This Spooky-Cute Brain-Teaser Acts as the Ideal Substitute to Halloween Horror

Not all Halloween horror adventure must scare gamers. From well-known tales for example mystery-solving cartoons to endearing shows including Over the Garden Wall, plenty of spooky-season favorites offer entertainment without needing causing fear. There’s also, a growing library of spooky-cute games featuring Halloween vibes, yet without the truly terrifying degree of fear. Gloomy Eyes was released in the fall, and acts as an outstanding comfortable option to the truly terrifying titles of this year.

A Distinctive Self-Coop Quest

Known as a solo collaboration puzzle game, Gloomy Eyes pairs up a living-impaired child called Gloomy and a living girl named Nena as they start an mission to restore sunlight to their shadowy environment. They look resembles collectible figures combined with the characters from a stop-motion animation. The light-complected and baggy-eyed appearance borrows heavily from the visual style of Burtonesque cinema, and the narrative is a classic all-ages tale. The pair forms an strong connection over the span of the game’s 14 chapters as Nena tries to show to her religious guardian that, you know, maybe zombies are actually good.

Creative Problem-Solving Features

This unique label stems from the game’s interactive problem-solving. When Gloomy and Nena meet, gamers switch between the newfound friends to complete challenges and move forward through the levels. Being a zombie, Gloomy cannot pass through the illumination of a streetlight, while Nena can be captured by idle zombies except if a lamp is directed on them.

They must collaborate effectively — in practice, you’ll use them simultaneously — to complete stages. Nena could adjust or temporarily shut off lights to clear paths for Gloomy, while the open-brained boy will employ his undead power to shift around objects in the world, revealing routes for Nena.

Engaging World Building

The brain-teasers remind me a bit of The Gardens Between, in the manner the levels are hovering, diorama-like constructions that the perspective moves across in conjunction with your characters. Gloomy Eyes’ settings are highly entertaining, guiding the companions around a carnival and through a haunted house, amid other locales. There’s a “diorama view” button that allows you to zoom out and spin the levels, simultaneously to enjoy the visuals and look for ways that may not have been obvious.

Small Issues and Complete Adventure

And that’s one of the sole difficulties with Gloomy Eyes. Similar to other games with a locked camera, it’s not always clear where the protagonists are able to move. Players might have to randomly encounter a several various elements to discover which ones are usable, as it’s not always intuitive.

Nonetheless, those small speedbumps don't hinder of a ghostly-charming good time. Gloomy Eyes is relatively brief, with about three to five hours worth of challenges. Subsequent stages blend together subtle sneaking and dynamic sequences with the problem-solving, as Gloomy Eyes advances to a rewarding — and slightly unexpected — ending.

Release and Summary

Those shying away from the terror of terrifying games should definitely try Gloomy Eyes. You can find it on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X, and is presently discounted for 25% off on game marketplaces.

This charming title is out now on various systems and delivers a enjoyable option for fans looking for spooky entertainment without intense scares.