Not every spooky season adventure must scare you. From well-known tales such as Scooby-Doo to endearing shows including Over the Garden Wall, numerous autumn-inspired favorites are enjoyable without needing raising your heart rate. Moreover, a growing library of eerie-charming titles featuring spooky themes, though lacking the truly terrifying level of terror. Gloomy Eyes was released in September, and acts as an excellent comfortable alternative to the deeply scary games of this year.
An Original Single-Player Cooperative Quest
Known as a single-player cooperative problem-solving title, Gloomy Eyes pairs up a undead youth called Gloomy and a human girl called Nena as they embark on an quest to restore sunlight to their gloomy environment. Their design evokes Funko Pops combined with the figures from a animated feature. The fair-toned and tired-looking style is influenced by the look of Burtonesque cinema, and the narrative is a archetypal suitable for everyone tale. The pair forms an strong friendship over the duration of the game’s numerous levels as Nena strives to demonstrate to her priest uncle that, hey, perhaps the undead aren’t half bad.
Creative Puzzle Mechanics
The “self-coop” label originates from the game’s environmental puzzles. Once Gloomy and Nena encounter each other, gamers switch amidst the budding companions to overcome obstacles and move forward through the levels. Being a zombie, Gloomy cannot pass through the light of a lamppost, while Nena will get snatched up by wandering undead without a lamp is directed on them.
They have to collaborate effectively — well, gamers operate them simultaneously — to complete stages. Nena might relocate or momentarily deactivate illumination to clear paths for Gloomy, while the thoughtful character will employ his undead power to shift around objects in the surroundings, opening up routes for Nena.
Immersive World Building
The puzzles remind me a little of The Gardens Between, in the fashion the levels are floating, diorama-like constructions that the view rotates in conjunction with your protagonists. Gloomy Eyes’ environments are highly entertaining, leading the duo around a carnival and through a haunted house, among other places. Players can use a “diorama view” button that enables you to zoom out and spin the stages, simultaneously to admire the visuals and hunt for ways that may not have been clear.
Small Hiccups and Overall Gameplay
And that’s one of the sole problems with Gloomy Eyes. Comparable to other titles with a static view, it’s not always clear where the protagonists may or may not travel. Players might have to randomly encounter a multiple different elements to discover which ones are interactable, as the game doesn't always indicate.
However, those small obstacles don’t get in the way of a spooky-cute good time. Gloomy Eyes is relatively brief, with roughly several hours worth of challenges. Later levels blend together light stealth and action elements with the puzzle solving, as Gloomy Eyes advances to a satisfying — and somewhat unexpected — ending.
Release and Final Thoughts
Players steering clear of the terror of terrifying releases should definitely try Gloomy Eyes. The game is out on Nintendo platform, PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X, and is currently on sale for 25% off on game marketplaces.
Gloomy Eyes is out now on multiple platforms and offers a delightful option for fans in search of spooky entertainment minus the intense scares.
