Not each spooky season journey needs to frighten players. From beloved classics such as Scooby-Doo to endearing shows such as Over the Garden Wall, plenty of Halloween-themed favorites provide fun without needing causing fear. Moreover, a expanding collection of spooky-cute releases featuring spooky themes, yet without the sleep-with-the-lights-on intensity of terror. Gloomy Eyes debuted in the fall, and serves as an excellent relaxing alternative to the truly terrifying games of the current season.
A Distinctive Collaborative Solo Adventure
Described as a “self-coop” puzzle game, Gloomy Eyes unites a zombie boy called Gloomy and a human girl named Nena as they start an adventure to return daylight to their dark, dark environment. Their appearance is similar to Funko Pops blended with the characters from a stop-motion animation. The pale-skinned and baggy-eyed aesthetic borrows heavily from the look of Burtonesque cinema, and the plot is a classic all-ages journey. The pair builds an unbreakable bond over the course of the game’s numerous levels as Nena tries to demonstrate to her clerical relative that, hey, maybe the undead can be friendly.
Original Puzzle Mechanics
The innovative description stems from the game’s interactive problem-solving. After Gloomy and Nena meet, you’ll swap amidst the newfound friends to overcome obstacles and progress through the stages. As an undead, Gloomy is unable to traverse through the brightness of a lamppost, while Nena may be grabbed by idle zombies except if a beam is shone on them.
They have to cooperate closely — actually, you’ll use them together — to advance through areas. Nena may move or temporarily shut off illumination to clear paths for Gloomy, while the intellectually curious character will utilize his supernatural ability to move objects in the surroundings, opening up ways for Nena.
Engaging World Building
These challenges remind me a bit of The Gardens Between, in the manner the areas are floating, miniature structures that the perspective moves across in conjunction with your protagonists. Gloomy Eyes’ environments are quite fun, guiding the friends around a amusement park and through a haunted house, including other locations. There’s a “diorama view” button that enables you to pull back and turn the stages, simultaneously to enjoy the artwork and search for ways that may not have been clear.
Slight Issues and General Experience
And that’s one of the only difficulties with Gloomy Eyes. Like other titles with a locked camera, occasionally it's confusing where the heroes may or may not travel. You may need to just bump into a multiple different items to figure out which ones are interactive, as clues aren't consistently provided.
Nonetheless, those slight speedbumps don't obstruct of a spooky-cute good time. Gloomy Eyes runs on the short side, with roughly several hours worth of brain-teasers. Advanced areas integrate minor sneaking and exciting moments with the problem-solving, as Gloomy Eyes advances to a rewarding — and somewhat unexpected — ending.
Availability and Conclusion
Gamers steering clear of the frights of intense horror releases should definitely try Gloomy Eyes. The game is out on Switch console, PS5, computer, and Microsoft console, and is available at a reduced price for 25% off on game marketplaces.
The spooky-cute adventure is out now on several consoles and delivers a pleasurable alternative for gamers seeking autumn enjoyment without the fear factor.
