This Ghostly-Charming Puzzler Functions as the Perfect Replacement to Spooky Scares

Not all autumn fright experience has to frighten gamers. Including beloved classics such as animated detectives to delightful stories including Over the Garden Wall, plenty of autumn-inspired favorites offer entertainment without causing fear. Additionally, a increasing selection of ghostly-adorable titles featuring spooky themes, but not the keep-you-awake degree of fear. Gloomy Eyes debuted in September, and acts as an excellent cozy choice to the deeply scary titles of the current season.

An Original Single-Player Cooperative Adventure

Labeled as a single-player cooperative puzzle game, Gloomy Eyes teams up a zombie boy known as Gloomy and a mortal child known as Nena as they embark on an adventure to restore sunlight to their gloomy world. They look is similar to stylized dolls blended with the puppets from a stop-motion animation. The fair-toned and tired-looking appearance draws inspiration from the appearance of Gothic fantasy movies, and the plot is a classic family-friendly journey. These two forms an strong friendship over the course of the game’s 14 chapters as Nena attempts to show to her clerical relative that, look, maybe the undead are actually good.

Creative Puzzle Mechanics

The innovative description originates from the game’s interactive problem-solving. When Gloomy and Nena cross paths, you’ll swap among the budding companions to complete challenges and move forward through the areas. Since he's not alive, Gloomy is unable to traverse through the illumination of a streetlight, while Nena will get snatched up by loitering creatures without a beam is shone on them.

It's necessary for them to work in tandem — in practice, gamers operate them simultaneously — to complete stages. Nena may move or temporarily shut off lamps to create passages for Gloomy, while the intellectually curious boy will utilize his supernatural ability to shift around obstacles in the surroundings, revealing paths for Nena.

Engaging Level Design

These challenges bring to mind a touch of The Gardens Between, in the way the areas are floating, miniature designs that the perspective pans around in coordination with your protagonists. Gloomy Eyes’ settings are highly entertaining, guiding the duo around a amusement park and through a ghostly building, among other locales. The game includes a “diorama view” feature that permits you to zoom out and rotate the stages, both for enjoy the designs and look for paths that may not have been clear.

Minor Issues and Overall Adventure

Here lies one of the only difficulties with Gloomy Eyes. Similar to other titles with a static view, occasionally it's confusing where the heroes may or may not travel. Players might have to just bump into a few random items to determine which ones are interactive, as the game doesn't always indicate.

However, those small obstacles don't hinder of a eerie-adorable good time. Gloomy Eyes is relatively brief, with approximately several hours worth of brain-teasers. Advanced areas blend together light stealth and exciting moments with the challenge completion, as Gloomy Eyes marches toward a fulfilling — and somewhat surprising — conclusion.

Accessibility and Final Thoughts

Those shying away from the scares of intense horror games won’t want to miss Gloomy Eyes. It’s available on Switch console, Sony system, computer, and Xbox, and is available at a reduced price for a discount on digital platforms.

Gloomy Eyes is out now on various systems and delivers a enjoyable option for fans in search of autumn enjoyment minus the terrifying moments.