This Spooky-Cute Puzzler Acts as the Perfect Alternative to Halloween Horror

Not every Halloween horror experience must terrify players. Including iconic favorites like animated detectives to charming series including Over the Garden Wall, numerous spooky-season staples offer entertainment without requiring increasing anxiety. There’s also, a growing library of eerie-charming games featuring autumn atmosphere, but not the keep-you-awake intensity of fear. Gloomy Eyes debuted in recent months, and serves as an superb comfortable choice to the truly terrifying games of this year.

The game visual
Screenshot: ARTE France, Production Team, 3DAR, Be Revolution/Untold Tales

An Original Collaborative Solo Journey

Known as a “self-coop” problem-solving title, Gloomy Eyes unites a undead youth called Gloomy and a living girl called Nena as they begin an adventure to bring the sun back to their shadowy environment. They look evokes Funko Pops combined with the puppets from a stop-motion animation. Their light-complected and tired-looking style is influenced by the visual style of Burtonesque cinema, and the narrative is a quintessential family-friendly tale. These two builds an enduring bond over the course of the game’s numerous levels as Nena tries to show to her religious guardian that, look, maybe living-impaired beings are actually good.

Original Gameplay Systems

The innovative description comes about from the game’s world-based challenges. After Gloomy and Nena cross paths, gamers switch among the budding companions to solve puzzles and move forward through the levels. Being a zombie, Gloomy is unable to traverse through the brightness of a light source, while Nena can be captured by wandering undead except if a beam is directed on them.

It's necessary for them to cooperate closely — actually, you’ll use them in tandem — to complete stages. Nena could adjust or temporarily shut off illumination to open routes for Gloomy, while the thoughtful character will utilize his supernatural ability to shift around obstacles in the surroundings, revealing ways for Nena.

Gloomy Eyes gameplay
Image: ARTE France, Studio, 3DAR, Be Revolution/Untold Tales

Immersive Environment Creation

The puzzles remind me a bit of The Gardens Between, in the manner the levels are suspended, model-like designs that the view moves across in coordination with your heroes. Gloomy Eyes’ worlds are quite fun, taking the duo around a amusement park and through a ghostly building, among other locations. The game includes a “diorama view” option that permits you to view from afar and spin the levels, both for appreciate the designs and hunt for ways that may not have been clear.

Slight Challenges and Complete Adventure

Here lies one of the only hiccups with Gloomy Eyes. Like other titles with a fixed perspective, sometimes it's unclear where the heroes can and cannot go. You may need to simply collide with a several various elements to determine which ones are interactive, as the game doesn't always indicate.

Nevertheless, those slight obstacles don't obstruct of a eerie-adorable fun adventure. Gloomy Eyes is relatively brief, with about three to five hours worth of brain-teasers. Advanced areas combine subtle sneaking and action elements with the puzzle solving, as Gloomy Eyes progresses to a satisfying — and somewhat surprising — finale.

Accessibility and Summary

Gamers steering clear of the frights of terrifying games ought to experience Gloomy Eyes. It’s available on Switch console, PlayStation 5, computer, and Microsoft console, and is available at a reduced price for a discount on digital platforms.

This charming title is available on multiple platforms and offers a delightful alternative for players seeking Halloween fun minus the intense scares.

Christopher Poole
Christopher Poole

Lieke is een ervaren life coach met een passie voor mindfulness en persoonlijke ontwikkeling.