Mobile Mysteries: Shadow Ranch

This was the first Mobile Mysteries game for HeR Interactive to launch. It wasn't a direct port of the PC game, but rather a mixture of the PC game with the original novel by Carolyne Keene.

Available on: iPod, iPhone, iPad
PC Release Date: February 23, 2011
iPad Release MSRP: $2.99 USD
iPhone/iPod Release MSRP: $0.99 USD
Current MSRP: N/A
Discontinued: 2014
Game Acronym: iSHA

Game Description: Introducing a Story-based Gamebook Series for the iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch!
The Nancy Drew Mobile Mysteries Series, for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch, takes the story-based gamebook category to new heights with players choosing their own paths and solving mysteries and puzzles both big and small. Shadow Ranch is an interactive mystery for mobile devices that brings the book to life. As you navigate the mysterious events at Shadow Ranch, you will soon find yourself in a world of long lost treasure, phantom horses, rough and tumble cowboys, and fearsome creatures of the wild desert.
Nancy is off to lend a hand at Shadow Ranch with her two best-friends, Bess and George. But when she arrives, she quickly discovers that Shadow Ranch hides a darker past. A recent rash of ghost sightings and a series of horrible accidents, have been driving customers away from Shadow Ranch in droves, and with business at a standstill, it’s only a matter of time before it closes the doors for good. It’ll be up to you, as Nancy Drew, to piece together the mysterious events at Shadow Ranch, before it’s owners are forced to ride off into the sunset. Play the Story!™
iPod/iPhone System Requirements: iOS 3.0 or later.
iPad System Requirements: iOS 3.2 or later.

Fun Facts:

This was the first and only game in the Mobile Mysteries series as the next game, Castle Finster, was cancelled.
This game was made in the style of an interactive novel featuring music and sound effects from the Nancy Drew series, but also included some never-before-seen renders from the PC version of SHA.
The lite (free) version of the game featured the first chapter of the game to play before you buy.
There was a plethora of mini games and side stories to explore and play.
Technically, this wasn't the first mobile game HeR made. MHM for the GBA was the first, but as a mobile game for tablets and phones, this was the start.
As a marketing campaign, HeR created a video series called, "Nancy Drew Radio Mysteries". They also created a short video called, "The Case of the Missing iPad" in which Nancy needs to find her lost iPad which has the new Shadow Ranch game on it.

Walkthrough

Full walkthrough coming soon!

Image Gallery

Characters

Dave Gregory

Dave is the ranch foreman. Always polite, somewhat shy, Dave is a man of business and frustratingly few words. He is truly a “modern” cowboy, into sports, music, and the outdoors. He is not above trying to use his looks to charm his way out of awkward situations.

Tex Britton

Tex is an old-fashioned cowpoke. His cynical attitude reflects the fact that he feels much more at home with horses and cattle than with humans. He’s a terrible conversationalist (his favorite word is “nope”), and he not-so-secretly enjoys putting Nancy in situations that he thinks she can’t handle.

Shorty Thurmond

The ranch cook, Shorty, is more talkative than the other two ranch hands combined. He also loves to cook, and takes great pride in the food he serves. So criticizing his meals is a recipe for disaster.

Mary Yazzi

This single woman is part Native American and runs a store on land that is adjacent to Shadow Ranch. Mary knows all about the history of the area and she is interested in purchasing the Ranch for herself. Is she trying to scare away the ranch owners so they’ll agree to sell it to her?