Bookmark
Mystery Case Files®: Shadow Lake 
Exclusive
Uncover the evil legend that haunts a forgotten town in Mystery Case Files®: Shadow Lake! In 1973, something wicked took over the town of Bitterford, Maine, after an unsuspecting inmate unearthed a mysterious object from beneath the prison floor.
Years later, Bitterford lies in ruin. You must join forces with psychic Cassandra Williams, played by award-winning actress Lea Thompson, to investigate the events that led to the town's destruction.
Only you can expose the evil that lurks in the depths of Shadow Lake. But beware... What you discover may haunt you forever.
- For a more in depth experience, check out the Collector's Edition
- Get the Strategy Guide!
- Check out our Blog Walkthrough
Click images to enlarge
Game System Requirements:
- OS: Windows XP/Windows Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8
- CPU: 1.8 GHz
- RAM: 1024 MB
- DirectX: 9.2
- Hard Drive: 1536 MB
Game Manager System Requirements:
- Browser: Internet Explorer 7 or later
NEW299
The Big Fish Guarantee:
- Quality tested and virus free.
- No ads, no adware, no spyware.
Your Security and Privacy are important to us! Privacy Policy
Recently Viewed Games
Reviews at a Glance
Mystery Case Files®: Shadow Lake
0 out of 5 (0 ReviewsReview)
Average Rating:
Customer Reviews
Mystery Case Files: Shadow Lake
156
156
Review of completed game
I'm glad I didn't listen to the negative reviews. Usually I agree with the reviews on games that get posted here but a lot of reviews for this one are way off. I played this one through and really had a good time. I hate to think I might have missed it. The story was interesting and the acting was spot on. If you've ever watched shows like Ghost Adventures, you'll know what I mean. This one is getting a bad reputation that it doesn't deserve. Try it out for yourself. If you like the demo, you'll love the whole game. The ending in the standard edition is quite satisfactory.
May 7, 2013
A Good Concept
Let me start by saying I'm a big fan of Mystery Case Files and the developers at Big Fish. They try new things and push the limits, and this game is no exception.
I really liked the ghost hunter idea but would have liked to have seen more of them interacting during the game. Maybe ghost patrol files could be a new offshoot for BFG???!! Hint hint!!!
I tend to favor classic haunted house type games like Return to Ravenhearst and 13th Skull, and while it's a popular concept among developers, it's not easy finding one that's well-executed. I like the way BGF don't use those poser people. I really don't like those. I like the combination of film and CG.
A couple of things I thought could have been done better here... The HOS scenes were hard to see. There were objects that were simply too small and vague to make out without the hint, and that's with reading glasses. The walkthrough didn't list all objects, and I had to consult a forum to find the location of the teddy bear. A list of hidden objects might span multiple locations, which really threw me at first. Also, some objects could not be picked up, even though you knew you needed them, until other actions had been completed. As for the puzzles, I did most of the picture puzzles myself, but skipped one when the objects wouldn't rotate, and I couldn't pull the pieces where I needed them to go. I skipped the path game on the cross in the church because it threw me out every time I closed a shape although I wasn't retracing a path. And I skipped the relic puzzle because the translation and the solution were not in the same order, and I felt there weren't enough instructions as to what was needed. I had to use the hint button a lot.
I think the weakest point was the downsized HOS that I just couldn't see. It was maybe 1/4 the size of my screen, and that's just not big enough, guys.
I always look forward to a new MCF, and it would be good to see Ghost Patrol play a bigger role with their own game series. Looking forward to the next one.
April 28, 2013
I was impressed
This is by far the best graphics mystery case files has ever had. Hidden Object scenes were clear, movement was fluid, and transitions were really smooth. I don't know why I have read so many bad reviews of this game. Shadow lake had the most coherent story line of all the games, the map made it quick and easy to move throughout the game, and very few times did I get stuck just to find out later I had to make some ridiculous connection from something at the beginning of the game.
I really enjoyed playing this game. I think it is their best job yet.
April 22, 2013
I guess I have different taste
I read all of the reviews for this game and went into it not expecting much, but it honestly had my attention from the start. I guess I'm in the minority on this one, but the graphics were clear, the sound was great, and the story was interesting! I had a lot of fun with this one. My only complaint was that it was too short: I probably finished it in about 4 hours.
April 22, 2013
MCF Shadow Lake
Well, I usually jump at any Mystery Case Files game because they are usually so good but this one left me highly disappointed. The challenge was horrible, I was finished with the game in 2 days. The storyline was short and sweet, the only big positive was the graphics!
April 13, 2013
Do Not Bother With This Game!
Nothing like a MCF game. This is more suited to the fans of the low budget children's hidden object games. There is no challenge at all. I found it tedious and repetitive. I think they spent the bulk of their budget on the B list celebrity and spent the change on everything else. Very disappointing and not worth the install time.
April 1, 2013
Forget it's MCF and it's OK
This game would have got much better reviews if Big Fish had released it under a different programming house, indeed there were time when I thought I was playing Vanishing Hitchhiker.
I also think people just didn't "Get It" because this is a deliberate send up poking (well deserved) fun at shows like Grave Encounters and T.A.P.S.
Regrettably though this has been release far too early with many of the scenes and graphics still in the Beta Stage of development.
There are a few jumps and surprises that are a welcome delight and personally I was drawn into the story very quickly.
Unfortunately as we see in so many games these days the programmers seem to have thrown everything into what they gauge people will see in an hours free trial after which they just give up leaving a second half of the game as a tedious, empty trudge - and then it just ends with no obvious conclusion and to be honest I didn't really care either.
The game play is more Search and Find than HO but for some weird reason the crime computer has been swapped in favor of manipulating parts of Lea Thompson's Brain!?
No I don't get it either.
The sound is minimal with a truly HORRIBLE rotating object bar that sounds like someone vomiting every time you need to use it.
The live actors play it for laughs but it is tastefully done and really entertaining.
But the weakest aspect I'm sad to say is Lea Thompson herself. Making no attempt to hide her seething resentment at stooping to this level in her career, she makes a complete mockery of the part and one gets the distinct impression that she is relishing the thought of throttling her agent for getting her the gig!
I am recommending this game in as much as I got it with my free voucher but I won't be buying the CE.
March 23, 2013
not a usual MCF as in the old days - but a very good game!
This is just a comment: A really good mystery game which is not following ways gone with the Ravenhurst story, which is good. I started my "gaming carreer" with Dire Grove and in some extent this new adventure awakens impressions I had when I played this one.
If you are open to something new and do not expect what the past offered, then you should of course try Shadow Lake.
March 22, 2013
Seriously??
I should have saved my credit and listened to all the other posts on here, but I just couldn't believe MCF would be so awful.
I'm not quite sure where to even start... The story line really fell short for me. It was like a five minute story being drawn out into a 2 hour story, and it really had no depth. The "puzzles" were not like the usual with the MCF series. There is one puzzle in particular that you have to continuously play over and over. Hidden objects aren't constrained to one room/scene..you have to go to multiple rooms and open or move things to find them. Everytime the character talks to you and tells you to look for one specific thing, it's already glimmering in the background..There are times you will get to a location, just to return straight back to the location you just left because the character in the game is calling you back. .All in all, I really just don't understand what they were doing with this one...I was really disappointed.
March 22, 2013
Loved Lea, really didn't like the game
I have all the MCF games, I love them, I wait with anticipation for the next one. I used a free coupon on this game, and I am soooo glad I didn't waste a credit to purchase it. I have been a major fan of Lea Thompson's since "Red Dawn", maybe even felt a little affinity, as I lived in Colorado most of my life, and camped frequently at Arapahoe National Forest, I think it is awesome that she would entertain the idea of being in a game, MCF have usually been such good games, but I feel bad for her that this game was just not in the league of all the other MCF games, and I hope all the bad reviews of the game don't convince her to quit.
March 15, 2013
The Apple logo is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
