Not each spooky season experience must frighten gamers. From beloved classics for example animated detectives to charming series like Over the Garden Wall, numerous Halloween-themed favorites provide fun without causing fear. Moreover, a growing library of eerie-charming releases with spooky themes, but not the keep-you-awake intensity of horror. Gloomy Eyes arrived in September, and acts as an superb relaxing option to the truly terrifying games of this year.
A Unique Self-Coop Journey
Known as a “self-coop” puzzle game, Gloomy Eyes pairs up a living-impaired child known as Gloomy and a living girl called Nena as they embark on an adventure to return daylight to their gloomy realm. Their design is similar to Funko Pops blended with the characters from a stop-motion animation. Their fair-toned and tired-looking aesthetic is influenced by the visual style of Tim Burton’s films, and the plot is a archetypal suitable for everyone journey. The duo forms an strong friendship over the course of the game’s multiple stages as Nena attempts to prove to her clerical relative that, you know, perhaps zombies are actually good.
Original Problem-Solving Features
The “self-coop” description stems from the game’s world-based challenges. After Gloomy and Nena cross paths, you’ll swap amidst the newfound friends to overcome obstacles and advance through the levels. Being a zombie, Gloomy is unable to traverse through the light of a lamppost, while Nena will get snatched up by loitering creatures unless a beam is directed on them.
They must work in tandem — well, you’ll use them simultaneously — to complete stages. Nena may move or temporarily shut off lights to create passages for Gloomy, while the intellectually curious boy will utilize his supernatural ability to rearrange objects in the world, creating ways for Nena.
Captivating Level Design
The puzzles bring to mind a bit of The Gardens Between, in the way the stages are suspended, model-like constructions that the view moves across in coordination with your characters. Gloomy Eyes’ environments are quite fun, leading the companions around a amusement park and through a haunted house, amid other locales. Players can use a “diorama view” button that enables you to zoom out and turn the levels, both for appreciate the visuals and search for routes that may not have been obvious.
Minor Challenges and Complete Gameplay
And that’s one of the few hiccups with Gloomy Eyes. Like other titles with a fixed perspective, sometimes it's unclear where the heroes can and cannot go. You may need to simply collide with a multiple different elements to determine which ones are usable, as the game doesn't always indicate.
Nonetheless, those slight challenges don't hinder of a spooky-cute good time. Gloomy Eyes is relatively brief, with about three to five hours worth of brain-teasers. Subsequent stages blend together subtle hidden movement and dynamic sequences with the puzzle solving, as Gloomy Eyes progresses to a satisfying — and slightly unforeseen — finale.
Release and Final Thoughts
Those avoiding the frights of terrifying games should definitely try Gloomy Eyes. It’s available on Nintendo Switch, Sony system, computer, and Xbox Series X, and is presently discounted for a quarter off on online stores.
This charming title has been released on multiple platforms and delivers a enjoyable alternative for fans looking for autumn enjoyment without terrifying moments.
