I flew a left downwind to runway XX; and landed safely. As I taxied to a stop on the ramp; I received a call from ZZZ [ARTCC]; who I then told about what happened and that I was safely on the ground at ZZZ. It was the desirable outcome that I had wanted.