Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove

Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games. It is the sixth installment in the Mystery Case Files series. The game is available exclusively at Big Fish Games website. The Mystery Case Files franchise is the number one brand in casual games and has sold more than 2.5 million units to date.

Story
In the fall of 2009, four graduate students traveled to a small township near Blackpool, England. They were never heard from again. The player arrives at Dire Grove, and begins searching the premises. As the player continues, they find the students car and find out that the students have left video tapes around Dire Grove. The player is then able to watch and learn more about what happened to the unfortunate students. Later on, the player learns more about the legend of the Banshee. Then the player will eventually find each of the students one by one, frozen in suspended animation.

Later on after finding the entrance to the portal, the player finds out that the students have awoken, possessed. Players then find them performing the ritual to bring the Banshee back and then you, the detective, jump into the portal to stop the legend. The story ends showing one of the students doing a report on their findings. Then a reporter asks if they can tell them who was 'the good samaritan' that helped the students. The student then responds "I was asked not to give a name, but i can show you their business card". She then holds up the business card showing the Mystery Case Files Logo, and then the credits begin.

Promotion
Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove was announced October 30, 2009 by Big Fish Games on their blog with slim details and an additional screenshot from the game. Mystery Case Files had posted a sizzle reel of Dire Grove on the main page of their website on November 10, 2009. This led to a lot of speculation a few days later and many users posted comments on a Big Fish Games Dire Grove forum. On November 17, 2009, Mystery Case Files revamped their website to promote the upcoming release. Release dates, deeper plot details and more screenshots were released the same day. Also an official trailer was posted to help promote the standard edition as well as the Collector's Edition.

Collector's Edition
Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove was released on December 11, 2009, however a "Collector's Edition" was launched on November 25, 2009 exclusively for Big Fish Game Club members. The Collector's Edition includes additional gameplay, levels and achievements; an integrated strategy guide; and behind the scenes artwork and videos. Whilst Collector's Editions are common amongst "core" PC games, Dire Grove is the first such example amongst casual games.

Sequel
In the Collector's Edition of Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove, there is bonus gameplay and at the end of the game. The player has to use a certain phone number, one that you calculate from the credits, and dial it on the telephone and a message is spoken.

"Well, hello again detective, nice of you to drop by. I would have stuck around for a chat but the weather seems to have taken a turn for the worse. Feel free to make yourself at home, but I wouldn't dally if I were you. The man with the icky bird has been very busy in the dark. There is something he would like to show you. Clicky, clicky detective. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise."

A yet to be titled seventh game will be released in late 2010, but it is not known if it will revisit the Ravenhearst story-arc.