Not each autumn fright experience must frighten you. From beloved classics such as animated detectives to charming series like Over the Garden Wall, numerous autumn-inspired favorites provide fun without needing increasing anxiety. Additionally, a growing library of eerie-charming games with spooky themes, yet without the sleep-with-the-lights-on level of fear. Gloomy Eyes was released in September, and serves as an superb comfortable alternative to the intensely frightening games of the current season.
A Distinctive Collaborative Solo Journey
Labeled as a single-player cooperative problem-solving title, Gloomy Eyes unites a undead youth named Gloomy and a living girl named Nena as they start an quest to return daylight to their shadowy world. Their design is similar to collectible figures combined with the puppets from a stop-motion animation. The fair-toned and heavy-lidded aesthetic borrows heavily from the look of Burtonesque cinema, and the narrative is a classic family-friendly adventure. These two forms an enduring bond over the span of the game’s multiple stages as Nena attempts to show to her religious guardian that, you know, perhaps zombies are actually good.
Creative Problem-Solving Features
The “self-coop” description stems from the game’s interactive problem-solving. Once Gloomy and Nena cross paths, players alternate amidst the recent allies to solve puzzles and advance through the levels. Since he's not alive, Gloomy can’t walk through the brightness of a streetlight, while Nena will get snatched up by loitering creatures without a light is shone on them.
They have to collaborate effectively — in practice, players control them simultaneously — to advance through areas. Nena could adjust or briefly disable illumination to create passages for Gloomy, while the thoughtful boy will utilize his supernatural ability to move objects in the environment, revealing paths for Nena.
Engaging Environment Creation
The puzzles bring to mind a bit of The Gardens Between, in the manner the stages are suspended, diorama-like designs that the perspective rotates in coordination with your protagonists. Gloomy Eyes’ environments are quite fun, leading the companions around a amusement park and through a haunted house, among other locales. There’s a “diorama view” button that permits you to pull back and spin the stages, both to appreciate the artwork and hunt for ways that may not have been clear.
Small Hiccups and Complete Gameplay
And that’s one of the sole problems with Gloomy Eyes. Like other titles with a static view, it’s not always clear where the characters can and cannot go. Players might have to simply collide with a few random elements to determine which ones are interactive, as it’s not always intuitive.
Nevertheless, those small speedbumps don't hinder of a eerie-adorable good time. Gloomy Eyes has a compact length, with approximately several hours worth of puzzles. Subsequent stages blend together minor hidden movement and exciting moments with the problem-solving, as Gloomy Eyes advances to a satisfying — and moderately unforeseen — conclusion.
Accessibility and Final Thoughts
Players avoiding the frights of fear-inducing titles won’t want to miss Gloomy Eyes. You can find it on Nintendo Switch, PS5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, and is available at a reduced price for 25% off on game marketplaces.
The spooky-cute adventure is out now on multiple platforms and delivers a enjoyable alternative for players in search of Halloween fun without the intense scares.
