Not each spooky season journey has to frighten gamers. Starting with iconic favorites like animated detectives to charming series such as Over the Garden Wall, plenty of spooky-season titles offer entertainment without needing causing fear. There’s also, a increasing selection of spooky-cute releases including spooky themes, but not the truly terrifying level of terror. Gloomy Eyes was released in September, and serves as an superb cozy alternative to the truly terrifying games of 2025.
A Unique Single-Player Cooperative Journey
Described as a solo collaboration brain-teaser, Gloomy Eyes unites a zombie boy named Gloomy and a mortal child named Nena as they start an quest to return daylight to their dark, dark environment. They look resembles Funko Pops blended with the figures from a stop-motion animation. Their pale-skinned and heavy-lidded aesthetic is influenced by the look of Tim Burton’s films, and the narrative is a archetypal family-friendly adventure. The pair develops an enduring connection over the duration of the game’s numerous levels as Nena tries to show to her religious guardian that, hey, possibly living-impaired beings aren’t half bad.
Original Problem-Solving Features
The innovative term stems from the game’s world-based challenges. After Gloomy and Nena encounter each other, players alternate amidst the newfound friends to overcome obstacles and advance through the levels. Being a zombie, Gloomy can’t walk through the brightness of a lamppost, while Nena can be captured by wandering undead without a lamp is directed on them.
They have to work in tandem — in practice, players control them together — to advance through areas. Nena could adjust or momentarily deactivate illumination to clear paths for Gloomy, while the open-brained youth will utilize his supernatural ability to move obstacles in the surroundings, opening up routes for Nena.
Engaging World Building
These challenges remind me a touch of The Gardens Between, in the way the levels are suspended, miniature designs that the perspective pans around in coordination with your characters. Gloomy Eyes’ environments are quite fun, taking the duo around a amusement park and through a haunted house, including other locales. The game includes a “diorama view” option that allows you to pull back and rotate the levels, simultaneously to admire the designs and hunt for ways that may not have been clear.
Slight Challenges and Overall Experience
This represents one of the only hiccups with Gloomy Eyes. Comparable to other games with a locked camera, occasionally it's confusing where the characters are able to move. Players might have to randomly encounter a several various items to figure out which ones are interactable, as clues aren't consistently provided.
Nonetheless, those small challenges don't hinder of a spooky-cute good time. Gloomy Eyes runs on the short side, with roughly a few sessions worth of puzzles. Later levels blend together light hidden movement and exciting moments with the puzzle solving, as Gloomy Eyes progresses to a rewarding — and moderately unforeseen — conclusion.
Release and Summary
Those steering clear of the terror of intense horror games won’t want to miss Gloomy Eyes. It’s available on Nintendo platform, Sony system, PC, and Xbox, and is available at a reduced price for 25% off on online stores.
This charming title is out now on various systems and offers a pleasurable choice for fans seeking autumn enjoyment minus the fear factor.
