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

Not every Halloween horror journey has to frighten players. Starting with iconic favorites for example Scooby-Doo to delightful stories including Over the Garden Wall, numerous spooky-season favorites are enjoyable without causing fear. Additionally, a increasing selection of ghostly-adorable games with spooky themes, yet without the sleep-with-the-lights-on intensity of horror. Gloomy Eyes was released in the fall, and serves as an outstanding relaxing alternative to the intensely frightening releases of 2025.

A Distinctive Self-Coop Adventure

Known as a single-player cooperative puzzle game, Gloomy Eyes unites a zombie boy called Gloomy and a human girl named Nena as they embark on an quest to bring the sun back to their gloomy environment. Their appearance resembles Funko Pops combined with the characters from a stop-motion animation. The light-complected and tired-looking appearance is influenced by the visual style of Gothic fantasy movies, and the plot is a classic family-friendly tale. These two forms an strong friendship over the course of the game’s numerous levels as Nena tries to show to her clerical relative that, look, perhaps living-impaired beings aren’t half bad.

Creative Problem-Solving Features

The “self-coop” term comes about from the game’s interactive problem-solving. Once Gloomy and Nena meet, you’ll swap between the budding companions to solve puzzles and move forward through the stages. As an undead, Gloomy cannot pass through the light of a lamppost, while Nena will get snatched up by wandering undead except if a lamp is directed on them.

They must work in tandem — in practice, gamers operate them together — to finish levels. Nena may move or temporarily shut off lights to open routes for Gloomy, while the thoughtful character will utilize his supernatural ability to shift around objects in the world, revealing ways for Nena.

Captivating Environment Creation

These challenges evoke memories a touch of The Gardens Between, in the manner the levels are floating, miniature structures that the view pans around in sync with your heroes. Gloomy Eyes’ environments are very enjoyable, taking the duo around a amusement park and through a ghostly building, among other locales. Players can use a “diorama view” option that allows you to pull back and rotate the levels, both for enjoy the artwork and hunt for ways that may not have been clear.

Minor Issues and Overall Gameplay

Here lies one of the only hiccups with Gloomy Eyes. Comparable to other games with a static view, occasionally it's confusing where the characters are able to move. Gamers could require to simply collide with a several various elements to determine which ones are interactive, as clues aren't consistently provided.

Nevertheless, those minor challenges don't obstruct of a spooky-cute good time. Gloomy Eyes is relatively brief, with approximately three to five hours worth of brain-teasers. Later levels combine subtle stealth and dynamic sequences with the problem-solving, as Gloomy Eyes progresses to a fulfilling — and moderately unexpected — ending.

Availability and Final Thoughts

Gamers steering clear of the scares of terrifying releases won’t want to miss Gloomy Eyes. You can find it on Switch console, PS5, Windows PC, and Microsoft console, and is currently on sale for a quarter off on digital platforms.

Gloomy Eyes is available on various systems and delivers a delightful alternative for players seeking spooky entertainment minus the intense scares.