The Ghostly-Charming Puzzler Functions as the Perfect Substitute to Halloween Horror

Not every autumn fright journey needs to frighten players. Including beloved classics like Scooby-Doo to charming series such as Over the Garden Wall, many Halloween-themed favorites are enjoyable without requiring causing fear. Additionally, a growing library of spooky-cute games with Halloween vibes, though lacking the sleep-with-the-lights-on intensity of fear. Gloomy Eyes debuted in recent months, and serves as an excellent cozy option to the intensely frightening titles of the current season.

An Original Collaborative Solo Journey

Labeled as a “self-coop” problem-solving title, Gloomy Eyes teams up a zombie boy named Gloomy and a mortal child named Nena as they embark on an mission to bring the sun back to their dark, dark environment. They look is similar to collectible figures blended with the puppets from a Laika film. Their pale-skinned and tired-looking style is influenced by the visual style of Gothic fantasy movies, and the plot is a quintessential family-friendly adventure. The pair develops an enduring friendship over the span of the game’s 14 chapters as Nena strives to demonstrate to her religious guardian that, you know, maybe living-impaired beings can be friendly.

Original Puzzle Mechanics

This unique description comes about from the game’s environmental puzzles. When Gloomy and Nena meet, players alternate among the recent allies to complete challenges and progress through the levels. As an undead, Gloomy cannot pass through the light of a streetlight, while Nena will get snatched up by idle zombies without a lamp is directed on them.

They must cooperate closely — well, gamers operate them together — to complete stages. Nena might relocate or briefly disable lamps to create passages for Gloomy, while the intellectually curious character will use his zombie strength to rearrange items in the world, opening up ways for Nena.

Engaging Environment Creation

These challenges bring to mind a touch of The Gardens Between, in the fashion the stages are suspended, diorama-like constructions that the view pans around in coordination with your characters. Gloomy Eyes’ settings are quite fun, leading the duo around a carnival and through a ghostly building, including other locations. The game includes a “diorama view” option that permits you to view from afar and turn the levels, both for appreciate the designs and look for routes that may not have been obvious.

Slight Hiccups and Overall Adventure

This represents one of the sole difficulties with Gloomy Eyes. Like other titles with a fixed perspective, sometimes it's unclear where the heroes are able to move. You may need to simply collide with a few random elements to figure out which ones are usable, as the game doesn't always indicate.

However, those slight obstacles don't hinder of a ghostly-charming good time. Gloomy Eyes is relatively brief, with about a few sessions worth of challenges. Advanced areas combine light sneaking and exciting moments with the challenge completion, as Gloomy Eyes marches toward a rewarding — and moderately surprising — finale.

Availability and Final Thoughts

Those avoiding the frights of intense horror releases ought to experience Gloomy Eyes. It’s available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X, and is available at a reduced price for a quarter off on digital platforms.

This charming title has been released on multiple platforms and offers a delightful option for players looking for autumn enjoyment without the intense scares.