Not all Halloween horror journey has to scare you. From well-known tales such as animated detectives to charming series including Over the Garden Wall, many Halloween-themed staples provide fun without requiring raising your heart rate. Moreover, a increasing selection of spooky-cute games including autumn atmosphere, yet without the sleep-with-the-lights-on intensity of horror. Gloomy Eyes debuted in the fall, and acts as an superb cozy option to the truly terrifying releases of 2025.
An Original Collaborative Solo Adventure
Labeled as a single-player cooperative brain-teaser, Gloomy Eyes pairs up a undead youth named Gloomy and a human girl known as Nena as they embark on an mission to bring the sun back to their dark, dark environment. Their design is similar to Funko Pops combined with the puppets from a Laika film. The fair-toned and baggy-eyed appearance draws inspiration from the visual style of Tim Burton’s films, and the story is a archetypal family-friendly journey. The duo builds an unbreakable bond over the span of the game’s 14 chapters as Nena strives to prove to her priest uncle that, look, perhaps living-impaired beings are actually good.
Innovative Problem-Solving Features
This unique description stems from the game’s environmental puzzles. When Gloomy and Nena meet, players alternate amidst the budding companions to solve puzzles and progress through the areas. Since he's not alive, Gloomy cannot pass through the illumination of a streetlight, while Nena may be grabbed by idle zombies unless a lamp is directed on them.
It's necessary for them to work in tandem — actually, players control them together — to advance through areas. Nena might relocate or temporarily shut off lights to create passages for Gloomy, while the intellectually curious character will employ his undead power to rearrange obstacles in the environment, opening up ways for Nena.
Engaging World Building
These challenges remind me a touch of The Gardens Between, in the way the levels are suspended, diorama-like structures that the perspective rotates in coordination with your characters. Gloomy Eyes’ worlds are highly entertaining, leading the friends around a fair and through a haunted house, including other locations. Players can use a “diorama view” option that allows you to view from afar and spin the stages, both to enjoy the visuals and look for paths that may not have been obvious.
Slight Hiccups and Complete Adventure
And that’s one of the few problems with Gloomy Eyes. Comparable to other games with a fixed perspective, it’s not always clear where the heroes may or may not travel. You may need to randomly encounter a several various objects to figure out which ones are interactable, as clues aren't consistently provided.
Nevertheless, those minor speedbumps don't obstruct of a spooky-cute good time. Gloomy Eyes has a compact length, with approximately a few sessions worth of brain-teasers. Later levels integrate subtle sneaking and exciting moments with the puzzle solving, as Gloomy Eyes advances to a satisfying — and moderately unexpected — conclusion.
Accessibility and Summary
Those steering clear of the scares of terrifying games should definitely try Gloomy Eyes. The game is out on Nintendo Switch, PS5, computer, and Xbox, and is presently discounted for 25% off on online stores.
The spooky-cute adventure is out now on multiple platforms and offers a enjoyable option for players seeking Halloween fun without intense scares.
