Not each Halloween horror experience has to scare gamers. From iconic favorites such as animated detectives to delightful stories such as Over the Garden Wall, plenty of spooky-season favorites offer entertainment without causing fear. There’s also, a increasing selection of spooky-cute games with autumn atmosphere, yet without the sleep-with-the-lights-on degree of horror. Gloomy Eyes was released in recent months, and acts as an outstanding comfortable option to the deeply scary games of this year.
A Unique Single-Player Cooperative Quest
Described as a single-player cooperative brain-teaser, Gloomy Eyes teams up a zombie boy called Gloomy and a human girl called Nena as they embark on an mission to bring the sun back to their gloomy world. Their design is similar to collectible figures blended with the puppets from a animated feature. Their light-complected and heavy-lidded style draws inspiration from the visual style of Burtonesque cinema, and the narrative is a archetypal all-ages tale. The pair forms an unbreakable connection over the span of the game’s multiple stages as Nena tries to prove to her religious guardian that, you know, possibly the undead are actually good.
Original Puzzle Mechanics
This unique label stems from the game’s environmental puzzles. After Gloomy and Nena meet, players alternate amidst the budding companions to solve puzzles and advance through the areas. Being a zombie, Gloomy cannot pass through the light of a streetlight, while Nena can be captured by wandering undead without a light is focused on them.
It's necessary for them to work in tandem — actually, gamers operate them together — to finish levels. Nena might relocate or momentarily deactivate lamps to clear paths for Gloomy, while the thoughtful boy will utilize his supernatural ability to shift around objects in the environment, revealing ways for Nena.
Engaging World Building
The brain-teasers evoke memories a touch of The Gardens Between, in the fashion the stages are floating, miniature structures that the view moves across in coordination with your heroes. Gloomy Eyes’ settings are very enjoyable, taking the friends around a carnival and through a haunted house, including other places. Players can use a “diorama view” option that enables you to zoom out and turn the areas, both to enjoy the visuals and hunt for routes that may not have been obvious.
Small Issues and Complete Gameplay
And that’s one of the only hiccups with Gloomy Eyes. Like other games with a fixed perspective, it’s not always clear where the heroes can and cannot go. You may need to simply collide with a several various objects to figure out which ones are interactable, as the game doesn't always indicate.
Nonetheless, those minor challenges don’t get in the way of a eerie-adorable good time. Gloomy Eyes runs on the short side, with approximately a few sessions worth of puzzles. Advanced areas blend together light stealth and exciting moments with the challenge completion, as Gloomy Eyes progresses to a fulfilling — and slightly unexpected — ending.
Release and Final Thoughts
Those steering clear of the scares of terrifying games won’t want to miss Gloomy Eyes. You can find it on Switch console, PlayStation 5, PC, and Microsoft console, and is currently on sale for 25% off on online stores.
This charming title has been released on various systems and offers a enjoyable option for players seeking autumn enjoyment without the intense scares.
