Not every autumn fright adventure must frighten players. Starting with iconic favorites for example mystery-solving cartoons to charming series such as Over the Garden Wall, many spooky-season titles are enjoyable without needing causing fear. Additionally, a expanding collection of eerie-charming games featuring autumn atmosphere, though lacking the truly terrifying degree of fear. Gloomy Eyes arrived in the fall, and serves as an outstanding relaxing alternative to the intensely frightening titles of this year.
A Unique Self-Coop Adventure
Known as a “self-coop” problem-solving title, Gloomy Eyes unites a undead youth named Gloomy and a living girl called Nena as they begin an adventure to bring the sun back to their shadowy world. Their appearance resembles collectible figures blended with the figures from a animated feature. Their pale-skinned and baggy-eyed style draws inspiration from the visual style of Tim Burton’s films, and the story is a classic all-ages adventure. The duo builds an unbreakable connection over the course of the game’s numerous levels as Nena attempts to show to her clerical relative that, hey, perhaps the undead are actually good.
Creative Gameplay Systems
This unique description stems from the game’s environmental puzzles. When Gloomy and Nena encounter each other, gamers switch between the budding companions to solve puzzles and move forward through the levels. As an undead, Gloomy is unable to traverse through the brightness of a lamppost, while Nena will get snatched up by idle zombies except if a light is focused on them.
They must work in tandem — well, you’ll use them simultaneously — to complete stages. Nena may move or momentarily deactivate lights to clear paths for Gloomy, while the intellectually curious character will employ his undead power to shift around obstacles in the surroundings, opening up ways for Nena.
Captivating World Building
The brain-teasers remind me a little of The Gardens Between, in the way the areas are suspended, diorama-like structures that the view rotates in sync with your characters. Gloomy Eyes’ settings are very enjoyable, leading the duo around a fair and through a haunted house, amid other places. There’s a “diorama view” feature that allows you to view from afar and spin the areas, both for appreciate the designs and hunt for paths that may not have been clear.
Small Hiccups and Overall Adventure
Here lies one of the sole hiccups with Gloomy Eyes. Like other games with a locked camera, sometimes it's unclear where the characters are able to move. You may need to just bump into a multiple different elements to discover which ones are interactable, as the game doesn't always indicate.
However, those minor speedbumps don't hinder of a eerie-adorable fun adventure. Gloomy Eyes runs on the short side, with approximately a few sessions worth of brain-teasers. Advanced areas combine light hidden movement and dynamic sequences with the puzzle solving, as Gloomy Eyes marches toward a fulfilling — and somewhat surprising — ending.
Release and Conclusion
Those shying away from the scares of fear-inducing titles won’t want to miss Gloomy Eyes. It’s available on Nintendo platform, PS5, PC, and Xbox, and is available at a reduced price for a quarter off on game marketplaces.
The spooky-cute adventure is available on various systems and offers a enjoyable alternative for gamers in search of autumn enjoyment minus the fear factor.
