The Spooky-Cute Brain-Teaser Functions as the Perfect Alternative to Spooky Scares

Not every Halloween horror journey needs to terrify you. Starting with beloved classics like mystery-solving cartoons to delightful stories like Over the Garden Wall, many autumn-inspired titles are enjoyable without needing causing fear. Additionally, a increasing selection of ghostly-adorable titles with Halloween vibes, but not the sleep-with-the-lights-on intensity of terror. Gloomy Eyes debuted in the fall, and stands as an excellent comfortable alternative to the truly terrifying games of this year.

An Original Self-Coop Adventure

Labeled as a single-player cooperative brain-teaser, Gloomy Eyes pairs up a zombie boy named Gloomy and a human girl known as Nena as they embark on an mission to restore sunlight to their dark, dark world. Their design evokes Funko Pops combined with the figures from a animated feature. The light-complected and tired-looking aesthetic draws inspiration from the appearance of Gothic fantasy movies, and the narrative is a archetypal family-friendly adventure. The pair develops an strong bond over the span of the game’s numerous levels as Nena attempts to prove to her religious guardian that, look, possibly the undead can be friendly.

Innovative Puzzle Mechanics

The “self-coop” description originates from the game’s interactive problem-solving. After Gloomy and Nena meet, you’ll swap amidst the budding companions to overcome obstacles and move forward through the levels. Being a zombie, Gloomy can’t walk through the illumination of a streetlight, while Nena will get snatched up by loitering creatures except if a lamp is focused on them.

They have to work in tandem — in practice, you’ll use them together — to advance through areas. Nena could adjust or momentarily deactivate illumination to open routes for Gloomy, while the thoughtful boy will employ his undead power to shift around obstacles in the surroundings, opening up paths for Nena.

Immersive Environment Creation

The brain-teasers remind me a bit of The Gardens Between, in the manner the levels are hovering, diorama-like structures that the perspective rotates in coordination with your heroes. Gloomy Eyes’ worlds are very enjoyable, taking the duo around a fair and through a ghostly building, amid other locations. There’s a “diorama view” button that enables you to pull back and rotate the stages, both to admire the artwork and hunt for paths that may not have been apparent.

Minor Hiccups and Complete Gameplay

This represents one of the sole hiccups with Gloomy Eyes. Comparable to other titles with a locked camera, it’s not always clear where the characters can and cannot go. Players might have to simply collide with a multiple different items to determine which ones are interactable, as clues aren't consistently provided.

However, those slight obstacles don't obstruct of a spooky-cute fun adventure. Gloomy Eyes has a compact length, with approximately three to five hours worth of challenges. Later levels blend together minor stealth and action elements with the challenge completion, as Gloomy Eyes advances to a satisfying — and somewhat surprising — ending.

Accessibility and Final Thoughts

Gamers avoiding the frights of fear-inducing titles should definitely try Gloomy Eyes. It’s available on Nintendo Switch, PS5, PC, and Xbox, and is available at a reduced price for a discount on online stores.

This charming title is available on various systems and delivers a delightful choice for fans seeking Halloween fun minus the intense scares.